I'm back. It's going to be better than it was before - Erik Buell

Some of you know I've owned quite a few Buell's and I'll say...they had their issues but at heart hey were great bikes to own for various reasons. I was gutted when HD punted Erik Buell out the back door to land on his a$$. It was a poor way to handle a business partner. Especially one that, imo, was the future of your business.

Today I get to work and a friend of mine sent me an email with this link. The subject line of the email was "Suck it HD!".

This Week In Motorcycles

From the article said: Well, this has been quite the week for bikes. Remember Erik Buell? Well, he's back, with a high-tech superbike that should seriously worry his European competition. I just attended the launch at AIMExpo to learn all about it. 2014 EBR 1190RX: So this Erik character used to have his own sportbike brand at Harley, named after him. HD's new CEO didn't like that, so he shuttered Buell one day with no warning. That's a shame, because despite being saddled with bad engines and poor corporate management, Buell managed to crank out quirky, unique, devastatingly good-to-ride bikes. Erik's one of those engineers who doesn't understand why you need 20 parts when one clever part could do the work of them all. For the last four years, he's been working on building a new company and this 1190RX (top) is the result. It makes more torque than any other superbike out there, including the Ducati 1199 Panigale while returning better fuel economy than a freaking Prius. You can read all about it on RideApart.

Aw yesssssss. Erik is BACK.

So I click the next link and land here:

First Photos and Specs: 2014 EBR 1190RX — AimExpo 2013

The first picture is this:

Ya'll gotta see this.

I wonder where he is buying engines these days.

I can't say that it's an attractive bike - the faring looks like something standard issue on Capt. America's comic cycle. With those numbers, and Buell involved I'd have to give it the benefit of the doubt anyway. I'd love to see a naked version.

The one I'd be buying at my price point would already have the faring cracked anyway :)

Buel is back?!?!?

Looks too much like Japan inc. for my tastes, but I won't pass final judgment until I see one in person. I'd also much prefer a streetfighter variant. Hopefully Eric will be successful enough to get a few models out on the street.

Does this mean the values of all of the older Buells are going to come back up thanks to the new dealer network? If so, I'm buying up every XB and 1125 in the area before that happens.

Damn it, I would like to grab an 1125 before they go back to a more reasonable level.

Also, it is still a twin (it appears) so I am guessing that it is a tweaked Rotax just like the 1125 bikes.

The looks are just OK but do remember that Buells have always been a little down on looks, IMO. I mean, as much as I want an 1125R, it is a weird looking bike.

singleslammer said: Also, it is still a twin (it appears) so I am guessing that it is a tweaked Rotax just like the 1125 bikes.

You're probably right- EBR already sells a kit to bore out the 1125 motor to 1190, so the likelihood that this is closely related is high.

The headlight looks a little more unique up close

Wow

"From 4,000 rpm up, it never dips below 80 lb.-ft. To put that in perspective, a Japanese liter bike like the Honda CBR1000RR peaks at 82 lb.-ft. and 8,500 rpm"

I was so pissed off when Hurley-Dirtbagson threw Buell out on his butt. Those were the only sportbikes I ever wanted.

pretty cool. I'll take a good look at it when i'm ready for a new bike.

Hell yeah! I haven't actively ridden bikes in 30 years, but stay connected to the scene. Erik Buell is exactly the sort of guy that the American Motorsports scene needs. And on the face of it, that bike looks pretty stinking good at a not insane price considering the market.

I've got friends who know people... I wonder if he could be convinced to sell BEC-ready motors?

Can I have one naked with a little more upright riding position please? Thank you.

Bobzilla wrote: Can I have one naked with a little more upright riding position please? Thank you.

I've made that same request to escort services.

singleslammer wrote: Wow "From 4,000 rpm up, it never dips below 80 lb.-ft. To put that in perspective, a Japanese liter bike like the Honda CBR1000RR peaks at 82 lb.-ft. and 8,500 rpm"

Having ridden Aprilia Milles with monsterous torque curves........yay for roll-on 3rd gear wheelies!

The fact that this bike makes the most torque in the superbike category, and is only 7 HP off the mark of the BMW s1000RR, and is lighter than the s1000RR, and costs about the same? Sounds like a a lot of bike to me. ABS, TCS, and a 21 mode wheelie control system put the electronics on this bike up there with anyone else.

I believe that the 1190 engine in this is an in house engine the EBR has been using in teh 1190RS race bike the last few years. It seemed competitive in AMA Superbike, just appeared to be lacking the $$$ in factory support that the Yamahas and Suzukis had. I think they are going to be competing in the 2014 WSBK series, so I will be interesting to see how they compete at a higher level.

Regardless this is an awesome bike that for the money makes the new 1199 Panigale look silly. Its on par with the BMW as I mentioned and may be better than that (IMHO I think the s100RR is the best superbike now).

toad9977 wrote: The fact that this bike makes the most torque in the superbike category, and is only 7 HP off the mark of the BMW s1000RR, and is lighter than the s1000RR, and costs about the same?

The 2014 MSRP for an S1000RR in the US is $15,150

That isn't what I'd call "about the same" as $18,999.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

The 18,990 puts it in the range of the MV F4(which makes 10 more HP and looks better)

FWIW, that engine appears to be closely related to the 1190 that is in the KTM RC8(and the seat/tail section of the EBR scream KTM design)

i see that now. I guess the only S1000RRs I have seen have had a higher price tag. Maybe when the HP4 was around the price tags matched.

I guess my point is I am very impressed with what EBR is putting out for their first production bike. It comes out and numbers wise is competitive with the big European and Japanese super bikes for a price that is competitive with them.

I like those ducted brakes.

Brake, singular.

I have to say, I'm surprised he still hasn't embraced a radial mount caliper. Every other sport bike on the planet has been doing that for nearly 10 years.

Bumboclot wrote: I like those ducted brakes.

Those brake discs have more material and would appear to have more cooling time when the caliper is not touching them, in my amateur mind it would make for more brake cooling when the brakes are being applied. Is this correct?

In reply to toad9977:

The s1000rr is literally the benchmark for the literbike class, just like mine used to be.

FWIW, I'll stick with my 375lb curb weight 175hp/84tq first gen 10....

In reply to aussiesmg:

You don't want to be on that if you somehow warp that brake disc.

Did I mention I also want it for $9k? Naked, upright, $9k.