New Buell dirt bikes and supermotos...

[Rincewind]

Buell made a big announcement at a dealer meeting this week - within the next two years, Buell will have a full-line of supermotos, enduros, and motorcross bikes.

Badweather link on the announcement.  

I'm guessing these bikes would not be based on the XB platform, right?  If so, that kind of leaves the new XBSTT out on a limb.  Why come out with a quasi-supermoto when you are about to break into that market more seriously?  Or maybe the XBSTT is indicating that the new line-up will actually be XB based, and that we'll see a XB9STT and a XB9X or something like that.  

[CBRXXBLACKBIRD]

That is going to be interesting.

[1KPerDay]

They're going to be liquid-cooled, overhead cam 4-stroke singles. And they're going to sell as well as Cannondales, IMO.

[DogBoy]

The TT is just a big standard with SuperMoto pretentions like the Ducati and the KTM (though the KTM has more cred). I really like the TT, but its a totally different bike than a genuine dirt bike-based SuperMoto. And if you think about it, Buell doesn't have that much invested in the TT.

[Snowbird]

But opening Buell up to dirtbikes and supermotos puts them into a marketing category which is separate from the cruiser vs. sportbike mentality.

And it'll bring younger riders to the brands.

[lurker1]

Think Rotax

[2DFlyer]

Think Rotax

Why not.  Everybody else seems to be.

[FullMonte]

This is good news and I hope Buell is successful in this endeavor.  However, in order for these bikes to sell in significant (profitable) numbers, they should to be sold in stand alone (non HD) dealerships.  Buells, and by extension their owners, are treated like red headed stepchildren at The Motor Company boutiques.  IMHO, they could increase their market share if they were sold along side Aprilia, Triumph, Ducati, etc.  Sure, there are some good ones out there who cater to Buell enthusiasts.  But the majority could care less about the bikes or the customers.  

[Kootenanny]

Buells, and by extension their owners, are treated like red headed stepchildren at The Motor Company boutiques.  IMHO, they could increase their market share if they were sold along side Aprilia, Triumph, Ducati, etc.  

Yup.  In Europe AFAIK, Buells are sold in non-HD dealerships, right alongside Aprilias, Triumphs, Ducatis, etc.--and surprise, surprise, they sell better there than here.  Hmmm...

[naustin]

There was recent confirmation that the engines will be rotax.

[roadrailer]

Source?

[lurker1]

Think Rotax
Think Liquid
2008/2009

[naustin]

source: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motoindustry/35268/

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/253912/257106.html?1171476252

[mr moto]

this looks like the first picture, obviously a competition only model .

[naustin]

Was the the picture shown at the dealer meeting, or just somebody's guess?  

[naustin]

Looks almost exactly like a CRF450.  Like they just drew the frame a little thicker, and changed the shape of the plastics a little.

I am pretty certain the above image did not com from Buell.    Look at the rear brake lever and the heat sheild? on the header - Identical.

[hig4s]

The TT is just a big standard with SuperMoto pretentions like the Ducati and the KTM (though the KTM has more cred). I really like the TT, but its a totally different bike than a genuine dirt bike-based SuperMoto. And if you think about it, Buell doesn't have that much invested in the TT.

I assume you are talking about the KTM 950SM,, as all other KTM SMs are actual single cyclinder dirtbased SM racing machine, some of which are not even street legal.

[tankhead]

Think Rotax

hey Lurker is a 52 year old male from wi.  I wonder who that could be?  

[eurofan]

You're going hate me for saying this but in cars and motorcycles America can sell image, Japan can sell engineering and Europe can sell a mix of both.

Customs are all about image and HD is strong

Sportsbikes have to perform well but also have to be good looking and have character. Ducati, MV, Aprilia, Triumph etc excels

I don't think that people care about the looks and image of a dirt bike. People want preformance and I don't think America can provide a motorcycle capable of beating Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki or the europeans in this field.

Hope I'm wrong.

But HD was never capable of building a competitive road racing motorcycle.

[naustin]

I would only respond that capable and willing are two different things.  If Buell and HD are willing to make the investment, I have no doubt that they have the capability.

Sorta like how Ford built the GT40 in the 60s, dominated Le Mans for a few years, and then they took their big bat and went back home.  Its not that they couldn't have continued to be competitive, they just made their point, and were no longer willing to spend the money there.