(prologue: I'm glad to see we're back on topic again, as this "re-correction" back to it will take my mind off that friggin' Phillies' walk-off win last night!!!!.....)
Well Jaeger, I think you've certainly stated your opinion in SOMEWHAT of a reasonable manner alright, HOWEVER...here's a few things I think you should consider regarding some of your conclusions:
First, Buell motorcycles have never been wholeheartedly endorsed or universally praised by ANY of the motorcycle press corps whose job it has always been to evaluate and compare all the different mototcycles of comparable genre. Nope...almost NEVER. There were always viewed by those motojournalist as somewhat "quirky" pieces...not exactly "ringing endorsements" I must say! AND, the public at large usually pretty much seemed to agree with those assessments also, and pretty much exhibited those thoughts by not purchasing enough of them to help keep Erik's venture alive.
AND secondly once again, while I have plainly stated in this thread that yes, I also think H-D should have financed building more modern engines to put into Erik's frame designs(which BTW, innovative frames were his main focus and point of expertise), I once again think you overlook Harley's MAIN and OVERWHELMING customer base here.
Now, with the POSSIBLE exception of the V-Rod, Harley REALLY hasn't been in the business of selling "performance-based" motorcycles to their customers since they debuted the Sportster back in 1957! And THAT was ONLY by necessity in order to compete against the british motorcycle industry's successful invasion into the american marketplace with their lighter and better handling motorcycles during that time.
But SINCE that era, times changed considerably as you know, and now the japanese and italians have become dominate in this marketplace IF someone wishes to purchase a great handling, fast, and OVERALL well engineered(and not "quirky") performance motorcycle.
In that same time, Harley and the british industry(or at least what's become left of it nowdays) has seemed to regulate themselves to more of a "Heritage" or retro-defined presences, and have made almost ALL of their considerable money from that market.
Heck dude! Go to DAYTONA during "Bike Week" and witness all the thousands and thousands of Harley riders, BOTH "the RUBs" AND the folks who actually love motorcycles and have been riding for YEARS, and see how many of 'em actually plunk down their money to go watch the Daytona 200 race anymore!!!
There are very very FEW of 'em who do THAT ya know.
And sooooo, once again, you can not blame Harley-Davidson for the lack of interest that many many AMERICAN motorcycle riders seem to have about the genre of motorcycles OTHER THAN "cruisers".
