Never say never again; but for innovative motorcycle designer Erik Buell, it now seems to be the sad end with EBR going into liquidation from June 7, 2017.
For the second time in as many years, Erik Buell Racing announced in January that it was ceasing operations, following closely the equally sad end of compatriot Victory Motorcycles.
Now owners of the superbike motorcycle company, Liquid Asset Partners, have announced they have not been able to secure a new investor.
They will hold a public, piecemeal liquidation sale at the EBR factory from June 7 with a live auction the next day. Buyers may view the assets online.
Up for grabs is millions of dollars worth of tooling, factory equipment, historical artefacts and intellectual property.
Company boss Bill Melvin describes it as “the motorcycle deal of a lifetime”.
“For any motorcycle fan, the deals are too cheap to miss. You can buy anything from a race motorcycle, hand tools, and all the way to buying the iconic motorcycle brand itself.
EBR tools and equipment“We sell at such huge discounts, people fly in from all over the world! Some people will start a new business just from buying these deals.”
So there you have it. EBR may be finished, but someone may buy the intellectual property and continue producing the bikes.
Never say never again!
But Bill is a realist about the prospects of a buyer taking over and starting production yet again.
“We have no illusions; the market is very soft and we are prepared to deeply discount everything,” he says.
“This will represent the largest factory liquidation of a sport motorcycle manufacturing facility. These super bike parts and equipment, which are rolling art, are selling at enormous discounts, right off the factory floor.”
It’s been a sad and tumultuous couple of years for EBR:
- The company ceased production in April 2015;
- It was bought by Michigan company Liquid Asset Partners in February 2016;
- EBR returned to small-scale production last March;
- They released their 2017 models and promised new bikes in 2018 in September; and
- In November 2016, EBR unveiled a blackened and lowered 1190SX “Black Lightning” model.
EBR Black Lightning
After such upheaval, the company could not earn the trust of dealers, including Australian distributors Urban Moto Imports.
It is such a shame as Erik is a nice guy with a lot of great and innovative ideas.