Buell Motorcycles is no more. Parent company Harley Davidson said today that it will discontinue its Buell Motorcycle Co. unit. Clearly emotional about his companies closure, founder Erik Buell announced in a video posted on their website this morning that they would be ceasing operations.
“I will always be proud of what we have accomplished. It is a testimony to what a small group of passionate and inspired people can do, and with brilliant innovations, we’ve produced some of the best-handling bikes of all time,” said Buell “I personally look forward to exploring how I can continue to work with Harley-Davidson to bring advanced product technology to riders.
“I have also had the great fortune to meet and get to know many Buell riders over the years, and they are an amazing and interesting group of free thinkers,” Buell said. “May you ride with pride into the future. And may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years.”
A wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc. since 1998, Buell Motorcycle Company was founded in 1983 and produced more than 135,000 motorcycles. Over the past 26 years, Buell motorcycles won numerous design accolades and awards, and countless races and championships around the world, including the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship in 2009.
The current stock of Buell motorcycles will continue to be sold and Harley Davidson will honour new and existing warranties and provide parts and service for all Buell products. Buell will also continue to supply parts to support racers who want to go racing next season, they say. However, their racing support program and contingency will be discontinued.
