4 ms·

To further point 1, Harley made the V-Rod in 2001.[1] Departure from their typically... lacking bikes(liquid cooling, engine designed in joint with Porsche). W

To further point 1, Harley made the V-Rod in 2001.[1] Departure from their typically... lacking bikes(liquid cooling, engine designed in joint with Porsche). With drastically different styling. They had a niche but never really caught on. Harley also briefly had a Performance Bike company, Buell that they shuttered.[2] I'll disagree with your point 4. Even though they're still behind, modern Harleys aren't the stereotypical leaking/broken down rattling apart of the past. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buell_Motorcycle_Company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buell_Motorcycle_Company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_VRSC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson_VRSC

nugi 9y ago
You are correct with reguards to #4, the evo engines and later were all decent I hear. My point partly stands as nobody seems to leave their bike stock, and mods will be limited. American sportbikes have always had problems, even without harleys heavy hand. The Buell story really is a sad and facinating one for anyone interested in business.
- mcguire 9y ago
  It's hard to remove the muffler on an electric motor.
  - dotancohen 9y ago
    Use it against them! Market the bike as "the Harley that comes stock without a muffler".
- Animats 9y ago
  nobody seems to leave their bike stock, and mods will be limited. Look at the electric bicycle crowd. Mods, mods, mods. Yes, you can get an electric bicycle to go above 50MPH, but you don't have the tires and brakes to stop the thing.
city41 9y ago
I'm a Buell fan and owned two Buells. Erik Buell really had to fight tooth and nail to do anything with Harley, and was saddled with using Sportster engines which are quite archaic. This led to bikes with a lot of character but no mass market appeal. Buell did release the 1125r near the end, which was finally a bike that could truly compete with other sport bikes, and used an engine made by Rotax. Sadly it was too little, too late, and the 1125r had reliability problems to boot. In short, Buell never stood a chance of being anything beyond a very small, niche brand.

nugi 9y ago

You are correct with reguards to #4, the evo engines and later were all decent I hear. My point partly stands as nobody seems to leave their bike stock, and mods will be limited. American sportbikes have always had problems, even without harleys heavy hand. The Buell story really is a sad and facinating one for anyone interested in business.

mcguire 9y ago
It's hard to remove the muffler on an electric motor.
- dotancohen 9y ago
  Use it against them! Market the bike as "the Harley that comes stock without a muffler".
Animats 9y ago
nobody seems to leave their bike stock, and mods will be limited. Look at the electric bicycle crowd. Mods, mods, mods. Yes, you can get an electric bicycle to go above 50MPH, but you don't have the tires and brakes to stop the thing.

city41 9y ago

I'm a Buell fan and owned two Buells. Erik Buell really had to fight tooth and nail to do anything with Harley, and was saddled with using Sportster engines which are quite archaic. This led to bikes with a lot of character but no mass market appeal. Buell did release the 1125r near the end, which was finally a bike that could truly compete with other sport bikes, and used an engine made by Rotax. Sadly it was too little, too late, and the 1125r had reliability problems to boot. In short, Buell never stood a chance of being anything beyond a very small, niche brand.