Harley Davidson announced the closing down of the Buell line this week. Twice I considered buying a Buell, last time just one month ago. Eric was going in the right direction and represented some hope for American bike design which once again is in the reactionary hands of HD only. Once the current generation of already old HD riders hang up their helmets HD will die some more then fade away altogether.

The only glimmer of hope in this weeks announcement from HD is that they are selling MV Agusta and rumour has it that Volkswagen are in the market for a bike brand - with Bugatti type single mindedness they could make even more mouth watering bikes I can't afford!

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The link is an emotional Erik Buell. http://www.buell.com/en_us/

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'

Looking on the bright side at least MV will be free of HD meddling. Just think back of how they rescued, screwed up then disposed of Aermacchi back in the 1960s. MV can now see about hiring its former designers back. Harley can go on building farm equipment with 1930s designs
Never have owned either HD ,Buell nor MV , just interested in the latter two , but not willing to spend the coin.
The recent Buell adverts may have been the final straw for HD since the ad actually dismissed the old tech HD ohv style motors and was going forward into the Euro-techno -metric future with Austrian built engines. So Totally UN-amuhricuhn !Probably a pinko commie conspirator.

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Sjoerd

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=207964&page=7

But...............HD have been around for + 100 years already.....

There's plenty of "Wanna Be" - Dentist's & Accountants (etc) ready to BUY a bit of LIFESTYLE & IMAGE

As someone with zero interest in the lifestyle and image side of HD they were never going to get me through the doors of any of their dealerships, but Buell were a different matter and I was quite impressed with them on the odd occasions that I blagged a ride. OK, they didn't have the greatest reputation for reliability but as I currently ride a CCM I can't really complain on that score. A pity really but from what I read of HD's financial results it looks like a case of chucking everything overboard, including passengers, to keep the ship afloat.

It is never good to see a motorcycle manufacturer going out of business, especially one which has been driven by the a true motorcyclist.
Hopefully it won't be long before Erik is back doing is thing.

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The electric monk always has faith.