Given a clean sheet of paper and nearly unlimited resources, it’s no surprise when major manufacturers come up with good motorcycles. In fact, when you consider those factors, it’s shocking how often they get it wrong… But Buell had neither advantage in building his motorcycles and still managed to come up with some very interesting motorcycles. In fact, many of the most striking innovations in his early bikes like this Buell RS1200 were workarounds for the tall and heavy Harley powertrain he was using.
Too heavy? Save weight everywhere you can. Bulky non-unit engine and transmission? Centralize mass with a shock mounted under the engine. Vibey powerplant? Mount it using innovative heim joints that works like Norton’s “Isolastic” system to isolate the worst of the vibrations and allow a stiff package that doesn’t try to rattle the rider’s teeth loose. Worried about losing your girlfriend off the back? Don’t worry, the passenger seat cover doubles as a backrest!
Much of the bike’s detailing honestly looks custom up-close. If you didn’t know better, you’d swear those heim joints mounting the engine to the frame were aftermarket bits, but no, they were there from the factory, a measure of the quality components used to build these. Performance Machine is a brand often associated with Kustom Kruizer Kulture, but they make quality stoppers.
And if the styling of this early Buell is, um… unconventional, the complete package exploits the antediluvian engine’s inherent power, torque, and character for a uniquely American take on a sport-touring motorcycle.
From the original eBay listing: 1991 Buell Westwind RS 1200/5 for Sale
I am the original owner of this Beautiful Red California RS 1200/5 Westwind. Purchased in 1991 From Fremont Harley Davidson in FremontCalifornia, it has 5289 miles on it and is in very good condition. It has a small scratch on the tank and fender. It has a small crack on the fairing. It needs to have the fork seals replaced. It is bone stock expect for the screaming eagle Dyna ignition. It fires right up and runs like new. It has been garaged and covered since new.
I take for granted that most of you know this is one of the hand-built, low production models, before they were mass produced and cranked out by the thousands on an assembly line. This was when Erik Buell owned the company. It has a unique 5 digit VIN number acceptable to the DMV. Most vehicles have a 17 digit number.
There are no takers yet with a starting bid of $5,500 but plenty of time left on the auction. Whether you love his motorcycles or hate them, Erik’s obvious passion for motorcycling and innovative mind shine through in all of his bikes, and it’s a shame he’s had so much trouble. But it’s a testament to his talent that people keep trying to give his ideas a home, so let’s hope this new guy in Asbury Park can give Buell the stability he needs to keep making interesting machines.
-tad
if you going to go this route, I say hold out for a battetwin edition
https://evu.hhv.mybluehost.me/raresportsbikesforsale/beluga-buell-1989-buell-1200-battletwin/
Cue the Buell haters…….
Pull the P.M. binders off that turd and shove the remainder into the nearest active volcano…And don’t bother to drain the fluids.
Hit every branch.
Awwww c’mon guys , Erik Buell had to start somewhere and he cut his teeth on this stuff . You have just been spoiled with his great creations of late . Though not eye candy they weren’t bad bikes . I do agree they lack fashion but it is what it is……..
the only sportbike to come stock with a sissy bar *shudder*
What’s not to hate? Crappy style, hideous bodywork, mix-matched techno-bits, This pile should have never left the design bench… Looks like a dodge neon with a 1940’s push rod, air cooled mill that sucks in every way… Haters unite!
I forgot about the flint ignition…
Awesome bike.
Well, “sucks in every way” may be an overstatement: the v-twin Harley motor makes a big fat blob of low-rpm torque that’d be a blast for street riding if the package weren’t so heavy. And the engine does look pretty cool: stuffed into a 48, it’s very slick. While the “flint ignition” joke is funny, these bikes aren’t really primitive, aside from that engine. And remember, it’s 1950’s engineering: get it straight! Haven’t you heard? Harley is introducing some new-fangled technology: water cooling! What will they think of next?
I actually like the style of these early Buells: they ain’t pretty, but you’d never mistake one for anything else, and I’ll take “ugly” over “bland” any day of the week. Sort of like a pug, or a bulldog, but with less slobber. I’ve read a lot of reviews for Erik’s bikes over the years and they all read basically the same: flawed but very enjoyable.
“Go-go gadget, seat!”
Again… Rare? Yeah, maybe. Sport? Not a fuckin chance. Bike? I gotta find another site! How about we start a site that pertains to “rare sport bikes.com” and quit looking at this garbage, day in, and day out? Rare means: rgv, tzr fzrspp, supermono, kr1, rz/rd/rzv 500 etc. NOT some diesel bygone era shitbox that couldn’t hold it’s own in a dinosaur class…………
Those bikes you mentioned are all very cool, and ones we feature all the time on the site. But I happen to find that definition of “rare sport bike” too narrow: there are so many other worthwhile bikes out there and it’s fun to throw the occasional Buell into the mix, just to shake things up a bit.
OMG! It is isnt a Ducati 916/998/748 Neiman Marcus edition! How am I going to look cool at bike night?!
Personally I would rather see some variety (i.e. Buells Laverda RGS’, Lawson Replicas. etc). If only the six bikes you refer to were posted, this would be a very repetitive and boring site.
more like “how am I gonna carve up my favorite road on a bike thats 100 lbs overweight” …
O.K. I’ll leave my narrowmindedness at the door… I love anything with two tyres between an engine. No harm, no foul, so, on with the show! But ugly (in my eyes) is ugly, and ohlins on a frapper (harley) is junk that soaks up bumps well. My opinion will probably not influence somebody to buy, or not buy the bike on stage. By the by, I have always had a hard-on for a V Max! Carry on people…