Erik Buell Interview Exclusive [motorcycle-usa.com]

[desert_rider]

According to Court's book 25 Years of Buell,

I've never heard of this book.  Any good?  Is it worth tracking down?

[bomber]

Whitehorse Press has it

It's a nice book on Buells, with some interesting data in it --

Written/photographed by two ex-emplyees (who left not disgruntled? would that be gruntled?) who remain friends and admirers of Buell.

[Tpoppa]

A good portion of this thead is laughable.  This notion that introducing new models is waffling is ridiculios.  I blame the educational system.

Consider the Ducati Monster.  The original Monster was a 904cc machine.  Ducati told us that was the one to buy.  Now, how many times has Ducati 'waffled' on the displacement?  

600
620
695
696
800
900
904
992
996
1100
etc.
I mean seriously, can we even trust Ducati anymore?  

It's called product development.  I'm just glad that Brad was able to post the pic of the black pod for the 500th time.

[Brad1445]

I've never heard of this book.  Any good?  Is it worth tracking down?

Read his post it should be 25 years of Bull - white washes everything and farts rainbows

[tankhead]

Tpoppa, Can I get an AMEN!!!! Seriously.  Erik built motorcycles.  He had a great run.  Excellent handling air cooled motorcycles. Who gives a rats ass really.  I have owned two of his motorcycles.  The XB9SX and now the XB12X.  I took my SX across the country.  I sold the bike with over 26,000 miles on it in two years of ownership without one hiccup. I hope my '09 will give me years of pleasure from the lump.  Carry on Erik. Make whatever the hell you want to make.  I am sure it will be great. Thanks for the great motorcycles that I have purchased.

[Brad1445]

It's really too bad that Buell has truly closed . . . . . . the buzz generated in the last few months could very well have propelled to brand to a HUGE sales spike!

But the latest product was not selling?  The older models were out selling it.

[Brad1445]

A good portion of this thead is laughable.  This notion that introducing new models is waffling is ridiculios.  I blame the educational system.

Consider the Ducati Monster.  The original Monster was a 904cc machine.  Ducati told us that was the one to buy.  Now, how many times has Ducati 'waffled' on the displacement?  

600
620
695
696
800
900
904
992
996
1100
etc.
I mean seriously, can we even trust Ducati anymore?  

It's called product development.  I'm just glad that Brad was able to post the pic of the black pod for the 500th time.

 

You compare a bike that has been selling for over ten years and started a movement,  I hope that a company would make changes over that many years.

Buells 1125 was not innovation, it was the old bike with new engines and water hanging off the sides like old lady boobs. It's the bike that killed them.  It was the bad press. Their waffles were blame on reliability.   It took nearly a year and a half to realize the metric system and the standard system are different.
501

[Brad1445]

PS the Ducati list is mostly due to variations, and engine evolution. not mandatory reliability changes.

One other note Monsters sell, 1125's did not.

Buell is out of Business.

[Tpoppa]

The more I see that pod, the more I like it  

[Brad1445]

The more I see that pod, the more I like it  

lol, run away from the light

[Spiffious]

  

You compare a bike that has been selling for over ten years and started a movement,  I hope that a company would make changes over that many years.

Buells 1125 was not innovation, it was the old bike with new engines and water hanging off the sides like old lady boobs. It's the bike that killed them.  It was the bad press. Their waffles were blame on reliability.   It took nearly a year and a half to realize the metric system and the standard system are different.
501

Speaking as an artist:

The pods, while not amazing... are not a real aesthetic problem.   (Therefore not the reason for Buell's untimely demise.)


If anything, the source of unbalance is the front fairing.  That is why the R is a bit odd... where most seem to find the CR more attractive, even with the same pods.






vs:

[Tpoppa]

Speaking as an artist:

The pods, while not amazing... are not a real aesthetic problem.   (Therefore not the reason for Buell's untimely demise.)

If anything, the source of unbalance is the front fairing.  That is why the R is a bit odd... where most seem to find the CR more attractive, even with the same pods.

I would tend to agree with that assessment.

I think the CR is the better looking of the two.  I wound up buying R for the wind protection, and figured these will be club raced for years to come.  So, if I ever decide to sell, there will probably be more of a resale market for the R.  Either way, both are a hoot to ride.  YMMV

[Kootenanny]

The pods, while not amazing... are not a real aesthetic problem.   (Therefore not the reason for Buell's untimely demise.)[/img]

Yes, exactly.  There may be any number of reasons the 1125s didn't sell well; the aesthetics of the pods are not solely to blame for it, nor are they to blame for Buell's demise.  (I mean, look at a V-Strom--fugly as sin, and not a particularly great bike either, but somehow they still sell.)  From an engineering standpoint, the pods and the side-mounted radiators they cover make a lot of sense.

I can think of other bikes which have sold poorly, but haven't killed the maker.  Buell was killed by H-D corporate, for reasons we may never know (but I expect the extreme beating their financial division was taking had a lot to do with it--as I understand it, by killing Buell, they could write off a whole lotta taxes, which helps keep H=D as a whole treading water).

[steve.m]

  

You compare a bike that has been selling for over ten years and started a movement,  I hope that a company would make changes over that many years.

