Buell has never been a manufacturer to go with the flow, in fact they've always preferred to swim against the current. Their tendency to buck design conventions has been a defining characteristic and is once again on display in the new 2022 Buell Hammerhead. As an American sportbike built to contend with the best from Europe and Asia, the Hammerhead is a motorcycle that boldly announces Buell is back, and this time, hopefully for good.
Buell Is A Small Fish In A Big Pond
As mentioned, the Hammerhead is not a new motorcycle per se; instead it draws much of its design from Erik Buell's 1190RX that was introduced in 2017. Where the Hammerhead has been improved is at the heart of this ferocious fish. The Hammerhead is now powered by an updated Rotax Helicon, a 72° V-twin engine that delivers 185 hp and 102 ft-lbs of torque. From there, the bike retains many of Buell's distinctive features, including a front brake disc mounted to the perimeter of the wheel, fuel in the frame, and oil in the swingarm.
The aim of the Hammerhead is to maintain the legacy of Buell while reintroducing the brand to the market. As a company, Buell has had its ups and downs. Originally founded by Erik Buell as a means of producing American-made sportbikes, the company was eventually bought in 2003 by Harley-Davidson, who was supplying engines to Buell at the time. Under Harley-Davidson's direction, Buell was able to upgrade their machines and improve their safety and reliability. And with deeper pockets to draw from, Buell was also able to make further innovations that ultimately led to the introduction of the XB line. Unfortunately, those strides came to a halt in 2009 when the Motor Company shuttered the Buell brand. Erik Buell would eventually return with a company known as Erik Buell Racing (EBR), but that effort also failed, leaving the current leadership, under Bill Melvin, to pick up the pieces.
Buell Is Back On Track
Based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Buell has ambitious plans to once again become a contender in the sportbike market. The previous 1190RX was praised by the press, as it was an incredibly nimble machine that found inventive ways to centralize weight. As a result, the bike could carve corners and rip around the track. The real issue for a small manufacturer like Buell has always been investment capital and sales. Building motorcycles on a large scale is an expensive endeavor and many smaller outfits have come and gone due to the huge hurdles that need to be overcome, especially in the beginning. The current iteration of Buell has some rather lofty goals, including the launch of 10 new models by 2024. Many of those models will be based on the 1190RX and the new Hammerhead is the first step in that direction. Here's to hoping the other steps follow soon after, cause the motorcycle industry needs radical thinkers like the folks at Buell.