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Buell Motorcycle Company

The Buell Motorcycle Company was an American motorcycle manufacturer based in East Troy, Wisconsin and founded by ex-Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell. The company first partnered with Harley-Davidson in 1993, and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley by 2003. On November 17, 2006, Buell announced that it had produced and shipped its 100,000th motorcycle.

On October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson announced the discontinuation of the Buell product line as part of its strategy to focus on the Harley-Davidson brand. The last motorcycle was produced on October 30, bringing the number manufactured to 136,923.

In November 2009, Buell and Harley-Davidson announced the launch of Erik Buell Racing, an independent company run by Erik Buell which will produce race-only versions of the 1125R model.

History

The first Buell motorcycle, the RW750, was built in 1983 purely for competing in the AMA Formula 1 motorcycle road racing championship. At that time, Erik Buell was a top contending privateer motorcycle racer. After completion of the first two RW750 racing machines, one of which was sold to another racing team, the Formula 1 series was cancelled. Buell then turned his focus towards racing-inspired, street-going machines using engines manufactured by Harley. In 1993, Harley-Davidson Incorporated joined in partnership with Buell Motor Company as a 49% stakeholding minority partner and the company formed was renamed "Buell Motorcycle Company". In 1998, Harley purchased majority control of Buell, and it has been a subsidiary ever since. Since then, Buell has used modified Harley-Davidson Sportster engines to power its motorcycles.

Most Buell motorcycles use four-stroke air-cooled V-twin engines, originally built from XR1000 Sportster engines. After these were depleted, a basic 1200 Sportster engine was used. In 1995, the engines were upgraded with Buell engineered high performance parts and further upgraded in 1998.

On October 15, 2009, Harley Davidson Inc. announced the end of production of Buell Motorcycles to focus more on the Harley Davidson brand.

Technology

Buell XB models also incorporated the industry's first ever Zero Torsional Load (ZTL) perimeter floating front disc brake system, a patented "inside-out" wheel/brake design that puts the brake disc on the outer edge of the wheel, rather than at the hub. This lets the suspension function better, improving control and traction, through reducing unsprung weight on the front wheel, because only a single disc and caliper-with a corresponding reduction in bolts and brake fluid-is needed compared with the conventional dual-disc brake setup on most modern sport bikes. In an exchange in the pages of Motorcyclist magazine between Suzuki engineer James Parker, creator of the GSX-RADD hub-center steering system, and Buell's Director of Analysis, Test & Engineering Process, Abraham Askenazi, Parker conceded the ZTL system's advantage in unsprung weight. But he pointed out the remaining weight is located further out on the rim where it is most detrimental to acceleration and braking, and that there were potential heat transfer issues, and the need for one fork leg to be stronger than the other. Responding, Askenazi disputed all of Parker's criticisms, saying the ZTL system was 30% lighter than the brakes on the Suzuki GSX-R1000, and that the inertia of having the weight further out on the rim, and the heat generation near the tire, were not negative factors, based on testing. Askenazi concluded that testing and race track experience had proven the ZTL to be "state of the art."

Other industry innovations introduced by Buell in the XB lineup were the fuel in frame technology, and the dual use of the swingarm as an oil tank. Also, all Buell models feature a dual-purpose muffler mounted below the engine which helps keep mass centralized and maximizes torque through the use of a computer-controlled valve to switch between two exhaust paths as necessary.

Buell designs focus on providing good handling, comfortable riding, easy maintenance, and street-friendly real-world performance. Buell motorcycles are engineered with an emphasis on what they call the "Trilogy of Tech": mass centralization, low unsprung weight, and frame rigidity.

Buell engines are designed to be street-friendly both in fuel efficiency (up to 70 mpg-US (3.4 L/100 km; 84 mpg-imp) with the Blast), and in power (the 1,203 cc version produces over 100 hp (75 kW)). They are also simple and easy to maintain. Buell two-cylinder engines utilize computer controlled ducted forced air cooling (no radiator or liquid coolant, just a variable speed fan that only activates as required), two valves per cylinder, a single throttle body, zero maintenance hydraulic valve actuation, and zero maintenance gear-driven cams.

The History of the Motorcycle
Ace - Adler - Aermacchi - AJS - Aprilia - Ardie - Ariel - Armac
Benelli - Bianchi - Bimota - BMW - Bohmerland - Britten - Brough superior - BSA - Buell - Bultaco
Cagiva - Cleveland - Colleda - Cotton - Coventry - Crocker - Crouch - Curtiss - Cushman - Cyclone
Daimler - Deronziere - DKW - Douglas - Ducati
Emblem - Excelsior
Flanders- Flying Merkel - FN
Gilera - Gnome - Greeves - Greyhound
Harley Davidson - Henderson - Hercules - Hesketh - Hildebrand - Honda - Horex - Husqvarna - Hyosung
Imme - Indian - Iver Johnson
James - JAP - Jawa
Kawasaki - Kreidler - KTM
Lambretta - Laurin Klement - Laverda
Maico - Malaguti - Marsh Metz - Maserati - Matchless - Militaire - Mondial - Motobi
Moto Guzzi - Moto Morini - Munch - Mustang - MuZ - MV Agusta - MZ
Nelk - Ner A Car - New Era - Nimbus - Norton - NSU
OK Supreme - Ossa - Ostner Dresden
Panther - Pierce - Pope - Puch
Rokon - Royal Enfield - Rudge - Rumi
Safti - Scott - Standard - Stock - Sunbeam - Suzuki
Temple - Terrot - Thor - Triumph
Van Veen - Velocette - Victoria - Vincent - Voxan
Wanderer - Werner - Windhoff
Yale - Yamaha
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