Buell has apparently decided that sticking its iconic 1,190cc v-twin engine, which was originally designed for a sport bike, into a power cruiser will boost sales. Buell is referring to it as a 2025 model, designated the Super Cruiser.
The Super Cruiser was designed, and engineered, in partnership with Roland Sands. The idea is to create a performance cruiser that weighs less than 500 pounds and can rip up a twisty road on 17″ wheels shod with sport bike rubber.
Other traditional Buell features such as the Perimeter Braking System are employed. The CEO of Buell Motorcycle Co., Bill Melvin, declares “Our Buell Super Cruiser will be the hottest bike on the market. Period.”
Get it n down been riding for 40 years still ride Fxr but that the shit right there
Styling inspired by the ’85 Honda Magna?
https://i1.wp.com/www.bike-urious.com/wp-content/uploads/Honda-Magna-V65-Front-Right-1.jpg?fit=871%2C712&ssl=1
Funny. I saw a few comments about footpeg location and that they should at least be mid mounts. So I looked. Well, they are just forward of the saddle. Anything remotely sporting has footpegs located under the rider, making it easy to stand up.
In short, I would argue that they are mid mounts. They are certainly further forward than any motorcycle that I would ever buy.
Let me doubt that engine has 175 hp…
Having owned 2 tube framed Buells, I can say they were an absolutely hoot to ride, for about 90 miles.
I kinda get the power cruiser thing only this misses the mark by a few degrees. As others have stated the foot peg location is more sport bike oriented and should at least be mid mounted, like the old Dyna Glides.
Tank mounted gauges look dated, even HD has moved over to bar mounted clocks on many new models.
And that seat . . . .
Have you watched the video? He states it’s based off the FXR chasing and yes that is an older style tank, so what. The swing arm, front forks and engine are also from other Buell models. Try to relax and wait for the final product.
Finally, someone has realized that not everyone who wants the performance of a sport bike wants to put up with a sport bike riding position.
Have you ridden a Ninja 400/650/1000? Those bikes are more comfortable than most cruisers.
Thanks for the laugh.
This rocks !! Fkn slow bikes like H.D orthe Rocket..This thing will destroy them.. Duc N V M@x look the fk out this thing might be 9.9 1/4 mile .. Guy out of EP his 1190 went 8.95 @ 151 ..
Why did they bother??
There is a massive tuning market for HD platforms and a history of powerful cruiser format bikes having success (V-Max, V-Rod, Diavel, etc). They think there are enough people who want something like this.
Now that the Vmax is no longer in production, this bike will gill that void and put a huge dent in HDs low rider market.
If this bike stays with similar weight and performance, and the price stays manageable, it will clean up in the sport cruiser market.
Must say that turd polishing has evolved into an art form.
Yeah, I dunno. I think I fairly “get” the direction the designers want to go with this, but to me the specific elements appear exaggerated and/or unoriginal – to the point of being rather cartoonish. From the too-scooped seat and it’s pointy “butt stop”, the obvious HD tank ripoff (and to some degree, the HD-ish rear fender), the combined drag/apehangar bars (an utter contradiction, silly high), the 17″ front wheel (yay) that looks corny out on the end of the too-long, too raked forks (otherwise nice, USD, DLC-coated units, at least), the “mean” looking shorty exhaust (with an obviously non-compliant, parts-bin silencer), the JC Whitney headlight nacelle…
Although there are elements I like – the swingarm/shock and stripped-down, “open” frame are pretty okay – the rest appears largely lazy, copy-cat, uninspired, cartoonish, parts-bin, in-cohesive. I see American designs like this (including HD’s Revolution and even Indian’s designs – including aspects of the FTR and Scout) and I can’t help but think… “Is this the best we can do?!”. It’s disappointing – even embarrassing, IMHO. No wonder we’re failing as a world industrial leader, when designs like this are seemingly being led by complacent, unimaginative, ego-centric people (non-riders?) who *think* they know more than they actually *do* know. Many motorcycle designs from Europe, Japan, Britain – even China – are far more impressive than something like this.
And, no – an ogling, tatted-up strip club bouncer adds nothing positive to the impression, either.
No one going to comment on the whackadoodle peg placement, with that bar position? Like ape hangers on a GSXR. If that’s where your feet go, it is not a cruiser, power cruiser, or any sort of cruiser.
The peg placement is not out of line for a American cruiser. Not all cruisers have an exaggerated foot-forward position. The V-rod was available in a similar configuration for some time. Feet are still well forward of the seat, more forward than most Japanese standards.
This is absolutely a cruiser.
also: The Chopper Bunch.
HDers won’t be interested w/o a Harley engine. They’d be scared of the power. Kinda’ ugly too.
