I know a lot of RSBFS readers think that except for the new EBR bikes all Buells were kind of half-assed sportbikes that didn’t measure up to the competition. What is interesting to me is that if you say the name “John Britton” to these same people they will claim that the Britten V-1000 was probably the greatest bike of the last century. Yet both John Britton and Eric Buell started out with a set of unconventional ideas and then built their bikes out of their garage workshops, producing something weird and kind of wonderful. So perhaps its time to give the early Buell bikes a bit more respect.
1989 Buell RR1200 for sale on eBay
This 1989 Buell RR1200 Battletwin is located near Philadelphia, PA USA and currently has only 3500 miles. For those of you unfamiliar with the Battletwin RR1200, it was essentially an evolution of the Buell RR1100 which was one of the most aerodynamic bikes ever built (FYI: The late 80’s Buell 1000/1200 had lowerCdA than most modern bikes, including the wind tunnel designed Suzuki Hayabusa). The major difference between the RR1000 and the RR1200 was the engine; while the RR1100 was powered by a vibration prone Harley Davidson XR1000 motor, in 1989 Buell adopted the new smoother HD 1200cc Evolution engine into the RR1200.
When it was introduced in 1989, the Buell Battletwin 1200 was an intriguing mix of old and new; a thoroughly modern chassis that was a Buell custom design, an exhaust positioned underneath the engine (to help with mass centralization), Marzocchi forks with anti-dive technology, and a horizontally mounted shock. The looks were certainly different from what had appeared before; as one reviewer wrote about it and the similarly oddball BMW K1 “they look like something built as a representation of what someone thought motorcycles would look like when we lived on the moon.”
NOTE: The following pics with bodywork removed are from a source other than the auction and should not be taken to show condition of the listed bike.
The bike’s wide seat was found to be quite comfortable and thanks to Buell’s patented Uniplanar engine mounting system, the already reduced HD 1200 engine vibrations were kept further in check. The bike rode on 16-inch Dymag wheels and brakes were floating discs with four-piston calipers.
Even though the BattleTwin weighed about 170 kilos the focus was on handling and was about as good as anything from Europe.
“It is a quick steering yet stable bike that is easy to ride at high speeds through flowing turns. It likes to be taken through corners on power and can understeer if you backed off the throttle while leant over in a corner but power through with the engine driving hard and you’d be rewarded with positive and neutral handling that made it hard to believe you were on a Harley. In comparison, the competing 1989 BMW K1 was overweight, top heavy, hot and slow.”
So what’s it worth? Well it will probably appeal more to collector of oddball bikes than an investor, perhaps ending up parked alongside a HD VR1000 or Gilera CX125. Cost when new was about 12.5 k and this particular bike looks like it might need a new chain and probably some other items. Then again, according to a recent story done by www.motorcycleclassics.com, a good, well-maintained example could cost anywhere between US$25,000-50,000 today so this might be an opportunity for a collector/investor after all.
MG
The difference between Mr. Britton & Buell is that John Britton took an engine that plain worked. Mr Buell took what engine Harley had, that they’d give him. For some reason, connections, it seems, Erik had to use a Hardley engine even when it handicapped him. He didn’t even use their liquid cooled engine! I think Erik started seeing dollar signs with Harley. That’s the difference, to me.
I remember seeing Gary Goodfellow riding Britton’s bikes at Westwood in Vancouver, B.C., before I had read about him. Even those early bikes were very very fast! Pretty cool to have even been past by a Britton, in anger!
Did you really just compare this turd with a Britten V-1000 as the basis to give Buell respect? Just as a little reminder, Britten built a bike that that weighed less than 305lb, made 166BHP and did 190mph…Buell…well er…..Oh lordy….where’s the emijocon for a face palm
I love the Britten , but we are talking Buell here people now . The subject is Buell/Harley . That being clarified I give it (this Buell) props as it pays homage to Harleys’ early fully faired race bikes of the 70s . It is what it is and nothing more or less . It is not an R1 , nor does it pretend to be anything else than what it appears . Under the bulbous bodywork there is still some noteworthy engineering and let’s not forget this was when Buell was in his teething stages and climbing on his learning curve . All which has brought us to the neat Rotax powered Superbikes he has racing these days . That is the progress of technology .
A Buell is not a Beull and a Britten is not a Britton.
Sorry, I had to write something to unfreeze my mind from the opening paragraphs; Buell is to Britten what Warhol is to Michelangelo. Mind you, the very first Brittens, the V1100 I think, were as ugly as any Buell, but Buells are still ugly and and, my god, did someone really liken Britten to Buell?! I need drugs, man……
Ha ….I Googled it …it is Britten ! No spelling errors on my part ! Stick that in your pipes ! Oh yeah and then give me some of those drugs ! Yeesh Andy Warhol ! That is enough to take any clear headed guy like myself turn to drugs for comfort ! I am starting to see purple headed people eaters now……………………..Awwww wait………it was only my neighbors…..everything is normal !!!! 🙂
thanks, I will be more careful with the spell check next time.
That Buell is super cool in a “off the beaten path” kind of way, I would love to have it. Although the XR1000 motor is more interesting to me, and I had one, IMHO they did not vibrate any more than a regular Sportster. Put an Aerocharger in it and hold on!
Not sure why anyone would compare the late John Britten and EriK Buell but it does happen from time to time. One man, with the help of dedicated engineers and enthusiasts created a clean sheet motorcycle made only for the racetrack, in an ultimate production of 10 units that still looks new and exciting to this day. The other, with help as well, produced thousands of street focused motorcycles (some with the hope they would be raced – RR1000….) that while flawed have a very dedicated following.
Getting in the business bed with Harley Davidson was both Buell’s salvation and ultimate undoing and something “real” sportbike enthusiasts will never see past. Take a look at what he is making today, in a tiny little facility with a small work force in WI and see how HD dropped the ball. That this new company (EBR) has introduced 3 models in less than 3 years in business, meet EPA and CARB (looking at you Motus) and actually met homologation requirements (ahem, Bimota) to race in AMA and WSBK, if not all that well.
For some accurate (if not Kool-Aide laced….) information on Erik Buell and his bikes I suggest reading “25 Years of Buell” by Canfield and Gess. While a bit short on content the read it is interesting.
Oh, and Bing the RW750 to see what Buell was doing before the street bikes…some haters here might even like it. 🙂
sold for 15k. I also just noticed that there is one in the solvang motorcycle museum in california so apparently others think its collection worthy too. or as my nephew would say, neener neener neener! 🙂