End of an Era: Last Buell Rolls Off the Assembly Line

I’m on my 2nd Uly first was an 06 2nd traded to an 09 Uly. I hope the brand will come back in better times.

Volkswagon should buy them. Seriously.

I still can’t make sense of the decision.
Seems very short sighted. Instead of trying to capture the younger rider, HD chooses to make trikes and chase their tageted rider to their graves. Then what? Buell was NOT loosing money for HD, sales have slumped, but not like the 80+% like the HOGS, all bike sales are down, are they not? Selling MV, (owned for less than a year) and not selling Buell?
Why would MV get chance after chance and Buell winds up in the can?
Madness!
I’ve owned seven motorcycles, this XB12X had been the most fun, by far.

I am in agreement with Mr Martinez. It is a very short-sighted decision. Why should I buy another Harley? They killed off the Deuce. Then they kill off the Night Train. Now they kill off Buell.

Lucky for me my Firebolt will be ready for pickup next week. Sadly, this will probably be the last Harley product I buy unless they pull their heads out of their “spreadsheets” and start talking to real motorcyclist who have been riding for over 40 years.

I also don’t buy into the lies that (1) Buell can not be sold because of how integrated it is within Harley (2) the decision can not be reversed. Anybody with an MBA can develop several business models which would preserve Buell and make a profit. (We’ve developed two approaches at my company over lunch) Sadly, Harley doesn’t want to listen….and may find itself in need of a bailout from the government instead of a loan from Warren Buffett!

I’d like to thank Erik Buell for coming up with new ideas and having the determination to see his dream built. (I wish I had his determination!) His approach was fresh, exciting, fun and broke away from the “clone bikes” I see everyday.

In hard economic times this country needs people with good ideas with the guts to get us moving again. We don’t need giant, lazy corporations killing off more good ideas, good products….or dreams.

Buell Motorcycles should continue…and I’d buy stock in that company right now.

Here in Brazil, we are very sad! Buell is no more? Umbelivible! A year ago i came to east troy to participate of 25th aniiversary, meet Erik, The factory and oder riders. At that time i think: Buell is forever and ever!!

I am very sad to see this!!! I think that it is a very bad decision.

I have owned 3 Buell Motorcycles and all 3 were awesome machines. Everywhere I went, the bikes received a lot of positive attention. Always!!!

The engineering behind the bikes design is like no other. Very unique and sound.

Now is not the time to kill new thinking! We need this type of company in America if we are to move forward. We need fresh ideas!!!

The definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Harley Davidson just shot themselves in the foot.

Jim Reynolds

Harley should have spun it off with an agreement that they would supply engines for 5 years. At that point all models would have to be using a non-Harley engines. Rotax would probably be happy to supply additional engines.
They also could be getting royalties on all of the Harley patents used in the Buells.

Honestly, a reader above had it right. HD made this decision for economic reasons to please investors, thats business, but Buell is a great brand and the brand was growing. huge mistake by HD. investors lke cash, and i dont know what company, but dont someone should go to HD sharholders, offer a good price for the brand and its technologies and go it alone. The HD board may not like it, but an open letter to the board letting shareholders know that the board is NOT looking out for them, would be well positioned. i just hope someone at a CEO level of a comapny like polaris can make a pitch for this brand and then sell at multi brand dealers… this would work. i would buy !!

Hey Mike, I doubt Polaris is going to buy anything right now, their sales are worst then HD.

American innovation has been scrapped for big and heavy. This is a real Detroit move-bad business decisions inevitably leading to economic disaster. Harley Davidson is not marketing to generation X, I do not know how much longer the country will put up with these sort of ill-advised, greedy economic moves.

HD made a bg mistake by not using the V-rod motor in Buell instead of a sporty motor .Also they should have put the Blast motor in a sportster style frame and keep the price down to make an entry level bike.Also they need to get into the of road bike market . They have lost their way so to speak .When they were reborn after AMF they listened to riders now they listen to accountants.

I had a Harley in the 60s and bought another in the early 70s. Then came a wife and 4 kids and a mortgage.
In 2005 I bought a new Fat Boy.
There was no difference from the early bikes. The same clunky tranny, same underpowered overweight bikes I had ridden before. I WAS going to buy a Buell

I grew up on harleys and was stoked to know that harley, in corporation with Buell, produced an american sport bike. And honestly, I see very many buells out on the road. So everybody is right, HD made a very narrow and short sighted decision which makes me kind of disgusted with them. I am an avid sport bike rider and slmost took a sense of pride that Harley had their hands in the sport bike market. I guess now I’m just dissapointed in them… I hope someone brings Buell back

I think it would give Polaris some diversity in the
Victory lineup — much needed. The other choice would be Piaggio introducing Buell to Europe in a big way.

I love my Buell.

I am 51 years old and own an 04 Superglide, Awesome machine!!!! I just bought a Buell 1125R two months ago because I have always wanted a Buell and it is an Awesome machine!!!! I love it!!!! I can’t believe H-D made such a stupid decision!! SOOOO glad I got my Buell before they are all gone! I think Rotax should buy Buell because THAT is one BADAS!!!! engine on my 1125R!! With Buell tech and Rotax engine all I can say is WOWWWW!!!!!!!!!I love it!!!!

