Go buy an MV Agusta now....

PiZdETS · 07-11-2008, 09:57 AM

Very smart on Harleys part. Why develop a bespoke, high-quality, boutique sportbike brand when you can just buy one that's already established.
Doubt Harley would influence the design process, probably just retool advertising, marketing,, share dealerships, maybe help a couple new models get through.

marko138 · 07-11-2008, 10:34 AM

Get over it. Harley is not a bad company. Do some research.

Rider · 07-11-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko138

Get over it. Harley is not a bad company. Do some research.

Not one post here said they were a bad company....... the haters haven't chimed in.... yet.

marko138 · 07-11-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

Not one post here said they were a bad company....... the haters haven't chimed in.... yet.

I'm getting it in early.

fpzx10 · 07-11-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

Not one post here said they were a bad company....... the haters haven't chimed in.... yet.

The OP was hatin.

And, I agree, Harley puts out good stuff these days (still overpriced) but good nonetheless

FT BSTRD · 07-11-2008, 12:31 PM

Look at it this way, Buell now has a 100% sportbike oriented dealership network stateside.

Now you won't have to wear your assless pants in to look at a sport bike or get weird looks when you show up at the dealership in your Power Rangers suit.

I believe this is the first step in separating the sportbike distribution from the cruiser distribution.

It will be easier to service the new generation of Buells inside a sportbike shop rather than trying to retrain Harley techs to service Rotax engines.

There will also be the ability to homogenize parts and accessories for sport bikes.

I see this as a VERY good move for HD and an even better move for Buell. Better this than HD selling Buell to MV Augusta.

I would expect the prices for MV Augustas to decline a little bit. HD has a rediculous ability to degotiate discounts on materials, components, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the components get sourced stateside. Means more American jobs.

Amber Lamps · 07-11-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT BSTRD

Look at it this way, Buell now has a 100% sportbike oriented dealership network stateside.

Now you won't have to wear your assless pants in to look at a sport bike or get weird looks when you show up at the dealership in your Power Rangers suit.

I believe this is the first step in separating the sportbike distribution from the cruiser distribution.

It will be easier to service the new generation of Buells inside a sportbike shop rather than trying to retrain Harley techs to service Rotax engines.

There will also be the ability to homogenize parts and accessories for sport bikes.

I see this as a VERY good move for HD and an even better move for Buell. Better this than HD selling Buell to MV Augusta.

I would expect the prices for MV Augustas to decline a little bit. HD has a rediculous ability to degotiate discounts on materials, components, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the components get sourced stateside. Means more American jobs.

Overall I like the idea but to say that this will bring in American jobs is a bit optimistic. The new Buell is maybe 20% American made. They don't buy American made parts for their "American" sportbike. Why would HD cut out the current vendors,whom to my knowledge,provide MV with excellent parts and start sourcing parts here in the U.S.? How could it possibly be more cost effective for them to buy parts here instead of all the producers in Europe. Besides,MV and Cagiva produce approximately 5000 bikes a year. You'd have to be pretty hard up as a parts manufacturer to pay for all the Cad/Cam and die costs for that few parts. Plus you'd still have to sell them at a price LOWER than they are getting them currently.

The biggest positive for me is the possibility that MVs could become easier for us to purchase and maintain with a larger dealer network behind them. To be honest tho',my guess is that HD is looking to sell more bikes over there rather than bring more bikes over here.

Rider · 07-11-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIGGER

To be honest tho',my guess is that HD is looking to sell more bikes over there rather than bring more bikes over here.

Good point. But if they can bring the price down on the MV, they could sell more of those... How they go about that I have no idea.

Audiomechanic · 07-11-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpzx10

The OP was hatin.

And, I agree, Harley puts out good stuff these days (still overpriced) but good nonetheless

changed the OP. Happy? Good.

My opinion: all the good stuff is wrapped up in the VRSC bikes and a one Sportster that won't even be sold here. Everything else is 1950's tech still (not counting Buell...but HD didn't come up with the innovations for Buell).

If they don't change the MV's, great! All for it. If they do, it'll ruin the MV's.

BobTheBiker · 07-11-2008, 04:53 PM

Dont get me wrong, HD makes some good stuff, but the pushrod V twin is old still ancient technology. its time to start throwing some more modern stuff in there. all I'm seeing is the same old motors, just fuel injected really and more electronic stuff. no real mechanical improvements in the last what's it been? 20+ years at least?

07-11-2008, 09:57 AM	#1
PiZdETS ⎷⎛⎝ ⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠ ⎷⎛⎝ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: ⎷⎛⎝ ⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠ ⎷⎛⎝ Moto: ⎷⎛⎝ ⎝⏠⏝⏠⎠ ⎷⎛⎝ Posts: 990	Very smart on Harleys part. Why develop a bespoke, high-quality, boutique sportbike brand when you can just buy one that's already established. Doubt Harley would influence the design process, probably just retool advertising, marketing,, share dealerships, maybe help a couple new models get through. __________________

07-11-2008, 12:31 PM	#6
FT BSTRD Tractor Driver Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Franklin, TN Moto: Buell XB12X Ulysses Posts: 1,007	Look at it this way, Buell now has a 100% sportbike oriented dealership network stateside. Now you won't have to wear your assless pants in to look at a sport bike or get weird looks when you show up at the dealership in your Power Rangers suit. I believe this is the first step in separating the sportbike distribution from the cruiser distribution. It will be easier to service the new generation of Buells inside a sportbike shop rather than trying to retrain Harley techs to service Rotax engines. There will also be the ability to homogenize parts and accessories for sport bikes. I see this as a VERY good move for HD and an even better move for Buell. Better this than HD selling Buell to MV Augusta. I would expect the prices for MV Augustas to decline a little bit. HD has a rediculous ability to degotiate discounts on materials, components, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the components get sourced stateside. Means more American jobs.

07-11-2008, 04:53 PM	#10
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	Dont get me wrong, HD makes some good stuff, but the pushrod V twin is old still ancient technology. its time to start throwing some more modern stuff in there. all I'm seeing is the same old motors, just fuel injected really and more electronic stuff. no real mechanical improvements in the last what's it been? 20+ years at least?