There were two choices IMHO, get Buell and MV away from the Harley or close them down. Having blokes on 13 month old CBR's walk into show rooms with £10k in their pockets with an idea that oil in the swing arm and shocks acting as a bash plate wasn't such a stupid idea only to be told they really wanted a Dynahypersuperchrometassleglide was never going to work. The American sports bike thing only worked in the US, no one else would take all that mass centralization guff seriously until they actually won a race against a Ducati. The next thing Harley needs to do is sack the first dealer in each country that rubbishes the Sportster to a secret shopper, then they need to Europeanise one to compete with Bonnevilles, Ducati classics and Guzzis. Time for Harley to realise Peter Fonda is now a pensioner too, in which case they may regret this move, but at least it shows IMHO a move away from the "bring out new colours and and don't worry about the six month wait and delivery charges" plan they've had for years.
I think Buell is no great loss. MV I hope will rise again, but run by Italians who'll make something red and fast that'll do what the advertising says.
Andy
