[JackTrade]

…is one cool bike. How were you able to find one? When I was first looking around at dealerships in the area, they all told me they’d occassionally get one and it’d be gone in day. They seem like a perfect do-it-all-bike that’s especially well-suited to the varied environments of the D.C. area…easily fight it out with the cabs downtown, or enjoy more relaxing surroundings in Great Falls. : -)

How do you find the height of the Versys?

That is a sweet Hornet; I really wanted to get a new next bike, but that one looks in pristine condition, and that yellow is a great color. Hmmm…

[JackTrade]

The latest is that Harley is going to still make the Blast…it just won’t be a Buell any longer.

The bike won’t have any Buell logos on it, just Blast ones. It will be primarily used for the Rider’s Edge courses, though I think they’ll still sell them if you want one. Kinda like the Ford Crown Vic…heavy fleet sales, but individuals can still buy them if they want (though I hear that’ll change soon).

Interestingly, the blue one that Erik crushes in the video is not a recent model one…it’s likely a 2006, as it says “Buell American Motorcycles” on the tank. After that year, they just said “Buell”.

Yeah, the vibration is something at idle; I’ve vibrated out two screws and the mirrors occasionally come loose. Gets better once you get to about 2k rpm (or so I’m guessing…damn lack of a tach).

[JackTrade]

Re bikes, I’ve looked at the ER-6N, but didn’t like the gauges (all digital, Ducati Monster style). I know, kinda dumb reason to reject a bike, but I figure I’ll be staring at them a lot.

I *really* wanted a SV650 (the standard, non-faired version), but they replaced it with the Gladius before just as I was ready to buy. Too bad, as I loved the chunky look.

I am glad though that sport-oriented standards are starting to get more popular here. They’re everywhere in Europe, but for a long time now, it’s been pretty much either cruisers or sportbikes here in the U.S. I really liked the Honda Hornet (which came here as the Honda 599 a few years ago), but it’s no longer available.

[JackTrade]

Buell’s problem now that they’ve decided they’re a racing manufacturer is that they don’t really have, at the end of the day, truly competitive bikes. For all of Erik’s talk about Buell’s racing history, it’s just that…history. He’s famously prickly when people suggest his bikes can’t compete with the Japanese or Europeans, but it’s true.

Buell is going to have to get serious about racing beyond AMA (e.g. Superbike) if it wants to get that reputation. And it’s going to be a tough climb, esp. where the rubber hits the real world sales. They’re between the rock of the Japanese (cheap performance), and the hard place of the Europeans (build quality).

Harley’s in a better spot, definitely. HD is the Coca Cola of cruisers, and everyone else is Pepsi. With that strong a brand, a small-for-HD bike (I’d see basically a 500cc version of the Rebel or GZ250) would slot right in. Surely given the iconic nature of HD, it has to realize it’s missing a big market by having an 883cc as the smallest offering…

Also, personally, if HD would offer a 750cc version of the XR1200, I’d be in heaven. Went to the flat track races this past weekend in Hagerstowne MD, and WHY HD doesn’t talk up its success in this more with the general public, I don’t understand…

[JackTrade]

…That I’m a squid?!

[JackTrade]

Based on my experience (I’m 6′, 200 lbs), a 250 might be a mite too small. It can be done, but you might be more comfortable with a 500 (esp. in getting up to speed on the highway). Check out the Suzuki GS500F…sportbike style, but upright riding position.

By all means take the BRC. It’s a standardized course with trained instructors and a set cirriculum…you’ll learn an immense amount, including stuff that your coworker may not know or may forget (not saying he’s not an expert of course, just that the BRC course builds in failsafes to make sure you get everything you need). Also, in most states, you can take the DMV course at the end of the BRC, saving you the hassle of the DMV.

[JackTrade]

Also, where you live plays a big factor in price. I live in the mid-atlantic, and we pay a lot, no matter which company for insurance.

Progressive gets high marks, so try them out.

As for your bike, have you looked at the Suzuki GS500F? Sportbike looks, reasonable but not overwhelming power, inexpensive.

[JackTrade]

As a current P3 owner, I’m a little puzzled by the way Buell decided to end things with it.

On one hand, it’s a pretty bold thing to do, and I agree with Erik’s assessment of the bike in the video…it’s no sportbike, and I’d even add it has some real design flaws compared to its competition.

But on the other hand, the whole crushing it into a cube combined with Erik’s seemingly cavalier attitude toward it seems to insinuate that if you actually liked this thing, you’re not “Buell material.” I like their “real” bikes plenty…I just didn’t think a 1200cc XB12 Lightning was the best choice as new rider, that’s all.

Usually, you only have ad campaigns like this to announce that you’re replacing said crushed thing with something better…”we need to free up warehouse space for the all new 650cc Buell Cyclone II…we’re coming for you, SV650 and Ninja 500r!” Here’s hoping…

I just hope Buell isn’t getting infected with Harley’s attitude (i.e. if you don’t want the big, bad bikes, then get lost). Seems dangerous in this economy, esp. for companies that produce costly items that are nearly always discretionary purchases.

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