Gordon Jennings-racer, engineer, journalist, and twisted truth telling curmudgeon, once said about Harley Davidson, "there is something inherently wrong with a motor that makes maximum power at idle." Add to that, "why do they call it the motor company when its motor is its weakest link?" and I think you may have an idea of what Erik Buell was up against over 20 years ago when he decided to build a Sportster based sport bike, and take on the world. And for 20+ years he did just that, but as of October 15, 2009, Buell is no longer in production. And is not for sale. Harley pulled the plug on it, poor sales, and Buell-the motorcycle, will be no more. A bike I never really cared for, or was attracted to, but it somehow saddens me to see it end this way.
I met Erik in the early 90's at a bike show, and angered him with my input about his bike. Sorry dude, you asked, and I answered. I questioned him about the strange styling, and I guess it's like she may be ugly, but she's still your girl, he stormed off before I could finish. Beauty, or ugly in the eye of the beholder.
The other thing I wanted to tell him was his bike was marketed wrong. And sadly it was. Buell was never made as a stand alone brand, but trying to find one in a Harley dealer was difficult. Stuck in a low traffic, back of the store locations, they were never understood by a sales force that couldn't put chrome and loud pipes on it. They were an "other" to the bar and shield loyal. When Erik spoke of lean angles, they thought floor boards. He talked horsepower, they talked low end performance. As if any high performance bike lived at low end. He talked dual front brakes, to a group who were afraid of the pie plate sized disc that never got used on their front wheel. Do the math-it would take truck sized brakes to have one flip over the front end with all that weight! As if all that weight could be stopped by that little disc anyway. Stoppies and wheelies were for sport bikes-oops, a Buell was one. And where Erik removed over 100 pounds from a Sporty, Harley bragged how the extra weight made them more secure on the road. Add to that the Blast, half a Sportster motor, for beginners, and it was evident the motor company never understood the Buell. A beginner bike, or a sport bike? Meant to go against Ducati, GSXR, and Ninja types. A company that couldn't explain-because they didn't understand. Fast for a Harley still meant slow to the sport bike crowd. And all this mismarketing from a company that sells its marketing to colleges, where it is a course of how to succeed in American business. They forgot poor Erik, truly they never knew him. Or his bikes.
Travelling through the south, the misnomered Bible Belt-it is really a religion belt, each church has a sign with a catchy saying out front. Like ch--rch. What's missing? UR! Or advertising themselves as a friendly church. Or telling how they have "contemporary services." Trendy. Just another thing to separate generations. My favorite-Burned Out Baptist Missionary Church, in Mississippi. And I also attend churches here on church visits where the Chargers are the focus-ending services early because of the playoffs. Or men's fellowships, without the man, Jesus. Bible studies without the Bible. Feel good churches that leave you empty. Don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And sadly building programs, not for the soul, but for a building. That will wear out. Like so many of the old, wonderful church buildings in decay. Not rotting from the outside, but from the inside. You see the spirit has left the building, and no one realized it. So they come up with PR meetings, how can we get attendance back up? Never taking the time to read that Jesus says "unless He builds the church, they labor in vein." Or missing the point in Acts, where God says "he added to their numbers daily." Man has become the worshipped, and God-well, He is a part time show on Sundays-only if the Chargers play later that day. Social programs instead of the gospel. And maybe a lesson to be learned from Erik Buell. A company or church fails when it loses its direction, and purpose. It loses its identity, and dies.
It always comes down to the product. No amount of catchy phrases, ad campaigns, give aways, or free lunches can substitute for bad product. And Buells never had what it took to be in the sport bike market, sadly. Is Jesus the reason you go to church? Are you taught the word? Does your church love to fellowship-Bible studies, prayer groups, and one on one ministry? Is it all about you-or all about Jesus? You see He will return for His church-and we are it. Are you? Do you belong to Him, or are you just a name on a membership list-remembered only when it is time to give? Are you following God's plan of salvation, or man's way of marketing? You may fool us, and even yourself-God looks at the heart! Have you lost your identity in the world? Only in Jesus will you ever become who you can be!
Twenty years from now, someone will find an old Buell, and get parts from Harley for it, and start a trend. The lies and legends will be bigger than the truth about Buell, but the bikes will return to a new generation. To a group of rebels wanting a v-twin sport bike, and not wanting one that speaks Italian. And the message will grow and spread-Buell will rise from the dead. Ask Triumph, or Indian-funny how history repeats itself.
Today Jesus has already risen from the dead-not a marketing ploy but salvation! It is your decision, and waiting is saying no. There will be new Buells for sale for the next few years, as the warehouses are full of them. God promises no man tomorrow. Choose Jesus and live today-and ride into the future knowing that love will never go out of style. And no church programs will improve it-or make it last longer. It is all about the product-Jesus! Anyone else is just a knock off, a wanna be, a poser. Make Him your ride for life!
Sorry Erik, you deserved better. God knows. He sent His son, to a group that didn't understand or deserve Him. It's called mercy. And then He sent grace-getting what we don't deserve, to show His love. Too bad Harley never understood either one. You can't wrap love in chrome-or the gospel in leather. Neither one is good enough. They can't contain love.
So let Jesus srap His arms around your life. I hope we meet again, I have some questions for you. Your bike may be dead, I hope your God isn't. I will continue to pray for you. Your bike may never be resurrected, I hope you are.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com