Nice article on Entrepreneur.com about Erik Buell and EBR

[DogBoy]

How Motorcycle Designer Eric (sic) Buell Got His Vroom Back, Post Harley-Davidson

They could have spelled his name right in the headline, I guess, but otherwise good reading.  

[Kootenanny]

There were a few other mistakes (for example, there is no such thing as a 2001 XB12R Firebolt--they were first produced as a 2004 model), but otherwise a good article.  

It is important to keep in mind that although H-D trashed Buell in the end, BMC would likely never have gotten anywhere near where it did if it hadn't been for Harley's investment.  Just think, though, what BMC might have done if H-D had just kept out of the way...

[veefer800canuck]

Good story. I so wish that H-D would have taken Rotax up on it's offer to entirely buy out BMC and let Erik go free.

Continue to churn out parts and service for the government mandated period for all Sportster-engined Buells, and let the Rotax powered versions be dealt with by the new company.

Don't bug Erik, give him his walking papers, and make a clean split. It's not like there are many people out there teetering on the fence as to whether or not they should get an Ultra-Wide-Fat-Heritage-Bald Eagle-Classic, or an 1190RS instead.

Their excuse not to sell was that BMC was "too integrated" to part out of the giant T-shirt corporation that is H-D, yet how freaking fast did they shutter the entire Buell marque, lay off the employees, liquidate/destroy the bikes and tooling, and claim a giant loss to the IRS???

Not very freaking long. It could be measured in days. Tens of days, months yes, but IIRC, it was Mucho Rapido.

"Too integrated" my ass.  

[FiremanBob]

But isn't EBR a corporation? Doesn't that make him evil in the eyes of many STNers?

[JReazor]

But isn't EBR a corporation? Doesn't that make him evil in the eyes of many STNers?

No it's not a corporation, it's an LLC. No pot to stir here.

[bomber]

Good piece (not bad for a business reporter, not the most knowledgable arrows in the journalistic quiver) . . . .

The new bikes are simply gorgeous, and EBR is hiring engineers and race team folks -- I wish him (and all the Elves in East Troy) the absolute best!

[DogBoy]

But isn't EBR a corporation? Doesn't that make him evil in the eyes of many STNers?

Yes, thats why none of us have ever bought a bike from a corporation.

[Kootenanny]

"Too integrated" my ass.  

I've said that since Day 1.  If they'd sold Buell to BRP (which already owns Rotax), they would not only have divested themselves of a company the new management obviously wanted gone, but they'd have actually brought in some cash and guaranteed a market for certain parts for the foreseeable future.  

I get the feeling, though, that there were probably some kind of tax incentive shenanigans going on...these kinds of deals never seem quite so straightforward once the tax man gets involved...

[Croak]

http://blogs.wsj.com/dealjournalindia/2012/02/22/hero-motocorp-partners-with-eric-buell-racing/