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Friday, July 20, 2007

Re-engined Buell

Buell has finally deep-sixed the old Sportster engine.

BRP-Rotax, the newly-contracted engine manufacturer, is the parent company of Bombardier. They're also the same company that produces engines for the Aprilias.

Mind you, Jap engines still beat them hands-down for power-to-weight ratio and reliability, but it's definitely a step up from that ancient Harley lump of shit weighing down the previous Buell race bikes.

Now if they can just find a good aesthetic designer... yeesh! The new upper fairing is obviously a blatant rip-off the Yamahas -- which I despise. The XB9R was a much more attractive motorcycle.

___
(Hat-tip to Fundy)

posted by Jar(egg)head at 12:55

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know you've been ragging on the sporty engine in the Buell for years. Until the other half found a Sporty that fit her short frame (the new 1200n), I never gave it much thought. I need to let you ride this thing. I have to say it will surprise you.

--jv

13:53  
Blogger Jar(egg)head said...

I have no doubt the Sportster motor works fabulously -- in a Sportster. But shoehorning it into a competition sportbike has been -- and always will be -- an utter disaster. It was part of the deal Erik Buell made with the devil (Harley) in order to get funded. That homunculus of design has allowed the RC51 and similarly-engined V-twin sportbikes to absolutely own Buell on the track, despite the fact that Buells are chock-full of other technological goodness that should be giving them the edge.

Perhaps this new engine will change that for the better.

07:26  

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