Author Name
Michael Curry
Author Bio
Michael has been riding street motorcycles since 1975. He's owned and ridden everything from Hondas to Harleys with a preference for spirited sport-touring riding.
Michael is a Roadcarvin.com co-founder and serves as chief editor, scribe, staff photographer, and other things.
AMA Pro Racing and Vance & Hines have announced the launch of the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series. The series will feature spec-bikes ...
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The revolutionary Honda 3R-C concept debuts at the Geneva International Motor Show 2010. The three wheeled single seat concept created by European designers working at ...
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Spring is on the way, and if you aren't lucky enough to have a long-lasting motorcycle battery, you're probably going to be buying a new ...
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It's that time of year again: collecting the latest information about the upcoming 2010 Harley-Davidson models.
7/25/2009 update: H-D announces 9 new models for 2010.
Got something to say? Better get going while the going is good...
Let the games begin! ...
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Motorcycle Stunt Photos
Right Place, Stunt Time. I came across a stunt rider practice area on the way out of town and got some photos of the riders practicing. Hope you enjoy the photos I selected from this session. JavaScript-enabled browser users: clicking any photo will open a larger version ...
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Race Fans Rewarded with a Great Day at the Track
With Championships on the line, perfect weather and non-existent traffic race fans had all the elements for a great weekend. What the AMA Superbike Championship weekend lacks in non-race activities compared to Moto GP, it makes up for with excellent ...
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, Canon Digital Rebel XSi
, or a Canon EOS 40D
.
Harley vs Buell
It's a shame when a large corporation buys your company, and then closes you down a few years later. Too bad HD can't read the handwriting on the wall. A modern, innovative product like Buell was their future. what is HD going to do, when all the gray beards who have kept them going the last decade, are too old to ride or dead and buried. The younger generation has no interest in HD's clunky old product line.
YOUR STATEMENT
the old grey beards never die, harley has been solid 4 over 100 years. u got to be kidding, BUEL? cool. but harleyMC will be strong beyond your lifetime
I seem to recall a bailout
I seem to recall a bailout by the Federal Government already once in my lifetime of Harley Davidson. Slowly they are succombing to an assemply plant only as there parts are made overseas. They are not making any engineering changes and with the sellout of being truly American made even the grey bears will lose interest. Buell was a statement and cutting edge in many areas. They were definetly poised to do something great.
Don't sell! keep R&D in
Don't sell! keep R&D in house... Economy rebounds in a few years and they come out blasting again...
HD and Buell
It will be a sad day once the Buell factory is closed. Buell was finally getting into the modern superbike game. I had just sold my RC51 to get an american made sportbike but now that I hear Buell is going to be no more it makes me sad... I will still buy that 1125R I was looking at though :P
I too think it's a shame
I too think it's a shame that Buell is shutting down. But, your wrong about interest in HD waning. There is plenty of interest in HD from gray beards and youngsters alike to keep HD afloat. And remeber there will be more gray beards to relace the ones who are dieing off. :)
Buell
In my opinion, Buell never was all that. They didn't have the old skool appeal of Harley-Davidson, and they certainly were no threat to the japanese sport bikes that are out there. So what real purpose do they have? Maybe as a beginner bike for someone who's skill level isn't up to 'Busa level. Other than that, they never really fit in. Sure it was kind of cool to ride a sport bike with a Harley motor. But that's like of like putting a fake ram air hood on a vehicle. It may look cool, but it doesn't work and you're gonna get smoked anyway.
Harleys aren't going anywhere. Sooner or later every one grows up. When they do, they buy a Harley.
Comment from a real motorcyclist
The Hayabusa isn't a bike for people with riding skill; it's a bike for people who lack riding skill. It's a slow-handling pig of a 570+ pound bike for people who ride in a straight line and twist the throttle. You don't see guys who buy top-notch sport bikes like Ducatis, MV Agustas, Aprilias, and, yes, Buells considering Hayabusas.
The Buell 1125R and 1125CR are among the finest sport bikes made for the street. They are very fast (146HP at the crank, 375lbs. dry), have an incredibly wide powerband, don't have to turn crazy-high RPMs on the highway, have better flickability than 600cc Japanese bikes, and, if you are racing, can be built to put out 175rwhp (185rwhp with an 1190cc kit).
But that's the difference between Buells and Japanese sport bikes: Buell built street bikes that can be run on a track, while the Japanese build track bikes that can be ridden on the street. That's an important difference: The fastest track bike is seldom the fastest street bike (and vice versa). Everything from the Buell's ergonomics to the flat torque curve is optimized for high-performance street riding. Even the engine size and configuration was chosen with no consideration of fitting it into some existing racing class.
Your comment about how "every one grows up" just shows that you haven't. People can be "grown up" an want a bike with sophistication and performance, like a BMW, Honda Gold Wing. Even those who want an American V-Twin might be more interested in the better-engineered Victory line.
