Buell is closing shop..

Jomama · 10-15-09, 05:22 PM

Their detractors will say

but I liked my friends Uly...

http://www.buell.com/en_us/

Buell is History - ADVrider

Quote:

By Steve Gelsi

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Harley-Davidson Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter net income dropped 84% to $26.48 million, or 11 cents a share, from $166.54 million, or 71 cents a share in the year-ago period. The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer was expected to earn 23 cents a share, according to a survey by FactSet Research. Harley's latest quarter included a one-time fixed-asset impairment charge of $14.2 million related to Buell and a goodwill impairment charge of $18.9 million related to MV Agusta. Looking ahead, the company will discontinue production of Buell motorcycles, resulting in the loss of 180 jobs over time. It'll book one-time charges of $215 million to $245 million in 2009 and 2010, about $55 million ahead of its July projections. The company expects to ship 35,000 to 40,000 motorcycles in the fourth quarter.

Gumby · 10-16-09, 10:27 AM

Way overdue.

Doug_S · 10-16-09, 12:08 PM

RIP. Sorry to see the loss of jobs even if it was small.

3jvj · 10-25-09, 01:47 PM

I'd buy a buell.

If I were a chick.

r.i.p.

Off Duty · 10-25-09, 04:05 PM

I too hate to see a loss of jobs (especially now) regardless of how small or the cause.

But I never cared much for the Buell.

It seemed to me that the HD M/C company was attempting to cross over into sportbike territory, and honestly, for me and my humble opinion, it didn't work:(

I'd prefer to see them keep on making great touring bikes and the base for outstanding choppers and such, and leave the crotch rocketing to the Japanees, Bavarians and the like.

It would be nice if they could find a place for some or all of those people. In the total scheme of things, 180 people is a drop in the bucket. Might require some to relocate, but I'd bet jobs could be found for those willing to hang in there.

gabe74gt · 10-26-09, 11:46 AM

it had already started after their stupidness with buell blast! when they turned the old one into a junk

Jman · 10-27-09, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3jvj

I'd buy a buell.

If I were a chick.

r.i.p.

Is this you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabe74gt

it had already started after their stupidness with buell blast! when they turned the old one into a junk

This message, in July, was a heads up, I guess. Watch the video. Crushing Buell Blasts? That says something. . . .

Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing? [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog

3jvj · 11-04-09, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jman

Is this you?

This message, in July, was a heads up, I guess. Watch the video. Crushing Buell Blasts? That says something. . . .

Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing? [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog

Far better chance of me riding her than the bike.

Gumby · 11-05-09, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3jvj

Far better chance of me riding her than the bike.

Hopefully she also wouldn't cause you to have a numb ass and tingling fingers. It'd be good if she didn't have the occasional part falling off and fluid leakage.

SHERMAN FJ62 · 11-10-09, 09:03 PM

Their 1125R was a good bike, it won the ama sportbike class this year. They also dump a bunch of money into racer support.

sailor · 11-14-09, 08:31 AM

The Buell was supposed to be a sportbike. Problem was that it just didn't go like one. Some good ideas vs. mass centralization and low CG but the HD V-Twin belongs in a chopper/ cruiser or the odd drag bike. Or all polished up behind a glass window in my rec. room because they are very nice to look at! I don't feel any nostalgia for Buell- Harley, though I would never own one, must survive because of it's historical signifigance.

IronYuppy · 11-14-09, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor

....Harley, though I would never own one, must survive because of it's historical signifigance.

Harley's marketing is magnificent. I know for someone who is a suit at HD, and his department has absolutely nothing to do with motorcycles.

The have managed to sell their "mystique" to people who like the "idea" of HD, but will never be able to afford one. If most people who bought Harley shirts, caps, glasses, rebadged Ford pickups and all the other crap that they license actually bought the bikes, it might get around that they are crap. Loud, slow, unreliable, uncomfortable, ugly... when you pay (far too much) for a new HD bike, you have to add another four figures worth of upgrades just to make it decent. It would be like buying a new Corvette, stripping it down to the badges and subframe, and starting from scratch. It's baffling to me.

All HD has to offer is their history, which is largely manufactured or embellished by a room full of Harvard MBAs who probably drive Porsche Cayannes.