BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY ANNOUNCES INTENT TO ENTER NEW MOTORCYCLE MARKET SEGMENT
Buell to Build Off-Road Competition Motorcycles Within Two Years
EAST TROY, WI (March 9, 2007) – Buell Motorcycle Company recently announced its intent to bring an off-road motorcycle to market, specifically designed for closed-course competition.
“We’ve told our dealers about our plans to bring an off-road, closed-course competition motorcycle to market within the next two years,” said Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. “This will allow Buell dealers the time needed to make plans to meet the needs of this new market and customer.”
“Harley-Davidson and Buell are highly committed to broadening the range of products we offer and reaching out to new groups of customers,” said Buell President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Flickinger. “We’re always looking at new market opportunities, but this one is particularly exciting.”
No details about the new Buell motorcycle have been released.
To me "off-road" means dirt and lots of it! But what what kind of "off-road" does Buell refer to? Closed-course covers a pretty broad spectrum. Moto-X? Trials? Enduro? Dirt track? Super-Moto?
Buell already has the XBRR, and it's "off-road" because it's not street legal.
Hey, I'm just sharing a press release that came across my desk. I've always liked the Buells and never really understood why they are not more popular. I guess this could be the new horizon for them. Don't know.
I think Buells don't sell as well as they should because people have this mindset that a sport bike has to end in a vowel, and people just can't wrap their heads around something they see as a Harley that's supposed to go fast but looks kind of like something that should end in a vowel. It also bring back bad memories of HD's AMF days when they were slapping "Harley - Davidson" on everything, like mini-bikes, dirt bikes, scooters, golf carts...
Buell's had a lot of innovation and I wonder why the import bikes don't follow some of Buell's lead, like the muffler under the bike where it's not burning your leg, your passenger's leg, or whomever's ass is closest to the exhaust that's running under the seat.
The Ulysses was a great idea. It'll be better when they put a 1st gear in that can handle dirt and not require horsing the clutch. C'mon, Eric, think 6 gears... Can't wait to see what they have planned for dirt!
As many times as I have cased out climbing billy goat trails in the hills or hitting the whoops on the flat trail, I am very glad none of my dirt bikes have the muffler underneath it.
Back in the 60's one would find under bike exhaust very common in the off road scene. Then everyone got tired of crushing thier pipes and expansion chambers to a useless gnarley pancake.
Bring the pipes up high and you gain precious ground clearance too.
IMO Buell should learn from history and elevate the exhaust routing.
I wasn't suggesting a muffler under a dirt bike! LOL I was referring to sport bike muffler locations. Never scraped a muffler on a Buell when leaning it over. Scraped it when bottoming out after catching some air , or the finding the grand canyon of pot-holes, but never when leaning one over. Keeps the C.O.G. nice and low, too.
Point taken, I totally see your point on cornering clearance, and COG too.
What can I say? The Ulysses I saw in the magazine had the muffler underneath it.
Secret New Buell for Dirt? 
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