Recumbent - Burley out of business?

Where'd you hear all this news? I saw them at Sea Otter Classic just three months ago and everything seemed fine. They were even introducing new bike models (their cross bike caught my attention.) It would be a shame if their demise is true.

I just heard that Burley Design Coop is closing it's doors and is in the process of selling. Seems that a few years back a new MBA/CEO came in and gutted the place for personal gain. Now they're on the block. get those replacemnet parts now!

I seriously doubt this is true. Burley is a cooperative. It is not a CEO driven corporation.

Other than the fact when checking your other posts, this is all you have posted about...in several different areas of this forum site.

Sounds like bad blood to me.

Yeah I'm new here but there's no bad blood. Eugene is a small town and I know lots of people in the local bike biz and several who work/worked at Burely. They are no longer a cooperative and are in the process of either selling or going under. In regards to whether they have a CEO, just google "Burley Design Cooperative CEO".

But you said "a few years back a new MBA/CEO came in and gutted the place for personal gain..." But in your new post you say that ther are "are in the process of either selling or going under." Which is it?

Please don't spread gossip unless you've got hard facts. He said she said ain't worth ****.

Did a search on "Burley Design Cooperative CEO" and found that they currently do not have
CEO, he stepped down in 11/2005 to take a job with another company.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1:138877467/CEO+stepping+down+from+helm+of+Burley+Design+Cooperative%7eR%7e(Business)(Tom+Wright-Hays+leaving+%22will+result+in+no+significant+change%22+for+the+bike+maker).html


Before he left he helped them get a federal grant to improve their production processes

(http://www.das.state.or.us/WORKSOURCE/news/2005-03-11registerguard.shtml).


I don't see anything online that backs up your claim.

Yeah I'm new here but there's no bad blood. Eugene is a small town and I know lots of people in the local bike biz and several who work/worked at Burely. They are no longer a cooperative and are in the process of either selling or going under. In regards to whether they have a CEO, just google "Burley Design Cooperative CEO".

I googled them. Nothing indicating bad news.

My contact at Burley finally contacted me and said:

Thanks for the heads-up. I know that Cary keeps a pretty close eye on the bulletin board and I forwarded this to him. I am sure that he will probably post a response either later today, he is going to be in and out today working on photo shoots for the new catalog, or tomorrow. No worries, we are not closing our doors. It is true that we have had a rough go of it lately and that there have been a lot of changes around here that from the outside could look suspicious.

Since I have known him for a long time and do not have a clue who you are, I will go with the inside man. Other than the fact the wording in the original post was somewhat suspicious as previously mentioned by someone else.

I am sure that you are all familiar with Mark Twain's statement, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." This is the case with Burley. We are alive and well, and demand for our product has been surpassing all of our expectations. Our biggest problem at the moment is being capable of producing enough tandems, trailers, road bikes and recumbents to meet the demand.

As many of you know there have been a few changes recently. I can assure you that all of the transitions have been in a positive direction for Burley and with a motivation to maintain the values that we have always held.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, they are always welcome to call us, or you can email me directly through bike forums or at my email address below.

Feet First Fellow Recumbent Riders!

Cary Lieberman
(Burley HepCat, Ryan Vanguard, Homebuilt LWB USS)
Marketing Manager
Burley Design
cary@burley.com
866-248-5634

AAAALLLLLRRRRIIIGGGHHHTT Carey! I have a Koosay on which I wore out the original components after several thousand miles and have now revamped it with top end components, better seat and shorter crank arms. Love it!
Saw this rumor on the web last night and at mile 40 /56 today I thought "what a darned shame - they build such a nice bike!"
Hang in there. I've sold two LWB Burleys here that I now of just letting people ride mine! What's the quote - "Feet forward, we're saving the cycling sport - one ass at a time!"

I am sure that you are all familiar with Mark Twain's statement, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." This is the case with Burley. We are alive and well, and demand for our product has been surpassing all of our expectations. Our biggest problem at the moment is being capable of producing enough tandems, trailers, road bikes and recumbents to meet the demand.

As many of you know there have been a few changes recently. I can assure you that all of the transitions have been in a positive direction for Burley and with a motivation to maintain the values that we have always held.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, they are always welcome to call us, or you can email me directly through bike forums or at my email address below.

Feet First Fellow Recumbent Riders!

Cary Lieberman
(Burley HepCat, Ryan Vanguard, Homebuilt LWB USS)
Marketing Manager
Burley Design
cary@burley.com
866-248-5634


Looks to me like the "rumor mill" just got shut down!
AND another reason to shop for a Burly.

In yet another attempt to entertain myself I have started a poll here at the bikeforums in regards to Burley's current transitioning. I need more votes! Give it a gander! If you think I did'nt give enough possible future outcomes you can start another one.

cheers!

The pole is here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=212534