Indian Buell

[Phoenix]

You guys realize that the bike pictured is not a EBR designed bike right? That's one of like 20 bikes Hero Moto currently offers in their home market.

Yes we realize that. The point isn't that he's building "that" bike but that EBR will potentialy be infuencing bikes directed at more of Blast market now.

To tebeoh, Narrow closed minded fools? More like a group of individuals sick of watching American products, manufacturing, identity, and economy being ran into the ground. I think we are fearfull, not close minded, after watching what has happened to so many other companies that have gone down this same path. I personally just wish he would keep it fully on American dirt. From a PR standpoint this is a terrible decision, perceptively an act of desperation, and I would love to hear more from Eric as to what his new direction and business plan is.

I have personally watched the company I work for strip job's from my local economy and move them to Singapore and India. We once employed over 1500 local individuals with very competitive salaries and now in 4 years we only have maybe 100 people left. So ya, [down] India. Those people are the equivelent of union scabs stealing our jobs, undercutting our salaries and benefits, and they are completely disrespectful and hateful even to the indivuals they are taking their job's from. Anyone to say otherwise doesn't work with them on a daily basis.

I no longer have advancement opportunities now because all the positions have been dissolved in my building and relocated oversea's. I have worked for the same company for 6 years and now have to look elsewhere to continue expanding my income and supporting my family because the evironment has become so toxic as to run us all out. Our local trainer has been in Singapore all week training new employee's. Our unions response to this isn't to fight to bring these job's back, but rather to unionize these foreigners and go international themselves!?

And before you think for a second that they had to outsource out of necessity to maintain their business, think again. It's a fortune 500 company and one of the most profitable companies in the U.S. They simply do it to increase profit margins. So no my close minded ass won't be supporting any Indian product or any companies that sell us out to them.

If you wonder why it's nearly impossible to buy American now a days? It's because you haven't been... Know how to fix that? Start.

 

[Alfatango1]

According to Hero Moto they want to build a world class sport bike and want ERB's help in doing so. As far as building a "Blast" type of market bike I don't see why they would need EBR for that. They already have 20 plus bikes with 223cc or less available. They seem to sell a **** ton of them, so why would they need to change them? Yes I know they are losing or leaving Honda but all they would need is another tiny engine and EBR has no way to produce those numbers. He may design one for overseas production but so what? If he can get funding to produce a reasonably priced ($15-$20K) version of the 1190 I'm cool with that.

 

[BitchinXb]

THEY TOOK OUR JOBBBBSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[d_adams]

I think you missed my point... EB committed business hairy Carrie when he discontinued the blast....wait back up.... smashed the blast and said fu to some of the future prospects of buyers.

I'm not certain that EB actually did that. HD would be the more likely culprit.

 

[cincybolt12]

Close minded or not i agree with Phoenix. Anyone on here that says their buell being the American dream it is did not play a part in their decision is full of it. Buell made me fall in love cause i grew up around harleys. I fell in love with the crowd the outlaws, the general i don't give a f... cause this is who i am. I grew up and while that's who i get to be every day you don't loose it. You want a bike that fits your generation but not to loose its roots like you. I feel if so many of us can literally go to war to protect our country, the least our corporations that we support could do is leave the job opportunitys here. I picked American over honda for a reason. Now our dream bikes are gonna sell out to the same people basically. I would rather work for 5 years to get the exclusive American badass than sell out for a cheap one. What did your bike choices look like? Wild guesses buell, busa,gsxr,maybe a zx10 or 12. But even though all those bikes would smoke you you bought a buell. All of us did. Or got both. For reason. But IDK opinions are like a..holes or something like that

 

[Alfatango1]

THEY TOOK OUR JOBBBBSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you work in a call center?

 

[mowgoli84]

After reading this thread-I sure am glad EB is making these decisions, and not anyone here (for the most part)

Even though it's not entirely the same situation, I've been here before. Not EBR specifically, but the hundreds of companies we have seen pack it up and head overseas for cheaper production and labor costs have us to thank just as much as they are to blame.

For example. Cannondale Bicycles... packed it up, and is now producing all their frames overseas, aside from a few select frames, but I think thats over now to. Yes, it blows that the last big american bicycle company moved over seas but being someone who knows the in and outs of what was going on there, there are two glaring reasons for that move, among others.
1. Americans as a whole... not all.. but most are lazy as ****. They don't wanna work more overtime when a deadline is due, and they certainly want to be overcompensated for it. (cannondale couldn't keep up with production because their employees refused to work weekends and minor holidays)
2. People Dont want to pay what ***** worth. So what a company supposed to do, produce the same high quality product and bend over and take it in the ass cause Americans are used to seeing cheap chinese **** at half the price?

Meanwhile Cannondale is producing frames overseas that are seeing less warranty issues than they were when they were being made here.

