The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Erik Buell in Time Magazine

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Buell factory dynoErik Buell and Buell Motorcycles got a little publicity in Time Magazine this week in a very positive article. Even though well known to most of us, Buell is not exactly a common name to most folks and the extra exposure helps the motorcycle industry as a whole.

The article highlights how working at Buell is different, if you’re on the assembly line you have to know several jobs and you rotate among them. It’s a small, close knit organization. Also:

Every part on a new model has a team comprising a purchasing engineer, a design engineer and a quality engineer–called PDQ–in charge of taking that part from concept through production. “The three of them together act as a business,” says Tony Stefanelli, Buell’s senior platform director. “They’re like entrepreneurs, developing a product that they sell back to Buell every day on the assembly line.” Instead of handing off their work to the line engineers, Buell designers own their parts through the manufacturing process. “If your part design isn’t working, you have to go over to the line or to the supplier and face the person,” says Buell. “People come back with a whole different perspective of how important their job is.”

Positive coverage of any motorcycle company is always a good thing. Congratulations to Erik and Buell Motorcycles!

Link: Time Magazine
Related: 25 Years of Buell

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Business

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Comments

  1. Buell 4 ever . I didn’t realize that 55% of Buells market was overseas . I’m glad to see the brand is getting the exposure it deserves . Good on ya Buell a class act .

  3. “Every part on a new model has a team comprising a purchasing engineer, a design engineer and a quality engineer…”

    I love my Buell too…IMO problem is those teams haven’t talked to each other on how their parts interact visually since they cluelessly abandoned the tube framed versions.

  5. Buell, Buell, BUELL!!!

    Now I’m just waiting for the final piece in the puzzle – the 1125RR (1198RR?).

    And based on the race-bikes we’ve seen, a full fairing would do wonders for the . . . controversial . . . looks of the 1125R.

  6. If you can get your hands on the book, “25 Years of Buell”, do it. The things Erik & Crew went through to get to where they are now is beyond comprehension. Did you know a big deal he had with a braking system with Honda was deep-sixed by Pfizer?!? Hollywood couldn’t come up with a better story, plus Erik’s story is real… I love my 2002-built Firebolt and lust for the new Uly XT… which will be my next bike one day. Other makes are great, but there’s something about Buell that gets into your soul.

    …and that’s a good thing!

    Randy