Buell Motorcycles

About Buell

Buell is a brand born from the racetrack and a relentless pursuit of handling perfection. Erik Buell, a former Harley-Davidson engineer and privateer racer, founded the company to build an American sportbike that could compete with the best from Japan and Europe. The brand is famous for its "Trilogy of Tech" design philosophy: mass centralization, low unsprung weight, and frame rigidity. This led to radical innovations like the ZTL (Zero Torsional Load) perimeter front brake, fuel-in-frame chassis, and oil-in-swingarm reservoirs.

The XB series, including the Lightning and Firebolt, remains a cult favorite for its incredibly short wheelbase and visceral V-twin character. Later, the 1125R introduced liquid-cooled Helicon engines, while the modern iteration—Buell Motorcycle Co.—is producing the Hammerhead 1190, a carbon-fiber-clad superbike pushing 185 horsepower. Technically, Buells are characterized by their steep rake angles and unique torque-heavy power delivery. In this database, you will find exhaustive specs for every era of Buell, from the Harley-powered tube-frame bikes to the high-revving 1190cc V-twins that represent the current pinnacle of American sportbike engineering.