Buell EBR racing unveil the 1190RX

Harley is interested in profits. Period. Buell never made them money. I don't see this solo venture being any different. Harley has always struggled with the sport bike market, even with their ironic named "Sportster".
Maybe they will pay attention to the Cafe builders this time. Although Buell had big problems with recalls, it's fair to say that Harley in general has problems with recalls.

Wrong again...do ya just dream this up or what? Obviously don't like American made...that's ok just don't justify it with BS
 
Eric Buell is certainly talented, smart and capable of pulling talent and projects together. He was an engineer at HD. What other engineer at HD built a motorcycle company? He compromised himself using the Sportster engine in his sport bikes. He kind of had to. Build the best handling and most unique bike around an old aircooled lump and peddle the Koolaid. He sure talked it up like he believed it. Appeal to the HD crowd with the motor and the sportbike guys with the rolling chassis. Can't lose, something for everybody. Or nobody.
He built the kind of bike a dreamer would build. An example might be: let's put the Honda XR650L engine into a Yamaha TZ250. It'll be the neatest thing, everybody will want one. I know I do. Well, I don't think you could build a company around that either.
 
Wrong again...do ya just dream this up or what? Obviously don't like American made...that's ok just don't justify it with BS

Oh, so Harley killed Buell off because it was making too much money? Tell us more...
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Austrian engine/transmission, Japanese forks, how is this "American made"? It's American assembled.
 
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HD were the ones that approved the deal with Rotax for the 1125R Helicon motor.

Because Harley did not have the ability to manufacture and build that type of engine. They were not willing to spend the R&D dollars, or try to compete against the Japanese.

I'm sorry , but Eric Buell is massively over-hyped as a designer, and Buell's are notorious for reliability, check any Buell forum.

This "New" EBR is the exact same frame and engine as the 1125R, except he went to conventional exhaust and drive chain -two aspects that he was telling everyone was innovative in 2008. The new bikes have no electronic controls. 185hp? I call BS -he claimed the 1125R had 150hp, and the European bike mags called him on his BS and never got more than 120.

I was really thinking hard about an XBR, but a little investigation and talking to a few honest owners scared me off.
 
Because Harley did not have the ability to manufacture and build that type of engine. They were not willing to spend the R&D dollars, or try to compete against the Japanese.

I'm sorry , but Eric Buell is massively over-hyped as a designer, and Buell's are notorious for reliability, check any Buell forum.

This "New" EBR is the exact same frame and engine as the 1125R, except he went to conventional exhaust and drive chain -two aspects that he was telling everyone was innovative in 2008. The new bikes have no electronic controls. 185hp? I call BS -he claimed the 1125R had 150hp, and the European bike mags called him on his BS and never got more than 120.

I was really thinking hard about an XBR, but a little investigation and talking to a few honest owners scared me off.

Omg...tell us more
 
Oh wow, some people have all the answers, all the wrong answers but hey this is gtam after all.
 
Oh wow, some people have all the answers, all the wrong answers but hey this is gtam after all.

Gtam is better than an encyclopedia. Everyone here knows everything. Pity some members don't make laws or manufacture bikes :rolleyes:


Legalize lane splitting! While you're at it legalize all self entitled behaviour on Ontario roads. Screw everybody!
 
I think EBR has the world by the tail right now. A well funded WSBK entry for next year http://www.cyclenews.com/585/22511/Racing-Article/Geoff-May-And-EBR-To-World-Superbike.aspx . They have always had a good reputation for support of their customers especially when it comes to trackday and racing customers. EBR also have exclusive American (hopeful including Canada) distribution deal with Hero Motorcycle which looks like a good brand for entry level machines.
 
I was really thinking hard about an XBR, but a little investigation and talking to a few honest owners scared me off.

I think you missed an opportunity to own and ride an interesting bike. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28846604/Buell/Top 50 Cornering Bikes.pdf

Granted, Buell's are better suited to folks comfortable turning their own wrenches. If you have time (and interest), have a look at this longterm report. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/28846604/Buell/Motorrad_article_en.pdf
 
Because Harley did not have the ability to manufacture and build that type of engine. They were not willing to spend the R&D dollars, or try to compete against the Japanese.

I'm sorry , but Eric Buell is massively over-hyped as a designer, and Buell's are notorious for reliability, check any Buell forum.


Erik Buell is a true motorcycle enthusiast who has had far more success in his life than the vast majority of motorcycle enthusiasts in this entire world. Why someone like yourself feels the need to criticize this because the guy has released imperfect products is something I don't understand. There is no such thing as a perfect motorcycle. The evolution of every motorcycle line is testament to that. There is always room to refine and enhance. Some of his bikes have had issues but they, like every line were evolving and getting better with every iteration.

I think a real motorcycle enthusiast would certainly appreciate that. But, it looks like you're more of a pretentious poser quick to jump on the cliche of criticizing american engineering, be it Buell or H-D.

In a previous post, you actually criticized the HD Sportster as being Harley's attempt at being in the sport bike market!! What a joke. Do you actually think that they are trying to go up against R6's and Duc 848's or something? Nonsense. The bike is what it is but it is not a sport bike designed for the track. You said "Harley has always struggled with the sport bike market". Well, I guess you could say they are struggling with it considering that they do not even have a bike to fit into that segment of the market and in their 110 years of existence, have never really commited to doing anything of significance in that market segment. I can only think of a few models that barely sniff around the edges of that segment (like the XR1200). Thats not what HD does. It would be like me criticizing Ducati for not making good golf clubs or suzuki for not growing tasty organic cucumbers.

