The message that Harley-Davidson killed its sporting sub brand Buell broke to shocked yank bike loving global community last week. In response, Harley CFO John Olin told the press recently “We have not quantified the benefits of increased focus on [the] Harley-Davidson brand as a result of discontinuing Buell nor included any potential savings in our restructuring estimates.”
Reports have been current that net income across the HD empire has fallen 71.4 percent so far in 2009 compared to the same period during 2008, whoch was already a very quiet trading period.
According to various sources the company plans to get themselves out of their very large financial hole by building more large-capacity tourers and cruisers, as well as offering more performance add-ons and accessories to their existing range. They also plan to shut down production of the erstwhile perennial big seller the Sportster for the rest of 2009
It’s always a tragedy when companies go under, people lose their jobs and an absence is created in the culture of quality machinery. Though they were not to everyone’s tastes, Buell certainly produced some spectacular bikes over the years (our fave being the muscular XB 12-S), and pioneered some truly innovative technology, notably fuel-in-the-frame.
This obviously emotional statement from company founder Eric Buell says it better than any of us could hope to. And if you’re a Buell lover, then it might be time to get down the local dealership and scoop up an instant classic.