It was October 15, 2009. Harley-Davidson announced that Buell motorcycles were immediately discontinued. In a press conference the same day, a very emotional Erik Buell confirmed the news. Immediately, in the same city of East Troy, WI Erik founded Erik Buell Racing, a company not affiliated in any way with Buell® or Harley-Davidson, to produce only racing sport bikes and provide technical assistance to the teams.
Erik Buell was prevented by contract with Harley-Davidson to build any street bikes during a period of one year after the breakup. In exchange he kept many of the rights to the Buell machines that had been in production when Harley closed down the original Buell company.
And now, because the non competition contract has expired, Erik Buell just hinted that he will launch his first street bike at the end of the year. No details were disclosed but it’s easy to imagine that it will probably be a road version of the 1190RR that Erik Buell Racing has been developing as a race bike. Don’t expect a mass production of this model. Erik Buell doesn’t have the necessary financial resources, facility and manpower, except if this pre-announcement has for objective to find investors. Since his first bike bearing his name, a 1983 RW 750, Erik Buell is well known for his passion, unconventional attitude and ability to resolve financial issues to pursue his dream. So, who knows. To follow…Erik Buell Racing. (archive picture)
Cool. Good luck Erik.
It would be ironic if Erik Buell could produce a sport bike appealing to the young people.
Good Luck Mr. Buell. You can’t keep a man with real passion for what he does down for long.
Good for you Erik! Best of luck to you!
Over & Out,
Jeff
I own one of his bikes, I’ve also owned many others, they came and went, but the Buell is still in my garage. Good Luck Erik, I know you have the innovation that others are so desperately seeking.
I want a Buell, I have had many, and now am Buell-less. Guess its time to sell the bagged GMC and get a White Lightning 🙂
Good luck. Now that the shackles of H-D are off maybe you’ll build something I like. I’d love to see an American Cafe Racer.
good luck with the new venture
I do not see anywhere that he hinted on Facebook that he will launch his first street bike at the end of the year. More like sometime this year.
This is great news!! I would love to see a Cafe roll out.
CAN I GIVE A DOWN PAYMENT ON A STREET 1190?
I want one. peace
Cyril. You are an insider, know more than others and well in advance. Can you tell me at least how it will looks, style, etc. The reason is that I wanted to buy a Sportster, but don’t want to regret when I see the new Erik Buell bike. Should I wait and postpone my purchase?
Good deal! Looking forward to it!
Good for you Eric!
Looking forward to an excellent bike Erik!
Erik
2002 Buell Thunderbolt S3T still one of favs and still a real fun bike 🙂
Best of luck, Eric! Good for you!
You show em Eric!
Erik is a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast and clearly a visionary when it comes to designing and building superior motorcycles. I look forward to seeing what he offers next and know it will not disappoint.
Erik is the key speaker at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame breakfast in Daytona, sure would be a great place and time for him to make an announcement.
I wonder if he will be using any Harley parts in his new Street bike or will he use custom machined parts right down to the engine cases. I will be watching with interest… I’m sure he will be hamstrung by the EPA like any other manufacturer. Best of luck Erik!
This is great news. Any time that we get another us bike manufacturer it is a great thing. Whatever Eric does, i am sure it will be innovative and unique, just like the bikes he has made in he past. Good job and congrats Eric,
I cant wait to see what erik buell does without HD keeping him down.
to steve brands:
It all depends on what you want, what you can afford, and what is on the market. We dont know when this bike will be available, frankly we know verey little about this bike. It could be a year or two before you can purchase one. The market is flooded with low mileage accesorized sportsters that you can get for less than 10K nearly brand new. In contrast, a new buell will cost significantly more. If you have a bike, thats paid for and running, and you really want a new buell, wait it out. but if you dont have a rideable bike and want one, a sportster would be an affordable entry in and a bike you could ride the hell out of for years to come. Saving a little on the side, and buyin a buell.
Follow your heart, followed closely by your wallet, and take what your wife says with a grain of salt
Good luck Erik, keep the US spirit going.
Eric
I wish you well in your venture your a brilliant guy. Im always for a person to do good.
I have made some negative comments in the past but I never understood the marriage of HD and sport bikes and where it was headed,
Assuming American Super Bike is your racing goal I hope that you can sell enough bikes to qualify for the Homologation rules soon.
From responses that I have seen it looks promising hoping that talk isn’t cheap.
Where were all these buyers previous to this?
For those that want to see this happen get out and buy a bike from him so he can meet the rules.
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Harley is Harley !
They gave Eric a good living for many years and named a Harley Davidson after him.
He didn’t do to bad.
So to point the finger at HD is a little less than appropriate regardless of my thoughts about the company and their policys.
That is the best news I’ve heard this year so far. I have a Cyclone and an 1125 and if a new model is in the wings I’ll buy it.
Best of luck Erik.
Best of luck Eric, we love your designs.
Way to go Erik. Looking forward to seeing the new design.
Erik Bell and I took a ride one day. We were both on baggers and needless to say the footboard supports got a little grinding. The guy is hard to keep up with on the curvy roads in southeast Wisconsin. Everything I know about the man tells me that he will succeed in anything he sets his mind to. I have enjoyed riding his bikes and I look forward to the next edition from the mind of Erik Buell. All the best Erik.
Go Erik Go!!
You can’t keep a good man down!
Hope your bike wins at the Daytona brother!
A REAL AMERICAN HERO and our own homegrown
version of John Britten! Truly inspirational.
God bless you for your talent, perseverance & tenacity!!
Speed Vision, why don’t you do a show about Erik!!
To all: A good show of respect for this man is to at least spell his name correctly in your supportive comments. It is Erik, not Eric. Spelling matters…
Thank you, Teena tha Lomuh.
Great news – I knew it would happen eventually. I’ve owned 2 of them and I look forward to getting a third. All the best Erik.
Named a Harley after him? Do you live under a rock? Buell and Harley are different ends of the motorcycle spectrum, real world innovation and prehistoric mechanical flatulence do not make good partners. as soon as Buell took on Rotax motors they were doomed, think about it.
Good luck to you man. HD suck anyway 🙂