Buell Motorcycles were first produced by the Buell Motorcycle company in 1983. This company has been a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles since 1998. Buell is the only significant producer of sporting motorcycles in the United States.
The very first Buell motorcycle was built for competing in the AMA Formula 1 motorcycle road racing championship. At that time, Erik Buell, founder of the company, was a top contending racer. He had previously obtained his degree in engineering with the intention of working with motorcycles. After his graduation, he worked for Harley-Davidson as a chassis engineer. This time with Harley-Davidson has given him the ownership of several motorcycle component patents. In 1982, Erik Buell left Harley Davidson to create his own racing bike. The first Buell motorcycle was the RW750. At the time, this was the fastest, most powerful motorcycle ever made in America. Its competition were Honda and Yamaha cycles, some of which were selling for over $30,000. By contrast, the Buell RW750 sold for 15,900 in 1984. When this motorcycle hit the market, it was very well reviewed. The American Machinist's Union even purchased one.
After the completion of the first two Buell motorcycles, in the spring of 1985, the Formula 1 series was canceled. The premier racing class had changed to the Superbike, and the Buell motorcycle no longer had a reason to exist. When this happened, Erik Buell chose to change his focus to that of street motorcycles. He intended to convert his speedy racing bike into a publicly available street legal model. This motorcycle would meet all federal regulations for noise, emissions, and safety. Harley Davidson had, at the time, fifty XR-1000 engines that were not being used in the Parts and Accessories warehouse. Erik Buell talked them into allowing him to use these engines for his first fifty motorcycles. This made him the first American to start a street motorcycle manufacturing company since the 1920s.
The frame of the new bike was designed to minimize a fault in the XR-1000 engine. These engines tended to shake in one plane. The stiffness of the chassis and a uniplanar mounting system were developed to reduce this problem. The body was developed using a wind tunnel, for maximum aerodynamic performance. When this motorcycle, the RR1000, debuted, they were mostly snapped up by collectors. Only a handful were ever raced.
Most Buell motorcycles operate on four-stroke, air-cooled V-twin engines, either the original Harley-Davidson XR-1000 or the newer Harley Davidson 1200 series motorcycle engine. Buell motorcycle designs are built around good handling, simple maintenance, and street-friendly performance. The Buell "Trilogy of Tech," used to provide these features, are mass centralization, a low unsprung weight, and rigid frames. Buell's notable innovations include using the hollow motorcycle frame as the fuel tank and the likewise hollow rear swing arm of the cycle to hold engine oil. By eliminating bulky external tanks, these features allow a leaner, more agile motorcycle.
In the late 1980s, Buell's annual production of motorcycles was small, only in the hundreds. This has changed. Today, the Buell factory, located in East Troy Wisconsin, boasts over two hundred employees and an excellent production rate of over ten thousand motorcycles per year. Buell street-friendly engines provide fuel efficiency up to 70 miles per gallon. The 1200 series engines produce over 100 horsepower. These powerful machines are, however, easy to maintain. Buell currently offers four lines of motorcycles: Firebolt, Lightning, Ulysses, and Blast. On all models, there is an emphasis on power and lightweight materials to improve handling and speed. The Firebolt was the first motorcycle to feature fuel storage in the frame and the oil in the swing arm. The 984cc engine makes for excellent torque over a wide rpm range, providing controllable power, user friendliness, and exceptionable reliability. The Lightning line of motorcycles provides similar features, but with a more powerful engine for even greater speed.
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