Now this is something I would like to see more of, Bob Lutz, vice chairman of General Motors, is on the web with the GM Fastlane Blog. Here’s the top guy giving his views and responding to comments about current products from the GM line. I’m sure those comments are well moderated but there are quite a few out there and they reflect different opinions, if Lutz wants to hear what the public thinks, a blog certainly gives him the opportunity. How many top executives of any corporation are willing to speak directly to the public without a screen of midlevel guys playing gatekeeper. I haven’t seen this in the motorcycle industry yet but it would be a great idea. This is another sign that business is being radically transformed by the Internet and those that aren’t willing to change will be left behind. My hearty congratulations to Mr. Lutz for getting out here with the rest of us.
Doug Staab says
Was Bob Lutz involved with a start-up motorcycle company in the 90’s? I thought he was part of “Eller Motorcycles” or “Eller Industries” [??]
Eller Industries was going after the “Indian” trademark but lost the rights to the name to (I think) a company in Canada. This was before the last Indian Motorcycle Company in northern CA.
Anyway, Eller had awesome prototypes. One of which was a v-twin sportbike (52-inch wheelbase) with the engine mounted Guzzi-style across the frame but was also chain-driven.
Anyone have more information on this company and who was involved? thanks.
kneeslider says
Lutz was affiliated with Eller Industries as an advisor in the late 90’s after he had retired from Chrysler, according to some quick research I just did. That was during the time Eller Ind. was trying to acquire the Indian name. I didn’t know that. I had heard of him previously from his time at Chrysler when he kept popping up every time some neat car appeared, played a big part in the Viper if I’m not mistaken. I believe it was for that reason that GM scooped him up. Their product line was getting kind of tired and they needed a new perspective.
H.L. Miller says
Erik Buell, yes, from Buell Motorcycles, has spent time lurking around a certain web board for some time now. I am in no way trying to say that he is a regular, but he does drop in from time to time with commentary.
O.K. I know Buell is not your favorite brand. I just thought you should know that there are others that do it as well.
kneeslider says
Hmm…, well, I’m not sure what web board Erik hangs out at but that’s great. Getting direct input from customers and potential customers can only help, isolation doesn’t work these days.
Buell not my favorite brand? Well, maybe, but I appreciate what they are and I very much commend Erik for putting out the bikes. Anyone who can start a business and stay in business gets a hearty pat on the back from me every time. I was a very early Buell customer, I had a 1989 RS1200, that’s well before the Harley buyout. Unfortunately, that bike had a large number of mechanical problems and failures, too many to list here, but the current Buells are actually pretty neat. I loved the sound and torque of the Harley engine, the handling was decent but acceleration was not so hot. If you were riding with any current sportbikes of the day the only hope of staying close was to keep it in the turns. If straights of any sort were involved, the Buell fell back pretty fast.