Eric Buell Racing Ceases Operation

[RIDEMYST]

Sorry to see this!  -JEP-
http://www.cyclecanadaweb.com/articles/5848/

[Paco Bulto]

That looks to be the 2009 announcement when Harley dropped the Buell division. Erik Buell Racing is an independent  company and as far as I know, is still in business.

[Patmo]

The link does take you back to the 2009 announcement, but from links I have seen elsewhere, it does appear that the successor to that company has closed down, and will now be sold off.  Seems he was hoping to get some financing that would enable him to expand both here in the States and in Europe, but the deal fell through. They now have liabilities of over 20 million and have not been able to penetrate the market enough to gain the confidence of would be investors.  I expect that Hero probably offered to help, but since they already had a 49% stake in the company, I also expect that Eric didn't want to give up majority control and turned that deal down.  However, that's just speculation on my part.

I liked the bikes, but they really didn't seem to be competitive in the market niche they fit into.  I'm afraid that lack of trust in the long term prospects for the company probably played a part in potential customers decision not to buy one of their products.  Unfortunately, that lack of faith proved to be well founded.

Sorry to see them go.   

[qman8]

http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2015/Team+Hero+EBR+statement+following+EBR+closure




Very sad indeed...

[stevegrab]

I was just about to read a review of their naked street bike in MCN and quickly browsed at some of the data, and particularly the price. Seems like near premium level pricing (more or very close to the BMW 1000 naked sportbike) without all the technology and features, or the big company and dealer network behind it.

It is sad, but seems they were not really a viable bike except if you had to have Made in USA on it.

[RIDEMYST]

Oops, I copied the wrong link but the recent one is posted above.
Thanks. -JEP-

[Brick]

Fred... I hope you are right!!

That looks to be the 2009 announcement when Harley dropped the Buell division. Erik Buell Racing is an independent  company and as far as I know, is still in business.

I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

[Paco Bulto]

Fred... I hope you are right!!

That looks to be the 2009 announcement when Harley dropped the Buell division. Erik Buell Racing is an independent  company and as far as I know, is still in business.

I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

Hi Brick,

Turns out Jim was right, just posted the incorrect link, I saw this one on Dealer News today.

http://www.dealernews.com/dealernews/article/erik-buell-racing-closes-company-assets-bid

[HawkGTRider]

I wondered what had happened to Hero's involvement, and the above linked article explains that. If I were Hero, I'd probably want more control of the company to put $25 million dollars into it, so I can't blame them. They'd already put enough into EBR to own 49.2% of it.
Perhaps the restructuring will have some positive outcome.

[Brick]

I saw a post on WSB Where Pegram, the Hero/EBR ride said that the EBR racing program is on solid ground.


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

[stevegrab]

I saw a post on WSB Where Pegram, the Hero/EBR ride said that the EBR racing program is on solid ground.


I am out riding my Super Teneré'!

Yes that was in the story qman8 posted earlier in the thread.

[TN2Wheeler]

So will Motus suffer the same fate? They offer some interesting US-built bikes but they're kind of pricey IMO. Personally I've felt from the first time I saw the prototypes that they made a mistake going to a chain/belt drive. it seems to me since their crankshaft is longitudinal with the frame it just made sense to use shaft drive.

[DirtFlier]

Making ring & pinion gears is expensive so perhaps that choice was driven by cost?

Jim - how is Cliff coming along in his recovery?

Tosh

[TN2Wheeler]

Making ring & pinion gears is expensive so perhaps that choice was driven by cost?

Jim - how is Cliff coming along in his recovery?

Tosh

We're talking about a $35K motorcycle. An extra couple hundred for a final drive is a drop on the bucket.

Re Cliff - he reads the forum from time-to-time. You should pm him.