A Good Company Bites The Dust

I was impressed to see Buell move from being a custom builder (one of many) to a real manufacturer years ago.

I am surprised by the news you pointed out. Not that I follow bikes the way I did at one time but I wonder if Harley-Davidson's shutting down Buell had anything to do with Buell starting to use Rotax motors in one model and thus offending the parent company.

I wonder if Harley-Davidson's shutting down Buell had anything to do with Buell starting to use Rotax motors in one model and thus offending the parent company.

I think probably not, although I don't know. Here's a pretty good interview of Erik that talks a lot about how the Rotax came to be. (The Rotax is purpose-built and designed for the Buell, so the situation is pretty similar to that in cars, where for example, the engine in a Chevy Colorado is really a Saab engine -- you weigh the possibilities and do what works best for the design goals. For a bike like the 1125, Harley didn't have an engine that would work well.)

Salute!

I wish him the best. Obviously a class act.

It is a damn shame really. I never had to fortune to ride a Buell, but those I have known who have, had nothing but good to say of them.

If it's any comfort (to you or Erik), I've been through 4 companies which bit the dust in the last 30 years (covering all my working life) - new companies (or 'enterprises') arose Phoenix-like after each collapse.

I'm currently self-employed (having been at one time a company director) but I'm still working with the best of the survivors from the earlier 'fatalities' (including some 25-year relationships from the 'old days', and people whose companies, who were suppliers, went to the wall), and I'm still doing OK (mostly ).

[BTW - love the bikes!]

Stick in, everyone!

I'm really suprised to hear that the company has gone down. I took a 2009 Buell bike for a test ride back in the summer. I have to say the bike looked good... but... on starting it, it sounded like a bag of spanners, talk about rattle and roll, (it had only done 500 miles). It was a 1ltr bike but only had the perfamance of a 500! I expected a lot more from this bike.

I currently ride a Suzuki Bandit 1200 (1200) and a Yamaha MT-01 (1700cc V twin) and both of these bikes are far superier than the Buell. Mainly due to the engine, fair dues, the Bandit is a In Line 4, but the MT-01 is a V twin push rod motor like the Harley engined Buell.

Maybe Buell shoud have fitted a Jap motor to their frames, and had stainless exhausts like my MT-01 (look at my aviator).

I'll speculate some more cus it don't cost nothin.

I bet Buell will keep building bikes but not as many. Something like what JohnDG said. But I do wonder if the previous agreement with HD allows him to use his last name as a brand. High tech V-twin sport bikes are super cool. He could pursue the Rotax thing. Look how well Ducati is doing. I have owned three Ducati twins and they were great. Sounded something like a Harley at mid range RPM but would wind out. Every part of me loved these Ducatis except my aching back.

Mr. Buell did better than others who had similar plans. For example, Simon Goodman was heir to the Velocette legacy, and a very good engineer. I visited with him at his shop in England and saw his prototype Harley engined bike. It was a beautifull piece of work that had Harley's support at the time. He later informed me that Harley had decided not to export their engines outside the US. This caused the demise of Simon's plans. Actually, I believe Buell's design was responsible for Harley's decision. I still own an original Velocette Venom.

I still own an original Velocette Venom.

I'm jealous. Very near the top of my list of bikes I would love to own is the Thruxton version.

That's a nice Thruxton in your photo. Actually, I shipped my Venom engine to Geoff Dodkin in England a few years back. He performed some high tech modifications including a titanium connecting rod. The bike is now mostly Thruxton with the exception of the GP carbuettor. I upgraded to a 12 volt system and a good headlamp. Now you can obtain electric starters, alternators, and reliable ignition systems for these machines, but they are pricey.

Now you can obtain electric starters, alternators, and reliable ignition systems for these machines,

Travesty!

I'm currently a Honda rider but worked for a Harley dealer a few years back, so I have to say this sucks.

Tip of the hat and good luck to Erik.

Hooker

I've ridden the 1125 Buell and liked it a lot since it didn't put me into a racing crouch. I was planning to buy one once I had the cash together. I don't know if I should move my plans up or just forget about it.

My understanding was that the Vrod engine was supposed to be shared by Buell and Harley but just grew too large for Buell's purpose. The Rotax engine was nice. Too bad they weren't selling better.

I was raised on Honda's and few others and have largely ridden sport bikes.

1971 CL175 (10,000+ miles ridden)

1970 CB750 (40,000+ miles ridden)

1983 VF750F Interceptor (40,000+ miles ridden)

1986 VF500F Interceptor (14,000+ and counting slowly)

1990 DR350S Suzuki Dual Sport for dirty fun (6,000+ miles and counting slowly) plus a stable of Honda CRF's from the 70 thru the 230 for the family and I to get out and really get dirty.

In 2006, I won the AMA member sweepstakes grand prize and had an '06 Buell Ulysses dropped in my lap for the cost of the income taxes.

This is a great bike and one I really enjoy. One poster mentioned the bag of spanners. True at idle. However I also come to understand the visceral appeal of both the sound and vibes at idle. Once you get it on the road, the excellent isolation system that Buell designed makes those vibes all but disappear. You could easily ride this bike all day long in the twisties or droning down the interstate without chiropractor visits or carpal tunnel treatments.

It's suspension is world class. Period. Everything I used to change out on my Japanese sportbikes for better legs and brakes are already on the Buell. OK, the 1203cc push-rod engine may only make 103 HP, however, it is usable power without revving into the stratosphere like many high-strung sport bikes and running it between 3,000 and 6,000 RPM gets some serious scoot. I have to question how many riders out there can really effectively use the horsepower given to them? Except of course the squids you see who can ride a wheelie at 95 mph and can crouch down and just crank the throttle open on a straight section of interstate. Darwinism usually will cull those out of the gene pool though.

The Buell has an excellent seat and one in which my wife can actually use. Too many sport bikes have become so narrowly focused, they're not fun anymore or particularly useful, never mind the passenger pillion. I love the belt drive. I just don't miss lubing and adjusting chains, and then cleaning off the oil fling on the rear wheel and the license plate, and fender . . . .

When it is all said and done, I would buy another Buell when I need (or want) a new bike. So sorry to see them go.