2011 Buell that wasn't to be

[High_Side]

Maybe if they looked like this they would have sold a lot more of them:



This improved (lighter, more powerful, better looking etc...) Buell was being developed for 2011 before the plug was pulled. Too bad, as it looks like a decent improvement on the old 1125R...

[Wrider]

That's not a maybe, that's a definitely would have been a better seller...

[HYPERR]

I actually love the older Buells like the Thunderbolts and the Cyclones back when they used to use the Sportster engines. I always thought they were great looking bikes.

[Wrider]

Agreed cool looking but if you aren't styling like the big 4 sportbike makers you aren't selling in the US very well. And they used the Sportster engines in everything except the 1125R and CR. Those were the only Rotax powered bikes from Buell

[HYPERR]

And they used the Sportster engines in everything except the 1125R and CR. Those were the only Rotax powered bikes from Buell

Were the non Rotax ones still sportster engines? They deviated quite a bit from it didn't it?

Either way, what I really meant to say was when they used to have it in full view with no attempt to hide it along with the pushrod tubes. I always loved the looks of the sportster engine. Much more so than the big Twin as the unit constructin gives it a much less clunky appearance.

[Wrider]

I'll agree with you on that. The sportster engines are much better than the Big Twins IMO as well. But yeah the XBs all used the sportster engines even in 09 model years. Granted they had different heads, slightly different cams, and of course better exhausts/intakes. But still basically the sportster engine.
Gotta love sportbikes with twins though... Buells, Aprilias, Ducatis, RC51s, TL1000s, mmmm tasty...

[koji52]

No XL engine in the 1125 bikes. I love the look of the fairing and the yellow on that bike though.

[totalmotorcycle]

I sure hope that Harley-Davidson does use some of the great Buell R&D on their bikes, it seems to me a collossal waste of money and effort to shelve all the Buell R&D and not use it at all.

Buell brought in a lot of new (and badly needed, young riders) into the Harley-Davidson umbrella. While the Buell Blast! wasn't the best 500cc bike out there, it was a good training and first bike to get new riders into the lineup.

Mike

[koji52]

thought some might find this interesting...
(see below)

[HYPERR]

[quote="koji52"]thought some might find this interesting...


Yeah I just got that issue in the mail a few days ago and the article looks very interesting. I haven't had the time to read it yet between work and all the reading I have to do for school.