HD XR vs Buell XB

[upthemaiden]

It's hard to say where he'd be if HD hadn't picked up the bikes. I think Erik had the potential to make bikes even better than he did, but obviously didn't have the funds and resources. Other companies could have provided him with what he needed and given him the freedom to develop a better motor without telling him it needed to stay large enough to have the right 'look' so they could use it in a cruiser. Chances are any other american company would have come with a price tag of at least $20k for the same bike. I know some sacrifices were made to the XBs since HD was in charge, but that's life and while people are dissapointed that bikes didn't come with certain options that they could have, I think those things are just sore subjects because it's like the salt in the wound since we only found out about a lot of the things later on down the line after Buell was closed.

The real downside is just how they trashed the bikes once they had enough of them. Yes HD is a company and closing Buell was just a business move, but completely smashing the brand and taking a loss on it shows you some things about what's wrong with the company and what people get so upset about. I don't think people would have hated HD nearly as bad had they given another company the option to take over Buell, or didn't treat us like trash when we go into a dealership to try and buy a part for a bike that we bought from them. When you treat your customers like a step-child I think it's generally accepted that there's going to be a little contempt coming your way. The fact that they're willing to let their former customers squirm just because some stupid $20 part on their bike breaks and soon they'll have no way to replace it is pretty unforuntate, and really doesn't back the HD loyalty they push so hard for.

I really really hope somehow down the line that EBR or someone else has the ability to produce some replacement parts for the XBs. It would be nice to know that I'm not going to have to just part out my bike down the line because the stupidest little piece broke on my bike and it's impossible to find a new one.

I wish they'd also stop selling people inflated egos so a couple F'n HD riders would wave back to me when I go out on a ride, like I'm a leper or something...

 

[vroom]

I haven't had that experience. I've been treated extremely well by the people at my HD shop. Even if I feel a lot out of place when some of them are wearing fingerless gloves and sporting pony tails.
They are just people that work there. If where you go, you get an attitude, you can't blame HD. Blame the jerk giving you the attitude.

 

[Alfatango1]

If I take a bare block ford 351W, install trick flow heads, crane cam, scat crank, keith black pistons, etc, etc, etc....what have I got?
I'll tell you. A ford 351W.

If you designed and engineered new pistons, cams, crank and the like and manufactured them yourself and then installed and sold it I would consider it a Ford 351w. Now if you bought all the parts out of the Summit Racing catalog like in your example sure.

 

[BuellRider3158]

Yeah I have to say people at my local HD shop are just grumpy to everybody, whether your buying Buell or Harley parts. And trust me upthemaiden, real Harley riders could care less what you ride. I went to an outlaw biker event and I got a ton of compliments on my Lightning. It's the weekend warrior type Harley riders that seem to maintain an elitist attitude and look down on any other type of bike.

 

[vroom]

If someone who knew a little about cars asked you what kind of motor you had in it, what would you tell them? Even in your example, I'd still say a ford 351w.

 

[Paniller]

Have you guys read the May 2010 Cycle World article "The Death of Buell"?

To recap, Harley was the reason we didn't get:
1. Variations of the Blast
2. Upgradable Blast motor to a 1400 twin
3. A liquid cooled bike sooner
4. XB short stroke 1350
5. XB turbo
6. 1125R with full fairing
7. 3 cylinder middle weight models

OMG. ME wants!

 

[upthemaiden]

I didn't mean to say that everyone in the dealership would treat you that way, I was just saying when you go into the dealership to ask for a certain part, you get the response of "it's on back order, I don't know how long it'll take", and eventually that's going to turn into "no, they don't make that anymore", and as friendly as the guy at the counter may be, it's still an insult coming straight from HD to sell you a vehicle then tell you you're not going to be able to fix it.

 

[BuellRider3158]

I've never had that problem, they have always been good about getting parts quickly. They once forgot to order a part I came in and paid for, and so they overnight shipped it to me to make up for it.

 

[upthemaiden]

6 years and counting until the "we don't make that anymore" line.

 

[Alfatango1]

f you designed and engineered new pistons, cams, crank and the like and manufactured them yourself and then installed and sold it I would "NOT" consider it a Ford 351w. Now if you bought all the parts out of the Summit Racing catalog like in your example sure

my bad typo, no it would not be a Ford 351w

 

[CBi]

Comparing an XB motor to a sportster motor....I'd say it's like comparing a small block chevy to an LS1.

The LS1 was derived from the small block, but they don't share too many parts.

As far as the XR1200....I just can't get into them. I think being a Buell owner makes me look at them differently, I dunno. I can see how they are appealing to others, but they're just too tall and clumsy looking to me.

If someone was interested in a real street tracker, I'd build or buy something like a Mule (google Mule Motorcycles)

 

[anrkizm95]

i had a 351 then came bore,stroke,balance,pistons,cam,rods,heads,crank now its a benson 413 ci when people ask.

 

[bardo688]

What is keeping EBR from mass producing? Can-Am wanted the Buell name. Why not sell them the EBR name, since they have the Rotax engine. Make Eric head of that division and use buell as the Can-Am Flagship. Can-Am spyder is a new revolution in Motorcycles the odd look of buells would slide in nicely. I mean we all love our xb's but stepping towards a liquid V-Twin or the (Motus?) V-4 would be a big step over the solid stepping stone of our Hopped up 984 & 1203's.

 

[anrkizm95]

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