Ducati Monster Forum

Interesting story about Erik Buell and his "escape" from Harley Davidson. Good for him, wish he had made that break about 25+ years ago. Think what you want about the bikes but Buell is a nice guy and pretty damn innovative. [thumbsup]

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=38756 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=38756)

... and it looks like Danny Eslick won't be riding a Buell next year after all.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=38753 (http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=38753)

Maybe he should have read the above article first before switching to Suzuki! [bang] [laugh]

mebbe we'll see this in stores after all:

(http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee172/bcc_album/paint/buell-2.jpg)

you'll notice that it's his same team from last year.

This is great to hear.  Props to Erik. [thumbsup]

Yep, same team and crew. They re-signed Eslick just a couple of days before HD axed the Buell line up. Eslick at the time acted like they still might race Buells even though no more were being made. Huh?? But he also left it open to other brands. Guess they made up their mind. He's a damn good rider. Really would like to see him continue to do well here and hopefully abroad. [thumbsup]

I wish I had a couple hundred million to burn.. I would pick up Erik, some other good designers (Terblanche?) and start a American motorcycle company that makes bikes people lust for.

+1

uh, really? Welll functioning maybe, let him in on engineering but design? I finally started liking the 999 and that only for newer models. The Multi will never be a prom queen.

But Terblanche also did the Supermono, late model Supersports, Hypermotard, Sport Classic series...and the new Guzzi concepts. He can design very nice looking bikes.

He's controversial, no doubt, but EVERYTHING Terblanche has ever done looks better than ANYTHING Buell has produced..

I am likin' it, AMA was interesting with Buell in it.

howso?

Can I get like a Kilo of whatever you're smoking?

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

.......and my own beloved MH900e.  I agree.  Terblanche isn't the devil, he's only closely related.   [evil]

I guess you mean interesting by the fact that the rules were "bent" allowing the "American Sport Bike" company to compete against the other manufacturers that had to follow the AMA rules.  I'd like to see more manufacturers compete, especially US manufacturers but "bending" the rules to allow that is not right.  I'm not really into drag racing but the same thing goes on in the NHRA with the supposed HD V-Rod.  It's done in the AMA and NHRA to get the spectators to the track to back the US brands.  But, common, everyone should have to play by the same rules.

after i read up on the AMA races, isnt the RSV1000 also in the same class as those 600 I4s?

I thought it was very close racing,  6 different manufacturers in the top 10.

Not the same guy every race 15 seconds ahead.

And yes the Aprilia was racing and the BMW was also eligable however I don't think anyone was running one.

I do not pay much attention to drag racing.

So what classes will the bike be legal for as a non-production machine?

I hope (Eric) Buell has something up his sleave to continue support of Hector Arana, this year's champion, in the NHRA Moto class.   :-\

I think the V-Twins that are campaigned in NHRA are actually required to be pushrod activated, and since the actual motor in the Buell is not, we'll see.  I would think that HD would step up to help Arana out, as the PSM rules now heavily favor the V-Twins anyhow.

Why does he need HD for any of this if the 1125R uses a Rotax engine? ??? Erik needs to make a complete and clean break from HD.

cause HD owns the Buell nameplate still. they killed the line but didn't give up the rights. hence the reason it's called Erik Buell Racing i'm sure.
so producing/using a Buell bike would require HD permission.

kinda like willy wonka needing permission to make his candy on the side after Hershey taking over the Wonka factory, closing it and putting all those poor Umpah Loompahs out of work.

http://www.kwsapriliaracing.com/ (http://www.kwsapriliaracing.com/)

I'm just thinking he could tell HD to take a flying leap and call it something else.

And he most likely signed a non-compete at some point.

Even if he didn't, he couldn't use any current models, anything he designed or pioneered or gave HD the rights to. He'd be starting from scratch. He also may not be able to bargain as well as a much larger buyer, like HD, with suppliers like Rotax.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/erik-buell-racing-1190rr-race-bike/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/erik-buell-racing-1190rr-race-bike/)

New American sport bike brand: EBR

make the beast with two backs HD, they're useless.

That yellow prototype Buell didn't burn my eyes out by being so ugly! So close, what a shame.

I'm confused...

if he's building race-only bikes, how can they be building a bike to go to WSBK?

presumably under the same interpretation of the rules used to allow it in the ama/dmg series (based-on a production model).

at this point, i'd be more concerned about him meeting the quantity requirements seeing as the company is defunct.

That's not how trademarks work. The brand "Buell" is owned by H-D. He has no rights or control to the name.

Registered in 1987 (Motorcycles), last listed owner is H-D Michigan LLC . Interestingly, the company filed for registration of this mark related to several articles, apparel and associated motorcycle products on April 16, 2009:
 (http://tess2.uspto.gov/ImageAgent/ImageAgentProxy?getImage=77715403)

but if the 1125R..RR..RRRrRRRrR? is being built in numbers too small to meet FIM homologation, and only for sale to licensed pro racers, calling it a production bike is vague, at best.  DMG making allowances for Buell is one thing, but for world?

yeah, it doesn't make sense to me, either.

guess we'll have to make more  [popcorn] and just see how this all unfolds  [laugh]

you are a good man