We started shooting ourselves in the foot a long time ago, when people started buying all this cheap ****, and it sucks for people like us (minority american sport bike lovers) that don't make up a big enough minority to make great changes.

I'd of rathe seen him team up with someone else. KTM, Rotax, etc, but hopefully this is just a means of capital.

Rant off.


My idea... There is a pretty big group of very talented people on this forum. Why not go balls out, assemble a team... and start your own American Motorcycle adventure

 

[Tachometer]

I'd of rathe seen him team up with someone else. KTM, Rotax, etc, but hopefully this is just a means of capital.

Bajaj Auto from India have 25 percent stake of KTM and they have close R&D collaboration in smaller engines. New small Dukes (125 and 200) are manufactured in India.

Maybe the EBR/Hero alliance will be similar than with KTM/Bajaj: Small starter bikes will be manufactured in India and state-of-the-art bikes will be built in USA...

 

[d_adams]

I sit corrected. Never saw that video before.

 

[badgerbuell]

I guess im misunderstanding the article. I dont see how this is taking jobs away from americans. In exchange for ebr r&d, hero provides ebr with sponcership and capital to ramp up production for the 1190 built in america by americans. Im not trying to be a smart ass, but i dont see why this is so bad. It doesnt say hero will be building ebr bikes. I dont know, guess im not understanding.

 

[Alfatango1]

I guess im misunderstanding the article. I dont see how this is taking jobs away from americans. In exchange for ebr r&d, hero provides ebr with sponcership and capital to ramp up production for the 1190 built in america by americans. Im not trying to be a smart ass, but i dont see why this is so bad. It doesnt say hero will be building ebr bikes. I dont know, guess im not understanding.

I think you have comprehended the article just the way I did. Having said that, where's that poster that shows where all those XB parts came from. I know my 03 frame was made in Italy, is it OK if it's Italian but not Indian? Anyway, it takes tons of money to build a new car or motorcycle and EBR would never survive without outside funding.

 

[brumbear]

I don't care if anyone thinks I am on a high and mighty kick. I will not buy a Buell with an India link last time I looked I can do what I want there is no Cass system here.

 

[Alfatango1]

I don't care if anyone thinks I am on a high and mighty kick. I will not buy a Buell with an India link last time I looked I can do what I want there is no Cass system here.

No one is attacking you dude, everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's totally OK, we are all riders of Buell bikes and are having an open discussion. I for one like having input from others who don't always agree with me. I'm open minded.

 

[brumbear]

Sorry guys I didn't mean to bark. I do want to say I love my Buell and the Buell I owned before that which was an HD power plant it was a great machine. I made a statement that I wouldn't buy a Buell linked to an Indian co. that's all. I have to deal with quite a few Indian co. I do not like the way they do business and like the way they treat people even less.I should have stated Indian Business Culture. I know nothing of there actual culture sorry. High and mighty I am not. I see a company that can quickly give EBR so much business they can start to dictate what he will do and they WILL DO THAT if they have the chance. I would ask myself and I do thats why I am trying to find the answer is the Indian market gonna let US companies do business in India without putting plants up in India cause we need jobs here. I try to buy American when possible and when it comes to buying my motorbike it's possible BTW I am not ever buying a Harley for many reasons but one is by putting a plant in India. If I can't buy American Europe is the next best thing as long as it isn't linked to India.

 

[Alfatango1]

Oh well, it's early. Lets hope for the best. at least it should be interesting.

 

[moshaholic2]

wow.... some real ignorance going on in here.

Hero is providing much needed $$$$ to EBR to expand his racing (which in turn with victories will bring in it's own $$$$)

In exchange, Hero get's some R&D help from EBR (since Hero just broke away from Honda) and it gives them a little exposure in the racing world... where Hero want's to start producing "performance" motorcycles of their own for their own market.

Thats all folks. No Indian made buells. No Indian "parent" company... just some extra money for racing in exchange for some design help.

 

[tebeoh]

^[up] well said mosh

 

[Blaylock1988]

Agreed, moshaholic put it perfectly. In almost every interview and video, Buell has always talked about making the best US MADE superbike. There is no way he wants to make any motorcycles anywhere else but here in the US. Hero wanted to get out of the scooter business and enter the real motorcycle market so Buell is helping in exchange for money.

The bike in that picture sure looks like an 1190 to me though. It just has Hero sponsorship on it.

 

[Alfatango1]

The bike in that picture sure looks like an 1190 to me though. It just has Hero sponsorship on it.

It is just that. I think I read Danny gets a season or two of sponsorship and another rider gets 1.

 

[moshaholic2]

Yup, Hero is sponsoring the bikes this season. The EBR logo is still on the airbox. It's no different yhan the Xerox logo'd Ducati's a few seasons ago.