Is Buell Motorcycles really closing their doors forever?

True. The last bikes were produced on Oct. 29, 2009.

Since everyone else is speculating on the reasons, here's my $0.02:

HD recently purchased MV Augusta motorcycles. These are sport bikes with a long history, a real pedigree and a very strong world-wide reputation. Some of you may think Buell was an American icon, I leave you to your own opinions. They were certainly interesting bikes, but they weren't particularly good, and having just returned from an extended stay in Europe, I can attest that, while H-D's are very popular over there, Buells are considered more than a little excentric. In a continent full of v-twin sport and hypermotard bikes, Buell simply couldn't compete. It looks to me that HD chose to keep the sport bike brand that is most likely to sell in the whole world and not just in North America.

It will be interesting to see where Erik Buell shows up next.

It's true. I used to work for a Harley dealer (that didn't sell Buells) and I still have access to the HD internal website, and I wasn't surprised to see the announcement 2 weeks or so ago. HD is also considering closing the York PA assembly plant and relocating it to Kentucky. I think that is bigger news than ceasing Buell operations. Harley should have never bought them anyhow. Not that I hate Buells or anything, and I wish Eric the best. More victims of the rabid Wall Street greed that collapsed our economy.

It's a shame, but it's true.

Buell made some really interesting and unique motorcycles.

It was Buell's best year ever, and next year looked even better with a fully faired and more powerful version of the 1125R in the pipes.

Anyone who says Buell motorcycles suck has never ridden one. I have had dozens of motorcycles in my 25 years of riding, and my Cyclone is one of most entertaining machines I have ever owned.

Buell made bikes for riders, not spec-sheet squids with 2" chicken strips on their tires.

I hope Erik Buell gets free from HD and starts over.

The Buell was designed by Eric Buell to compete against Ducati and others in road racing. He did so well with them that Harley bought him out. They use a Sportster motor, which is a pretty bullet-proof affair in it's current form. The Blast uses the front half of an 1100 cc Sportster motor, resulting in less power, more vibration, and many victories in the 500cc class. Anybody who tells you that the Harley Sportster engine is junk should google the name Chris Carr. He has taken top honors in flat track / dirt track on the 1 mile oval with them for years.

Just another American Icon falling. Yes, America is selling out everything and I mean EVERYTHING. But who in the US gives a damn. Apparently no one...except the sleeping giants of conservatives that still believe this country stands for something. As the politicians, who by the way are EMPLOYEES of "We the People", continue to make laws that stifle free-market, free will, free speech and all other areas as illuminated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights...WHY...because 'they' know what is best for America.

It is just another day in Washington, DC.

H-D are in serious trouble. They're getting rid of MV Agusta as well, they just can't afford it.

Trends come and trends go. H-D's are pretty poor dynamically, and sell to people who buy with their hearts, not their heads. If H-D cease to be trendy, they'll go as well, unless the US Govt. bails them out as they've done in the car industry.

Unfortunately yes, it's true. And like you said, just after their best year ever after they finally created a world-class bike with some of the most innovative chassis designs ever seen.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5i7JDNACtI

Sucks that H-D is still stuck in the 1930s. Maybe Erik will just sell his shares and start up another independent company, or get in cahoots with Polaris, who don't mind building bikes with modern tech. His brainwork never seemed to really meld with the reactionary marketing, cutomer base and philosophy of H-D.

Buell's sucked. There's more to being a great motorcycle than just being odd or different.

It's true.