Odd. I was searching for Buell collectabilia online yesterday, trying to gage where to price some Buell stuff I need to unload...
I owned a 2000 X1, and bought the first-sold Blast in the greater Sacto area (for my son). I was also founding member #2 of the now-defunct SacBORG group and website. I was also the first to force Buell to buy my X1 back under CA Lemon Laws, due to the chronically failing rear shock. That was the pebble that started the avalanche...
I loved that X1. In fact I loved it so much I started to buy an M2 for the AFM Formula Twins class, but that died for reasons... We had some of the best all-day rides with the N.CA Buell crowd. Imagine an all-day >500 mile backroad burner which included Hi 20 twixt Lake Sonoma and Healdsburg. My clutching hand was useless on the way home that evening.
I met Erik at a Laguna Seca event quite a while back, and spoke with him at length. He knew I was "that guy", yet still was pleasant, professional and very passionate about all things motorcycling. It frustrated him endlessly that they could not get the shock issue sorted out. He signed a couple of items for me, and I gave him a copy of my band's CD. Very personable, likeable guy. I wish he had had better success because I think he deserved it as one of the True Believers.
Will this new lineup succeed? I'm not sure how any company is succeeding in today's environment, much less thriving. The demographics are upside down. Yung-sters are more interested in electric bicycles (...) than motorcycles. Very few of us at present have the discretionary income remaining at the end of the month to afford the indulgence of a brand-new bike (speaking on behalf of Very Few Of Us).
If'n I were to spring for a new bike, I've already settled on one of the Janus bikes. I no longer need to go fast. I don't much like cruisers. I very much do like old (looking) bikes with character, even if it means a 250 thumper. Why not? think of the old Ducati singles, and who wouldn't happily throw a leg over one of those...
I'm having a hard time envisioning who might be attracted to one of these latest-iteration Buells. We'll see.