Autoblog

Buell shows off a new street bike? [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:27:00 EST

You've got to hand it to Erik Buell. The man was dealt a very bad hand by his ex-employers at Harley-Davidson, but Buell decided to take a bowl of lemons and make some tasty lemonade. The first batch of sweet citrusy goodness came as Buell formed his eponymous racing team, but it seems 'ol Erik has bigger and better things up his sleeves.

A new video is circulating the interwebs today that clearly shows a Buell 1190RR race bike equipped with decidedly non-racy parts, including a license plate mount with turn signals and a set of electric cooling fans for the radiators that aren't necessary on the track-only models. Interesting, no?

There's still some time left on Buell's agreement with H-D not to build and sell any street bikes, but it seems like a foregone conclusion that Erik will once again be offering road-going machines to fans of unique American sportbikes just as soon as he's legally allowed to do so. Stay tuned, and check out the short teaser video after the break. Thanks for the tip, Gary!

[Source: Erik Buell Racing via The Kneeslider]

Continue reading Buell shows off a new street bike? [w/video]

Buell shows off a new street bike? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The most elaborate April Fool's joke ever? Buell and Bombardier (don't) team up for new streetbike

Devon Brozek — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle, Canada

Official Bomber Motorcycles logo?

Just when we thought we were going to have to get an AMA Pro License to ride any new Buell creations, an official press release from BRP, or Bombardier Recreational Products, appears to have leaked out, spelling out the company's plans to team up with Erik Buell and for the launch a new line of two wheelers called Bomber Motorcycles. Or so it would seem.

Many rumors have circulated recently pointing out the interest that BRP had shown in purchasing the Buell brand, however much to the chagrin of its many fans, Harley-Davidson would not concede in any talks of selling Buell, choosing rather to spend just over 100 million dollars to pack up shop and cling to some sort of lingering pride. Well, that was all so last week. As the old saying goes, where there's a will, there's a way, and Erik Buell and BRP have supposedly come up with a way to make the merger happen. Although none of us are supposed to know this yet, BRP spokesperson Avril Foujour (uh huh, yeah) confirmed yesterday that the press release was in fact official and had been leaked ahead of it's planned April 2nd release date. Apparently they didn't want anyone to think this was some sort of clever April Fools gimmick... oops, I think they got us.

Though all indications are that this may be the World's Most Elaborate April Fools' Joke, let's take a moment to consider just how much effort went into this prank. There's a name for the new company and bike (Stratofortress), an estimated release date (fourth quarter 2010) and plenty of typically boastful press release copy. There's a logo (see above), a Facebook page, Twitter account and even a dummy website. Someone has way too much free time on their hands, no?

See the complete and undeniably fake press release after the break.

[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading The most elaborate April Fool's joke ever? Buell and Bombardier (don't) team up for new streetbike

The most elaborate April Fool's joke ever? Buell and Bombardier (don't) team up for new streetbike originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Salvation! Buell sportbikes reborn as Erik Buell Racing

Noah Joseph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle

Buell 1125R - Click above for high-res image gallery

Knee-draggers take heart: following the disappointing news that Harley-Davidson has killed the Buell brand, comes the announcement of its rebirth. Don't go looking for any new street bikes, though; the Buell name will carry on strictly through racing.

According to the announcement, company founder and chairman Erik Buell will leave the Motor Company to head up the newly formed Erik Buell Racing. This spin-off will be supported by HDMC and based at the Buell factory in East Troy, Wisconsin. The racing outfit will likely retain part of the workforce that, until last week, was responsible for assembling the roadgoing sportbikes. Rather than building bikes for public consumption, however, the team at Erik Buell Racing will supply the Buell 1125R to racing teams for as long as the bike complies with current competition regs.

So, while existing Buell retailers will sell off the remaining stock of street bikes, the name will live on (for a while, at least) on the racing circuit. Check out the fresh mega gallery of 1125R images (on and off the track) and the details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Buell 1125R

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

Continue reading Salvation! Buell sportbikes reborn as Erik Buell Racing

Salvation! Buell sportbikes reborn as Erik Buell Racing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buell will be back? County officials throwing axed HD brand a life line

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle

Could Buell be saved from the brink of disaster by officials from Walworth County in Wisconsin? It seems awfully unlikely, but stranger things have happened, right? Apparently, the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance sent a letter last Friday to Erik Buell in an attempt to put together a business plan for Buell to continue manufacturing motorcycles.

