Buell is dead! : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

sfc rick · 10-15-2009, 10:07 AM

Buell is dead. The bike brand is gone as well as the MVAugusta brand HD bought.

Sad to see, I have a friend who really liked his Buell. At least he has one now even if it no longer is in business.

HD will continue to honor their warranties though, so all is not lost.

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

springer- · 10-15-2009, 10:20 AM

It's a sad day. Sorry to see them go.

MadCity · 10-15-2009, 10:32 AM

Wow, I didn't see that coming!

emxgarcia · 10-15-2009, 10:41 AM

Yep... just got news of it.
Curious how H-D goes out and buys MV Agusta while letting Buell die.
Ouch!

baggersport · 10-15-2009, 10:42 AM

...just ordered a few spares for my XBX...just in case. WTF...

.

arealinvestor · 10-15-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfc rick

Buell is dead. The bike brand is gone as well as the MVAugusta brand HD bought.

Sad to see, I have a friend who really liked his Buell. At least he has one now even if it no longer is in business.

HD will continue to honor their warranties though, so all is not lost.

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

How do you know the MVAgusta brand is gone too??That infomercial doesn't mention MV???

sfc rick · 10-15-2009, 11:00 AM

The news that Harley was dropping two lineups came as the struggling manufacturer also said that its third-quarter income fell 84% to $26.5 million, or 11 cents a share, from $166.5 million, or 71 cents a share a year ago.

The company had $1.12 billion in sales in the quarter, down 21% from $1.42 billion in the third quarter of 2008. Worldwide motorcycle sales at Harley dealers fell 21% during the third quarter compared with the same period in 2008. The company said it shipped 27% fewer motorcycles in the quarter.

In a news release, Harley said it would discontinue its Buell brand, based in East Troy, and divest the Italian MV Agusta brand. The Buell decision will result in the loss of about 80 manufacturing jobs in East Troy and about 100 salaried positions.

"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," CEO Keith Wandell said in the release.

Harley, the world's largest manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles, has been restructuring as it has sought to cope with weaker sales. The company has cut more than 1,000 jobs, implemented temporary production shutdowns, and is considering closing its assembly plant in York, Pa.

Even many die-hard Harley loyalists, caught by the severity of the economic downturn, haven't bought new bikes.

In July, the company trimmed its shipment forecast for this year to 212,000 to 228,000 bikes, as much as 30% fewer than in 2008. On Wednesday, Harley shares climbed to one of their highest levels in a year after Wells Fargo & Co. upgraded the stock, citing a possible increase in motorcycle shipments to dealers. A drop in motorcycle inventory this year should mean a "low single-digits" rise in shipments in 2010 and 2011, Tim Conder, an analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, wrote in a note to investors.

Conder changed the share rating to "outperform" from "market perform." "Investors are yet to fully appreciate" the potential shipment increase, benefits from cost cutting, profit from Harley's financial-services division and a possible resumption of share repurchases, Conder wrote.

Ahar · 10-15-2009, 11:42 AM

WOW, ain't that some good news.
Thinking I have a new idea for a graphic for the Uly, a RIP headstone on the tank.

nightrob · 10-15-2009, 11:49 AM

Sad!! Never owned one but its always sad to se another American company go under...

jamesscavies · 10-15-2009, 12:01 PM

Gonna have to call my local dealer and see what kind of deals they are willing to make. Been wanting a ULY for a while.

Zuhaib · 10-15-2009, 12:31 PM

MVAgusta is not "gone" its just being sold off, looks like its a fast move to try to raise cash which is not a good sign for MoCo as a whole as they are almost underwater and doing everything it can to breath.

berserker · 10-15-2009, 12:42 PM

I probably seen more Buells then V-rods, on the road. Kinda like the Ulyesses.

DTP · 10-15-2009, 12:53 PM

I am sorry to hear that. I rode a Firebolt 3 years back and said if I can ever afford a 2nd bike to my King this would be the one. Handled and quick, it was awesome.

Truely a sad day for American Business. I kind of acutally feel let down by this.

FXDRYDR · 10-15-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berserker

I probably seen more Buells then V-rods, on the road. Kinda like the Ulyesses.

Always thought you were a Uly guy underneath it all...

mike jesse · 10-15-2009, 02:10 PM

I picked up a new 09 XB12Ss Lightning two weeks ago.
$8793 OTD.