Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·NEW BIKES. 1997 Buells (Left) Buell's newest model Is the M2 Cyclone, the company's version of an economy sport standard. The Cyclone combines a majority 01 the S1 Lightning's styling with the riding positions, tall section and engine configuration of the 1996 S2 Thunderbolt. Suggested retail price Is $9395. (Below) Quick as a flash, the successful S1 Lightning returns with minor updates In 1997. (Left) The saga continues: Erik Buell continues to produce his motorcycles his way. The 1997 model lineup consists of four models. Total Buell production in 1996 was 2070 units, a far cry from the 50 RR1000 models that put Buell Motorcycle Company on the map in 1987-88. By SCott Rousseau hese are the motorcycles that dreams are made of - just ask Erik Buell. Less than 10 years after designing and producing his first entry into the sportbike market, the Harley-Davidson XR1000-powered RRlOOO, Buell, a former Harley-Davidson engineer and AMA National road racer is now the head of America's only sportbike manufacturer, a fast-growing company that has no Jess than Harley-Davidson Inc. as a minority investor. Who could hav2 known that the first run of 50 Buell RRlOOOs was the forerunner of a new lineup of Harley-Davidsonpowered sport customs, which includes four models for 19971 Erik Buell did, and among those dream machines he has seen fit to add a more economical machine to the line this year with the introduction of the M2 Cyclone. Buell describes the Cyclone as "an aggressive new interpretation of the essentials of motorcycling - the wind in your face, comfortable two-up seating and advanced styling." The Cyclone's styling mimics the look that the company introduced with last year's 51 a Lightning, but the Cyclone offers more neutral riding position with its higherplaced handlebars, lower footpegs and two-up riding capability. Buell says that the machine is designed to be a technologically advanced, do-everything street bike. The new model carries the same 1200cc Harley-Davidson Evolution engine found in the Lightning, but with the shorter duration cams found in the 1996 52 Thunderbolt to produce a fast and responsive, yet friendly powerband. Buell claims best torque and horsepower figures of 80 ftAbs. at 4500 rpm and 83 hp at 5800 rpm. A fiv.e-speed transmission sends the power through a belt drive rather than a chain, similar to HarleyDavidson's Sportster models. The Cyclone's Thunderbolt-inspired bodywork wraps around one of Buell's chrome-moly perimeter frames, creating a solid anchor fof the engine, which is mounted via Buell's Uniplanar engine isolation system consisting of three helmjointed mounting points to quell the Vtwin vibes. Suspension is racing-bred and consists of a progressive-rate rear shock boasting 4.9 inches. The braced front forks are Showa units as opposed to the WP 4054s found on the rest of the Buell lineup. Just as with the rest of the family, the Cyclone features a single 340rnrn disc up front with a six-piston Performance Machine caliper handling the clamping duties for the cast three-spoke 3.5-inch front wheel. Out back, a 23Om.rn rotor and Brernbo caliper handle the same task for the 5-inch rear wheel of the same style. Tires are Dunlop Sportmax radials. Dry weight for the machine is 435 pounds. Buell has set a retail price of $9395 for the 1997 M2 Cyclone as compared to $9999 for the flagship Sl Lightning, which will undergo minor revisions for the new year. Getting more of a lift, in the form of a more powerful engine, is the new Thunderbolt, which is designated the 53 and now shares the same powerplant as the Lightning while retaining the faired styling that made the Thunderbolt· famous. The S3 will retail for $11,999 while the hard-bagged S3T touring version will cost $12,799. Buell currently serves a 169-dealer network within the United States, and all models should be available for purchase from those stores by late December 1996. Buell has also designed an expanded line of accessories for all the models, including tank bags, tank masks and cov· ers. Buell riders will also be able to personalize themselves with the company's apparel line. Perhaps under the influence· of Harley-Davidson, Buell has also incorporated ways to maintain customer interest after the motorcycle has been purchased with the founding of the Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG), which brings Buell owners together for riding adventures and the opportunity to interact with one another and Erik Buell as well. The company publishes "The Road Ahead" newsletter, a free, quarterly publication that provides dates for upcoming BRAG activities, technical information, news on the latest Buell accessories, and profiles of Buell dealers and owners around the United States. Buell will also continue to support racing in the form of the NASB Lightning Series, which is open to any production .Buell model ever produced. Add it all up, and you have an American motorcycle company that is growing and going places, although where that may be is anyone's guess. Erik Buell no doubt has a few dreams left. (N

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