Ryckster
New York
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Joined: 05/02/2009
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Hi
I read the interesting review of the HD 2009 Sportster XR1200. They said it is a fantastic handler - for a Harley. Isn't HD breaking into Buell's road handling territory?
Shouldn't Buell, if they have the resources which I doubt, fight HD at their came and come up with a cruiser?
And now with HD's purchase of Italian sport motorcycle maker MV Agusta, again, where does this leave Buell?
Just wondering.
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kpapa
Johnsburg N.Y.
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Joined: 04/21/2008
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Ryckster,
I thought that Harley owned Buell. Where in NY do you live. I live near Lake George NY. Have Fun and RIDE SAFE.
kpapa
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10ecjazzman
Nashville, Tennessee
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Harley started with a minority interest in Buell and then increased that to 49% about ten years ago. I see Buell as similar to Saturn is to GM. Its a stand alone brand but still attached to HD. I think read somewhere that HD had owned Aermacchi which later became Cagiva..then MV Agusta. It looks like they have owned this company before. Gave up some cash..borrowed some technology..then sold the company. Hard times in the market place make some interesting business partners. I think Buell will be fine. The XR1200 will help HD get some thirtysomethings in saddle to replace the aging customer base, (like me), who are buying the bikes now.
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THEBurninator
Washburn, MO
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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There's more to a sportbike or standard than good handling. Buell should stick to their niche. I don't see the point of expanding their line to cruisers while their parent company handles that market.
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Alex the Dog
Buena Vista, CO
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Joined: 10/31/2007
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I like the Buell, mostly because of the fact that it has a Sportster motor. And it shows us what someone who loves American v-twins can do with old technology to make them fairly potent (as I'm sure H-D is intently watching). I consider them to be the poor man's Ducati without the quirks. Kinda wish they would tone down the crotch-rocket styling though, so it would appeal to a more broad spectrum of riders.
I'll bet that if H-D's mainstream v-twins get modernized with overhead cams and water cooling to meet emmision requirements, they will first be found on Buells. V-Rods already tell us about what will happen to the rest of the family. Now, if only I could get that motor in a big touring chassis, it would be my next new Harley. Amen.
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10ecjazzman
Nashville, Tennessee
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Right on Alex. That aftermarket RoadRod shows that people would probably buy a water-cooled Harley tourer..no problem. I know I would! As far as the styling goes I think that Buell has managed to carve out their own identity. Nobody would ever mistake one for any Japanese sportbike. Sporting motorcycles have always been styled with aggressive lines. I am considering a Buell Ulysses for my second bike. As far as Harley goes, they can never advance to the future with one foot planted firmly in the past...on purpose! I'm glad they made the XR-1200...Now a sportster can be sporty! If Buell ever makes a sport-tourer that would fit me, (the current bikes are tiny), I might park it right beside the old E-Glide in the garage!
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BlueFalcon
Waldorf, MD
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Put my name down on the list for a water cooled Harley tourer.
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Blatherbeard
Austin Tx
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Im in for a water cooled Harley tourer. That and shaft drive are 2 of the things keeping me away from harley, well that and pricing since my bike is still running lol
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Hawg Man
Lakeland, FL
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Joined: 10/26/2006
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Ryckster wrote:Hi
I read the interesting review of the HD 2009 Sportster XR1200. They said it is a fantastic handler - for a Harley. Isn't HD breaking into Buell's road handling territory?
Shouldn't Buell, if they have the resources which I doubt, fight HD at their came and come up with a cruiser?
And now with HD's purchase of Italian sport motorcycle maker MV Agusta, again, where does this leave Buell?
Just wondering.
First of all, Ryckster, welcome to the group.
Many of us are legends in our own minds, but you can garner some pretty good info here - most of it experience based - as well as get into some pretty cool and lively discussions.
I think you're missing Harley's point with the XR1200.
From time to time, the Motor Company comes out with low volume, short production life bikes - it's more a marketing thing than anything else, and I doubt the XR1200 is in any way intended to steal any Buell thunder.
Lumping the two of them into the same class may not be a totally apples-and-oranges situation, but it's at least comparing red apples to green apples.
I remember back in 1977 or '78 when they introduced the now highly collectible Cafe Racer - just for the fun of it.
I think the XR1200 is a "just for the fun of it" bike - and a ZERO threat to Buell.
Buell fills a market niche by giving Sport Bike buyers an alternative to the norm.
A Buell cruiser?
I seriously doubt we'll ever see such a thing - what would be the point?.
What I would expect is production to be stepped up on the MV Agusta side.
I recently spoke with an MV Agusta dealer and he shares my thoughts that U.S. avaiability will be a lot better in the future.
That would give H-D three seperate and distinct styles and classes of bike, all on the same showroom floor.
Of course I could be mistaken - I might be letting my H-D stock do my wishful thinking for me. lol
"$15,000, a new leather jacket, and 15 miles under your butt does NOT make you a biker."
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Hawg Man
Lakeland, FL
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Blatherbeard wrote:Im in for a water cooled Harley tourer. That and shaft drive are 2 of the things keeping me away from harley, well that and pricing since my bike is still running lol
Friend of mine talked to a H-D engineer at Daytona Bike Week about just that.
The engineer told him emission levels aren't currently as big a deal for H-D as everyone is making them out to be, and not to expect water cooled engines anytime in the foreseeable future.
He said one of their biggest challenges these days is getting an exhaust system that flows free enough to compliment the engine's output without giving Uncle Sam heartburn about the decibel level.
Also, expect to see a LOT more H-D's with factory-installed oil coolers.
They can satisfy the emissions issue by increasing combustion pressure and temperature, but all that heat has a negative effect on the oil.
Oil coolers will rectify that situation.
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