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Does anyone know anything about this brand? Where's it made? How long has it been around? What's their best model? Tell us about them...post a photo of yours.
Who rides a Buell?
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I ride Buell,currently I own a 2004 Lightning XB12s (1203cc). Buell has been around since the 80's I think. As far as a "best model" I wouldn't know. I was attracted to Buell right away,what with my dual exhaust placement way down low,tension control pulley,fuell-in-frame,oil-in-swingarm. This bike is my first motorcycle and I originally wanted an in line 4 750cc,but then decided to learn on something known for great handling and stability,it's also not nearly as fast,(or so I think) as a 750 in line.
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Well I guess the Buell came out while I was out of bikes and when I got back in there they were. Are they Italian? I've had a couple Honda in-line 750's and they are fast and more important...they are smooth. But this Buell sounds very interesting. I hope to get to ride one & find out what they're like.
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Italian.......? Noooo, they are, quite frankly AMERICAN IRON, the brainchild of racer Erik Buell, the fledgling Buell Motorcycle Company's assets were purchased by Harley Davidson in the early '90s and the first Buell/Harley venture was the S1 Lightning, a radical looking naked hooligan bike, followed by the the S2/S3 Thunderbolt and on to the M2 Cyclone....built around the venerable Sportster 1203cc motor, the powerplant quickly evolved from 71 HP to 101 HP in a few short years. These bikes were based on Erik's "Trilogy of Technology" featuring low CG, lower unsprung weight, and a host of other innovations. Erik's vision was to build an AMERICAN sportbike that could compete with the best of the Japanese warriors which were dominating racing. In 2002, the radically different XB series was born featuring closed-loop fuel injection, oil in the swingarm and fuel in the frame. For a little more history, visit www.buell.com or www.badweatherbikers.com
In short, I own/ride one....among others. I have a '99 M2 Cyclone with full Buell race kit, Mikuni HSR42 flat-slide, Andrews N8 cams and other assorted goodies.
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As for the photos........I'll post some once I can figure out how to reduce the size to an acceptable level
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You can find info at Harley.com or Buell.com
I like the design, ahead of many sportsbikes, in some ways like the frame very low CG , low exhaust and the fuel under seat, oil in swingarm etc. The others are copying them more every year, like they do Ducati the other Co that is ahead of the rest in design. The newest model coming out has a Rotax motor, water cooled and with 145HP and only 400lbs or less. Should be a winner in a year or so. For a small Co they are doing pretty well. I think total they have 168 employees in AMERICA...
I like the design, ahead of many sportsbikes, in some ways like the frame very low CG , low exhaust and the fuel under seat, oil in swingarm etc. The others are copying them more every year, like they do Ducati the other Co that is ahead of the rest in design. The newest model coming out has a Rotax motor, water cooled and with 145HP and only 400lbs or less. Should be a winner in a year or so. For a small Co they are doing pretty well. I think total they have 168 employees in AMERICA...
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Thats another reason I like Buell,they're such a small company and I respect that. What I do for a living involves a VERY small company (only five employee's including myself).
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The transparent tank (available on the City Cross) is not a "tank" at all...rather an airbox cover,. The fuel tank on all the XB models is the double-walled box frame. Incidently, the swingarm also serves as an oil tank on the XBs as well. The last production year to use the tank as a tank was 2002 (with the exception of the Blast)
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27 Posts
good ride
a buddy of mine that works on the ambulance rides a 2003 buell all i know is that it is yellow and he loves that thing he's a big guy and it works for him just right. I have never heard much bad about them its a harley sportbike where can you go wrong, don't answer that please.
cheers,
bert
a buddy of mine that works on the ambulance rides a 2003 buell all i know is that it is yellow and he loves that thing he's a big guy and it works for him just right. I have never heard much bad about them its a harley sportbike where can you go wrong, don't answer that please.
cheers,
bert
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The only place you went wrong is assuming it's a HARLEY sportbike. While Harley Davidson owns controlling interest in Buell, I do not consider this to be a Harley creation any more so than the Aermacchi Sprint. This bike is pure Buell creation, pure Buell technology. I firmly believe the reason H/D bought Buell is because they could not duplicate the efforts put forth by the (former) Buell Motorcycle Company (BMC) and were missing any type of sportbike from their line-up. Much easier to buy the existing technology and personnel from one company than to start from scratch. It was a brilliant move. It leapfrogged Buell 10 years forward by providing capital and engineering staff while instantly giving H/D a well needed edge in the sportbike market.
