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Difference between revisions of "Buell"
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'''Buell Motorcycle Company''' is an American motorcycle manufacturer based in East Troy, Wisconsin and founded by ex-[[Harley-Davidson]] engineer Erik Buell. The company first partnered with Harley-Davidson in 1993, and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harley by 1998. | |||
The first Buell motorcycle, the [[Buell RW750]], was built in 1983 purely for competing in the AMA Formula 1 motorcycle [[road racing]] championship. At that time, Erik Buell was a top contending privateer motorcycle racer. After completion of the first two RW750 racing machines, one of which was sold to another racing team, the Formula 1 series was cancelled. Buell then turned his focus towards racing-inspired, street-going machines utilizing engines manufactured by Harley. In 1993, Harley-Davidson Incorporated joined in partnership with Buell Motor Company as a 49% stakeholding minority partner and the company formed was renamed "Buell Motorcycle Company". In 1998 Harley purchased majority control of Buell, and it has been a subsidiary ever since. Since then, Buell has utilized modified Harley-Davidson Sportster engines to power their motorcycles. | |||
Most Buell motorcycles use [[Four stroke|four-stroke]] air-cooled V-twin engines, originally built from [[Harley-Davidson XR1000]] engines. After these were depleted, a basic 1200 Sportster engine was used. In 1995, the engines were upgraded with Buell engineered high performance parts, and further upgraded in 1998. | |||
[[Image:1999-Buel-M2.jpg|left|thumb|1999 Buel M2]] | [[Image:1999-Buel-M2.jpg|left|thumb|1999 Buel M2]] | ||
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[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | [[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers]] | ||
[[Category:American motorcycles]] | |||