04-16-2015, 01:43 AM
It's too bad; but Buell, like Bricklin, like Kaiser of 60 years ago...discovered just how hard it is to break into the motor industry as an independent.
Again like the others, he took several stabs. The first time, Harley-Davidson bought him out and made him a division. Now I'm no admirer or H-D or its marketing strategy...but it was probably a sound decision to close the Buell division.
Erik Buell apparently thought otherwise - and put his own money on the line. Sadly...the time is not right. These aren't the 1980s; and I think a resurgence in motorcycle sales will only accompany an economic retraction that puts cars out of reach of large numbers of persons.
I am not advocating that or hoping for it. I'm just noting that the motorcycle, in America, has moved from transportation tool to sporting good; and when times get tough the toys are the first thing off the list.
Again like the others, he took several stabs. The first time, Harley-Davidson bought him out and made him a division. Now I'm no admirer or H-D or its marketing strategy...but it was probably a sound decision to close the Buell division.
Erik Buell apparently thought otherwise - and put his own money on the line. Sadly...the time is not right. These aren't the 1980s; and I think a resurgence in motorcycle sales will only accompany an economic retraction that puts cars out of reach of large numbers of persons.
I am not advocating that or hoping for it. I'm just noting that the motorcycle, in America, has moved from transportation tool to sporting good; and when times get tough the toys are the first thing off the list.