The Buell name has been absent since Harley Davidson closed the doors on the brand in 2009 as a cost-cutting exercise. Now, new owners LAP have announced a new model to wear the famous brand name, the 182bhp, V-Twin-powered 'Hammerhead', which will carry on from where the 1190RX left off.

New Buell Superbike Announced

The U.S. motorcycling world lost one of its most inventive motorcycle brands when owners Harley Davidson closed the doors on Buell in 2009, as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

Erik Buell, the company founder, then set up Erik Buell Racing (EBR) which was subsequently sold to Liquid Asset Partners in 2016. Earlier this year (2021) LAP then bought the Buell name from Harley and applied the name to EBR, to effectively resurrect the original brand.

At the time, CEO Bill Melvin said, 'We are excited to bring Buell back with this awesome assortment of superbikes and performance motorcycles.'

'We start with the fastest American production motorcycles, hand built in the USA, so that’s a nice start! We’re building out those platforms for more touring & adventure models, then we’re expanding our displacements to be competitive with other global brands.'

Now, the company has announced its first new model, based heavily on the last bike Buell released, the 1190RX, called the Hammerhead. With a v-twin motor producing 182bhp and 101.6 lb ft of torque, it will play directly with the established stars of the superbike category.

Much of the signature Buell architecture remains, with the engine housed in a aluminium beam frame which doubles up as the gas tank. LAP claim a dry weight of 190kg. Suspension is top-of-the-line Showa kit, with USD forks at the front.

Also present is the 386mm perimeter disc brake on the front wheel, always one of Buell's more controversial elements.

The Hammerhead is the first in a projected line-up of models, with a naked version coming soon and, eventually, a 'Super Tourer', which could be an adventure-sports-styled model or a full-on adventure bike. Buell could also move into the electric nike market, which would be in direct competition with Erik Buell's Fuell company.

No prices available at time of going to press but Buell says they will be opening up order books in the near future.

To watch a short video of the new Hammerhead, click here