Scooters.......

[C.C.Hiliner]

The seat that came with this bike wasn't too bad, Robby, I do know some of the early Buells felt like they had vinyl covered 2 x 4's. I finally broke down and bought a Corbin seat for this bike, At first, it was more uncomfortable than the stock seat, but once it started to break in to the shape of my Whale-Eye, its very comfortable.

[Robby321]

The seat that came with this bike wasn't too bad, Robby, I do know some of the early Buells felt like they had vinyl covered 2 x 4's. I finally broke down and bought a Corbin seat for this bike, At first, it was more uncomfortable than the stock seat, but once it started to break in to the shape of my Whale-Eye, its very comfortable.

Seat felt like crushing my boys against the tank! But like the bike and idea how built. Think his first bike a ironhead, super bulbous faring meant for moto GP. Harley blew it when they dumped him when he was really getting the bike a excellent machine. Girl (well, we're both old now) across the street went to school with Corbin in CA. He must be a real "Assman" as sure knows seats!

[Robby321]

OK, remember Eric's first now, it was the RR1000. A link the beginning, and a couple pix.

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/hall...px?RacerID=327

[C.C.Hiliner]

In 2009, an evil corporate scumbagnamed Keith Wandell became CEO of Harley. He didn’t know how to ride amotorcycle and had no experience with them. Almost immediately, he went gunningfor Buell, which, according to CycleWorld,he described it as “Erik’s racing hobby” and questioned “why anyone would everwant to ride a sportbike.” As an evil corporate scumbag, he also saw that $20,000 cruisers had almost zero development cost, giving them incredibly high margins while $10,000 sport bikes had high development costs, giving them low margins. So, without analyzing the end cost of doing so and without attempting, and later refusing, to sell it, Wandell simply killed Buell Motorcycles.
Famously, this made Erik literally cry. His life’s work was just flushed down the toilet by someone who couldn’t, and had no interest, to even ride a bike.
Expectedly, the move proved controversial with The Motor Company’s shareholders. Doubly so when Wandell was seen to block a purchase attempt by Rotax’s parent company, Bombardier. This ended up costing Harley $125 million in shut down costs, a double punch to the gut when you consider 2009 was the Harley’s worst sales year in over a decade.
That year, Harley slept with a pillow between it’s legs to stop the bleeding, and it was well deserved.

[Robby321]

In 2009, an evil corporate scumbagnamed Keith Wandell became CEO of Harley. He didn’t know how to ride amotorcycle and had no experience with them. Almost immediately, he went gunningfor Buell, which, according to CycleWorld,he described it as “Erik’s racing hobby” and questioned “why anyone would everwant to ride a sportbike.” As an evil corporate scumbag, he also saw that $20,000 cruisers had almost zero development cost, giving them incredibly high margins while $10,000 sport bikes had high development costs, giving them low margins. So, without analyzing the end cost of doing so and without attempting, and later refusing, to sell it, Wandell simply killed Buell Motorcycles.
Famously, this made Erik literally cry. His life’s work was just flushed down the toilet by someone who couldn’t, and had no interest, to even ride a bike.
Expectedly, the move proved controversial with The Motor Company’s shareholders. Doubly so when Wandell was seen to block a purchase attempt by Rotax’s parent company, Bombardier. This ended up costing Harley $125 million in shut down costs, a double punch to the gut when you consider 2009 was the Harley’s worst sales year in over a decade.
That year, Harley slept with a pillow between it’s legs to stop the bleeding, and it was well deserved.

OK remember the Wandell asshole. Kinda like when AMF bought out HD, easy to make a bowling ball that didn't leak oil show room floor, a bike bit different. Q/C went out the window, for profits, and like usual, lost in the end. HD is never going back to the way it was, as old timers have all the bikes needed, new don't want or can afford them, etc.

[Robby321]

On the XR1000, buddy mine bought one, as damn close the XR750 flat trackers and we both were flat track freaks! And them XR750 "twingles" were the beast to beat! XR Body work was sold vendor I can't remember now.

[Instigator]

I remember that and followed the story.

Was also when Harley about bit it due to their decision to start doing loans to non prime buyers.
Stupid but who else did they have to sell to??
Oh that’s right, wives of current owners.

Im a huge fan of Erik’s and followed his story/history.

