It has been said that Erik Buell, founder of Buell Motorcycles, was created on a motorcycle. While that story is a little enhanced, Erik Buell did begin riding motorcycles at the tender age of 12. His intense passion from the machine led him develop a line of extreme and supreme motorcycles.
In the late 70s, Erik Buell worked his way through school if you take a part-time job at a local motorcycle dealership. He had considerable knowledge of the workings of motorcycles and quickly advanced from trainee mechanic to service manager. During this time Buell also began racing motorcycles on the amateur level. After graduation, Buell started as a chassis engineer for Harley-Davidson.
In 1978, Erik Buell recorded the fastest newcomer qualifying time for that Daytona 200 motorcycle race. Four years later he left Harley-Davidson to pursue his dream of designing his own race bike. In 1983, he did just that when he designed and built the RW750 motorcycle specifically to compete within the AMA Formula One road racing class.
Buell tested the RW750 motorcycle throughout 1983 and clocked a top speed of 178 mph during testing at Talladega, Alabama. The very first production of the Buell RW750 was released within the fall of 1984.
The following year, the American Machinists Racing Team announced that 1985 would be the last year for Formula One racing. Buell's form of motorcycle would be eliminated from your racing circuit. If he desired to continue in racing, however have to go back to the drawing board and commence his design from scratch.
Buell began taking care of building a world-class sportsbike, powered by the Harley-Davidson XR1000 engine. An overall total of fifty Buell RR1000 motorcycles were produced during 1987-88. In 1988 the Harley-Davidson XR1000 engines were discontinued and Buell had to further re-engineer his design.
The resulting RR1200 model has been available since 1988. This model used the newest 1203cc Harley-Davidson Evolution engine. Sixty-five Buell RR1200 motorcycles were produced for sale through 1989.
During this time, Buell also introduced the RS1200, a two-seat version with the RR1200 model. Over 100 of those unique models were produced through 1990.
The 1990s produced revolutionary designs to Buell motorcycles. The business expanded production facilities and added a new composite and paint shop, which led to greater flexibility and treating the manufacturing process.
In 1991, Buell introduced a single-seat version from the RS1200. The Thunderbolt S2 was introduced in 1994 under partnership with Harley-Davidson. A sport-touring version, the S2T, was included with the Buell line-up in 1995.
A brand new line of street bikes were introduced in 1996, such as the Lightning S1 motorcycle which was voted "Hooligan Bike from the Year" by Cycle World Magazine. Other innovations included two new types of the Thunderbolt motorcycle; the Thunderbolt S3 and also the Thunderbolt S3T.
Buell introduced the Cyclone M2 touring bike in 1997 and developed the Thunderstorm engine in 1998.
In 1999, Buell presented completely redesigned models of the Lighting and Cyclone motorcycles. Both bikes had new body styles, frame, suspension, larger and more comfortable seats, and bold colors.
At the conclusion of 1999, Buell's new designs and engineering innovations pushed sales to greater than 8,000 motorcycles in a single year.
Buell has always maintained an in depth relationship with Harley-Davidson. In February 1994, Harley-Davidson purchased 49 percent of Erik Buell's company and the new Buell Motorcycle Company was created.
Four years later, Harley-Davidson purchased another 49 percent; leaving Erik using a 2 percent share plus a long term employment contract. The Buell Motorcycle Company is now a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc.
In the late 70s, Erik Buell worked his way through school if you take a part-time job at a local motorcycle dealership. He had considerable knowledge of the workings of motorcycles and quickly advanced from trainee mechanic to service manager. During this time Buell also began racing motorcycles on the amateur level. After graduation, Buell started as a chassis engineer for Harley-Davidson.
In 1978, Erik Buell recorded the fastest newcomer qualifying time for that Daytona 200 motorcycle race. Four years later he left Harley-Davidson to pursue his dream of designing his own race bike. In 1983, he did just that when he designed and built the RW750 motorcycle specifically to compete within the AMA Formula One road racing class.
Buell tested the RW750 motorcycle throughout 1983 and clocked a top speed of 178 mph during testing at Talladega, Alabama. The very first production of the Buell RW750 was released within the fall of 1984.
The following year, the American Machinists Racing Team announced that 1985 would be the last year for Formula One racing. Buell's form of motorcycle would be eliminated from your racing circuit. If he desired to continue in racing, however have to go back to the drawing board and commence his design from scratch.
Buell began taking care of building a world-class sportsbike, powered by the Harley-Davidson XR1000 engine. An overall total of fifty Buell RR1000 motorcycles were produced during 1987-88. In 1988 the Harley-Davidson XR1000 engines were discontinued and Buell had to further re-engineer his design.
The resulting RR1200 model has been available since 1988. This model used the newest 1203cc Harley-Davidson Evolution engine. Sixty-five Buell RR1200 motorcycles were produced for sale through 1989.
During this time, Buell also introduced the RS1200, a two-seat version with the RR1200 model. Over 100 of those unique models were produced through 1990.
The 1990s produced revolutionary designs to Buell motorcycles. The business expanded production facilities and added a new composite and paint shop, which led to greater flexibility and treating the manufacturing process.
In 1991, Buell introduced a single-seat version from the RS1200. The Thunderbolt S2 was introduced in 1994 under partnership with Harley-Davidson. A sport-touring version, the S2T, was included with the Buell line-up in 1995.
A brand new line of street bikes were introduced in 1996, such as the Lightning S1 motorcycle which was voted "Hooligan Bike from the Year" by Cycle World Magazine. Other innovations included two new types of the Thunderbolt motorcycle; the Thunderbolt S3 and also the Thunderbolt S3T.
Buell introduced the Cyclone M2 touring bike in 1997 and developed the Thunderstorm engine in 1998.
In 1999, Buell presented completely redesigned models of the Lighting and Cyclone motorcycles. Both bikes had new body styles, frame, suspension, larger and more comfortable seats, and bold colors.
At the conclusion of 1999, Buell's new designs and engineering innovations pushed sales to greater than 8,000 motorcycles in a single year.
Buell has always maintained an in depth relationship with Harley-Davidson. In February 1994, Harley-Davidson purchased 49 percent of Erik Buell's company and the new Buell Motorcycle Company was created.
Four years later, Harley-Davidson purchased another 49 percent; leaving Erik using a 2 percent share plus a long term employment contract. The Buell Motorcycle Company is now a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc.