Its pretty clear that you don't like H-D/Buell and thats fine, everybody has there own preferences but it sounds like you really dont have a good understanding of this motorcycle industry. If you did, you would be able to step back and understand H-D's place in this market and the fact that they have been able to win many lifelong loyal riders that are helping H-D stay profitable. You'd also be able to look at Erik Buell and see a man that is trying to achieve greatness. Whether he does or not is beside the point. So far, the only great thing you are doing here is rubbing people the wrong way. You are proving great at that with your narrow-minded view.
 
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I like CafeRay's posts because with every new comment he teaches us that his words aren't worth the pixels they're displayed on.
 
185hp? I call BS -he claimed the 1125R had 150hp, and the European bike mags called him on his BS and never got more than 120.

For the 1125r/cr platform, HD/Buell claimed 146hp, AT THE CRANK (*EXACTLY* the same place that Ducati (and just about every other manufacturer) get their HP numbers from). Been proven time and again that they put down an average of 121-123 hp at the wheel in stock trim. Buy an aftermarket exhaust (HMF, Barker, FMF etc) and a tune from EBR and they put down 141-143 at the wheel without any difficulty.

Am I a Buell Fanboy? Not really. It was a neat bike with lots of engineering in it that I can appreciate. Did they have problems? Sure. The 2008 was released a few months early and had teething problems. Mid 2008 models were pretty solid from what I have researched on various forums. The biggest problem came to be when HD decided they wanted their input into the bike... after all, what good motorcyclist wouldn't want to plug in heated vests, GPS, Toasters and a Fridge? They insisted on going with a larger stator for increased electrical output, but didn't alter the rotor whatsoever for increased oil cooling on the stator. So, the 2009+ stators burned out regularly. HD realized they made an error, and came out with a half assed wiring harness replacement instead of new rotors or 2008 stators. The fix would work for 8-10,000 km before burning out again. This is all very well documented. Check out badweatherbikers.com or buelletinboard.com for tons of reviews, questions and fixes that owners came up with.

Please CafeRay, check all your facts before spewing off at the keyboard.

*sigh*
 
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Because Harley did not have the ability to manufacture and build that type of engine. They were not willing to spend the R&D dollars, or try to compete against the Japanese.

Actually they do have the ability, hence why when Buell was out fishing for a supplier for the motor, Harley was among one of the many vendors including Rotax, S&S, and even Mercury Marine.

I'm sorry , but Eric Buell is massively over-hyped as a designer, and Buell's are notorious for reliability, check any Buell forum.

Right, and the issues of the past had little to do with Erik Buell, but more to do with Harley and their forcing of using of specific parts or vendors. Harley did a lot of "Do anything you want as long as it still fits the Sportster airbox", and "No, that cooling hole in the rotor is too expensive per bike", which then resulted in the burning stators on the 1125R/CR. From what I've seen firsthand with Buell reliability, it is on par with European bikes.

This "New" EBR is the exact same frame and engine as the 1125R
Except it doesn't share either with the 1125R. In fact, nearly every single component was changed for the better, partly to avoid any infringement with Harley Davidson (they still own all the rights to every component on the 1125R), but mostly to make a better bike. Very few components from the EBR bikes will fit on the 1125R without modification. While the frame and motor do sorta resemble the old frame and motor, if you look at them up close you see they are nothing alike. Erik has a fresh start, and knows he can't let anything screw it up.

except he went to conventional exhaust and drive chain -two aspects that he was telling everyone was innovative in 2008.

Again you have not been paying attention, like I stated before, the 1190RX has a dual can exhaust system. The primary muffler is under the motor still, and the secondary resonator helps provide more mid range torque.
14ebr1190rx_Exhaust_Quarter_Wave_Tuner1.jpg


CycleNews: “Our engineers(EBR) found that a secondary resonator has a large benefit to helping a V-twin make power and mid-range. The resonator provides an opportunity for a quarter-wave tuner that adds mid-range performance while meeting noise regulations.”
http://www.cyclenews.com/392/22484/Racing-Article/First-Look--2014-EBR-1190RX.aspx

As for the chain, it is to meet WSBK homogenization, belt drive will be available as an accessory, then standard on other models (with a chain accessory kit for those that need it)

The new bikes have no electronic controls.

Except it does.

185hp? I call BS -he claimed the 1125R had 150hp, and the European bike mags called him on his BS and never got more than 120.

Buell had claimed 146 crank, so 146 minus 15% drivetrain loss = 124.1, real world will give or take a little depending on weather, dyno, and so on, but every stock 1125 I've seen would be in that ballpark. Using the same numbers the RX should clock in right around 157hp to the wheel.

I was really thinking hard about an XBR, but a little investigation and talking to a few honest owners scared me off.

Such a shame, you missed out on a great bike that is dirt cheap to buy and keep running. Dealer support in Canada in non existent though.
 
Such a shame, you missed out on a great bike that is dirt cheap to buy and keep running. Dealer support in Canada in non existent though.

Barrie HD have a Buell tech....all parts and service available. Through American Sportbike.com able to get lots of parts maybe even easier to get and quicker than HD dealers here. My 07 XB12SS which I owned until recently almost from new...only wear parts. Brake pads, clutch cable, plugs, had one belt did let go...no issues whatsoever mechanically.

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