Parts content/country of origin

[ducxl]

The Buell board is having a heated discussion over the fact that a high amount of parts like Austrian engines,Chinese wheels,Italian frames.

The question goes to,is a Buell an American bike for using foreign engines etc.

If Ducati sourced their engines from Taiwan or Austria,or wheels from China,would they still be desirable?

Would we laud them for being cost consious? Or criticise them for selling out?

[Ducman851]

This was a good article on "American" cars.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/12/ame...cars/index.htm

[TrickLidz]

If Ducati sourced their engines from Taiwan or Austria,or wheels from China,would they still be desirable?<Q>

I don't think they wouldn't be as desirable because they would no longer be Italian.
I don't think the Buell can "now" be considered an American motorcycle. i had a Buell when it was still an American product---97 S3!

[BC999S]

IMHO, its the engine which decides what "nationality" a bike has so I'd say that, even though the Buell was designed in America, its not American. On the other hand, is this engine available in any other bike? If no then perhaps it IS American.

I'm so confused...

But a Ducati without an Italian engine is NOT Italian.

To complicate things further, a Maserati uses a Ferrari engine but I still consider it a Maserati. Are things different in the car world? Is it because the engine is such a great part of the experience in owning a particular bike that it makes a difference?

Remember a few years ago when Kawasaki and Suzuki experimented with sharing platforms/engines in their line of cruisers? They were al the same to me however I think they ran into product ID issues with their customers.

[sburns2421]

If you want to get picky you could say the F430 uses a Maserati engine as the Maser was the first to use that block, chain cam drive, and four-valve heads.

FWIW, I don't know why anyone really cares about where something comes from if it isn't political in nature. I feel a certain pull to buy American, but never really do in practice. Otherwise foreign is foreign. The 1125r is the first and only Buell I would ever consider buying, but it is still pretty weird and quirky. If BMW can decide to build a conventional superbike for reasonable money, I don't see why Harley/Buell cannot.

I suppose if the company is American-owned that would be the next best thing. In that case the sportbike for flag-wavers is MV Agusta

I am actually surprised the Benelli hasn't went for more production of parts in China after being purchased. If they could sell a Tornado for say, $9999 being made in China, it would sell well. Otherwise it will always remain a boutique brand with about 20 dealers in the US and puny sales.

[ducxl]

THe argument over at BadWeb stemmed from a Forbes article where Erik Buell is lauding American manufacturing.Buell motorcycle company makes NOTHING.THey purchase parts and merely ASSEMBLE them in East Troy.

Link>>>I'm Placing My Bet On American Manufacturing - Forbes.com

[s4sandro]

i could be terribly wrong about this but if im not mistaken modern ducati engine cases are cast in taiwan.

[rodericb]

A few months ago there was a job going at Ducati for an automotive sourcing specialist who had experience in dealing with Indian and Chinese OEM's. I think it was a six month contract. So they're certainly exploring further up that avenue!

[El Gladiateur]

Originally Posted by ducxl

If Ducati sourced their engines from Taiwan or Austria,or wheels from China,would they still be desirable?

No problem for taiwanese parts: i'd tend to be very trustfull with their electronic stuff.
But....
What would you expect from chinese wheels? Taiwan, Austria are things....China is an other. I don't want chinese main parts in a 20000 bucks bike.

[ccolwell]

I'm pretty sure that BMW's built in South Carolina are not American. But my Honda 599 is surely Italian -- it has Ducati relays!

[rjjablo]

I was at the Toyota Dealer the other day.

They had a small Pickup (Dont know which one dont care) 53% of the parts were from Japan, 47% from US and Canada, Assembled in Mexico.

Foreign, Domestic, Other?

[bafflebrain]

Who cares? Its a Buell for gawd sake...