So folks like Ort REALLY need to know their history before spouting lies, here’s the real deal about Erik ‘Having his Hand Out’nonsense:
https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/2010/5/1/the-demise-of-the-buell-motorcycle-company
HD didn’t provide for Buell barely at all, HD dealers wanted something sporty to sell, HD never gave a crap about Buell which is why it eventually went nowhere. HD made Buell use his HOUSE as collateral: “In exchange, Harley-Davidson would inject just $500,000 ir capital for 49 percent of the company and take Erik’s house as security in case the investment goes bad. “If you inS1st on S1gning this,” his attorney warns, “you have to S1gn a letter saying this law firm has most strongly advised against such action.” Erik eventually S1gns both.” That’s from the linked article.
“…folks like Ort [Sic] REALLY need to know their history before spouting lies”…
LOL!
So all those bikes sitting there not being picked up by their new owners really meant they were selling out but people were slow on taking deliver? š Cycleworld magazine, LOL!
Cool. Nigerian, puhleeeeeze. When they cut the price in half (when it was announced Buell was closing they sold because buyers thought, not FELT, that they were worth it. You are obviously a Buell apologist and I do not mind that at all. I am not for I am a realist and it is obvious you have a problem with that. š
Enjoy your Buell(s)!
Damn! I bet Polaris coulda saved Victory by hiring Buell! Triumph should hire Buell! We coulda gone to the moon sooner with Buell! You like Mr. Buell, cool! Might be a nice guy but I do not think he is a good businessman and I did not much care for his weird ideas but obviously you do! No problemo!
ORT
…” Nigerian, puhleeeeeze.”…….?
I have heard from many in the industry (including ex-HD employees) that many short-sighted dealers didn’t want sporty anything, that Buell product was essentially forced on them and these great biked died on the vine because sport bike riders didn’t want to talk to HD dealers who in turn had little interest in talking to sport bike riders.
Is Eric Buell still living?
I have not kept up on all this but from what I gathered nosing around yesterday (e.g. Wikipedia article) it appears that at some point EBR took over Buell? So presumably yes and he’s still involved. Apparently.
EBR= Eric Buell Racing
Erik Buell doesn’t own the rights to EBR either. Liquid Asset Partners acquired real and intellectual property of EBR when the company went into receivership. I assume it is they who have acquired the Buell brand from HD?
I last read that he was involved with an electric motorcycle company called Fuell, but that was several years ago.
I was being facetious. Sort of like Martha Stewart’s Living magazine became Is Martha Stewart living? As in, is she for real? Erik Buell’s been through so many alliances and joint-ventures.
This is really nice other than the rear fender that looks like it came from a J.C. Whitney catalog, and is probably an easy fix.
at least it has a rear fender.
Should this bike come to fruition, itāll easily weight 35-50 lbs. more. Will be down on claimed HP by 10-15. Price will be $5000-$8000 more. I very much like the concept, I bet itās extremely fun to ride. It will be hard to sell with no dealer network, for sales, warranty issues. I do believe it has a market.
I first became aware of this bike via youtube notification for the MotorcyclistMagazine channel. When I saw what it was, I wasn’t really moved because it looked like a high priced custom bike.
Having read this post and looked at the bike more, this is interesting: one, because of that motor with that little bit of weight; two, because it’s another domestic entry that isn’t a cruiser.
Yes, I know it’s in the name and who it was designed by, but I consider this shape of bike (high front to low bike with standard foot placement) something different than a cruise or standard, and I think it is the right shape for many.
Now, I can’t really support the price, but Buell (I think it’s time for a new name for Buell-that’s-not-Eric) may use this as the basis for a more…reaistically priced bike.
But, hey, if they sell ’em, they sell ’em.
Most people will still consider this a cruiser. If it looks like the sort of bikes H-D makes, itās a cruiser.
It’s definitely a cruiser. Not sure anyone would classify it otherwise
This is not something I’ll ever spend my money on but I do think its pretty cool. I dig the bare-bones industrial look. One of the big appeal of bikes like old Harleys and Ducati Monsters is that every component is visible and every component serves a function, I feel like this design carries on that tradition.
agreed.
Well the motor is cool. Thereās that
It looks goofy as hell. But, a 175hp sub-500lbs cruiser is cool as hell. Talk about a sleeper. Surely cruiser fans would have to find this pretty appealing, right?
The weight may creep up when the regulatory pollution, noise, and safety features get bolted onto this. I love the fully exposed and accessible components. Why hide the bolts and bits behind plastic aerodynamic shields?
