You've may not know of Buell motorcycles. It was a small, American manufacturer of sportbikes that used Harley-Davidson engines. In fact, Buell was a division of Harley until today as the company just announced that it's shutting down Buell and selling off the MV Agusta sportbike division it bought just last year.
It's a sad end to what was a great story of American ingenuity. Erik Buell built the company from scratch and enjoyed moderate success by building bikes that emphasized mass centralization to improve handling. The latest bikes used their frame as a gas tank and stored engine oil in the rear swingarm to keep the weight low and centered. Although the archaic Harley engines often held Buell back, the British magazine Bike (the two-wheelded equivalent to CAR magazine) named the XB12R one the best cornering bikes of all time in 2005.
I've got a personal soft spot for Buell as I owned the XB12R above. It was indeed a blast to ride, the big block of sportbikes with an exhaust to match. Later, I remember talking to a BMW engineer in Germany about his Buell. He couldn't get over how well it handled and he loved what he called, "that big American sound."
Glad I had the chance to sample it myself as it's unlikely there will be another American builder of attainable sport bikes anytime soon. Let's hope I'm wrong.
dougnash2009 says:
10:43 AM, 10/15/09
That is a terrible shame. While the bikes had some flaws (quirks?), they were truly unique, in a world of "me too" race-tech. I never had the chance to own one, but it was on my short list for when I'm next in a position to buy a bike. I also remember just how cool their tech and sales people were at the LB Motorcycle shows. It was never a problem to get a test ride, and they could actually answer detailed questions.
I would NEVER own a regular Harley (just not my cup of tea) but I would have proudly bought a Buell. I guess they succumbed to the fact that too many others "would" have but didn't...
rick8365 says:
11:47 AM, 10/15/09
Bummer!
rsholland says:
11:56 AM, 10/15/09
Harley is also selling MV Agusta, the famous Italian bike maker—which they recently bought. If that brand goes under it too will be a huge shame.
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/15/buell-motorcycles-to-be-discontinued-and-mv-agusta-sold-off-as-harley-davidson-income-falls/
bankerdanny says:
01:47 PM, 10/15/09
A real shame. Buell's were generally well reviewed, and the couple of fellow bikers I knew that had them really liked them. I have to wonder if Buell would have survived longer as an independent company rather than as a subsidiary of HD. Like dougnash, I have no real desire for a Harley (although the new XR1200 is a bike I would own), but when I was looking at buying a bigger bike last year to replace my Royal Enfield Bullet, I considered a new Buell rather than a used something else (cheaper won out and I bought an '89 Yamaha FJ1200).
I know he has deep ties to HD, but perhaps Eric will explore a move over to Victory, which has produced some incredible cruisers and touring bikes and has gone toe-to-toe with Harley and not given ground.
Good luck to Eric Buell and his team.
roadburner says:
06:46 PM, 10/15/09
I looked at Buells when I started bike shopping; they are great bikes. That said, I wound up with a T3 Speed Triple and have never regretted it. I'd really hate to see MV Augusta go Tango Uniform; I prefer the Brit/Euro bikes.
flicmod says:
06:55 AM, 10/16/09
I've never been into motorcycles like I've been into cars, but I always had a spot in my heart for Buell's. Something about the styling and engineering always appealed to me. They had a raw, natural feel to them while still being refined in the ways mentioned in the article. I always told myself that if I ever bought a bike, it'd be a Buell.
iskch says:
08:24 AM, 10/16/09
Is sad to see Buell go. I read several articles concerning Buell clash with H-D dealers. H-D dealers hated Buells. H-D had trouble to market the Buells to begin with.
roadburner says:
10:44 AM, 10/16/09
"H-D dealers hated Buells."
I can only imagine; every Buell sold in place of an H-D meant that one more skid lid/beanie helmet sat on the shelf- along with the fringed saddlebags and size XL H-D halter tops...
firstwagon says:
01:14 PM, 10/16/09
I'd like to hear more about how HD dealers hated Buells. I always thought Buell would be the saviour of HD in the long run.
Harleys appeal to a rapidly aging market, none of the youger bikers I know would ever consider one. There is a new generation now that has never seen Easy Rider and thinks of Harleys as overweight, overpriced rattling slugs (not my words).
Buell however was cool.
Why would the dealers dislike the only chance a lot of them have to be in business 10 to 20 years from now?
desmolicious says:
04:59 PM, 10/16/09
"I always told myself that if I ever bought a bike, it'd be a Buell."
= not a sale. No offense.
Even on the enthusiast moto websites that I browse, the sentiment is very much 'what is Harley thinking?', ignoring the fact that all those posters themselves do not own and would not buy a Buell.
Buells didn't sell, lights out. Simple as that.
As for the Harley appeals to a rapidly aging market? That's been the line for the last 106 years...
Their market always has been to the over 30 set, but lately they have been appealing to a 'slightly' younger crowd with their Dark series.
While Harley has seen big drops in profit, they are still profitable. Over the same time frame, the Japanese mfgs have seen far larger drops in sales.