So long, Buell

[cactusjack]

I read this morning that Harley Davidson has announced that the Buell motorcycle line will be discontinued. Existing dealer inventory will be sold but no more new Buell motorcycles will be manufactured.

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

[dantama]

Oh, so that ad in magazines this summer extorting Beull owners not to wave, becasue they are too busy riding, didn't rescue the company with a flood of new owners?

Here's a writers thoughts on this summer's ad.

I picked up the October 2009 edition of Cycle World magazine today. The very first thing I see when I open up the cover is an ad for Buell motorcycles. The first line is, “It’s ok not to wave back.” The ad then continues on with saying that the only time that it is ok to wave is from a parade float, sunroof of a limo, or departing cruise ship. It also states that a “Buell is not a social networking tool.” Really?

One of the (many) things that I like about riding is the feeling of camaraderie that I experience in giving and receiving the wave. Although I understand that sometimes you are concentrating on something more important, or your hands are busy so you are not always able to return the wave. But to say that you have better things to do while you are on a Buell than to acknowledge another motorcyclist is just pompous.

Now I know that this is just advertising and they are just trying to get your attention by stating that this bike is so super, golly, gosh, gee fast that your mind will be screaming too loud for you to even think about raising your hand off the bar. However, by encouraging people to not wave to others because they are riding a certain bike is the first step to tearing us apart as a community.

[blowndodge]

that guy looked like someone needed to call him a Waaaambulance!! J/K I guess I'd be upset, more with HD for letting me down and putting themselves in a position not to be able to keep my brand floating..

[Yellow Jacket]

Regardless of any ill thought out advertising it is sad to see the company go out of business. I also feel for those who will lose their jobs.

[ringadingh]

I hate to see another bike go down in history like that. They probably arn't the best sellers for Harley, but they did have a lot of innovative ideas over the years. Its a shame to see them gone.

[nomad561]

Might need to buy one to keep for the HD museum.

[glwilson]

The whole issue of Buell's demise is rather strange.

HD just had a big event in Milwaukee to celebrate Buell's racing success this season (although I understood that their victories were somewhat of a controversy due to "mechanical rule-changes" that had other manufacturers yelling "foul").

I had also read somewhere else not too long ago about separating Buell from HD... maybe finding a buyer for Buell.

Too bad for those associated with Buell... including the owners of these bikes.

Regarding their advertisement... I didn't take it the same way as Dan. I took it in the fashion I believe it was intended... and that is that you'll be too busy to wave from their "high-performance" bike. A bit of an attitude to it... but then again... look a BMW's, Lexus's, Mercedes's and other such manufacturer's ads... They all exude an attitude about their vehicles.

[rflnomad]

I think it is a shame. The engineering of these bikes is truly unique. It is the ONLY AMERICAN BIKE I WOULD BUY.
I would like the XT Uylsess touring model in a minute. Not to replace the Nomad, but a co-worker has one and it is really neat. I wish I had the money.
I feel that poor marketing from H-D is the main issue. Face it; H-D dealer didn't want the Buells or the younger people who rode them. They need to wake up and figure out that not everyone will buy their product. But keep others who will still come in and spend for what they want. And you can still make some money.
I also feel for the people losing thier jobs because a bigger company disposes of them.
Don't mean to blabber, but if I had the money, I would get the Ulysses XB12XT tomorrow.