American Sport Bikes - Firebolt XB12R

Erik Buell left Harley-Davidson and began building Buell Motorcycles, using modified Harley engines. Harley purchased Buell in 1998 and Erik Buell has continued his passion of building technologically advanced, v-twin sport bikes. Nothing exemplifies this innovative approach better the Firebolt XB12R model.

The Firebolt's fuel tanks are hidden in the frame to lower the center of gravity, providing better cornering. The revolutionary mounting of large brake disks on rim of the front wheel to provide superior braking ability. According to the August 2005 issue of the UK's Bike magazine, the Firebolt XB12R corners better and easier that an Aprilia or a Ducatti 999R. Beating out the best competition in the world, the Firebolt XB12R was selected by Bike magazine as the absolute best cornering motorcycle in the world.

Makes you want to buy American, doesn't it!

You can see more Buell Motorcycles at American Parts and Motorcycles


Images licensed from londonbikers.com (who were cool enough to let me use their great studio quality images) under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 License.

according to a press release from Buell Motorcycles, they have continued to improve the Firebolt XB12R.

The Buell Firebolt XB12R has continued to evolve into one of the most versatile sportbikes on any road or track today. The Firebolt is known for its precise and combines that agility with the performance of an American-made Thunderstorm 45-degree, air-cooled 1203 cc V-Twin engine.

The all black Thunderstorm engine produces 103 peak horsepower at 6800 rpm, and 84 ft. lbs. of peak torque at 6000 rpm, with 85 percent of peak torque available over 2500 rpm.

New colors for 2009 include Midnight Black with Cherry Bomb translucent wheels and Arctic White with Hero Blue translucent wheels, with color-match translucent windscreen.










Buell Firebolt XB12R highlights

* New Blacked-out Buell Thunderstorm 1203 cc air/oil/fan-cooled four-stroke, 45-degree V-Twin engine
* 103 peak hp @ 6800 rpm (per SAE J607)
* 84 ft. lbs. peak torque @ 6,000 rpm (per SAE J607)
* Buell InterActive Exhaust
* DDFI 3 Electronic Fuel Injection ECM
* Eight-row oil cooler with Jiffy-tite fittings
* New four-pad, eight-piston ZTL2 front braking system
* New three-zone Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tires
* New blacked-out frame, swingarm, triple clamps, outer fork tubes, lower castings, brake caliper, footpeg mounts and heel guards
* Dry Weight: 395 pounds
* Wheelbase: 52 inches
* Fully adjustable 43 mm Showa upside-down fork
* Fully adjustable Showa rear shock absorber
* Veyance Hibrex drive belt with Flexten Plus technology
* Cosmetic Frame Protectors
* Perforated texture seat
* Magnesium tone center chin
* Pre-Wired for Available Heated Grips
* Instrument Panel Graphics