Buells 1125 was not innovation, it was the old bike with new engines and water hanging off the sides like old lady boobs. It's the bike that killed them.  It was the bad press. Their waffles were blame on reliability.   It took nearly a year and a half to realize the metric system and the standard system are different.
501




Brad...as a marketing executive, you've spoken as an authority that Buell fuc*ked up.  As an engineer, i feel they did there best in a niche market.  what exactly do you market that you speak with such authority on the issue?  honestly, i'm curious, not trolling.  I can say that the 1125 was well designed for an initial product run.  FAR better than an IPOD or any other electronic device in recent years.  Hell...look at all the recalls in the past week.  The Buell is not outside the norm.  Specifically what market is your focus on?

[Brad1445]

A parent company of 14 companies all in the transportation industry from consumer level to Class 8, and manufacturing of service bodies,tool trucks etc, to mention a few.

I do not speak only of Buell from a Business standpoint. but more importantly a total CONSUMER, who bought and loved 5 great Buells.  Then this consumer watched them apparently intently sabotage themselves with string after string of silly .

If they had done some focus groups, they would have found they have a product that had little consumer appealing aesthetics.  If they had listened to the press they let ride the bikes before release, they would have delayed its intro until it could actually  run.

A house wife does not need to be a mechanic to know when her transmission if acting subpar.

It does not take a Motorcycle Manufacture to recognize a Huge motorcycle failure.  
A customer can do it, as so many did.

[macdiver]

I can think of other bikes which have sold poorly, but haven't killed the maker.  Buell was killed by H-D corporate, for reasons we may never know (but I expect the extreme beating their financial division was taking had a lot to do with it--as I understand it, by killing Buell, they could write off a whole lotta taxes, which helps keep H=D as a whole treading water).

We have a winner.  By most reports. Buell had steadily increased sales till the economy dropped out  and they were posed to due well when people started buying bikes again.  Harley took a huge loss on loans.  HD did not sell loans on the market and held all the paper.   HD needed to do something to help stay in business so they shut Buell.  Gives them some tax write offs and "shows" the investors that management is "taking action".  

Much to Brad's dismay, none of the reports, interviews, etc does anyone mention that the pods or even the fuelling issues killed Buell.

[bomber]

Brad you may be a marketing exec, but your posts have spurned fanboy written all over them . . . . . they started as mildly amusing, passed into annoying, but are now just a sign of some form lack in your life.

Odd, for someone who claims to be so angry with a company to devote so much of your energy to it.

[Tpoppa]

In the last few years Buells growth outpaced HDs.  The reasons Buell went away had more to do with HD 'circling the wagons,' to keep themselves afloat.  Check the latest quote and ratings on HOG stock if you need proof.

I still think it's odd that Brad has never actually ridden an 1125, yet he believes he is an expert on the subject    Seriously, If he had a some seat time, then decided the 1125 missed its mark, I might actually think he had some credibility.

As someone who rides sportbikes near their handling limits...If I had the chance to rethink my purchase, I would buy my 1125R again in a heartbeat!!.

[chornbe]

I still think it's odd that Brad has never actually ridden an 1125, yet he believes he is an expert on the subject    Seriously, If he had a some seat time, then decided the 1125 missed its mark, I might actually think he had some credibility.

I agree with this sentiment. Can you teach that trick to Harley bashers, touring bike bashers, sport-touring bike bashers, sport bike bashers... basically EVERYONE... too?

As someone who rides sportbikes near their handling limits...If I had the chance to rethink my purchase, I would buy my 1125R again in a heartbeat!!.

I think the 1125 platform had real potential.

For those bitching about the niggling issues, how many people *still* complain of Hondas blowing regulators, of BMWs stalling inexplicably, of Ducatis warping rotors, of... well, you get the point. EVERY product has issues to iron out. Hell, in 20 YEARS Kawasaki couldn't make the Concours brake better and stop buzzing people into numbness.

[st ryder]

A good portion of this thead is laughable.  This notion that introducing new models is waffling is ridiculios.  I blame the educational system.

Consider the Ducati Monster.  The original Monster was a 904cc machine.  Ducati told us that was the one to buy.  Now, how many times has Ducati 'waffled' on the displacement?  

600
620
695
696
800
900
904
992
996
1100
etc.
I mean seriously, can we even trust Ducati anymore?  

It's called product development.  I'm just glad that Brad was able to post the pic of the black pod for the 500th time.

You miss the point. Don't cofuse the development and evolution of the Monster with Buell bikes. Don't confuse the maker with the designer. Find me one interview in which Miguel Galluzzi waxes on about the advantages of air cooling over liquid cooling when all Ducati was offering was air cooled Monsters, *followed up* by an interview in which he states he wanted liquid cooling all along after Ducati introduces water cooled Monsters. *THAT* would be waffling in the context I'm describing. Miguel's statements about the Monster were simply that all one needed was a seat, an engine, wheels and handle bars. He does not carry on about how he purposely picked air cooled engines because he felt they were better all round *performers*: it was simplicity he was after, and little more.  

Since you want to discuss Buell's first race bike, why not also state that beside it being a British l/c smoker, it also missed the mark and was never produced in great numbers. The HD engine became the engine of choice because it was expedient, not better. The marketing that followed was simply a good hood winking job IMO. Your thoughts on the matter of Buell's sincerity/credibility may differ, but mine will not waiver: EB is spun IMO.   The pods on the 1125r prove it. Who is his right mind would sign off on those monstrosities?