Back in the 90’s, a mate of ours owned a Buell Lightning. Man, that was quite something – Harleys were for toppies, and this upstart Erik Buell had built a bike, with seriously innovative design and technology that suddenly appealed to sports riders.
Fast forward a few decades, and a 2008 Buell LightningXB12SS is lurking on the showroom floor at Bikeshop Rivonia.
Man, we just HAD to take it for a ride.
By Glenn Foley. Pics by Stefan vd Riet.
For the uninitiated – here’s a little bit about the Buell brand:
Buell Motorcycles was founded in 1983 by ex–Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell.
He was a top-contending privateer motorcycle racer who turned his focus towards racing-inspired, street-going machines using engines manufactured by Harley. They built roughly 130 000 bikes. South Africa only saw a fraction of these.
The bikes were probably ahead of their time with innovations that included that Zero Torsional Load (ZTL) perimeter floating front disc brake system, a patented “inside-out” wheel/brake design that puts the brake disc on the outer edge of the wheel, rather than at the hub. This allows the suspension to function better, improving control and traction, through reducing unsprung weight on the front wheel, because only a single disc and caliper—with a corresponding reduction in bolts and brake fluid—is needed compared with the conventional dual-disc brake setup on most modern sport bikes.
At that time, the ZTL system was 30% lighter than the brakes on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Other industry innovations introduced by Buell in the XB lineup were the “fuel in frame” technology and the dual use of the swingarm as an oil tank.
What?
A dry sump engine can be shorter, minus the oil sump on the bottom. The large airbox resides where the fuel tank would normally be. Combine this with the underslung muffler, and you begin to see Buell’s efforts for low centralized mass.
Oh yes, the bike is also belt drive.
So now you know!
Our route took us, once again, from the busy Rivonia dealership, out through the busy streets of Rivonia to the quiet corners of the Cradle. En route, we managed to pick up a nail in the front wheel, so play was interrupted by the hunt for a plug. The wheels are tubeless, so it was a simple affair to get it all sorted.
Chaps and chops. Take what you know or think about Harley-Davidson, and turn it upside down. This is one seriously unique motorcycle.
We love the design, minimalistic, aggressive lines that make the bike look fast at a standstill. The Lightnings are the Buell models with more upright seating positions and naked styling, and the XB12SS offers the most room of all of them. Climb aboard, and the seating position is sporty without being uncomfortable. Cutouts in the tank and frame accommodate your knees. The pegs are at a comfortable, sensible height. All of the controls are logically laid out, and the compact clocks tell you everything that you need to know, although this one lied to us about the fuel levels. The fuel light shone even though the bike was full.
Tickle the starter button, and that long stroke, high-performance air-cooled 1203cc Evo Engine talks back to you as it rocks and rolls when you give the throttle a little twist.
This pre-owned bike fired up readily every time and settled into a thumping idle.
A servo-operated valve in the exhaust allows flow to increase with the throttle opening, tuning the exhaust for maximum power at a given engine speed, and as you open up, so the bike smooths out.
There are no rider modes, no traction control – not even ABS – this is just a raw piece of American iron.
It’s an immersive experience to ride too, the gearbox gives a firm clunk as you engage first gear – it’s a bike that talks to you.
The sporty pipe emits a great snarl, not quite the “Potato, Potato” signature Harley sound as we powered along Rivonia road. She revs with a snappy roar, like a Harley V-twin but quicker, with much less flywheel effect. Those strange-looking brakes feel completely normal as you pull up to the traffic lights with car occupants all around you craning their necks to get a better look. The cooling fan quietly kicks on and off, sucking cool air through the oil cooler fins. We didn’t notice any uncomfortable heat off the engine at a standstill – but in saying that, we didn’t spend too much time in the traffic.
The innovative braking system weighed less than than the twin disc setup on a GSXR of the time.
Heading out onto the open roads, the 103bhp Buell snarls along, shifting comfortably through the gears with masses of torque propelling you along. You know the age old cliche’ about rolling mass? At less than 200 kg, you can’t call this bike heavy, but she feels pretty solid, and you can feel that sheer rolling mass as she accelerates, all the while staying perfectly stable.
It’s such a cool feeling!
We get this bike. We absolutely do. With its relatively short wheelbase, carving through the Cradle is a proper hoot, and she goes exactly where you point her. Suspension is by Showa, and the ride is a lot less harsh than some of the modern sportsbikes.
Low-down power is awesome, and there are great big gobs of torque throughout the rev range. 200KPH arrives in a hurry – but that’s not what this bike is really all about. That long stroke engine actually likes to live in the midrange.
Best of all – there is a feeling of indestructibility about the Buell Lightning XB12SS that makes this bike the stuff that legends are made of. It’s one of those bikes that just has so much personality.
What a cool ride.
With just on 30 000 KM’s on the clock and priced at less than 70k, this one’s a lot of machine for your money. We guarantee you’ll turn heads everywhere you go.