I really thought his last sport bike, don’t remember model, (Rotax motor??)was going to be something.
Harley killed it w/their hit on Erik and then pushed it to market before they were ready.
BTW, I want one is one I would never sell.

I also remember them killing the attempted buy out.
Who the fk does that ������

Cant imagine being Erik through that **** storm.

I remember reading about the auction of the left over parts, tools etc, etc.

Thats a pretty strong story for never trusting big corporate.

During the Harley = ���� bull **** I was selling assembly tools to a Japanese company that was building their forks.
Fkg hypocrites!

Fk Harley!
He probably still says that every night before bed.

What a waste of genius!

In 2009, an evil corporate scumbagnamed Keith Wandell became CEO of Harley. He didn’t know how to ride amotorcycle and had no experience with them. Almost immediately, he went gunningfor Buell, which, according to CycleWorld,he described it as “Erik’s racing hobby” and questioned “why anyone would everwant to ride a sportbike.” As an evil corporate scumbag, he also saw that $20,000 cruisers had almost zero development cost, giving them incredibly high margins while $10,000 sport bikes had high development costs, giving them low margins. So, without analyzing the end cost of doing so and without attempting, and later refusing, to sell it, Wandell simply killed Buell Motorcycles.
Famously, this made Erik literally cry. His life’s work was just flushed down the toilet by someone who couldn’t, and had no interest, to even ride a bike.
Expectedly, the move proved controversial with The Motor Company’s shareholders. Doubly so when Wandell was seen to block a purchase attempt by Rotax’s parent company, Bombardier. This ended up costing Harley $125 million in shut down costs, a double punch to the gut when you consider 2009 was the Harley’s worst sales year in over a decade.
That year, Harley slept with a pillow between it’s legs to stop the bleeding, and it was well deserved.

[C.C.Hiliner]

Erik definatley got the corked in the shorts by HD, I knew I would be keeping my '97 M2 Cyclone forever, so my buddy and I (who owns an S1 and S3), started pack-ratting parts as soon as we heard rumblings of HD pondering the killing of Buell, (that, and also when he moved away from hopped up XL Sporty motors in his bikes)
Between us, we've got enough bits to keep these bikes alive and well. When I first bought this bike new back in '97, nobody paid attention to it. Now when I go to HD dealers to get it inspected, or just show up, it always attracts a small gathering everywhere I park it. I mostly hear; "I didn't know thay made anything like that".

Now that Harley is finally realizing that the big air-cooled V-Twins (thier bread and butter bikes) are no longer a hit with the younger generations, they must be kicking themselves for shutting Buell down. Witness how their "contemporary" offerings are merely Buell rip-offs. (i.e.the "Pan-American" is a Buell Ulyses rip-off, that "Live Wire" some new revamped Sportster models have the Buell triangulated Frame with the same fork rake and inverted forks used on the famous S1 Lightning) this list goes on.

I bought an FXDX Superglide Sport to use as a regular rider, because I no longer want use the Buell for that duty. Now its a nice Sunday morning thrasher.

[CUDA]

https://youtu.be/S4ep4uIxhtY

[Instigator]

Finally snagged one of three on my A list.

Barely ran when I bought it but was too good of deal.

Couple miles w/a high dose of Seafoam and it cleared up!

What a beast.

We have an 1/8 mile track close to the house and I now know which one I’m taking 😎

[Robby321]

Great score!

[CDave]

So I guess the street flat track bike is becoming a thing? Cool looking bikes.

https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-...00-s/features/

https://www.ccm-motorcycles.com/bike...-flat-tracker/

[Instigator]

I read about that Indian and think it’s bad ass.

That would be my response to the nakeds.
Looks like a blast to ride.

So I guess the street flat track bike is becoming a thing? Cool looking bikes.

https://www.indianmotorcycle.com/en-...00-s/features/

https://www.ccm-motorcycles.com/bike...-flat-tracker/

[Robby321]

I read about that Indian and think it’s bad ass.

That would be my response to the nakeds.
Looks like a blast to ride.

Been watching AFT (flat track racing), as a fan (and done it, on ice too) Been a fan since the ate 60's. Them damn Indians and Harleys are at it again! Jered Mees is "wow". As the 2 brothers (forgot names), that cutie Texter in singles (as HER brother) (I'll be back)

[Robby321]

Loved the 750 "twingles" racing! Many copies were made for street. As the XR1000 (my buddy had one) Some pix..