Buell is done, finished, gone

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

I wont admit to knowing it all but marko has told me about it. Has a book on it. I just do see Eric calling this quits.

besides you are speaking from speculation. Nobody here knows the contracts between buell and hd.

He isn't calling it quits, he is working for Harley now. He said it himself. I don't see him finding a financial backer to save what's left of Buell without the Harley network. The amount of cash he needs to go it alone to keep the old line going would be huge. He would have to recreate most of the dealer network and have the cash to do all the warranty shit. It's a ton of fucking money that he just doesn't have without harley. That's what took him from a boutique bike builder to what Buell is now, Harley money.

HD owns a majority stake in the Buell name/brand/designs. He is stuck. HD effectively owns everything he did with that brand including the name. He would have to start from complete scratch.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Trip

He isn't calling it quits, he is working for Harley now. He said it himself. I don't see him finding a financial backer to save what's left of Buell without the Harley network. The amount of cash he needs to go it alone to keep the old line going would be huge. He would have to recreate most of the dealer network and have the cash to do all the warranty shit. It's a ton of fucking money that he just doesn't have without harley. That's what took him from a boutique bike builder to what Buell is now, Harley money.

HD owns a majority stake in the Buell name/brand/designs. He is stuck. HD effectively owns everything he did with that brand including the name. He would have to start from complete scratch.

He could offer them a % of profits if they allow him to continue on their own. Release a few trademarks and patents, provide a small(proportionately) amount of cash for start up costs.... He could be on his way unless HD fears that he could never be profitable alone. Which sounds like the reason they are shutting them down. He couldn't make money even with HD backing.

He'd have to have a lot of private investors backing him for a while. Maybe the AMA will keep him afloat....

[Gas Man]

Yeah who knows... I sure hope that Eric figures something out. I don't want to see such a great platform fall aways just because of this crappy economy.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Yeah who knows... I sure hope that Eric figures something out. I don't want to see such a great platform fall aways just because of this crappy economy.

I think for the time being, it's gone. There is no getting around that without Harley. Erik will probably work over there and hope that this economy can improve to the point where they can have a resurrection of the brand. I don't think you will see it around for at least 10 years though, if not more.

I'll say you will probably see some new Harley models with Buell influence or design going forward though.

[CasterTroy]

Originally Posted by Trip

I don't think you will see it around for at least 10 years though, if not more.
.

I think you're right

Originally Posted by Trip

You may see a remergence later after parts issues and warranty service are no longer on the plate and they can start brand new without having to deal with these bikes at all

Isn't 10 years the magic required number for MFG to keep parts on a shelf?