New, less expensive Buell superbike unveiled today

[adouglas]

http://www.erikbuellracing.com/

1190cc twin. $19k, or half what his last bike cost.

Discusserate.

[crazymadbastard]

Overpriced rice.

I luv all bikes including this one now...

[Whiskey]

Interesting looking machine, a bit spartan with the back end, but need to see it from a few other angles

Is that a photoshop ****-up or has it only a single anchor up front.

[adouglas]

I draw your attention to the ONE HUNDRED AND ONE foot-pounds of torque.

A Ducati 1199 Pangiale S makes about 85.

This thing is a beast.....

[choneofakind]

Looks lovely. I want to read some reviews before getting excited.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Interesting looking machine, a bit spartan with the back end, but need to see it from a few other angles

Is that a photoshop ****-up or has it only a single anchor up front.

Link to all the info and photos was provided for your convenience. Feel free to click on it any time.

One disc, but a MASSIVE eight-piston caliper.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Discusserate.

i almost miss the old sheriff drsketch. oh wait no i dont.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Link to all the info and photos was provided for your convenience. Feel free to click on it any time.

One disc, but a MASSIVE eight-piston caliper.

Didn't spot that, there's a setting on my browser that shrinks photos to screen width unless you have the pointer on the image, & it kicked it up off screen.

Definitely needs a tail tidy
Cool looking wheels
Not exactly sold on the single disc up front, looks cheap, don't think there's many fast machines stopping on a single disc. (very base spec Duc 749 last one to do that?)

On looks, it wants an underslung exhaust, it seems too far out

[Snake]

I'm glad to see that Erik Buell is getting back into building innovative and powerful bikes. It's a shame that he cant brand his bikes with the Buell name since Harley still owns the rights to the brand name.

[ForceofWill]

Looks awesome and very promising. Gonna wait on reviews.

Does it have ABS/traction control?

[rasta]

19k??? Nooooo thanks. I can crash 3 used gixxxers for that price

[Snake]

Originally Posted by rasta

19k??? Nooooo thanks. I can crash 3 used gixxxers for that price

The key word is used not new. Wait a few months and you will be able to buy the buell at a reduced used price. Maybe even 3 of them.

[Joshorilla]

I want to like it, I really do.

But!

It looks like a mash up of a load of current bikes to form a kinda frankenbike, the front light looks like a suzuki, as does the RX logo, the lattice kinda looks like a ducati or ktm, but not being tubular kinda looks weird to my eye.

The rest looks unique, but I wouldn't say in a good way! The exhaust looks cheap and out of place, the tail, passenger pegs and mirrors look like a massive afterthought (and cheap!) and the in-ballance between the front and rear rotors with a single front brake looks wrong, really wrong, I like my bikes to have symetry and this just looks... Wrong.

The forks look naff.

Is that a radiator just inches from the ground?! I'm sure they tested it and it's fine... But that seems to be a terrible place to put a rad in terms of crud being kicked up into it.

I don't like the design how it goes from curves and angles up front to the flat seat and flat spots at the back, I also don't like how small the tail is, I prefer bikes to look sorta wasp shaped with a bit of a tail, not a withering nub.

So... Pass. Shame, I generally like Buell bikes.

[Sinister]

Eh, Panigale is rated at 98 ft/lbs. That 85 is usually what they dyno at the rear wheel. I'd imagine the Buell will be right around the same.

[ForceofWill]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

I want to like it, I really do.

But!

It looks like a mash up of a load of current bikes to form a kinda frankenbike, the front light looks like a suzuki, as does the RX logo, the lattice kinda looks like a ducati or ktm, but not being tubular kinda looks weird to my eye.

The rest looks unique, but I wouldn't say in a good way! The exhaust looks cheap and out of place, the tail, passenger pegs and mirrors look like a massive afterthought (and cheap!) and the in-ballance between the front and rear rotors with a single front brake looks wrong, really wrong, I like my bikes to have symetry and this just looks... Wrong.

The forks look naff.

Is that a radiator just inches from the ground?! I'm sure they tested it and it's fine... But that seems to be a terrible place to put a rad in terms of crud being kicked up into it.

I don't like the design how it goes from curves and angles up front to the flat seat and flat spots at the back, I also don't like how small the tail is, I prefer bikes to look sorta wasp shaped with a bit of a tail, not a withering nub.

So... Pass. Shame, I generally like Buell bikes.

Hmm, I think it looks great but I see past the stuff that I would change anyway. Passenger pegs, fender and exhaust would come off anyway. I think the giant single front brake is beast looking. I like the round nose, reminds me of the old ducati race bike fairing.

[thisisbenji]

Love the specs, love that it's a Buell, the price is a lot better than their other bike, but the fairings are ugly. I'd still buy one if I was in the market.

[ninjamunky85]

I agree that the looks just aren't doing it for me. For the price I'd much rather have the Panigale, even if the Buell is faster. This has to be one of Buell's worst looking bikes. I'd much rather have an xb12r, and could get one for a lot less $$$.

[Joshorilla]

I don't know where the previous torque ratings come from, but in almost every aspect, the duck seems to be better.

http://motorcycles.findthebest.com/c...199-Panigale-R

[ninjamunky85]

XB12R

[thisisbenji]

From this angle it's actually not too bad.



I wonder if the front end is better in person? I'm sure it is.

