The American motorcycle manufacturer capitalized on Erick Buell Racing's pedigree, and is coming back with a vengeance.

An all-American motorcycle manufacturer, the Buell Motorcycle Company was founded in 1983, by Erik Buell. Mr. Buell was a former engineer of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Buell bikes were unlike any other. Whether by the way they looked or by some of the innovative solutions they featured. They used re-engineered engines from Harley-Davidson’s Sportsters for the most part.

Even though the brand took a while to develop a proper, full-on sport bike, which happened after Buell was bought, and later sold by Harley-Davidson Motor Co., all Buell bikes had a performance bias. One interesting performance innovation from Buell was their zero torsional load, perimeter floating, front disc brake. This patented brake system places the disc on the outer edge of the wheel. This helps reduce unsprung weight, and helps the suspension work better.

Ten years after it was founded, in 1993 Harley-Davidson bought a 49 percent stake at Buell. Later, in 1998 Harley bought a majority stake, effectively taking control of the Buell Motorcycle Company. As new Harley-Davidson CEO, Harley Keith took charge, he ended production of Buell motorcycles in 2009. By that time, a total of 136,923 Buell motorcycles were built. Not a huge success considering they were in production for 26 years, but still, not an insignificant number.

Buell Hasn't Lost Their Performance Touch With The Hammerhead

Buell Motorcycle is officially back in business. They made the most of their racing pedigree, and started production with a particularly exciting sport bike. Their engines, and motorcycles are hand built in its factory in Grand Rapids, MI USA, using quality parts from global suppliers. Soon, a whole lineup of other classes of bikes is promised.

The Hammerhead is Buell’s flagship superbike though, and as much as it might look like the run-of-the-mill liter bike to the uninitiated, it’s far from that. For starters, it uses the unique patented Zero Torsional Load brake system developed way back at the beginning of Buell’s history. It’s a 386 mm (15.19 in.) single perimeter rotor, with an 8-piston inside-out caliper. The rear brake is a more traditional 220 mm (8.66 in.) disc, with a 2 piston Hayes Performance Brakes Caliper.

Whichever way you look at it, the bike is gorgeous, with a premium finish. And the kicker is that the Hammerhead features a powerful V-Twin! Superbikes, with a few exceptions, usually have an inline-four or V-4 configuration. And that works fine, usually allowing for higher revs, due to the low mass of the pistons, and crankshaft. But there’s a lot to be said about the advantages of a high-performance V-twin engine. Running the risk of sounding cliché, the first thing that comes to mind is that they sound like a bat out of hell.

This engine is the basis of Buell's renaissance. It is a liquid-cooled, four-stroke 72º V-Twin. It has a displacement of 1190 cc (72.6 cu in.), and makes 185 horsepower @ 10,600 rpm, and 101.6 pound-feet of torque @ 8,200 rpm. With a wet weight of 419 pounds, and the broad V-Twin torque band, the Hammerhead is a rocket. And it comes in Heritage Colors or Carbon Fiber. It’s a world-class sport bike from the heart of America. MSRP starts from $18,995, and up to $24,995.

The Game Changing Super Cruiser

Now, if there's one bike that you could pick to decisively put Buell back on the map it would probably be the upcoming Super Cruiser. This is the bike that's going to stir the pot the most. Designed in partnership with Roland Sands the Super Cruiser uses the same 1190 cc high-performance V-Twin as other Buells. Built with the usual Buell performance bias, the super cruiser features chain drive and Buell's perimeter floating front disc brake. It has mid-controls and more lean angle than the usual cruiser. The Super Cruiser was inspired by Harley-Davidson's iconic FXR, and from what we've seen so far it could steal some sales from both Harley and Indian Motorcycles alike.

The Stunning Street Fighter 1190SX

Capitalizing on the Hammerhead aluminum frame with an integral fuel reservoir, and powertrain, the 1190SX is its naked bike iteration. Since it has no fairings, it’s even lighter, tipping the scales at 414 pounds wet. It has improved ergonomics with high bars, lower pegs, and a handmade seat. Optional sport touring accessories are coming soon in Buell’s accessory catalog. It’s a street bike for the most demanding, and experienced riders. You could argue the twin-cylinder torque range makes it more user-friendly at a slow pace than other high performance bikes, but it’s definitely not a beginner bike.

The Desert Racing Buell Baja DR

The Baja is a dirt bike marketed as a Dune Racer, hence the DR in its name. The Baja DR debuted at the 2022 Daytona Bike week. It's fitted with full-on off-road tires, and the same powerful 1190 cc V-Twin found in Buell’s other bikes. This time, however, maxed out at 175 horsepower, and 101 pound-feet of torque. It will be the most powerful production dirt bike in the world and the estimated MSRP starts at $19,995 for future release. It has an overall length of 100 in., 12 inches of ground clearance, and a wet weight of 355 pounds. The chassis features a steel tube frame, with an extended swingarm. Check out Logan Cipala’s winning run on the Baja at Brick Mine Pro Motoclimb below.

Buell SuperTouring

We know that a working prototype is being tested. It looks like it has similar ergonomics to the naked 1190SX, but with twin headlights up front, and a windshield. The suspension travel could have been increased, but at this time it’s hard to tell. What’s not hard to say is that a 185 horsepower Adventure-Touring motorcycle will surely up the ante in the segment. Its looks didn't get a lot of people excited, although it certainly stands out of the crowd. The reception the Super Cruiser got, for example, was much more passionate. The Super Cruiser is a good-looking bike, along with carrying Buell's performance heritage with it. It’s good to know Buell Motorcycle Company is alive, and well. Their innovative, and even aggressive approach to motorcycling stirs the pot, and always gives some of the most exciting machines. Let’s hope they stick around this time.

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