232:-designed "Nova" V-four program, and was responsible for stability and refinements to the chassis design of the FXR series of cruisers, noted for their rubber-mounted engines. Buell used his racing experience to personally test Harley-Davidsons beyond normal riding limits, and implemented an electronic chassis testing regimen at H-D that greatly improved their handling.
418:. His most recent creations, unrestricted by Harley-Davidson, were the EBR 1190RS, the 1190RX and the 1190SX. The 1190 models were powered by the similar water cooled, 72 degree V-twin that powered the Buell 1125. The engines were re-engineered with a displacement of 1190cc, with a substantial power boost to 185 hp and 102 ft-lbs. of torque.
374:, that Buell could give the company a performance image with no risk to Harley. They set up a table for Buell to speak with dealers; by the end of the cruise he had deposits and orders for 25 motorcycles. Attendees such as Bill Bartels, Don Tilley, Devin Battley and Frank Ulicki later become some of Buells most successful dealers.
260:, the RW750 was clocked at a top speed of 178 mph (286 km/h). He raced in the 500 cc-dominated Formula One class (the Barton engine was designed prior to 1978 and was grandfathered into this class by AMA rules). He found some success at the local club levels despite the grossly overpowered, unrefined engine.
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able to keep the center of gravity low for optimum handling. He used the 45° V-twin Harley-Davidson, re-worked to produce 30% more horsepower than the standard HD Sportster engine. For the 2008 model year, Buell introduced a water cooled, 1125cc, 72 degree V-twin engine developed in cooperation with
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Buell led the company to create some of the most innovative, usable sport bikes under the XB series of Buell
Motorcycles. Using inventions like a twin spar hollow aluminum frame to house the fuel and create chassis rigidity, a hollow swing arm to house the oil, and an underslung exhaust pipe, he was
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engine. (The Barton was featured prominently in the 1980 motion picture "Silver Dream Racer".) The bike was poorly manufactured and was constructed from cheap materials. The engine was plagued with issues. Buell felt that with his engineering background, he could improve the engine. As parts failed
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campaign to form an
Electric Vehicle company called "Fuell". This new company will offer an electric bicycle called the "Flluid" and motorcycle called the "Fllow". The Fllow is touted to have an urban ride range up to 150 miles, fast charge time under 30 minutes, and the acceleration of a superbike
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The very first (prototype) RW750 eventually found its fate as pieces in Erik's barn workshop, as is common for development machines. In 1998, a group of long-time Buell employees and supporters worked in secret to reassemble this bike using as many original pieces as they could find, hand crafting
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In 1982, Barton closed, and Buell was given the option to purchase the entire stock of spare engines and parts, drawings, and the rights to produce and sell the engine. Buell did so, but the shipment was delayed, and he missed the opportunity to make use of this new equipment and knowledge for the
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Buell saw the newly-developed 1203 cc Harley-Davidson
Evolution engine being used in their 'Sportster' model line as solid base platform to further tune the performance and handling qualities of his bikes. The RR1200 model was introduced during 1988 with a redesigned chassis to incorporate a
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Buell's design incorporated the engine as a fully stressed member of the frame. Capping the engineering firsts in this design was Buell's use of a horizontally mounted suspension located beneath the engine utilizing a shock that operated in reverse of the conventional compression-rebound design.
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Despite this setback, Buell forged ahead and designed his first entry into the sportbike market, the RR1000. Using his connections at Harley-Davidson, he acquired a sizeable cache of unused XR1000 racing engines, the powerplant of a model he had ridden to a podium finish at the 1983
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any missing pieces to bring it as close as possible to its 1983 racing condition. A new Buell 850 cc engine out of a D-sports racing car was used as the powerplant. The rebuilt bike was given to Erik Buell at the 1998 Race of
Champions event, as a complete surprise to him.
381:' in which Harley-Davidson invested a 51% interest. Harley-Davidson bought all of Buell Motorcycle in 2003, and distributed Buell motorcycles through select Harley-Davidson dealerships. Erik Buell remained responsible for the engineering and design.
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In the Spring of 1985 the AMA announced that the
Superbike class would supplant Formula One as the premier road racing class for the 1986 racing season, and the Formula One class would be discontinued, leaving Buell with no market for his creation.
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With the stunted development, Buell's inquiry with his employer to gain engineering and financial support was declined due to reliability problems with the Barton engine. Buell then quit his job at Harley-Davidson to devote more time to racing.
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Battle of the Twins
National, so he had confidence in this engine's potential in the sport market. Around this powerhouse, he designed a stiff, extremely light chassis that incorporated the unconventional rubber-mounting system known as
358:. Later that year, Buell introduced a single-seat version of the RS1200 model, dubbed the RSS1200. It won approval of the industry press for its lean, clean lines. Combined production of RSS and RS models totaled 325 through 1993.
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he re-engineered them to increase reliability, and in many cases saw performance gains with his modifications. The chassis was a lost cause, and Buell designed his own chassis. The engine often failed before completing a race.
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In 1989, Buell introduced the RS1200 model, a two-seat version of the RR1200 marketed to riders who demanded both world-class performance and desired passenger capacity. 105 of these models were produced through 1990.
425:, a maker of high-end street motorcycles bought a 49.2% stake in Erik Buell Racing LLC, for $ 25 million. The remaining stake is held by founding chairman and chief executive Erik Buell.
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mated to the 1203 cc engine. Buell responded to Harley's revised engine mounting points by further improving an already innovative design: the RS chassis.
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with a curb weight of only 400 lbs. The Flluid bicycle was released in 2019 and the companies' Fllow motorcycle will be available in 2024.
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were selling for around $ 30,000. Buell offered his RW750s under the 'Buell Motor
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Buell first raced a prototype of his bike, using the mostly stock Barton engine, in the summer of 1982 at the AMA National on the
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smuggled Erik Buell onto a cruise ship for the Harley-Davidson annual dealer's meeting. Battley told Harley-Davidson then-CEO,
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Racing Team bought, tested and raced the first publicly sold RW750 ('RW750 number 2'), and gave it glowing marks.
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After receiving his degree in engineering in 1979, Buell took a job at Harley-Davidson after he went to
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Fifty RR1000 models were produced during 1987-1988 before the supply of XR1000 engines was depleted.
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396:, Harley-Davidson announced that production of Buell motorcycles would cease on October 30, 2009.
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before becoming interested in road racing in his early 20s. He became a part-time road racer on a
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Corp. Buell is a pioneer of modern race motorcycle technology. Buell is also the founder of
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modified version of this different engine design. Through 1989, 65 were produced for sale.
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It was announced in 2019 that Buell has partnered with French financiers via an
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In his teens, Buell began motorcycling. His first motorcycle was an
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In
November 2009, after being dropped by Harley-Davidson, Buell launched
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to obtain an interview and "beat my way in the door," as Buell put it.
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during the day and engineering student taking night classes at the
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1983 racing season. This delayed the development of the engine.
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for the Buell 1125R and 1125CR(2009) producing 146 bhp.
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in 'Formula One', despite the aging race program at Yamaha.
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Buell
American Motorcycles, subsidiary of Harley-Davidson
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While at Harley-Davidson, he was involved with concept
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During this period, Buell was employed as a motorcycle
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Erik Buell announces the end of Buell (official video)
515:"AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Erik Buell"
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named Erik Buell the 2011 Motorcyclist Of The Year.
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421:During July 2013 the Wall Street Journal reported
377:In the 1990s, Buell reformed his house as the '
536:25 Years of Buell, Canfield & Gess, 2008,
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640:"2011 Motorcyclist of the Year | Erik Buell"
485:"ERIK BUELL ESTABLISHES ERIK BUELL RACING"
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342:In 1991, Buell incorporated a five-speed
574:"Hero MotoCorp Buys Stake in U.S. Firm"
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319:of Buell sport bikes. The wrap-around
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555:"About EBR « Erik Buell Racing"
327:than a few 21st century sportbikes.
600:"FUELL Fllow: Ride Into the Future"
527:Cycle World, November 1987, page 32
354:lines and a six-piston front brake
572:Choudhury, Santanu (2 July 2013).
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180:Motorcycles and motorcycle racing
750:People from East Troy, Wisconsin
725:University of Pittsburgh alumni
133:, which eventually merged with
108:Motorcyclist Of The Year (2011)
740:Businesspeople from Pittsburgh
392:On October 15, 2009, amid the
154:Buell was raised on a farm in
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745:Businesspeople from Wisconsin
710:American motorcycle designers
323:design had lower aerodynamic
460:The September 2011 issue of
705:Engineers from Pennsylvania
429:FUELL e-vehicle partnership
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715:American motorcycle racers
646:. 2011 MotorCyclist Online
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287:American Machinist's Union
735:Harley-Davidson designers
674:Erik Buell Racing website
669:Buell Motorcycles website
121:) is the founder, former
16:American motorcycle racer
489:Buell Motorcycle Company
379:Buell Motorcycle Company
212:University of Pittsburgh
196:'Superbike' class and a
174:University of Pittsburgh
131:Buell Motorcycle Company
119:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
117:(born April 2, 1950, in
85:Buell Motorcycle Company
46:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
627:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
451:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
277:The Buell Motor Company
268:Leaving Harley-Davidson
127:Chief Technical Officer
99:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
172:He later attended the
156:Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
644:MotorCyclist Magazine
578:Wall Street Journal
495:on 25 November 2009
730:Buell motorcycles
542:978-1-884313-74-5
412:Erik Buell Racing
406:Erik Buell Racing
400:Erik Buell Racing
139:Erik Buell Racing
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700:1950 births
499:23 November
416:Buell 1125R
226:motorcycles
150:Early years
75:, executive
53:Nationality
694:Categories
623:Erik Buell
609:2023-09-05
583:7 November
471:References
297:Innovation
246:two-stroke
236:The Barton
35:1950-04-02
650:23 August
435:Indiegogo
366:In 1987,
317:trademark
186:motocross
83:Founder,
465:magazine
350:braided
313:patented
208:mechanic
123:Chairman
73:designer
69:engineer
56:American
685:YouTube
625:at the
598:FUELL.
356:caliper
321:fairing
230:Porsche
192:in the
163:Parilla
145:History
129:of the
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442:Honors
283:Hondas
198:Yamaha
190:Ducati
101:(2002)
95:Awards
604:FUELL
387:Rotax
352:brake
201:TZ750
167:moped
165:90cc
652:2011
585:2016
538:ISBN
501:2009
325:drag
125:and
87:and
29:Born
683:on
448:AMA
194:AMA
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