Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Harley-Davidson Discontinues Buell Motorcycles (180 More Jobs Lost in Wisconsin)
Examiner.com ^ | October 15, 2009 | Examiner.com

Posted on 10/15/2009 11:06:45 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin

Harley-Davidson USA today announced that they are discontinuing the Buell line of motorcycles. This news comes as Harley-Davidson reported a third quarter earnings that was down 21.3% from the same period in 2008.

All remaining in-stock Buell motorcycles and accessories will be sold by authorized dealers, but no additional Buell motorcycles will be manufactured. Existing warranty coverage for Buell motorcycles will be honored and Harley-Davidson will continue to provide replacement parts and service through their dealerships.

Over time, the discontinuing of the Buell line is expected to eliminate 80 hourly productions positions and approximately 100 salaried positions at Buell. According to Harley-Davidson's statement, employment for the majority of these Buell employees will end on December 18, 2009.

On the Buell Motorcycle website, in a large main-page video titled "An Important Announcement From Erik Buell" a worn-out and defeated looking Erik Buell also announced the end of the Buell brand. Erik Buell is the founder and designer of Buell motorcycles.

According to Wikipedia, Buell Motorcycles were based in Troy, Wisonsin. Buell's partnership with Harley-Davidson began in 1993 and Buell had become a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson by 2003.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: harley; layoffs; manufacturing; motorcycles
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
To: Tupelo; stevecmd
The York plant is closing? Isn't that the one Pres. Bush visited in '06?


21 posted on 10/15/2009 11:59:48 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: stainlessbanner

They’re talking about moving to Indiana.
There’s been discussions with the state economic development folks. Also Ky and Tn.


22 posted on 10/15/2009 12:02:24 PM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Frankly I’m shocked this hadn’t happened years ago.


23 posted on 10/15/2009 12:03:24 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

PA is so rediculously confiscatory, I am amazed there is any manufacturing left at all in this state that is not local in nature.


24 posted on 10/15/2009 12:04:25 PM PDT by HamiltonJay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo
Do you really think Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha & Kawasaki even knew Buell was on the planet?

Probably not. But they sure know *Harley Davidson* is on the planet.

Harley sells 50% of the heavyweight motorcycles in the US and 30% in the world. (heavyweight = 750 cc and greater, not actual weight of motorcycle)

So Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki have to share that other 50% in the US with BMW, Triumph, KTM, Ducati, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Polaris/Victory, etc.

25 posted on 10/15/2009 12:14:38 PM PDT by OA5599
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

Yeah I’ve only been riding for 33 years...what would I know about Motorcycles...


26 posted on 10/15/2009 12:28:47 PM PDT by Crim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

PA is a right to work state (commonwealth)


27 posted on 10/15/2009 12:59:52 PM PDT by dis.kevin (Dry white toast)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Crim
Crap....the only american bike built to compete with rice burners...

********************************

The HD XR-1200 is supposed to be pretty darned good ,, comparable to a sporty Japanese "standard" motorcycle,, my HD dealer had new 2009's at $1,500 off and under market financing rates back in July.

28 posted on 10/15/2009 1:17:51 PM PDT by Neidermeyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Neidermeyer

Thats the euro sporty right?


29 posted on 10/15/2009 1:42:45 PM PDT by Crim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Neidermeyer

Shame it needed twice the displacement to be competitive with the Japanese offering and has the usual HD lack-of-build-quality....


30 posted on 10/15/2009 1:51:13 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: papasmurf

They only won because they were allowed to have twice the engine displacement of the other racers. Surprise, they won... oh wait, it’s not a surprise.


31 posted on 10/15/2009 1:52:12 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
I have a Suzuki right now because I can't afford a Harley.
32 posted on 10/15/2009 1:54:37 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Hope....Change...Bullsh*t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Crim
...the only american bike built to compete with rice burners...

Having ridden and worked on both Buells and "rice burners", I can tell you that Buell was NO threat to ANY import. While the frame/suspension wasn't all that bad, the XL-based engine was a boat-anchor that severely handicapped the marque. Even worse was the Blast (half the cylinders, twice as bad).

Furthermore, if you knew how many of the bits and pieces of the bikes were "imported", then that "American bike" marketing ploy wears very thin.

33 posted on 10/15/2009 2:10:27 PM PDT by SpeedRacer (Where's your records, B-HO? What are you hiding?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SpeedRacer

Well...I’m not going to sit here and piss on buell’s grave...

Buell WAS the only american bike to offer an “alternative” to the japanese sport bikes....how’s that...


34 posted on 10/15/2009 2:40:27 PM PDT by Crim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr; Crim
The build quality is actually pretty good on current production,, I have only ridden 1 HD any great amount, a sporty ,, for about a week 10 years ago ,, yes the quality was atrocious ,, I returned it without buying,, right after the muffler support bracket cracked.. the rear tire caught the muffler in mid corner and spit it across the road. My Triumph Sprint RS was supremely fast , stable and trouble free.

Heres the XR


35 posted on 10/15/2009 2:42:32 PM PDT by Neidermeyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Crim

Wow, you have been riding about as long as I have. Actually I love the old Indians and Harleys that had the old flat head engines. The torque they had far out weighted any acceleration that over head valves gave them. I recently gave away(I know)enough old Indian parts to build a full Indian Chief. Too old to ride now but wish I could!


36 posted on 10/15/2009 2:45:24 PM PDT by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Neidermeyer

I recently stopped to assist a stranded Buell XB12R rider.

The bolts that held one of his front calipers on had sheared off. When discussing the matter with him, he revealed that despite the fact that his bike was less than two years old and had less than 20K on the clock, it had a long history of build quality failures. The immediately prior incident, I was told, was that the electrical system had pretty much had a total meltdown while he was riding.


37 posted on 10/15/2009 2:48:33 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Crim

Forgetting Triumph, Aprilia, Ducati and BMW, are we?


38 posted on 10/15/2009 2:49:33 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Crim

Er, hit send too soon. Those are alternatives to the Japanese bikes, though not American made.

if you want American made, there are any number of custom builders who can give you what you want, that’ll actually perform, with a Harley-pattern engine that wasn’t a boat anchor (because it’d been heavily modified), for about the same money or less.


39 posted on 10/15/2009 2:51:55 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Crim
Buell WAS the only american bike to offer an “alternative” to the japanese sport bikes....how’s that...

Sorry, not buying it. To be an "alternative", it would have to be in the same league as other sport bikes. Buell was not even in the same Sport, much less the same League.

I still contend it had too many import parts to be a "true" American-made bike. Perhaps we are jaded with all the Toyotas, et. al., that are "made in America". (/soapbox)

40 posted on 10/15/2009 2:56:50 PM PDT by SpeedRacer (Where's your records, B-HO? What are you hiding?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson