Buell Motorcycle looks set to dip a toe into the cruiser world in the only way it knows how - with a bike designed for high-performance thrills. Meet the Buell Super Cruiser.
While other American brands offer their own take on sporty cruisers, Buell really does put the “super” into Super Cruiser.
"Building a cruiser was something we always contemplated," said Bill Melvin, CEO of Buell Motorcycle Co. "The market is full of American manufacturers known mostly for big, heavy bikes – not fast, hot ones like the famous V-twins of the 30s. Our Buell Super Cruiser will be the hottest bike on the market. Period."
Designed in conjunction with Roland Sands Design, the Buell Super Cruiser concept utilises Buell's 175hp V-twin engine nestled within a chassis designed by Sands. Immediately pointing to the bike's performance aspirations are its 17-inch wheels, with the front wheel featuring Buell’s signature perimeter front brake disc.
Weight is said to be just 204kg, which if that figure makes it through to the final production trim would give the Super Cruiser a power-to-weight ratio easily capable of wiping the floor with the competition.
"When Bill first approached us about building a high-performance cruiser using the Buell motor, it was as if the bike designed itself,” said Roland Sands. “Considering the history of Buell and the market’s need for a truly high-performance cruiser, and the build quality of the existing Buell chassis parts, motor, and rolling kit, the project was a natural fit."
Styling also takes into consideration the latest trends in the cruiser market, with the Super Cruiser sporting a small club fairing, tall bars and a monoshock rear end.
While still in the development phase, Buell execs at the bike’s VIP unveiling in California indicated to American outlet American Rider it hopes to bring to market a production Super Cruiser for the 2025 model year.
Currently, Buell doesn’t have an official presence in the New Zealand market, but hopefully, that will change in time for the Super Cruiser’s release.
Currently holding the Buell brand back from spreading across the globe is in fact one of the brand's key design features, those cool perimeter brakes which don't feature ABS. Speaking to Buell Motorcycle's Mark Deremo, he told OnThrottle that the brand does have plans to add ABS into its machines to re-enter the European and Australasian markets.
Regardless of whether it makes its way here, the Buell Super Cruiser might finally push the industry towards lighter machines for improved performance rather than the porky high-capacity options we have currently.