Let's put it to rest for once.

[Brad1445]

If the 1125 was a well thought out well performing bike DEPENDABLE , then pods alone would not have kept me away from my dream bike.  An "American" assembled high revving twin.

The only reason I reference pods is its an easy way to say rushed to market. Its the largest easiest way to tell something is not wrong.  Unfortunately it was just the tip of the iceberg of a bike rushed to market.

The Buell name has zero value.
I still read badweb everyday. The 2010 models are little better than the the 2008's and I have zero tolerance for dealer service visits.

[steve.m]

I haven't had to touch my uly aside from the 1k service.  then again, it's an A/C motor so i might just be whistling out my a$$ saying that.

[kendenton]

Good God, how did this get started up again?

 

[Brad1445]

I haven't had to touch my uly aside from the 1k service.  then again, it's an A/C motor so i might just be whistling out my a$$ saying that.

Those were great bikes!

[steve.m]

Good God, how did this get started up again?

 

i was bored and felt like poking the fire

[Tpoppa]

If I have zero tolerance for dealer service visits.

Then why buy a Ducati?  Aside from the new MTS, the service intervals aren't exactly long.

[steve.m]

Those were great bikes!

ah...so let us discuss.

the A/C bikes were great but admittedly overpriced.  Buell's best selling bike (IIRC) was the ulysses, an air cooled machine.  The company didn't show much for profitability until the 1125 was released and at that time, they showed growth and were shut down during a recession when HD lost substantial profit.  

now...do you still blame the pods/1125 for the company's demise, or are you willing to recognize they are aesthetically displeasing to you and the company would have been laid to rest regardless of the release of the 1125 line?

[Tpoppa]

I still read badweb everyday.

You read everyday about a motorcycle you don't like and have no intention of buying   Seriously  

Obsession:
1.  Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.
2.  A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

[Brad1445]

ah...so let us discuss.

the A/C bikes were great but admittedly overpriced.  Buell's best selling bike (IIRC) was the ulysses, an air cooled machine.  The company didn't show much for profitability until the 1125 was released and at that time, they showed growth and were shut down during a recession when HD lost substantial profit.  

now...do you still blame the pods/1125 for the company's demise, or are you willing to recognize they are aesthetically displeasing to you and the company would have been laid to rest regardless of the release of the 1125 line?

Nope, if they were selling they would still be in Business, other small manufactures watched their market grow.
Fine one review where they say what a cool looking bike this was.  The most polite people just did not discuss the looks because there is no way to lie with a straight face on that one.

A fully comprehensively well thought out bike pleasing to the eye with Buell handling and Rotax power would have been a non stop success.   There was so much bad press on this bike don't blame me, take a look at the managers that released the bike for sale.

[Brad1445]

You read everyday about a motorcycle you don't like and have no intention of buying   Seriously  

Obsession:
1.  Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety.
2.  A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

Probably true.

Its like a car accident, I don't want to look but cant stop myself.  Your right it's sick.  If they have me the a 1125 for free I would sell it.

But I do greatly miss the funnest bikes ever made, the XB bikes 84 Torque with belt drive.

[steve.m]

Nope, if they were selling they would still be in Business, other small manufactures watched their market grow.
Fine one review where they say what a cool looking bike this was.  The most polite people just did not discuss the looks because there is no way to lie with a straight face on that one.

A fully comprehensively well thought out bike pleasing to the eye with Buell handling and Rotax power would have been a non stop success.   There was so much bad press on this bike don't blame me, take a look at the managers that released the bike for sale.

well at least you've come to terms with the fact that it wasn't ONLY the 1125 bikes/pods that killed buell  

[wbrisett]

Buell's best selling bike (IIRC) was the ulysses, an air cooled machine.

Actually it was the Blast by large numbers, but a lot of those went to dealers for their Rider's Edge course, then got sold on the used market. The Uly was the second biggest selling bike. And honestly why not, it was by far the best all round Buell. But that said, the AC engine couldn't do what Erik and Co. wanted, that was to win on the track. They simply ran out of steam. The AMA races aside, I still think Erik was on the right track with the 1125 engine. As has been shown and stated here many times, the timing for Buell was more of an issue rather than sales. The CR was getting good reviews and I suspect the 2010 and 2011 bike might have been even better sellers had they had a chance. We'll simply never know for sure.

Wayne

[chornbe]

Actually it was the Blast by large numbers, but a lot of those went to dealers for their Rider's Edge course, then got sold on the used market. The Uly was the second biggest selling bike. And honestly why not, it was by far the best all round Buell. But that said, the AC engine couldn't do what Erik and Co. wanted, that was to win on the track. They simply ran out of steam. The AMA races aside, I still think Erik was on the right track with the 1125 engine. As has been shown and stated here many times, the timing for Buell was more of an issue rather than sales. The CR was getting good reviews and I suspect the 2010 and 2011 bike might have been even better sellers had they had a chance. We'll simply never know for sure.

