Confederate ? Im over you.

I just read the anxiously awaited Confederate story.
As a huge admirer of what they had accomplished with the
Hellcat and Wraith I was eager to cheer them on and catch
up on the post Katrina re-build.

From the very first time I laid eyes on the Hellcat, I felt immedialelly drawn to its power. It was truly an original
motorcycle and I felt a sense of pride in the made in the USA
label, a desire to own one, that I rarley get anymore.

So as I read on, catching up with new events, I started to get
the feeling Ive heard this story before. Not the hurricane or
the struggle to raise funds, but the fact -and in my mind driven home with clarity- that Confederate is moving full speed ahead in the race to build nothing more than celebrity-owned-rich-guy-only motorcycles.

No, you say. Well after the article I lost hope that a Hellcat would ever sit in my garage. The "Renavatio" who's that supposed to appeal too? I can scribble far-out designs that look like they
were created for future Super-hero's to cruise on. Big deal.
And who would buy it ? Yeah, I can see them pulling up to
the red carpet on that bling-thing right now.

I had hoped to hear that Confederate was going to produce
real world designs that real Americans could afford.
Look at what BMW and Ducati are doing. Some amazing
designs that I can afford. Wouldnt it have been better for Confederate to try and get my money? I would at least have driven the thing, and proudly at that. Instead they will sit in
Pitt and Clooneys garage and Prince Omar-Oil-Money no doubt.

If Confederate wants some respect, then consider this...
I can walk out my door right now and purchase any one of the following:
Expensive Harley, not my bag.
Ducati 1098, their working hard to get my attention.
BMW, HP2 Supermoto? My hearts beating fast.
MV. Augusta, I want one of each.

Hellcat F131, original ,badass, American made, whats not
to like ?
The price is ridiculous. $ 67,500.00 ? C'mon guys.
Celebrities are fickle, foreign investors ? Good luck.
The Renovatio design ? Call George Lucas, he can use it in
his next movie.

I think your best shot at success was right here. I would have been a loyal supporter to the very end. Hey, Brad Pitts a nice
guy, But I would have thought you learned the lesson from
all the other bike builders before you. You build a customer
base from the ground up, not the other way around.
Dont believe me? Look at all the other struggling Boutique
Bikes. They come and they go. I get the feeling Eric Buell
is here to stay. I would have more respect for a celebrity
riding a Buell than a flashy you-cant-have-it Wraith.

And the list of bikes I could buy for one Hellcat?
For get-about-it, not even close. You lose.
Carbon fibers not that exclusive.

Good luck Confederate, I so wanted this relationship to work.
Im over you.  

Okay, I have a habit of posting thoughts before they
fully develop, Premature Posting Syndrome or whatever,
but I really do want to see Confederate make it.
A manufacturing complex next to the Barber track would
be great also.
It was always a wish to own one, but we cant have everything.
Relating to the Buell, perhaps they can go upscale by
offering top notch suspension and more finely crafted details.
A little Carbon Fiber, Brembo's and Akropovic on a
Super-Buell.  Why not?

I especially like the thought of a skilled American worker
doing the assembly, something made in the USA to be proud of again.

So good luck Confederate.
I'll just have to settle for the new BMW HP2 Supermoto.
I feel better already.  

What good timing, Buell took my advise and is now
holding a Coloring Contest to win a new Buell.
How Fun.
Guys, is that how you intend to win over new customers?
Where's my crayons ? Must be in my toolbox next to the
baggy pants and diamond encrusted platinum "Minimitch"
necklace. Hold on, " Honey, have you seen my gold teeth?"

Buell, like I said, offer the top notch components. The
colorform model is fun for kids but I think seeing your
new " Graffiti " model co-starring in the next slew of Idiot
Video's on the web is coming soon to a You-Tube near you.

Oh forget it. Who's listening anyway. Color away Kids!  

I neglected to commend Buell for giving away a new bike.
Thanks Eric. Minimitch likes to be creative...

I just pictured the Super TT to be different. Having sat the
minibutt down on a few Buells in dealerships, I always
got stuck on one detail or another. I was unable to pull the trigger. It looked like Buell might go for an American Ducati
kind of feel but... I dont see Ducati offering removable
plasic panels to decorate. I want brembos, an exhaust
that doesnt look like it came from Midas, carbon fiber
and less plastic. Much less plastic. Forgive me, but they're
starting to look cheap.

Where's the real Super Buell ?

Anyone else looking to buy American but feel this way ?
Im confused.  

Until HD gives Buell a real engine to work with, it ain't gonna happen. Eric has some very interesting,if not always practical,ideas. But they give him a 1957 motor and lots an lots of plastic to work with. I've kinda liked the more recent vintage Buells chassis (although I'm ridiculously cramped)but it just begs for a REAL sportbike motor (what's Honda doing w/all those RC51 motors that were gonna go to Vincent?).It needs more conchos to appeal to the Big Twin crowd,and more motor to appeal to the sportbike crowd ---Who are they trying to sell these things to, anyway? And once you've bought it, you own it forever, what with the 50% first year depreciation. It's a shame, because It would be awesome to see a real American sportbike to compete with the Japanese and the Italians, but HD would rather spend R&D money figuring out how to wedge more chrome and silver gremlin bells onto Fatboys.