Should Erik Buell be interested in Walworth's proposal, the group will reportedly begin seeking potential investors. For its part, Harley's director of corporate communications said the motorcycle manufacturer is "discontinuing the Buell product line rather than selling the business because of how deeply integrated Buell is into our business systems and distribution network."

Indeed, every Buell made uses running gear from parent company Harley-Davidson, and the offbeat sportbikes are only available in select Harley dealerships. It would be awfully difficult to extract the Buell operation at this point, let alone securing funding for the venture. That said, automakers have sold intricately entwined brands before using agreements that ensure parts are produced by the original owner until the new owner can source its own. In any case, we'll keep our eyes and ears open for more.

[Source: JSOnline.com]

Buell will be back? County officials throwing axed HD brand a life line originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harley-Davidson kills off Buell, will sell stake in MV Agusta [w/VIDEO]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Videos, Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle

Erik Buell announces demise of his motorcycle brand - watch video after the jump

Harley-Davidson has just announced its third-quarter results, and things aren't quite as bad as they could have been... but we'll get to that in a moment. The big bombshell is that the Buell brand is being discontinued and the American motorcycle manufacturer will sell off its share in MV Agusta.

Head on over past the jump to watch a video of an obviously emotional Erik Buell breaking the news that his namesake brand has been axed. Buell explains that HD will continue to honor the full factory warranty on his motorcycles and thanks his dealership body and loyal customers for their support over 20 years of producing offbeat American sportbikes. Roughly 180 jobs will be lost within the Buell organization and HD will also immediately begin the work of selling its recently-acquired stake in MV Agusta.

So, back to Harley's third-quarter performance. Revenue from motorcycle sales came to $803.3 million, down 22.1% compared to the the third quarter of 2008. A total of 54,236 Harley-Davidson motorcycles were shipped worldwide, down 27.4 percent. Another $300 or so million was made off apparel and merchandise sales. Full details (and the aforementioned video) can be found in the ridiculously long press release after the break.

Goodbye Buell, we'll miss you.

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

Continue reading Harley-Davidson kills off Buell, will sell stake in MV Agusta [w/VIDEO]

Harley-Davidson kills off Buell, will sell stake in MV Agusta [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing? [w/VIDEO]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Motorcycle

2010 Buell Blast ottoman - Click above for high-res image gallery

For whatever reason, Buell's 2010 lineup is nearly devoid of the firm's long-running Blast model. While never overtly sporty, the Buell Blast has always been considered at least a competent motorcycle. The idea had merit: A relatively inexpensive mount with a seat close to terra firma, unintimidating power delivery and easy availability from Buell and Harley-Davidson dealerships all across the country. Still, something always seemed missing from the 500cc standard - nothing, apparently, that a giant crusher couldn't fix.

We'll let Buell's own website tell the story, mostly 'cause we're not entirely sure what's going on here:

The Buell(R) Blast was a cute little motorcycle. It just never made much of a sportbike. But, as luck would have it, it makes a killer ottoman. Or end table. Or art piece. Through an innovative process known as crushing, we've turned a limited number of Blasts into colorful metal cubes, each numbered and signed by Erik Buell himself. Hey, there's no denying the Blast's aforementioned cuteness. But there's nothing cute about racing or riding a sportbike the way it was meant to be ridden.

According to our friends at Hell For Leather, the Blast will soldier on in 2010 with its most of its Buell markings removed, and the little thumper will still be used for Harley's Rider's Edge training program. Now, on to the next logical question: What's Erik got on the backburner as a replacement for the Blast? Click past the break for a video of the Blast's' final gasps and check out the aftermath in our gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Buell Blast ottomon

[Source: Buell via Hell For Leather]

Continue reading Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing? [w/VIDEO]

Buell Blast comes to a crushing end, new entry-level sportbike in the offing? [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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