Buell should stay and H.D. should go under. H.D. is run by the brain dead people. They don`t look to the future. ONLY the past, they build the same old bikes with different names–OVER PRICED AND OVER RATED. I look to the day that the last nail will be drove in the Harly coffin. I hope Buell will be taken over by someone. E. Buell got a raw deal from H.D.

Buell def made some creative bikes, and yet they were def too connected to harley- davidson’s coat tails to survive they when bough was not able to create a true brand identity of there own. Many harly dealers choose to carry harley only products like the vrod in comparison to the buell bikes in there network and with the harley culture it’s no wonder why many woulfd not want anything to do with them. Also in the show rooms when I asked dealers if they would bring in the MV Agusta since Harley bought them they said that there was no way and so in keeping with there old and trashy culture and mentality harley and there dealers have dug there own graves. This circumstance allows true innovative and revolutionary companies from scratch to come up. Buell for it’s displacement against the 600 cc bikes as a form of cheating did not help them and Harly – davidson cheating in india for protection by Indian govt, just shows how corrupt they are and have been in the past , at least it is true to there culture. Lastly i am personally glad MV agusta was sold off by Harley- Davidson perhaps tamborini will come back again, now I would seriously look at getting an MV Agusta brutale again. American motorcycling for the future is on the way in development in the studios just watch out for it .

sorry for the typos i tend to type quickly, lastly buell will not come to europe by a brand, because of the existing network, if the germans like it so much perhaps BMW or a company in austria would by it, since it is a rotax motor but rotax is in the business of producing motors not selling whole cycles, and history shows that companies that do produce engines or other main components for other cycle companies do not last long, look at THOR who produced for Indian in the U.S. Other companies in europe will not by it because there selling there own look at Piaggio who sold MV Agusta and only really wanted Aprillia. Motoguzzi came with the deal; yet i do really love the Griso but they screwed up the ergonomics of the 8v compared to the 1100.

Stupid and sad decision. Period.
Wonder if they will now kill the V-rod too and just remain with the pieces of museum that they still insist manufacturing.

I was in shock when HD did away with Buell. I had a Buell XB9s and loved it. It’s no wonder Buell never did as well as they could have, go into any Harley dealer, Buell was treated as a red-headed step child. Buell was the most creative, innovative, and beautifully styled bike. The only thing good that came out of it was that I got a Buell 1125CR for a song!!!! I hope it lasts forever, because I couldn’t imagine being on anything else. I hope Erik does well in his new racing venture. His only mistake was selling out to Harley years ago, now he’s been robbed…

I’ll keep this short and sweet:
- HD big mistake
- Down Under in OZ, and saw the signs early as they pulled the plug on most models year by year down here.
- Got a 2010 XB12Ss …Thank Christ!
- Was willing to personally import from the US if i had to.
THAT’S the type of customer you do NOT want to lose. As i was looking forward to updating in years to come.
God speed Erik Buell… you are a champion.
Cheers.

i bought a 07 xb9r and just traded it in for a 1125r..ive been riding motorcycles for 3 years..im only 20 years old..why would i buy a harley? they do not appeal to me they are for the older crowd (no offense) buell was a perfect fit..american made bad ass sportbike..unfortunately looks like honda or yamaha will have a new customer after im ready to trade my 1125 in…

It makes me sad buell is the only american company that had a bike i was interested in . If harley would keep part of the line we might do a deal but it looks like i’ll have to go elsewhere for an adventure tourer.

I hate buell is gone i really liked the looks of them,not the sound though with the sporty engine, I havent heard the new engine, Harley is a stupid company

I own a 2007 buell firebolt xb9r and I love it,I was impressed with the style and looks, H-D has made a mistake in dumping the buell line, to me they are super motorcycles.

I am very unhappy to hear that it will be no longer. I am a New Zealand business man living in Asia and had my goal to buy one and shipping it to me here. Using it for charity events and fund raising rides.

If there is anyone out there would like to find a way to continue this great bike. I would be happy to manage the project and have factory space in Asia for use for production.

Love the bikes and love riding..

I studied bikes for months before purchasing my 08 XB12XT…I have since been spreading the word about this amazing bike. And since the anouncement I have pushed even more…telling anyone that is looking for a bike to find a Buell…

i agree with Frank, VW should buy Buell. i saw VW was looking into the motorcycle market and i think Buell would be the perfect match for VW – way better than Suzuki…

Harley davidson needs a sport bike,and buell has one,so take the fire bolt,and the 1125r,and put a harley havidson logo on the tank,and keep the buell horse head on the bike,so it would be like shelby,and ford.(PS) what was the point if harley dose not use there own sport bike.

I ALWAYS BUY USED BIKES , BUT WHEN I SEE THAT BUELL WAS SELL IN PUERTO RICO; I BUY A NEW ONE. I HAVE A 07 LIGHTNING CG; IT NO THE FASTES OR THE MORE POWERFUL BIKE THAT I HAVE; BUT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE AND FUN TO DRIVE; IS THE BEST BIKE THAT I EVER HAD. I EVEN CONSIDER TO BUY A SECOND BUELL. THANK TO KEITH WANDELL TO MAKE THE STUPID DESICION OF TERMINATED THE PRODUCTION OF THE ONLY AMERICAN SPORT BIKE. I HOPE THAT KEITH CONTINUE WITH HIS STUPID MENTALITY AND TAKE H-D FOR THE SAME DESTINY OF BUELL. I PROMISED I NEVE BUY A H-D. ERIK, YOUR THE BEST. KEITH FU#^&* YOU.