My biggest concern in buying my two Buells was whether Harley would still be in business to provide parts for them. I remember the 50% tariff on Japanese bikes over 700ccs that was levied to keep Harley from going bankrupt in the 1980s. Since you're obviously not very in-touch with the motorcycle business, I'll tell you that Harley's problem is an aging demographic. The average age of Harley riders is going up -- disturbingly. It's even to the point where Harley has introduced a trike for some aging would-be riders who can no longer balance or support the weight of a motorcycle. Harley owners are starting later and buying fewer motorcycles throughout their riding lifetimes. Harley has lost the Hells Angels bad ass image and is now seen as a choice for white-collar pretenders and for "returning riders" (old people who have not ridden in decades). Bikes like the 883 Sportsters, which make less power than a Suzuki Burgman 650 scooter, has helped cement the image of Harley as a brand for people who really aren't serious riders.
buell
I‛ve never liked the looks of the buell but thats just me‚ when I bought my 2010 fat boy lo there were a few people talking about the shut down‚ hd does have to cover the new bike sold that have outstanding warrenty though‚dont know what they would replace them with if a new one was needed though?
Buell 1125R
After riding one for more than 140 miles in one day of twisties and highway,
I must have one!!! Sweet bike! And I thought that I didn't like Sport bikes?!
This one is excellent!
H-D is making a BIG mistake in stopping Erik!
I will never be interested in anything else sold under the H-D banner.
Yes, I have also ridden the XR1200R and V-Rod.
They are Boring!
Buell
It is a shame. They finally seemed to get it right with the 1125R. Too little too late? If Harley was smart they would integrate a few of the better/more popular Buells into their own product line. In other words put the Harley name/logo on the bike. Just a thought.
Do the Right thing, Harley
I'm a Harley rider, and as a Harley rider, I've been a little annoyed that there have been Buell riders bashing Harley . . .
. . . but I also see their point. I've always seen my bike as more than just a bike. It's a statement, it's a symbol and that symbol isn't: "Take all your lawyers can get for you and screw the little guy."
Harley doesn't represent me with their actions. If I was on the board, I'd sell the rights to Erik Buell for $1.
Let him do something with it if he can.
You're one of the good guys.
Buell was a division of Harley. We bought well over 100,000 Buell motorcycles at Harley dealerships. Harley shut down Buell and gave us the finger, telling us, in effect, that they aren't interested in having us as customers. So, yeah, we're kind of bitter about that.
Imagine how you would feel about Honda if they bought Harley Davidson and then shut them down some years later, refusing to sell the manufacturing rights to anyone.
But you're right: Harley should sell the manufacturing rights to Erik Buell for $1. Limit him to the Rotax engine and other future engines not derived from, or sourced by, Harley. Maybe even stipulate that he not build any more bikes with air-cooled V-twins -- just to distinguish Buell as not being related to HD any longer.
HD is idiots
They are complete idiots. HD will fold into oblivion eventually. Buell was the best thing going for HD. Who wants to ride a bike like thier sitting in a lounge chair???... or holding thier arms up in the air like the karate kid??? (answer: Old people and apes)
Even though the new 1125 was crotch rocket...they were designed and built in america and AND was Vtwin... A N D won the AMA championship!!!What more can you (fellow americans) ask for? WE BEAT RICE!
Made a big mistake.....
....in not appreciating the fun factor in the 1125R. Picked one up during the recent fire sale....I should have done it sooner!
No B.S. there - 1125R rocks
I got a chance to ride the Buell 1125R and 1125CR at Infineon and I have to say those bikes kick ass. Here are our 1125R and 1125CR first impressions.
BUELL'S are stll alive and will once again thrive just ride one
It is a true shame when corporate America chooses to trim the fat but they did it before sharpening the knife. This may have not been a big money making venture for Harley at present, but once the economy rebounds they would have won a big chunk of the market.
All it would take is for those potential bike buyers to ride a BUELL and they would see the difference. I am not a close minded Bike enthusiast as I have owned many different Makes,Models,Sizes,Styles... And this Buell XB12X has been one of the most fun bikes of all. Not to mention the amount of torque I am getting with a few performance mods.
I am now looking for the 146hp 1125 street BUELL as my next addition to my motorcycle collection.
"GOD BLESS AMERICA AND MY AMERICAN BUELL"
Buell - and MV Agusta
The crisis and economic recession must really have hit Harley hard and taken them by surprise. Especially when you think about them buying MV Agusta (LOVE those bikes by the way!!) and Buell - hope there's a new buyer for both brands - would REALLY hate to see them go into oblivion :-(
There were buyers for Buell - and Harley would not sell.
Harley refused to sell Buell -- despite there being serious buyers willing to pay a pretty penny for the Buell name, designs, manufacturing rights, and patents.
They claimed that they were doing this for financial reasons. That was a lie. If they were doing it for financial reasons, they would have sold the valuable Buell name and intellectual property (which HD will never incorporate into any Harley). This was a vindictive, spiteful example of corporate political infighting; it was motivated by a few people in Harley who wanted to settle a personal score with Erik Buell. They would rather lay off 180 Americans employed by Buell right before Christmas than let Buell continue to make motorcycles -- for any company.
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