Looks nice. I like that it doesn’t have the jacked-up @$$-high seat arrangement of the FTR & rice stuff. I like the tank and the choice of wheels. Are there any youtube vids of other bikes with that Rotax motor? I’d like to hear it running. Anyway, looks like a home run if it’s not vaporware and they can produce them. If I can get one I will, and ride the snot out of it.
Now if they made something between this and the SX. A “standard” or “UJM” but made in the USA with a stonkin’ engine.
Of all the made-in-America bikes this is definitely the one I want. Ahead of the clunky looking Indian FTR.
As American bikes go, I would buy a Kramer and make a cool naked out of it. They both have Austrian engines. But while on boasts about being under 500 pounds Kramer’s heaviest bike is 309 pounds. Trade bodywork for lights relays and switches and the transformation into a street bike wouldn’t add any weight.
But I have three street bikes already and there will never be anything that meets my basic street bike criteria for me to purchase a new street bike. Two or more cylinders, 90ish horsepower and sub 350 pound weight. Kramer’s twin is 130hp and that much power makes street bikes boring IMO. You can’t lean on them at all without breaking a zillion traffic safety laws.
If I wanted another single I would certainly buy the Kramer single. I would pony up the extra $7000 for the one that isn’t ride by wire. I will never buy a ride by wire bike. Ever. Kramer’s single actually weighs a little less than mine. That’s pretty impressive. Mine weighs about ten pounds more in street trim and it’s kick start. But then it can also repeatedly launch huge jumps and tear through rock gardens unscathed. That’s worth the ten pounds in my book.
Good luck getting the Kramer licensed for street use. It would be a fun bike if you could.
It could easily be licensed for the street where I live, but I’m sure that would be a pretty difficult task in most states.
It have to be 883. That is a money if a do not drink beer.
You do realize that this bike has nearly FOUR TIMES the power of a 883. There is simply no comparison. However, your bike probably looks better than this.
I do admire the work of art that makes up the four into two into one exhaust system….but thats about where it stops..Millions of $$$$$ invested but who are the potentional customers? Reminds me somehow of the Vincent Black Shadow of the 50s…. A fun bike that should be named the Black Widowmaker..
Millions of dollars invested? In what? This is a well executed shop custom, made mostly of existing parts but it didnāt take millions to design/develop/build.
I dont believe this is a Shop Custom..but I may be mistaken..and as such I will apologise if I am wrong..However to engineer a new frame, Wheels, Brakes, Swingarm Electronics Tooling etc. that would accommodate a 170 + HP motor fit for production ie
the general public would indeed require a Huge investment…Remember the V Rod HD lost a fortune on that setup..
The V-Rod was a ground up new engine. I think all of the “hard stuff” in this bike is pre-existing from Buell/Rotax. Agreed that a shop custom/prototype is not the same as a D.O.T. approved bike for consumer sale. I still think what we’re looking at is the former, not the latter.
As long time Harley and cruiser bike owner, plus knowing something of what a “Harley guy” might like and perhaps buy, the concept of a 175 HP, 500 pound bike that looks like this looks pretty good. I know most of you are sport bike guys and make fun of the cruiser types, but there is a huge cruiser market in the USA. This puppy might just sell a bunch of bikes for Buell.
You might be right.
I was kind of wondering that. I live near a tuning shop for cruiser types. They area always laying down super long burnouts, some over a 1/4 mile long.
Given that, being able to get an off the rack bike that already has a lot of power and is already much lighter than the competition should appeal to some of those guys.
My ability to read the cruiser market is about zero. But I have some limited understanding of the hot rod market. As cruisers go. This is a bit of a factory hot rod. That said, The Ducati Diavel V4 should be in about the same weight and power ballpark and it actually exists with specs that you can look up. The Beull is likely to gain weight and lose power before it actually exists as a consumer product. Cruiser folks like twins. But the hot rod people sure embraced the V8 didn’t they?
It’s what I have been saying cruisers SHOULD be for ages. Motor. Frame. Seat. Suspension. Go.
Well, one thing is FO SHO with the peanut gallery in the comments section…misery sho do love company! Do any of you people actually ride? Are you stuck in Northern states where your garage queens are collecting dust this time of year? A bit grumpy are we?
$20K with delivery in 2025! With whatever parts that were left over from all the failed launches of the other bikes. I don’t know. Actually watching the video supplied here was interesting. The bike the rider was on did not have the ape hangers, and had the single instrument gauge above conventional handlebars (the red tanked bike). It certainly looked more reasonable and comfortable than what is pictured above. With the V max, Diavel, Rocket 3 and HD sportster S, I suppose there is a market for the super cruisers.
That being said, If I ponied up the cash for this one( I wouldn’t), the first thing I would do is take a grinder to the Buell painted onto the tank. See y’all un Daytona!
