Saving Buell Efforts in Progress

Following Harley-Davidson’s announcement that it will discontinue the Buell product line, both the fans of the renowned brand as well as a potential investment group are currently making efforts in convincing the Motor Company in rather selling Buell than shut it off.

Harley Davidson’s decision came after third quarter financial results showed that sales dropped 21.3 percent year-on-year and the net income is down 84.1 percent. Therefore, the renown American motorcycle manufacturer decided to give up on Buell, sell MV Agusta and switch the focus on their own brand.

Moreover, shutting down the brand not only will affect the Buell riders, but it will also eliminate about 100 salaried jobs and 80 hourly positions.

Walworth County officials said they are considering a deal which would see Erik Buell continue manufacturing motorcycles in the area, JS Online reported. If Erik Buell, who is chairman and chief technical officer of Buell Motorcycle, would agree to this deal, then the Walworth County group will go on with further steps, including trying to talk with Harley and seeking potential investors.

It is hard to understand why Harley Davidson is very keen on shutting the Buell brand off for good rather than selling it and save it. After all, Buell has had several technical innovations in the field, which makes it an important name on the market. Underslung exhausts (mounted centrally under the bike), using a bike’s aluminium beam frame as the fuel tank, mass centralization or zero torsional load braking, to name just a few.