Throwback Wednesday: Tour Erik Buell's Shed

Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
Howdy all,



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I kind of re-discovered these youtube videos I posted in June 2009, just 3-odd months before H-D unceremoniously killed the brand and thought some of you may enjoy the trip down memory lane. I was in Wisconsin touring the H-D museum and to ride the 2010 Buell models at Road America, and also to check out the H-D Archival department's re-hab of Erik's shed where he founded Buell Motorcycles. If you're Buell fans, you'll enjoy the tour (I recorded all 18-odd minutes we were inside the shed), and if you just hate H-D, you can shake your head in wonderment when you realize how much they invested in Buell and how in-the-dark Erik is just months before his public beheading.

Also fun is to watch for your favorite moto-journalists crammed into the teeny shed with me: Adam Waheed, Kevin Duke, Keven Cameron, Kent Kunitsugu and others. Sorry it's not just one video: remember the dark ages when you were limited to 8 or 9 minute vids on Youtube? I had to split it up. I'm also sorry for the poor video and sound quality. Again, ancient technology.


youtu.be/-P_jOx2OFB4

youtu.be/VNX84e7Ls5Q

youtu.be/0QKBSUOI7EQ
 
Rumbo Sur

Rumbo Sur

learning everyday
That's a great historical document Gabe. Hopefully one of the 50 moderators here on BARF will make it a sticky or archive it here somehow. Some very interesting little tid bits revealed there ... you have to listen to pick them up.
Neat stuff.

So sad that HD missed the chance to be relevant in the modern era through Erik Buell.

His bikes were just coming good about the time HD pulled the plug.
And how are they doing now? :rofl
 
rsrider

rsrider

47% parasite 53% ahole
H-D kicking Buell to the curb had almost ZERO impact on their business, except maybe losing money by acquiring it in the first place. They now have their own entry bikes and they seem to be selling. They're not interested in sport bikes, because it would seem no one is interested in sport bikes. That crater in front of dealerships is the impact left from the sport bike market falling out of the sky.
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
rsrider said:
H-D kicking Buell to the curb had almost ZERO impact on their business, except maybe losing money by acquiring it in the first place. They now have their own entry bikes and they seem to be selling. They're not interested in sport bikes, because it would seem no one is interested in sport bikes. That crater in front of dealerships is the impact left from the sport bike market falling out of the sky.
Click to expand...

True, but SPORTYbikes (like FZ-07, FZ-10, Tuono V4R, Kawi 900, etc) are the flavor du jour right now, and Indian is going to bring a street-legal version of its flattracker to market soon. Watch the video and you'll start to realize how key Erik was to H-D's V-Rod and VR1000 programs.

Even if H-D's customers aren't into sportbikes, they benefit from sportbike technology like suspension, brakes and powerful, efficient and durable engines.
 
rsrider

rsrider

47% parasite 53% ahole
Gabe said:
Even if H-D's customers aren't into sportbikes, they benefit from sportbike technology like suspension, brakes and powerful, efficient and durable engines.
Click to expand...

If H-D wanted any of that, they could buy that technology. They wouldn't have to develop it themselves.

It seems pretty obvious that H-D is not going to chase the "flavor of the day" in the MC industry. They will pander to their core base until they're all dead. Who knows, maybe the hipsters will have gotten too old by then to work on their crapped out Japanese bikes and decide that they'll just buy an H-D to get that "authentic" vibe they so crave. H-D will be saved!!!
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
rsrider said:
If H-D wanted any of that, they could buy that technology. They wouldn't have to develop it themselves.

It seems pretty obvious that H-D is not going to chase the "flavor of the day" in the MC industry. They will pander to their core base until they're all dead. Who knows, maybe the hipsters will have gotten too old by then to work on their crapped out Japanese bikes and decide that they'll just buy an H-D to get that "authentic" vibe they so crave. H-D will be saved!!!
Click to expand...

Critics have been saying exactly what you're saying since about 1980. Maybe in another 40 years you'll be right.
 
rsrider

rsrider

47% parasite 53% ahole
Gabe said:
Critics have been saying exactly what you're saying since about 1980. Maybe in another 40 years you'll be right.
Click to expand...

And H-D has been doing exactly that and still selling more MC's than anyone else in this country. I'm not criticizing H-D, I'm saying that they have no reason what so ever to change their marketing strategy, because they're making it work. People keep getting older, and the older they get the more they tend to buy cruiser type bikes. And IF you're going to buy a cruiser, and you're old and have the money, you're going to buy an H-D. It's rinse and repeat for H-D, just keep selling the brand to the next group of grey beards.
 
Jalopyshoppe

Jalopyshoppe

idiot
I wonder how they'll pull through this killing the Dyna bullshit. They certainly didn't do much to continue to entice anyone in the young-ish age group who was buying those bikes.

I'm still so butt hurt over this bullshit Softail, I hope they go under.

Also, Erik is a phenomenal engineer. I just rode my Ulysses tonight and was reminded what a great motorcycle it is.
 
firstbuell

firstbuell

GO! 04,16,23,31,64,69,95
this total Bull fanboi (both Erik & his unique motos) salutes OP for reposting those unique lore vids -
no ‘quality’ excuses req’d, Sir!

plus, it truly warms me heart to see such barf Buell love.....
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
Rumbo Sur said:
Speaking of Buell ... any up dates or thoughts on your new Buell Superbike?

Pics?
Click to expand...

IMG_5423_1.jpg


I'm liking it more each day, but jeez! It's really only happy if I'm breaking the law...badly. I'm not sure it's a healthy relationship.

F me if it isn't fast and great handling. The suspesnion is really good too. It needs a better rider than me, frankly.

I put on a bigger rear sprocket, which means I can now ride in 2nd gear at 30 mph without lugging it. The world is too small to hold the throttle to the stop over 9,000 rpm. I really want to take it to Thunderhill.
 
Rumbo Sur

Rumbo Sur

learning everyday
Stunning machine! :thumbup

Good news is you've had years of "training" riding low HP bikes so know well how to manage riding a "slow bike fast". Riding a fast bike fast is sort of another world. (for me at least) Take care with that beautiful beast! :ride
 
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