Buell closes down forever...

[L8 Braker]

[Gaolee]

So, how is DMG supposed to screw things up now, anyway?

Harley is also planning to sell MV Agusta. I guess they are going to concentrate on pirates for the time being. To heck with the rest of us.

[binx_19]

is that really a surprise to anyone? when you piss off the people you are trying to sell to it isnt going to work out well.

[blurr]

Pissed off whom?

There goes some more jobs, the recession is over dont you know.

[PhilB]

If true, this is a drag. MV Agusta will probably find a buyer and soldier on. But losing Buell is a bummer. I always liked the idea, and they were always fun to ride, but had stayed away due to concerns that the Sportster-based engine might not hold up for as long as I like to own a bike (although I do know a guy with over 100K on one.) With the new 1125 models, though, they were really getting somewhere. If I was to buy a new bike right now, the 1125CR would be (or would have been) on my short list.

Originally Posted by blurr

Pissed off whom? ...

The customers. Part of the ongoing problem was that the dealers mostly considered themselves to be Harley dealers, and sold Buells only under protest. They didn't like the bikes, didn't treat the customers for those bikes equally or well, didn't provide good service for them, pissed off the customers. I have heard a LOT of people say they wouldn't consider a Buell for those reasons alone.

PhilB

[binx_19]

Originally Posted by blurr

Pissed off whom?

There goes some more jobs, the recession is over dont you know.

The fan base of motorcycle racing.

i was interested in the 1125r when it first came out, test road one during the rally in sturgis. then when i saw that buell was getting special treatment in AMA racing i started to dislike the bike.

[Builtgypsy]

Harley knows how to make a great cruiser, but dammit all to hell, Buell was a really cool idea.

[binx_19]

Originally Posted by Builtgypsy

Harley knows how to make a great cruiser, but dammit all to hell, Buell was a really cool idea.

i disagree here, harley knows how to MARKET a sub par cruiser.

[Builtgypsy]

Harley knows how to make a great cruiser. I own a sub par cruiser. The differences are astounding.

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by binx_19

i disagree here, harley knows how to MARKET a sub par cruiser.

In what ways are Harleys sub-par cruisers? You can't judge any cruiser by sportbike criteria; that's like judging trucks based on how good they are as sportscars. I don't personally have much use for cruisers, but Harley makes good ones. Harleys are well built, generally of more solid and durable materials than the competition, and very well designed for their intended purposes. IF I was to get a cruiser, it probably would be a Harley; I would have more confidence it would really last, and since Harleys are built with more metal and less plastic, that it wouldn't wind up with a whole bunch of brittle plastic bits falling apart after 10 or 15 years.

PhilB