Goodbye to Erik Buells motorcycles

[Monkeyshines]

Seems I see more Buell/HD owners than any other combo.
But I'll admit, the euro niche brand stores may have been workable. How many are there? I'm not sure either that putting clunky looking Buell sportbikes in with italian sportbikes is helpful.

We had two very dedicated enthusiastic HD/Buell dealers right here, and HD was pulling the brand from those that weren't, but time and patience ran out before streamlining was complete. All hindsight now, it was interesting while it lasted though

[Kev_M]

Well, I think that Buell/Harley owners are probably the type of Harley owner who would walk into a Euro-Niche shop too.

And I don't think anyone is saying they should have PREVENTED Harley dealers from carrying Buell - just that they should have opened it up to other brand dealers who were enthusiastic for the marque also.

[Monkeyshines]

Originally Posted by Kev_M

Well, I think that Buell/Harley owners are probably the type of Harley owner who would walk into a Euro-Niche shop too.

And I don't think anyone is saying they should have PREVENTED Harley dealers from carrying Buell - just that they should have opened it up to other brand dealers who were enthusiastic for the marque also.

"euro-niche" riders wouldn't walk into a Harley Davidson dealer? Really?
Oh my, Harley should hurry up and put the XR1200 in euro-niche shops.

[Buelligan]

I'd never buy a Harley Davidson now.

Well... maybe an old solid-mount XL to tart up... that's it.

[Geoff]

[Stoveman]

Originally Posted by Capn-Neal

How bout Morton's in Fredericksburgh? Isnt he BMW only? Depending on where in NoVa you are,shouldnt be more than 100 miles.

Stole my thunder. I believe they are a stand alone.

So is the one in Orlando, although it is a sister store of the one in Daytona. Also one in Atlanta.

Victory BMW in Phoenix also sells Vespas, but it otherwise a stand alone.

[Travman]

Originally Posted by Capn-Neal

How bout Morton's in Fredericksburgh? Isnt he BMW only? Depending on where in NoVa you are,shouldnt be more than 100 miles.

Thanks for reminding me of the store in Fredericksburg, VA. I'll have to check it out when I visit my wife's family during the holidays. I should be able to sneak out while they are all passed out from eating too much.

[Kev_M]

Previous posts quoted for context

Originally Posted by Monkeyshines

Seems I see more Buell/HD owners than any other combo.
But I'll admit, the euro niche brand stores may have been workable. How many are there? I'm not sure either that putting clunky looking Buell sportbikes in with italian sportbikes is helpful.

We had two very dedicated enthusiastic HD/Buell dealers right here, and HD was pulling the brand from those that weren't, but time and patience ran out before streamlining was complete. All hindsight now, it was interesting while it lasted though

Originally Posted by Kev_M

Well, I think that Buell/Harley owners are probably the type of Harley owner who would walk into a Euro-Niche shop too.

And I don't think anyone is saying they should have PREVENTED Harley dealers from carrying Buell - just that they should have opened it up to other brand dealers who were enthusiastic for the marque also.

You seemed to agree that perhaps the euro-niche shops would have made a good outlet for Buells.

I added that in my experience the type of Harley owner who ALSO owned a Buell is PROBABLY ALSO the type of Harley owner who would be at least interested enough to walk into and see what is in a Euro-Niche shop.

I also added that my suggestion would not have been in lieu of allowing Harley dealers to carry the brand also.

So with these meanings in mind, your reply is confusing.

Originally Posted by Monkeyshines

"euro-niche" riders wouldn't walk into a Harley Davidson dealer? Really?
Oh my, Harley should hurry up and put the XR1200 in euro-niche shops.

I never said that "euro-niche" riders wouldn't walk into a Harley dealer.

HOWEVER, I would say that the reception they get at many Harley dealers isn't warm and fuzzy enough to coax them to buy. But that goes back again to the argument that Harley failed by not making sure the ANY DEALER (regardless of other franchise) who was enthusiastic for Buell could carry them.

[4Cammer]

Originally Posted by Monkeyshines

Which proves the point, Harley has a complete dealer network, running Buells into a multi-jap discount store would have been pointless.

That complete dealer network is/was at times Buells biggest problem.


"You want what.........?"

An XB9R

"How 'bout I show you a real bike? Ever look at a Softtail.....?"

[Monkeyshines]

Originally Posted by 4Cammer

That complete dealer network is/was at times Buells biggest problem.


"You want what.........?"

An XB9R

"How 'bout I show you a real bike? Ever look at a Softtail.....?"

you actually heard that conversation?

More like, yes, the XB9R is right over here on this side of the Softails(just in case you'd be interested in a softail at some point)

Why would a company put their product in a competitors showroom when the idea is to cross-pollinate them towards your own products, especially when you do have a complete dealer network.

Again, should they put the XR1200 in multi-jap or "euro-niche" dealers? What about the XR1000 or the XLCR, should they have put those in others showrooms? Because you guys should really say so ahead of time instead of after the fact second guessing.

The real issue was Buell's, if they would have made an attractive motorcycle they would have come, but they built weird ugly bikes and they didn't.

strike one, the canteen frame
strike two, the rotaxed 1125 debacle
foul ball, that CR pos
strike three, the economy