No more Buell...

[ducatiz]

I heard he's staying on at Harley.  The MotorCo. should give Erik the XR1200 to fix it and make it weigh at least 100 lbs. less.

And that Buell/Rotax engine?  Beats anything Harley will ever have.

LA

I think killing Buell was the result of that engine because it really shamed HD.

I'd like to see Erik B go off and do his own thing again, maybe restart Buell as an American version of Bimota -- designing bikes and using whatever powerplant he wants to, which is sort of his history with the Yamahas and harley lumps.

[1KDS]

Just read the five page thread on a Buell forum this is my favorite post.

I'm with you Mike, F@%* Harley, I've been goin after market since day one, aside from the two engines, three headers, 4 fuel pumps, 3 stators, wait a minute now I can fix my own crap. Harley sucks

[EvilSteve]

I'd like to see Erik Buell tell HD to make the beast with two backs right off as well. Maybe these guys could use some help?

[Lars D]

Hd has turned its back on ANYONE that has plans to buy a motorcycle with ANY performance characterristics.

I am truly disgusted.

[ducatiz]

I'd love to see Erik leave hd but he is still getting a check from them and will prob toe the line.  Plus hd owns his name and he has a noncompete no doubt. 

[z0mb1e_DUC]

No doubt HD owns the rights to the Buell name, but historically, Non-Competes won't stand up in court.  I'm betting he is still under contract to them, so that would prevent him going out on his own.

[Markus]

Michael Lock's comments on Buell's closing down:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Oct/091015j.htm

[gregrnel]

Holy crap! It seems to me that HD is in deep doodoo.  Bad economy, saturated market, bad loans, shrinking boomer market........maybe they can float the ship by selling ugly, black, flame and eagle laden t-shirts.

[ducpainter]

I think killing Buell was the result of that engine because it really shamed HD.

I'd like to see Erik B go off and do his own thing again, maybe restart Buell as an American version of Bimota -- designing bikes and using whatever powerplant he wants to, which is sort of his history with the Yamahas and harley lumps.

The V-rod motor already did that.

[bluemoco]

I agree with Michael Lock - the one-year turnaround on the MV Agusta deal is really surprising.  Hell, they bought MV in August of '08, and Harley's CEO paid his first visit to MV in March of this year. 

[jerryz]

I have owned over a dozen HDs and ran a dealership but now I think they are Dinosaurs  I liked and owned 2 Buell  lightenings but the newer models are Ugly beasts ,,sad to see them go though. HD will not go out of business but will shrink but they really do need to look to their business model as their core market is slowly dying off .

I own 3 Ducatis now and dont want to change but still work on mates HDs for them .

[ducatiz]

No doubt HD owns the rights to the Buell name, but historically, Non-Competes won't stand up in court.  I'm betting he is still under contract to them, so that would prevent him going out on his own.

I'm not sure where you get that idea, but non-competes often usually hold if both parties have acted in good faith.  I've done a few cases on business non competes and the affected party has to show bad faith by the other party as to some material part of their agreement.

It doesn't seem there is any bad faith by HD here, as they have just made a simple business decision and are retaining Erik Buell.  If he unilaterally goes off by himself, he will probably be subject to a non compete, and it will probably stand.

A non compete requirement only works under a contractual agreement, he can be subject to that agreement for the rest of his life regardless if he is working for HD or not (if that is how the agreement was structured).

[ducatiz]

The V-rod motor already did that.

I meant Buell using a Rotax engine shamed the HD historians.. (ahem.. "engineers").  The VMax (ahem.. V-ROD) might have done it too, but it's still HD designed (isn't it?) and is a V twin, albeit 60 deg... it's not a Swedish designed parallel, is what i meant...

[derby]

I meant Buell using a Rotax engine shamed the HD historians.. (ahem.. "engineers").  The VMax (ahem.. V-ROD) might have done it too, but it's still HD designed (isn't it?) and is a V twin, albeit 60 deg... it's not a Swedish designed parallel, is what i meant...

german-designed, actually (porsche)...

[hbliam]

I feel bad for Erik Buell, not so much for MV. Buell was allowed to put a few inovative ideas to market that are now commonplace (Mass centralization, underbike muffler) that never would have seen light of day if it wasnt for his tireless work and dedication. The AMAZING thing is that the Buell was built at all in the US, given the idea crushing, CYA attitude of nearly every executive I have ever worked with.

I thought Honda was pushing mass centralization pre-Buell.