Harley apparently has dropped support for Buells (bike, motor, Japanese)

[wutitiz]

I bought a Buell motorcycle new in 2007. Not too much later, in the wake of the 2008 economic crash, Harley pulled the plug on Buell. I wasn't too worried, as I assumed that Harley would continue to provide support, parts, and service for my bike.


Now 11 years later, I stopped in at the Harley dealership where I bought it to ask about getting some service done. I was told that they no longer worked on Buells, and that parts were 'drying up.' So Harley, you expect your bikes to have a max lifespan of 11 years?


I wanted to buy American, but I suppose I should have been smarter than to buy a bike from a company whose model seems to be largely based on selling t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc. It's not a bike company with a marketing department--it's a marketing company that makes bikes as an afterthought.

[burdell]

I wonder if that's corporate policy or just that of the local dealer? For engine/gearbox work is there really any significant differences Sportster vs. Buell?

[motordavid]

Find an HD oriented Indie...I am sure a local HD indie shop would be willing to work on yours.
A quick GOOG search shows several big name parts suppliers that carry Buell parts, and I agree with burdell that the diff between a modern Sporty motor and your Buell is not significant.

As for the local HD dlr not willing to work on them, our local HD dlr won't even look at an older TwinCam A model, let alone my '75 Shovel.

Most of the HD dlrs got arm wrestled into redoing their operations into Taj Mahals in the '90s and 2000s, and it is mostly about moving units/selling tchotchkes and service on current models they sold to 'you', vs parts inventory or 'service' on non 'current' scoots.
GL, mD

[burdell]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Find an HD oriented Indie...I am sure a local HD indie shop would be willing to work on yours.
A quick GOOG search shows several big name parts suppliers that carry Buell parts, and I agree with burdell that the diff between a modern Sporty motor and your Buell is not significant.

As for the local HD dlr not willing to work on them, our local HD dlr won't even look at an older TwinCam A model, let alone my '75 Shovel.

Most of the HD dlrs got arm wrestled into redoing their operations into Taj Mahals in the '90s and 2000s, and it is mostly about moving units/selling tchotchkes and service on current models they sold to 'you', vs parts inventory or 'service' on non 'current' scoots.
GL, mD

Sounds similar to BMW, they'd try to arm wrestle multi line dealers into building a dedicated BMW showroom, even in smaller markets where it wasn't really economically feasible. I knew a dealer that they were trying to do that to, the real kick in the butt was one year he'd had to return a number of deposits when BMW couldn't supply enough of the models popular in his area, when pressed he told them they could come take their bikes away anytime they'd like.


I couldn't agree more about trying to find a good brand oriented indie shop, there are some really good ones out there.

[alloo66]

Most manufacturers only have to support their products for up to five years after it goes out of production.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by alloo66

Most manufacturers only have to support their products for up to five years after it goes out of production.

IIRC it used to be 7 years for auto manufacturers. IMO a decent manufacturer would support what they've sold beyond 5 years, required to or not, especially with motor vehicles where we're not talking about $19.95 coffee makers.

[Dport7674]

If there's no parts, there's no parts.

I've never understood the whole "My motorcycle needs to be America made!"

[Dport7674]

Originally Posted by wutitiz

... a company whose model seems to be largely based on selling t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc. It's not a bike company with a marketing department--it's a marketing company that makes bikes as an afterthought.

How is it possible that you didn't know that about the MoCo? It's been common knowledge for a lot longer than 11 years.

[wutitiz]

Originally Posted by Dport7674

How is it possible that you didn't know that about the MoCo? It's been common knowledge for a lot longer than 11 years.

I guess I knew it to some extent. Harleys never appealed to me, and I've never had one. But the Buells were lighter & faster, and a friend had one and found it reliable. So I bought one. I believe Buell was largely run by Erik Buell, not by Harley, but Harley was kind of the parent company. Harley pulled the plug in the wake of the 2008 crash.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Dport7674

If there's no parts, there's no parts.

I've never understood the whole "My motorcycle needs to be America made!"

Especially when many in the past had Japanese shocks, forks, carburetors, along with some electrics, etc.