Customer Reviews

25 Years of Buell

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The definitive history of the first 25 years of Buell. Well written and an easy, quick read. The authors use their contacts at Buell to give you an insiders look at the beginnings and history of this innovative American company and a look at it's talented and persistent founder and leader Erik
Buell. A great book for any motorcycle enthusiast and especially for a Buell owner, or for anyone interested in the history of a person turning a passion into a successful manufacturing company against all odds through hard work, smarts, and a commitment to excellence and the people who work for and with him.

Having been a Buell fan since 1995 and an owner since 1997, and having met both of the authors, this book brought back fine memories. The pictures were rememberances of factory visits early on. I still have my S2 Buell, currently with a sidecar attached and get to use it regularly in good weather.

After scowering the internet for Buell related books and continually coming away empty handed, I was thrilled to find this book. I thought it had a significant amount of interesting facts about the company and lots of great pictures. As a Buell rider and enthusiast I enjoyed learning about the history of this revolutionary motorcycle company. Money well spent.

This is a great book which tells stories of the company that you rarely see in print, including those early times when things were rough on the farm. Motorcycling is all about stories. Tales of adventure, of innovation, of man over machine, of facing obstacles and enduring. The Buell story is all about motorcycling and people, two things that in my mind, should never be seperated. This book is a keeper.
Randy

This a great book that highlights one man and a handful of loyal employees firmly set on building a true American sport bike. Erik Buell is the epitome of what makes the United States a great country. As a Buell owner I could not put the book down and read it cover to cover in one sitting. This is a must for Buell enthusiasts but a great read for anyone who wants to understand how a small company can make such an impact on a large market.

It is clear that Buell ownership is not about just owning a motorcycle but a lot more.

The only complaint I have about this book is it left me wanting more.

I have been a sideline admirer of Buells for many years, and found reference to this book on the badweatherbikers webb site.

I just couldn't put it down, and read it at one sitting. It has given me a much better appreciation and understanding of the Buell mototcycles and the people responsible for creating them and bringing them to market. My next motorcycle will be a Buell!

Shipped from Amazon on 8-30, arrived on 9-4. Great book, its a keeper on my coffee table.

Husky

This book tells a fascinating story. At its core, it's the tale of the ultimate realization of the American dream. 25 years ago, Erik Buell, a clearly bright and creative engineer, but otherwise normal guy - just like anyone you or I grew up knowing - started making motorcycles in his garage and through hard work and perseverance turned it into a world class motorcycle company.

How many other people have been able to do that in modern history? I'll give you a hint - none.

As a fan of motorcycles since I was a boy growing up in the `70s I've watched more than I can remember come and go and only Buell has hung in there and made it work.

When I saw this book was coming out (I am nearly certain there have never been any other books about Buell before - trust me I've been looking) I ordered it immediately and then waited . . . and waited . . . and waited, but now that it's out, it was definitely worth the wait.

I thought I knew Buell motorcycles until I bought this book and found out all the things I didn't know. While I've watched cool motorcycle after cool motorcycle being reviewed in the motorcycle magazines that I subscribe to and look forward to reading each month, I never had any idea how close many of those models had come to never making it.

The authors are clearly fans, and, while their subjectivity can be a bit much at times, most of the time it's infectious. We are right there with them, cheering Mr. Buell on through each trial.

Like the motorcycles, the writing is at times quirky, but always fun. The photos are spectacular and tell the story in a way words never could. The images take me back in time to the first time I saw those models unveiled. They're familiar now, like old friends, but as I viewed them, I found myself often transported back in time to the first time I had seen them.

An enjoyable and entertaining read for anyone who enjoys motorcycles. . . A MUST read for anyone who is (or thought they were) a Buell fan. I highly recommend it.

Once upon a time there were over 200 American motorcycle marquees; then there was one. In recent years several of these earlier brands were resurrected only to falter and fail while a handful of new ones were created. Buell is one of the later.

In 1993 Buell motorcycles made headlines when Harley-Davidson purchased 49% of the firm and the new company unleashed the S2 Thunderbolt. The Blast became big news in 2000 when it was released as an entry-level motorcycle for beginners. 2003 saw the introduction of the XB design with fuel in the frame (instead of a tank), oil-in-the-swingarm (instead of the engine sump), and a perimeter brake with an inside-out caliper. In 2006 it was the XB12X Ulysses, a dual-sport, long-distance hauler that received rave reviews; this year it's the 1125R with the new V-2 Helicon engine. Behind each and every one of these models lies a wealth of engineering innovations that were often developed and tested under almost Rube Goldberg conditions. The story behind their development is a splendid example of American ingenuity, entrepreneurial doggedness, and just plain surprises.

This business didn't begin with those 1993 headlines and those seeking instant fame would do well to read 25 Years of Buell. The innovations that mark these motorcycles didn't just happen and success wasn't achieved by simply having innovative ideas. It's a story about grasping opportunities, stretched purse strings, hard work and just a little bit of luck. This book is the first comprehensive look at the birth and young life of an American motorcycle company.

Erik Buell is an entrepreneur, a craftsman, and an engineer who is best known for the motorcycle that bears his name. While the man is not the motorcycle, the motorcycle is definitely the man. Therefore, some of the short insider stories regarding particular "situations" in the development of these motorcycles become an insight into the man behind them. Why the first injection-plastic part made especially for Buell motorcycles had to be created and the Tach Kit development for the M2 Cyclone are two good examples. The short story about "Mr. Cash" and the longer one regarding the 1987 Harley-Davidson Winter Dealer Cruise illustrate how opportunities were grasped, even though that of the Buell bicycle came knocking on the door. These are stories that almost any struggling entrepreneur can relate to. Gearheads will be more interested in the Buell Trilogy of Technology--unsprung weight; mass centralization; and chassis rigidity--and that of Engineering Analysis. These accounts manage to emphasize the importance of Erik Buell's vision and engineering design ideas without glorification or becoming mired in technical details. Such restraint on the part of the authors is to be commended.

Both authors have played roles in the development of Buell as a successful company. Court Canfield started the Buell Owners Group in 1990 and worked as an employee in customer service and media relations in the late 1990s. Dave Gess became involved as the company's PR agent in the mid1980s and returned as an employee a decade later in the purchasing department. Both were volunteers before becoming employees and their personal involvement in the company makes this an insiders' account of the first quarter century of the Erik Buell's motorcycle business.

The story flows nicely and keeps me engaged. The authors have not succumbed to techno jargon or delving into arcane engineering features, yet still managed to convey the innovative designs incorporated into these motorcycles. Yellow sidebars - some of these "sidebars" are full double page layouts - cover technical, production, and performance details. Photos document the history of the marquee, but many would stand on their own as motorcycle art. All the diverse elements are arranged in a pleasing format and printed on glossy paper. This is an example of how authorship and editorial layout can come together to produce a fine book.

Addendum: November 2009 Harley-Davidson announced it would be discontinuing the Buell line of motorcycles. This book therefore becomes a collector's item, telling all but the very last chapter in the history of one of the most innovative American motorcycle companies of the last half century.

Thank you Court Canfield and Dave Gess for taking on this labor of love. I smile when I read this book. I have had the opportunity to observe hundreds of companies and realize just how special the Buell organization is. I can hardly wait for part 2 and I am hoping that you are busy documenting the ongoing work of Erik Buell.

Tells the incredible story of Erik Buel and his journey to build the ONLY American sport bike. Looking forward to the next chapter after Harly Davidson pulled the plug and Erik went on to found Erik Buell Racing.