Good read! Wrongful mass murder of Buell.

[Red93stang]

Good reading material. Wandell is an idiot and it's starting to get out to the public.

http://jalopnik.com/5862017/cotd-the-buell-effect-edition

 

[DustyXB]

That's awesome. It would be some kinda bitchin karma to see that company fall on its face... just sayin.

 

[v_twinsam]

Steping over dollars to pick up pennies. Quit offering umpteen different electaglides and softails.

 

[Baal]

Good read. Thanks for the link. [up]

 

[dave_xb12r]

Best part of the article

One awesome thing about Erik was he encouraged any employee no matter their job come to his office or call him any time they wanted to talk or if they had any ideas.. he would actually reply to your emails with genuine interest.. show me another creator / CEO in the world who did that.

 

[WALLSXB]

Great Read! Just pisses me off more than already for the past 2 years! FUHD [down]

 

[onelogue]

"When I started racing, I didn't want to race a Japanese bike. So, I built my own".

-Erik Buell-

 

[fakameanrepresent]

Good read.

 

[ArmyMP09]

I enjoyed the line that Harley's customer base is literally dying off. SO True. Which in 20 years most of them won't be riding at all anymore.

 

[onelogue]

This is because my generation is into speed and technology. Harley is based off of heritage and with that generation aging.... their clientel is definitely falling. they lost Buell which was the only connection they had to the younger crowd. The kids I know that Love Harley are brain washing from their dads that HD is the best.

 

[c818919]

Thanks

 

[BigEasy]

OK disclaimer right off the bat: I'm a Geezer, I own an E'Glide as well as my STT and a couple other non-HD sport/sport touring bikes and several Grand in HD stock. Additionally I also believe in the '60's era warning of "never trust anyone over 30" even though I'm well beyond that age.

Wandell is an idiot and it's starting to get out to the public.

I'm not so sure he's the problem, or it's the machine of the MOCO itself is the problem. But he was certianly the head of the machine when they 86'd BUELL, and MV Agusta.

If you click around in that article you'll find some other internet prophet singing his praises as the prodigidy (don't think I know how to spell that) of Mallaly at Ford.

I do know I'm torn I think that BUELL getting pushed out sucked, I do appreciate that when I bought my stock it was $14.00/share and now it's north of $35.00/share. Big business sucks ass. But then what kind of tool am I for profiting from it?

This is because my generation is into speed and technology. Harley is based off of heritage and with that generation aging.... their clientel is definitely falling. they lost Buell which was the only connection they had to the younger crowd.

Not so fast there youngster, some of us from Geezer'ville like to go fast (that's relative and if you ever get a look at the chicken strips on my tires you'd know what I mean). I bought my E'Glide because I wanted a full tilt touring bike and you're right I did it because of the heritage thing.

You also have to remember that BUELL wasn't the only connection to speed, those little MV's are pretty darn quick, but a not many younger guys, hell not that many old guys, can afford one. The crazy thing about the MV deal was the MOCO PAID the former MV owners to take the company back, the same amount HD origionally bought MV for[confused]

Just some rambling food for thought, YMMV

 

[ct1200]

Any sport bike does what its designed for
Any cruiser does what its designed for

I have one of each for that reason, some days its fun to go fast and twist through the turns, other days its nice to take it easy and enjoy some company.

I know several ppl that picked a HD simply because "if" they have trouble they know parts are usually easy to come by, that was one of my reasons.

But there are those that live and breathe nothing but the Moco, and anything else is worthless.
And thats what comes to alot of ppl minds when they think of a typical harley rider.

I think Harley has a future, how they handle it, who knows, but they have been putting out some different models the past 5yrs, the xr, cross bones are the only two that come to mind but it shows someone in there is willing to take a small chance.

I still really think it was the rotax motor deal that sealed it for Buell, but who really knows, and does it really matter?
Erik was being held back and I think it was killing his spirit. Now he is free to fly as high as his pockets will allow him, so lets see what he can do.

 

[Red93stang]

I'm not so sure he's the problem, or it's the machine of the MOCO itself is the problem.

I dont know about that. I agree with you that statement to a degree. But I know most of the engineers at HD in KC and they werent to happy with the closing of Buell nor the hiring of Wandell. I mean really you hire a CEO for HD and the guy doesnt have a motorcycle license or any interest in motorcycles.

If you have read around or know the inside of Buell Works, they were the performance engineering side of HD. P4 "V-Rod" who started the development of that project? Buell and then Buell said "no" here take over this engine is too heavy for my sportbike project. They do everything through Buell with less cost than it would take a engineering team at HD and not because the engineers couldnt handle it at HD. Because of the bean counters and groups it had to go through to get a project approved. XR is a prime example of over budget HD engineering. WAY OVER!

 

[Dave A]

I liked Hildo