Wayne

Fleet sales have to be removed from the equation for sales popularity, IMO. That leaves the Uly.

$.02

[steve.m]

 

[falconati]

Agree with Chris

[Tpoppa]

The core problem for Buell was distribution.

If you don't believe me...walk into a HD dealership in actual riding gear (read: non pirate or Village People), then tell me how welcome you feel.

HD dealers are/were just not geared up to support riders of sport bikes:
--They had no gear other than possibly a token amout of Buell branded gear.  No Joe Rocket, Arai, Scorpion, Alpinestars, Teknic...
--Tires.  Sure we can get you tires as long as they're OEM and you pay full MSRP.  Puulleeeese.

Good sportbike dealers, make more on gear and tires than on bike sales.  HD dealers just weren't setup to capture those $$.

Over the last 2-3, years I've probably spent $2k on gear & tires.  Not one of those dollars was spent at a HD dealer.

[chornbe]

--Tires.  Sure we can get you tires as long as they're OEM and you pay full MSRP.  Puulleeeese.

I actually found the opposite to be true at my HD dealer. They steered me away from the stock 404s and they maintain a MSRP -%30 price on tires (at least the ones I've bought there), and keep them in stock. Granted, they don't have sport bike tires there, but for their core vehicles, they have everything you'd need and then some.

I did have to order a stupid seat bolt when I changed seats on one of the bikes, though. That was silly.

[st ryder]

The core problem for Buell was distribution.

If you don't believe me...walk into a HD dealership in actual riding gear (read: non pirate or Village People), then tell me how welcome you feel.

HD dealers are/were just not geared up to support riders of sport bikes:
--They had no gear other than possibly a token amout of Buell branded gear.  No Joe Rocket, Arai, Scorpion, Alpinestars, Teknic...
--Tires.  Sure we can get you tires as long as they're OEM and you pay full MSRP.  Puulleeeese.

Good sportbike dealers, make more on gear and tires than on bike sales.  HD dealers just weren't setup to capture those $$.

Over the last 2-3, years I've probably spent $2k on gear & tires.  Not one of those dollars was spent at a HD dealer.

I agree with that *up to a point*, and then I need to say if peeps really wanted a Buell, they would have "put up" with all of that and got what they wanted. If any person states that he would have bought a Buell if not for the "Harley scene", I call BS.   There are ways around that, and keeping an open mind is the first.   I go into a BMW boutique shop/showroom/dealership all the time, as much as that "scene" makes me want to puke, but I go, get my stuff, and leave asap, lest I make eye contact with a young, upwardly mobile, materialistic, poser.  

And really, when you think about it, what better opportunity is there for people who state they enjoy being different than to strut their differentness in the faces of conformity's disciples in their own palace?  

[bomber]

I agree with that *up to a point*, and then I need to say if peeps really wanted a Buell, they would have "put up" with all of that and got what they wanted.

This is true, but (you knew trhat was coming) . . . . .

I loved my Tuber to death -- still do -- it's a great example of what I would have built for myself when I was in high-school, full of piss and vinagar and feeling immortal -- my Hot-rodded tuber is a wonderful bike, a nearly perfect example of what it is.

When it came time to buy my next bike, I seriously considered a Uly (though I wound up with a Tiger) -- I didn't buy primarily due to the distribution channel, and a lack of faith that I could keep it on the road approaching 99% of the time. I took way too long for my Tuber's "character traits" to get squared away under warrenty, and only after I worked the system like made (annd thanks to the folks over on Badweb for the help in doing that).

So, I guess you can say I didn't "really" want a Buell -- in the broadest sense, bike, dealershipp network, teething pains (I mean, really, who under specs a bolt holding the kickstand to the motorcycle?) and all. Though Buells made great scoots, for me, there was too much baggage to carry along with the bike.

[Tpoppa]

I agree with that *up to a point*, and then I need to say if peeps really wanted a Buell, they would have "put up" with all of that and got what they wanted. If any person states that he would have bought a Buell if not for the "Harley scene", I call BS.  

HA.  I couldn't disagree more.  Plenty of sportbike riders are turned off by the whole HD scene.  Among sportbike riders there was a big anti-Buell bias, that seemed to melt away once HD shuttered Buell.  I think  the bigger issue was related to traffic.  Not that many sportbike friendly riders wander in the local HD dealer.  The folks who bought Buells were there to specifically buy a Buell.

My point was that the HD dealers missed out on the $$ that they could have made by not having gear, accessories, & tires.

...Hey, here's  $1,000 I'd like to buy some CRG Bar End Mirrors, some Pazzo levers, an FMF exhaust, and a set of Michelin Pilot  Powers.  Hmmm, I can't seem to find them anywhere in the Screaming Eagle Catalog...