Sad day at the Buell Motorcycle factory...

Today (or technically yesterday) is a sad day for me, and many of my fellow Buell motorcycle owners as we learned that Harley-Davidson has decided to end the Buell Motorcycle line. I guess it's similar to General Motors ending the lifespan of Pontiac and Oldsmobile and Hummer, but it's a sad day.

Almost eleven years ago, myself and two other Buell motorcycle owners founded American Sport Bike Night http://www.americansportbikenight.net/ in the San Francisco Eastbay, and we pride ourselves on never missing an episode of ASBN held on the First Monday of Every Month. Since 1998 when we started in Dublin, California to this month at the Straw Hat in San Leandro, our Buell enthusiast group has supported Buell with a passion.

I have been to the Buell motorcycle factory on several occasions, and have had personal conversations with Erik Buell many times as have many Buell owners. I've been to the Buell Homecoming, and I currently own three Buell motorcycles. Today is a sad day.

Other than the devastating news about Buell, today I attended the Thursday Club in San Leandro with many former co-workers and friends, then worked my surveillance job for a few hours, rode my 2009 Kawasaki from Oakland to Brentwood to check on my elderly mother, then rode back home to get ready for my evening job near home. Busy day for me luckily, so I had little time to reflect on the apparent death of yet another major American manufacturer.

Erik Buell was an engineer for Harley-Davidson and started his own company with a few loyal friends in 1983. I met him the first time when he wholly owned the company. Then, Harley-Davidson bought 49% of Buell, and finally ended up with 98% ownership. Many changes happened at Buell, and the new Rotax powered 1125R was the newest generation of Buell motorcycles. I'm sure that I would have owned one eventually.

Erik Buell is the only living founder of a major motor vehicle company that is still living. Henry Ford, Honda, and all the rest are long gone, and we were lucky to have a living legend in Erik Buell. ASBN hosted a private dinner in Carmel during the MotoGP weekend a few years back, and I, along with 78 dedicated Buell enthusiasts shared the private dining room for a dinner with Erik. ASBN did well that day.

I'll find some of the photos that I have, and share them later. For now, here I am with the first Buell that I bought.

Woz...

Yesterday, A's vs. Texas Rangers, I met wonderful Audra G. who was celebrating her birthday with friends and her twin brother. It was a great game, and Happy Birthday Audra!

The Chris Carr piloted BUB Seven is now the fastest motorcycle in the world, completing a record-breaking run at the Bonneville Salt Flats this afternoon with a 362.742 entry speed, 367.809mph mile, 367.953mph kilometer and 372.534mph exit speed. All that with a 3.0-liter, turbocharged, 500bhp V4. The previous record was 360.913mph, set by Team Ack Attack last year.Update: the official two-way average is 367.382mph. That has to be reviewed and what not, but it's pretty safe to say we have a new record.via LandRacing.com
Wes Siler. September 24, 2009 — Permalink

Motorcycle Maintenance

Well, here we are again, on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 and I've dropped off my Honda Blackbird at Berkeley Honda for an updated service and to find out what that annoying "clunk" is when riding. I found out yesterday that after 23,000 miles, it's time for a valve adjustment (needed at 16K) and I need a new chain, and the carbs apparently need to be synchronized. So, it's in Berkeley. I have the Ducati PS1000LE here at home this week, along with the Buell White Lightning which now has 2010 tags on the plate.

I drove out to move the Concours from Tonya's garage to Mom's garage yesterday, and dropped off the Kawasaki in the garage so I could bring home the white Buell. I need to burn some of the old gasoline from several of the motorcycles, so it's going to be riding out to Mom's on one motorcycle and riding home on another to get the fluids moving, burn old gasoline, and keep the batteries charged. There's the RC61, the Buell S-1, the Hailwood, and the Storz Sportster that are at the top of the list. Hopefully, the Blackbird will be back in good shape soon.

I'll be at work tonight at Dick's, and tomorrow night too. Lots going on the rest of September, and October is Halloween preparation all month.

Keep in touch,

Woz...

Well, here I am, on the Bonneville Salt Flats this September during the 6th Annual International Motorcycle Speed Trials by Bub. I brought my Suzuki GSX1100G with me to ride on the salt, and it was covered from front to back with salt by the end of the first day. Oh well, that's what SaltAway is for I guess... It was a great week, although it was hot weather, very long days starting well before dawn, and ot was fun and interesting. I learned many things this year, as I have in years past.

Leslie Porterfield at the awards party at the Rainbow Casino and Hotel on Thursday after completion of the 6th Annual International Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Speedway. Leslie rode her motorcycle 240 MPH during the event.

Andy Sills and Erin Hunter at the awards party after the last day of competition at the 6th Annual International Motorcycle Speeed Trials by Bub at the Bonneville Salt Flats. We were at the Rainbow Hotel and Casino, and it was a marvelous party. Both Andy and Erin are accomplished landspeed racers, and they are promoting SheEMoto, Erin's trademark and brand. Congratulations to them both!