Rode a Harley!

[john]

On the bright side, now they have an even better engine and don't have to answer to HD.

True.  But Why on earth wouldn't they allow them to at least try using the v-rod engine?  Now that would have been a bike I would have been interested in.  I mean they let them make the blast, and that thing was a toilet.

[RossLH]

True.  But Why on earth wouldn't they allow them to at least try using the v-rod engine?  Now that would have been a bike I would have been interested in.  I mean they let them make the blast, and that thing was a toilet.

HD didn't let Buell make the Blast, they made Buell make the Blast. Erik hated that bike from day 1. I'm not sure why he couldn't (or just didn't) use the VRod engine though.

[Watcher]

I thought the VRod engine was designed by Erik Buell, or developed from his take on the Harley engines.  I could easily be wrong, but I heard that after Buell was dropped from HD they took over his parts/designs and started using them in their bikes.

Edit:  I guess it was hearsay, a simple google search proved that I am mistaken.



Also, did I miss something?  Is Buell still making bikes?

[yamahonkawazuki]

IIRC the vrods engine was developed by Porsche. cannot remember who turned the wrenches in production. would have to see a vrod vin to tell you

[RossLH]

IIRC the vrods engine was developed by Porsche. cannot remember who turned the wrenches in production. would have to see a vrod vin to tell you

Porsche did help with the development of the VRod engine, though I don't think the full details of that have been officially disclosed. They were assembled by HD.

I could easily be wrong, but I heard that after Buell was dropped from HD they took over his parts/designs and started using them in their bikes.

Also, did I miss something?  Is Buell still making bikes?

Part of Erik's contract with HD was doing engineering consulting for them. HD contractually had the rights to everything designed by Buell under HD.

And to answer your question, yes. The 1190RS was their introductory model, going for $39,999 for each of the limited run of 100 bikes. After selling those out, they did another run of 30 bikes with carbon fiber body panels for $44,499. The 1190RX, the road-going WSB homologation production bike, has been on sale since late last year. You can expect the 1190SX, the streetfighter version late this year and the 1190AX, the successor to the Ulysses, sometime next year.

[Watcher]

That's cool!

I'm surprised the Buell website doesn't link to EBR.



Also, have Buells always been that expensive!? 

I see them all the time on Craigslist sub $5k.  I'd think a bike that floats near 20 grand would hold it's value more.

[RossLH]

The XB's went for around 10 grand new, and the 1125R (the closest predecessor to the 1190RX) went for $12,500 new. The 1190RX is on a completely different level, competing with bikes in its price range.

[Watcher]

Any idea if they'll make any lower priced production bikes?  Like anything in the $8k range?

What did the M2 used to go for?

[RossLH]

Right now they're focusing on the 1190 line, as well as their engineering consulting business with Hero.

The Cyclones went for $8600 new back when they were made.

[Paulcet]

That's cool!

I'm surprised the Buell website doesn't link to EBR.

Buell Motorcycles != EBR

[RossLH]

Buell Motorcycles != EBR

The Buell website doesn't link to EBR because of trademark issues. Same Erik Buell, same building, different ownership.

[john]

Bain Capital sunk a smallish chunk of money for a big stake in EBR.  Here's hoping they make sure it keeps moving in the right direction.

[RossLH]

Bain Capital sunk a smallish chunk of money for a big stake in EBR.  Here's hoping they make sure it keeps moving in the right direction.

Well....indirectly. Hero sunk money into EBR, Hero is backed by Bain Capital.

[Electrojake]

Geez... That's a lot to remember.
A lot simpler to just stay with a cheap, quick, Light, very repairable, Jap bike. 
Just sayin'

[RossLH]

A lot simpler to just stay with a cheap, quick, Light, very repairable, Jap bike. 
Just sayin'

Did that once. Did not enjoy it. I'm not one to make the same mistake twice.

[Electrojake]

My 06 Harley XL1200C has 3200 miles on it, (cause it seldom moves).
My 06 Suzuki DL1000 has about 49,000 miles on it, (cause it never stops).
Different strokes for different folks.
Just got a 2014 WR250R which will probably blow past the Harley's mileage in the next 90 days.

Guess whatever serves an individual the best gets ridden the most. 

[RossLH]

My 06 Harley XL1200C has 3200 miles on it, (cause it seldom moves).
My 06 Suzuki DL1000 has about 49,000 miles on it, (cause it never stops).
Different strokes for different folks.
Just got a 2014 WR250R which will probably blow past the Harley's mileage in the next 90 days.

Guess whatever serves an individual the best gets ridden the most. 

My '93 GS500 had 6400 miles on it when I bought it, barely cracked 7000 miles 2 years later. It was always broken. I plan on riding the wheels off the XB.

[Electrojake]

So your a Buell rider, not a Harley guy. OK, now I understand.
Several years ago my nephew had a Buell. Don't know much about it except that it was incredibly expensive and would blow my stinky Sportster away in 2 gears. 
Real fast bike for a big V twin.

I remember him telling me something about the oil (or fuel?) being stored in the frame? Yes?
Had a real large dia. front brake too.

[RossLH]

Fuel goes in the frame, oil goes in the swing arm. Front brake is a so-called "zero torque load" (ZTL) perimeter brake, 375mm diameter. With the addition of the underslung muffler, it all adds up to a very low center of gravity. It all adds up to a bike that you can ride for hours on end in any condition and not get fatigued. Cruises like a Harley, corners like a sport bike, and has more torque than you could ever need at any point in the RPM range. And of course, the belt drive....so much easier than having a chain.

[Watcher]

Sounds like amazing bikes, small wonder they ever stopped making them...