I’m fairly certain that was the content-maker’s personal bike, not the Super soldier – I mean Super Chicken – er…sooper croozer.
I implore everyone to take a moment and look up a picture of a 1985 Suzuki 550L. When it was released I thought it the most hideous of motorcycles. The focal point of that creation was the small diameter front wheel used to give it a chopperish appearance. This new Buell motorcycle is literally the bastard son of the 550L. I try to like every motorcycle, but a few each year something rises out of the bog of cheesy parts and slithers onto shore.
Wonderful. Thanks to you, now I’ve got to learn braille.
I think I understand the concept and the engineering on the front brake assembly … but still … it just looks weird.
They should call it the Fugly.
But in comparison to their “Super Touring” model, this thing looks downright Ducati-esque.
With a sub-500 lb. weight and honkin’ engine on one hand and the stepped seat, high bars and John Deere radiator on the other, my understanding of Dickens’ first line in “A Tale of Two Cities” is much improved.
Wow, nothing on this bike works. Nothing is interesting to look at and nothing’s in proportion. That triangulated radiator in bare aluminum only highlight its lack of grace. And Roland Sands would put his name behind this? Maybe he’s been coasting on his reputation for the last 20 years and nobody wanted to notice.
What is the measure of stupid, when a manufacturer ( maybe ? ) puts Ape Hangers on top and instrumentation down below ?
āOur Buell Super Cruiser will be the hottest bike on the market. Period.ā
I’ll take that bet, Mr. Melvin.
1190 Rebel?
First thought: āCertainly looks cobbled together. Must be some new Buell.ā
I would not buy anything that Buell has had a hand in because he forever has his hand out.
As for Roland Sands? His style has never been in style. Not my cup o’ tea.
ORT
I don’t believe Erik Buell is part of this any longer. The Buell Motorcycle company was lost to him. He does racing and the new Fuell….
And Erik Buell got hosed by HD. I don’t think I understand “forever has his hand out”.
He was forever trying to raise capital for yet another go at the motorcycle bidness, hence his “hand was out”.
HD did not screw Buell. Not enough people thought well enough of his designs to buy the motorcycles so they (HD) shut it down. And he went looking for yet another “sponsor” and when that one ended he went looking for yet another “sponsor”. If you liked his bikes enough to buy one, great! If you didn’t buy one? Ummmmmm…Okay then.
Neither did I because I did not think them worth the asking price. Does that make me eeeeevile? Nope. And buying one does not make you foolish. Some people liked the bikes. Good for them!
ORT
To be fair. Buell was turning a profit. HD got a new CEO and he killed Buell first thing. He said Buell wasn’t turning enough profit. That’s a silly way to take a bunch of decent people’s jobs.
Can anyone make a case for the overall effectiveness of that particular CEO?
I didn’t think so.
I wonder what really went on there. Having been on the money side of some pretty big operations, I’ve seen where unprofitable divisions can be cheaper to keep running than close just from the additional scale it allowed other divisions. The excuse that HD could better utilize the cash flow from a profitable division in another business area is not without merit, but the play there is always to sell the profitable business, not shutter it. I’d love to know all the dynamics that went into that decision.
Horse dung, HD totally screwed EB – and somehow in the process he gave up the right to his own name to boot.
Really? There’s a reason it’s called
“Buell-Aid”. They did NOT sell enough. They always had plenty of leftovers and it was NOT because dealers did not “understand Buells” or “refused to sell them”.
It was because they were not worth the asking price so few folks bought them. When the price was literally cut in half for the final sell off, they did finally sell out.
There is a fine line between loyalty and stoopid. Often it looks like Buellers snorted that line. š
Sheeesh, people! Get over it, LOL!
ORT
I remember reading they sold something like 88,000 XBs. That’s averaging over 10K units per year from the XBs (plus however many of the water-cooled bikes they sold) from XB introduction to company shutdown. I can understand why HD would be dissatisfied with that volume and the lack of growth, but it is an amiable volume for a boutique brand. As for leftovers, every brand had plenty of those. And HD did do a lot of wrong to the brand over the years.
I agree that the bikes just never hit the mark. The XBs were regarded as cool bikes with uncool engines and transmissions. And the asking price was a bit high for the performance threshold. Then the 1125s had great engines but just weird styling that never seemed to resonate with the market.
If you go see Roland introduce bike, don’t sit in the front row.
Excellent advise.
Are you both going to let us in on the secret, or would it invite litigation? We don’t want to see MD shut down…
He’s referring to the Indian show at Sturgis in 2016 where Roland accidentally rode a bike being introduced off the stage and into the crowd.
Thanks for that Dirck. I was beginning to imagine some much more scary scenarios!