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From what I read in the mags alot of people like them but not Harley and wish they had their own dealers, as do say Honda and Acura. I Think this is a good idea too. I like them and I'm glad to see anything made here doing well. They are as American made as Harley, even if they are buying motors from Europe for one model.
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yeah, the Harley dealerships do not want to have a frucking thing to do with us Buell riders. since we didn't pay $30,000 for an inferior designed motorcycle and another $10,000 on chrome accessories, big bore kits to get any kind of performance numbers out of the bike, and leather fringe to make sure we "look the look", they seem to not want to have a thing to do with us. funny how that works... if you can get over having to wait 2 weeks every time you need a part (because the only thing they have in stock for them is the spark plugs (because they also work in sportsters) and tail light bulbs) and not having anyone like you being in the building, a Buell is a beautiful thing to own...
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Buell's look cool to me...well, some of them do, anyway.
I'd get a Buell over an HD any day, tho. I never was much for trying to "fit in".
Never rode one, but I hope to soon.
Thanks!
olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!
DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!
I'd get a Buell over an HD any day, tho. I never was much for trying to "fit in".
Never rode one, but I hope to soon.
Thanks!
olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!
DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!
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Well, actually gonna do some bike shopping tomorrow. Think I'll even stop by the Buell dealer and take a couple of bikes out for a spin!
Thanks!
olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!
DON'T be a SQUIDIOT! [/QUOTE]
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Do that. And give us your unbiased opinion afterwards. Don't forget to ask if there are any old tube frame bikes sitting around in storage(trade ins)-these can still be bought fairly cheap and are still a force to be reckoned with.
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203 Posts
I actually rode the Blast yesterday at the local HD dealer.
The bike moved and performed well, but at 5'11", it was kind of SMALL for me...and that was with the higher seat on it! I think it would make a great commuter for a shorter person, tho.
Kind of clunked into 1st and 2nd, but got up to 60 mph quickly enough. Shakes like crazy up to about 3k revs, then smooths out.
It's not much bigger than my wifes scooter, and the tires look like scooter tires. They are 16's, but have a very small profile.
I wouldn't mind having that engine in my sport bike 250 frame, but I couldn't recommend the bike to anyone who is even remotely tall. Now, if it were about 3 or 4 inches taller and longer, then I wouldn't mind owning one myself.
Thanks!
olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!
DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!
The bike moved and performed well, but at 5'11", it was kind of SMALL for me...and that was with the higher seat on it! I think it would make a great commuter for a shorter person, tho.
Kind of clunked into 1st and 2nd, but got up to 60 mph quickly enough. Shakes like crazy up to about 3k revs, then smooths out.
It's not much bigger than my wifes scooter, and the tires look like scooter tires. They are 16's, but have a very small profile.
I wouldn't mind having that engine in my sport bike 250 frame, but I couldn't recommend the bike to anyone who is even remotely tall. Now, if it were about 3 or 4 inches taller and longer, then I wouldn't mind owning one myself.
Thanks!
olds_cool63
Custom Sportbike
Custom Cruiser
BOTH metric!
DON'T be a SQUIDIOT!
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Shoot......I was hoping you were gonna tell me you rode the 1125RR. Go back!
G
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·I gotta' admit I've always had this back burner attraction to Buells. I mean let’s face it: Here’s a dude (Erick Buell) that’s taken a power-plant (H-D) that’s not known in the Biking World for it's performance abilities (no matter how much friggin’ coin person’s might pile into it!) and made it into a scoot comparable to any Ducati or any other go fast 4-Stroke Twin out there?! Myself, I’ve always idealized the Harley-Davidson Low-Rider series…. At least 1977 thru 2005 (FXS, FXSB, FXRS, FXDL) because these unlike others have worked for me so very well over the years. But no man (or woman?!) can live by ‘Cruisers’ alone?! Even I gotta’ confess I’d wouldn’t mind having a Buell in my stable now and then – for those days when hauling arse through the Twisties IS a necessity! Nuff’ said?! ;-)
LRG
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