Triumphrat

DanPtWash · 10-15-2009, 10:54 AM

http://www.jsonline.com/business/64352232.html

I hope Buell survives somehow. Not my bike of choice, but they bring some diversity into the mix.

M700R · 10-15-2009, 10:55 AM

http://www.buell.com/en_us/

Bad news. Never bought one, but the innovative design impressed me. Rode one, and it was terrific. Dang, I hate to see this - a small American bike company bites the dust.

Joemomma · 10-15-2009, 10:56 AM

Wow, the Erik Buell video almost made me cry.
Seriously, this is NOT good news at all.

bking · 10-15-2009, 11:01 AM

Damn!

Moose · 10-15-2009, 11:04 AM

Bugger....that is sad.I have also ridden one and quite liked it,love the look of them...just thought the engine lacked the rev range..so didn't get one.Still,very sad to see any bike company go out like that.Shame!

M700R · 10-15-2009, 11:18 AM

Doggone. This has really made me unhappy. Even a second cup of coffee didn't cheer me up. Phooey.

Came close to buying one. Like Triumphs, they are/were unusual bikes - not like the rest of the cookie cutter bikes...

Nickwiz · 10-15-2009, 11:31 AM

Thats a shame! Can't imagine the BSA owners or others ever having done that if they could back in the day. That's a company run buy a chap who loved what he was doing rather than seeing it as a cold hard cash operation.

doublecafe · 10-15-2009, 11:45 AM

I just got in on the tail end of this. I thought they were going thru a type of re-birth according to all the articles I've read over the past couple of months. So does this mean they are done completely, even the racing division. What about the 2010 model line, is that gone too?

Nodster · 10-15-2009, 11:53 AM

From the Buell site.............

BUELL OFFICIALS THANK CUSTOMERS, DEALERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR UNFORGETTABLE RIDE

EAST TROY, Wis. -- (Thursday, October 15, 2009) Buell Motorcycle Company officials thanked the company’s customers, employees and dealers for an unforgettable ride, following today’s announcement by Harley-Davidson, Inc. that it will discontinue the Buell® product line as part of Harley-Davidson’s go-forward business strategy. The new long-term strategy aims to drive Company growth through a focus of efforts and resources on the Harley-Davidson® brand.

“I want to personally thank all our past and present Buell employees, dealers and suppliers for their efforts. I also want to thank Buell motorcycle owners for their support and passion for the brand,” said Buell Motorcycle Company President Jon Flickinger.

Flickinger said a limited number of new Buell motorcycles remain available for sale through authorized dealerships and production will wind down by October 30. He also stressed that Harley-Davidson will provide replacement parts and service through dealerships and that warranty coverage will continue as normal for Buell motorcycles.

“I will always be proud of what we have accomplished. It is a testimony to what a small group of passionate and inspired people can do, and with brilliant innovations, we’ve produced some of the best-handling bikes of all time,” said Buell Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. “I personally look forward to exploring how I can continue to work with Harley-Davidson to bring advanced product technology to riders.

“I have also had the great fortune to meet and get to know many Buell riders over the years, and they are an amazing and interesting group of free thinkers,” Buell said. “May you ride with pride into the future. And may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years.”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc. since 1998, Buell Motorcycle Company was founded in 1983 by Erik Buell and produced more than 135,000 motorcycles. Over the past 26 years, Buell motorcycles won numerous design accolades and awards, and countless races and championships around the world, including the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship in 2009.

IGWT · 10-15-2009, 12:03 PM

An excerpt of a press release linked on the H-D site:

MILWAUKEE (October 15, 2009) - Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) announced decreased revenue, net income and earnings per share for the third quarter of 2009 compared to the year-ago period, while reporting a moderation in the decline of retail new Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales compared to the second quarter.

Worldwide retail sales of new Harley-Davidson® motorcycles declined 21.3 percent in the third quarter compared to last year’s third quarter, an improvement from the 30.1 percent decline in this year’s second quarter. An 84.1 percent decline in net income and an 84.5 percent decline in diluted earnings per share from the year-ago quarter reflected lower motorcycle shipments and the effects of the economy on retail and wholesale loan performance at Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

Harley-Davidson also unveiled major elements of its go-forward business strategy to drive growth through a single-minded focus of efforts and resources on the unique strengths of the Harley-Davidson brand, and to enhance productivity and profitability through continuous improvement. As approved yesterday by Harley-Davidson’s Board of Directors, the Company will discontinue its Buell product line and divest its MV Agusta unit as part of this strategy.

“While the environment remains challenging for us, we are mildly encouraged by the moderation in the decline of dealer retail Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales,” said Keith Wandell, Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “And moving forward, our strategy is designed to strengthen Harley-Davidson for long-term growth and deliver results through increased focus.

“As our announcement regarding Buell and MV Agusta indicates, we are moving with the speed and decisiveness required to bring our business strategy to life,” said Wandell. “The fact is we must focus both our effort and our investment on the Harley-Davidson brand, as we believe this provides an optimal path to sustained, meaningful, long-term growth.”