As I'll never be able to exploit a Panigale, I'd probably take this over the Ducati.

[ChickenRun]

The seat looks like an ass killer.

[thisisbenji]

Couldn't be much harder than the 2008+ 250 seat.

[Snake]

I just noticed that it has a chain drive instead of a belt drive like the previous Buell bikes had.

[Jono]

I'd rather have a RC8R.

[headshrink]

I would really like to see him be successful. I remember seeing a video of him in tears after HD kicked him to the curb when the economy crashed. For $19K though I'm not very hopeful.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Jono

I'd rather have a RC8R.

I literally had the exact same thought when I saw the pic right above yours then scrolled down to see my thoughts realized...

[Joshorilla]

It looks like a good bike, but all its competition are great bikes.

Like people have said, rather have a KTM or a Ducati.

I'm sure a lot of you will have national pride in Buell, but on an international market, it's way uglier, more expensive and slower than the competition.

[ForceofWill]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

It looks like a good bike, but all its competition are great bikes.

Like people have said, rather have a KTM or a Ducati.

I'm sure a lot of you will have national pride in Buell, but on an international market, it's way uglier, more expensive and slower than the competition.

I do like to buy American you're right. But I don't think its ugly, its the sams price as a base Panigale and its not out yet hows it slower?

[backinthesaddleagain]

Here's your top of the line EBR (they don't call it Buell anymore). We took the EBR rep on a ride from RI to the 'Bean in Connecticut a while back. The $40K EBR, my 600, and 2 RC8R (one in background). Dealership is also Ducati - too bad they couldn't have brought a Pani along. Note the license plate. Full race pipe had quite a bark.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Two RC8R were on the ride with the EBR. They can't use the Buell name anymore.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by ForceofWill

Looks awesome and very promising. Gonna wait on reviews.

Does it have ABS/traction control?

The 40K bike does not. Doubt this one does. Even their factory racers went w/o TC if I recall from our conversation.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by ForceofWill

I do like to buy American you're right. But I don't think its ugly, its the sams price as a base Panigale and its not out yet hows it slower?

Looking at published specs, comparible bikes in the same class and price are faster. Examples being mid range Ducati bikes and the rc8r.

Ugly is subjective, but it hardly has any definative "wow" factors to the design, or any inovative design features, it looks very plain and boring to me.

I look at the RC8R and you see the defined angular body work that evokes feelings of stealth fighters in contrast to the signature tubular frame and an almost crystal like vertical jewel of a headlight.

I look at a panegalli and see classic ducati sleak racing lines, a streamlined integrated exhaust, beautiful curving lines and headlights with air intakes that look mean as **** like a manta ray or shark, with a chunky racing mono swing arm and gold forks that just look the part.

I look at the EBR and I see they have kinda taken the front from the ducati which is curvey, the back of the rc8r which is angular, headlight off an old gsxr, kinda shoddy cast lattice work under the seat, an exhaust that looks like an ebay chinese special and the token chunky aluminium Buell frame which just makes it look bulky and not sleak and sexy, the single rotor makes it look cheap and weird even if if it works just the same.

I just can't see it selling well, I can see why HD ditched Buell.

[Snake]

Erik Buell needs to come out with 600 cc version of that bike. Would sell like hotcakes.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

I don't know where the previous torque ratings come from,

In the interest of full disclosure, here:

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

Two RC8R were on the ride with the EBR. They can't use the Buell name anymore.

If that's true, sucks he can't use his own name.

[Snake]

Originally Posted by headshrink

If that's true, sucks he can't use his own name.

+1

[fast1075]

Someone mentioned "Rice". They don't grow "Rice" in Wisconsin.

The "race" version of the bike, The RS at 40K was still cheaper than taking any other "superbike" and modding it enough to be competitive.

EBR when from shoestring operation(he put the whole operation together at first using his retirement money) to podiums in the second year against bikes like the KTM that had YEARS of development from racing in Europe.

As for the front brake. Originally conceived for the XB series. It has been developed to the point of superbike race performance, AND the wheel/brake system is lighter than any of the competition's dual disc system (excluding of course Moto GP carbon brakes).

Jeff May will be running a race version of this bike in WSB next year.

And I am going to the AIM show tomorrow in Orlando to have a gander at the bike in person. A dealer friend went yesterday and says it is stunning in person. Not as pretty as the Carbon RS with it's flawless body work, but beautiful, and priced LESS than it's direct competition.

OK I'm off my soapbox now.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Snake

Erik Buell needs to come out with 600 cc version of that bike. Would sell like hotcakes.

this.

i love the looks, but I'll probably never have a use for 1200cc's.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Snake

Erik Buell needs to come out with 600 cc version of that bike. Would sell like hotcakes.

Don't know if anyone noticed, but there are hints on the site of two more models to come… the SX and the AX. Who knows what they'll be. Maybe smaller sport bikes. Maybe they'll take the Honda 500 route and come out with adventure and naked bikes built around the 1190 engine (probably more money in that route).

Doubt one would literally be a 600 because EB does Vtwins. After all, Ducati doesn't make 600s….

But a sportbike in the 600-ish class, or the oddball midrange (636/675/750/848) would be cool. I have to believe that Erik is taking notice of all the buzz around the new Yamaha triple.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by headshrink

If that's true, sucks he can't use his own name.

The artist formerly known as Erik Buell….

That's exactly why Prince did that silly thing and "became" a logo.