Shocking news - Buell ordered to shut down

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Gummiente · #1 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:09 am

I don't think anyone saw this coming. Buell has been ordered to cease production: http://www.buell.com/en_us/

(Total Motorcycle Edit:)

Here are the 3 press releases, 1 from H-D, 1 from Buell and 1 from MV Agusta on Total Motorcycle, posted in full, unedited form.

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=35515

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=35517

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=35518

#2 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:24 am

Don't care for the bikes, never had a desire to own one, but that doesn't mean it's not a dark day for a whole lot of Buell aficionados/aficionadas...

It's sad to see a domestic company falling to the wayside like this, it would be nice to see another company come up with the money to keep this product alive...

dean owens · Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:06 am

wow. total shock and what a shame. looking down the road i was actually starting to look into buells to see if i wanted one as my next bike. guess that answers that question. i know it's all about profit (that's business) so i don't fault them for shutting down. and it's easy to monday morning QB but they really should have put buells in other dealerships. someone looking for a sport bike doesn't automatically think to go to a HD dealer. hopefully when the econ turns around someone will be able to resurrect the brand... maybe separate from HD.

sad day.

flw · #4 Unread post by **flw** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:05 am

Seeing how the indignantly they trashed thier own design of the Buell Blast in the "Blast in a cube" commercial. I didn't see any heart in the parent companies view of Buell. Its just more of what have you done for me lately type of thinking.

I understand they must make a profit but the public trashing of Harley's own bike the Blast was like picking which child you like and telling all who will listen, that is sucked.

There were many problems but being owned and managed by a parent company that is totally imersed in chromed heavy crusiers is a mojor one. How could they survive outside the box Harley had them in.

Its sad to see them go but hopefully another American Co. with the foresight for sport bikes and will arise from the ashes.

Hopefully there will be another American Sport bike and a few less ones from China and other contries in that general area of the world.

#5 Unread post by **Wrider** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:17 am

Well done HD, for ruining the only chance you had to attract young, hip, new customers who want some sportbike performance out of an American motorcycle.

I'm not the biggest fan of HDs but I've never talked crap about Buells because I respect them. Just as they were getting rid of their only setback HD cancels them. Wow...

koji52 · #6 Unread post by **koji52** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:24 am

Wrider hit it on the head. The only other bike really attracting the younger crowd are the vrods and I fear that they may be next on the chopping block.

#7 Unread post by **fireguzzi** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:34 am

flw wrote:
Its sad to see them go but hopefully another American Co. with the foresight for sport bikes and will arise from the ashes.

Hopefully there will be another American Sport bike and a few less ones from China and other contries in that general area of the world.

Just in case you didn't know of them...
[/url] http://www.roehrmotorcycles.com/ [url]

I will miss the Buell. I have always thought them to be pretty cool in the way they did things a little differently and the way they looked. I think Eric should just go out on his own and produce his bikes. Or something like them.

Gunslinger · Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:15 am

I wouldn't shed too many tears for Eric. That guy is way too talented and driven to let this slow him down for long.

The Roehr bikes are nice but 45K nice, no way. How about an American sportbike for someone like me who doesn't want to mortgage his house to buy one.

Graunke · #9 Unread post by **Graunke** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:18 am

I didn't see this coming at all. Shocked to get the press release in my e mail when I came into work this morning.

At the end of the day, money and profit are the decision makers, and Buell was failing at becoming a contender. I love their bikes, and used to own an XB9. I hope to track down another someday, Erik was an innovator and I am pretty sure he will land with another company fairly quickly.

I'm also confused by the MV Augusta move. Why buy the company only to sell it months later?

csspostal · Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:01 am

Wonder if they will be nice discounts to purchase a Buell bikes to clear out inventory or will the price be hiked as they are now a collectors item?

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Shocking news - Buell ordered to shut down

H-D to sell MV Agusta and discontinue Bull, Surprised?

Shocking news - Buell ordered to shut down