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108-620: On October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson announced the discontinuation of the Buell product line as part of its strategy to focus on the Harley-Davidson brand. The last Buell motorcycle produced through Harley-Davidson was in October 30, 2009, bringing the number manufactured to 136,923. In November 2009, Erik Buell announced the launch of Erik Buell Racing , an independent company run by Erik Buell which initially produced race-only versions of

216-502: A 200cc engine. The Outlander is a utility style ATV available in multiple engine sizes, including 400cc and 450cc single cylinder and 500cc, 570cc, 650cc, 800cc, 850cc and 1000cc V-Twin engines. The Outlander MAX is available for 2-up riding and the Outlander X-MR is built specifically for mud riding. The Renegade is also available with multiple engine choices, a 500cc, 570cc, 800cc, 850cc or 1000cc V-Twin engine. The Renegade X-XC

324-444: A Harley before being hired, was heard talking about "Erik's racing hobby", and questioned "why anyone would even want to ride a sportbike". He organized a team to analyze "the adrenaline market", and concluded that sportbikes would encounter high competition and low profits, while cruisers had high returns. On Thursday, October 15, 2009, Harley-Davidson Inc. announced the end of production of Buell Motorcycles in order to focus more on

432-470: A Harley-Davidson XR1000 engine. Buell invented the Isoplanar engine mounting system to allow the heavy, vibration-prone engine to be used as a structural member of the frame without transmitting the engine vibrations to the frame. Lack of space caused Buell to put the suspension components under the engine. The linkage caused the spring and the shock absorber to extend when the wheel went up. Variations on

540-631: A better reputation than the rival Polaris and Arctic Cat brands of motor sleds. In 1971, Bombardier completed the purchase of the Moto-Ski company to expand the Ski-Doo line and eliminate a competitor from the marketplace. In the mid 1990s, some of the sleds made by Ski-Doo were the Formula III, Mach 1, and Mach Z with Rotax engines. While it is a commonly held misconception that all Ski-Doo snowmobiles were powered by rotary valved engines, this

648-430: A chain drive. On September 9, 2009, Buell won its first AMA Pro racing championship. Rider Danny Eslick clinched the title at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Buell's 1125R model. On November 15, 2009, Buell won its first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship. Rider Hector Arana clinched the title at Southern California NHRA Finals on a Lucas Oil backed Buell. Erik Buell Racing Erik Buell Racing ( EBR )

756-562: A deal in 2013 where Indian firm Hero MotoCorp acquired 49 percent of the company, and in January 2016, the remaining assets of Erik Buell Racing were sold to the firm Liquid Asset Partners. Under Liquid Asset Partners's ownership, the company took the name "EBR Motorcycles" in 2019, and subsequently acquired the rights in the United States to the Buell nameplate. In February 2021, newly renamed Buell Motorcycles announced its return to

864-510: A group of investors: Bain Capital (50%), Bombardier Family (35%) and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (15%) for $ 875 million. Before the start of the company's development of track vehicles, Joseph-Armand Bombardier experimented with propeller-driven aerosleds . His work with snowplane designs can be traced to before 1920. He quickly abandoned his efforts to develop a snowplane and turned his inventive skills to tracked vehicles. From

972-531: A make-specific training bike, since many students end up buying a bike from the dealer where they trained. The Blast came from a quick proof-of-concept at the Buell factory. It originally used half of a Sportster 883 engine. The engine ended up 80 percent over budget and very expensive compared to the higher-technology Rotax engines available from outside the company. Cycle World wrote "Such an overrun would be unheard of from an outside supplier, but when your supplier also owns you, you grin and bear it." The Blast

1080-413: A mechanically identical S3T "Touring" model that ran through model year 2000. The 1,203 cc air-cooled V-Twin engine was mounted as a stressed member in a tubular frame. The powerplant output 91 hp (68 kW) in 1997 and jumped to 101 hp (75 kW) in the following years due to revised cam profiles and the new Thunderstorm cylinder heads. While the bike's overall look was the same throughout

1188-454: A move where the court-appointed receiver sought to sell the assets by accepting a pre-emptive offer from a private liquidation-company specializing in breaking-up company remnants was blocked by the judge, to allow more time for any potential new buyers to prepare their submissions, re-scheduling the hearing for early January 2016. In January 2016, the remnants of Erik Buell Racing were sold to Liquid Asset Partners for just over $ 2 million, with

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1296-486: A new winter sport was born, centred in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. But Armand was reluctant to focus too much on the Ski-Doo and move resources away from his all-terrain vehicles. Armand slowed down promotion of the Ski-Doo line to prevent it from dominating the other company products but still dominate the entire snowmobile industry. The snowmobiles produced earned

1404-543: A racing shop near Bergamo . EBR became the first American OEM to earn Superbike World Championship points when Larry Pegram, entered as wild card, finished 14th in Race 2 at the Laguna Seca round. For the 2015 season , Team Hero EBR race squad entered two riders, American Larry Pegram and Italian Niccolò Canepa , who competed in four events achieving some finishes, before the team folded due to financial failure of

1512-649: A range of large commercial and exploration vehicles from its location in Medford, Oregon , USA. Thiokol produced popular units, notably the Imp, Super Imp, and Spryte models, but changed ownership and name several times before going out of business in 2000 as the Logan Machine Company and manufacturer of the LMC brand. Armand dreamed of developing a fast, lightweight snowmobile that could carry one or two people. In

1620-467: A reported $ 20 million of liabilities, and ceased all operations including closing down their website. On August 7, 2015, it was announced that Bruce Belfer, an engineer from New Jersey with a background in metal fabrication, had agreed to purchase Buell's manufacturing assets for $ 2.25 million, while Hero MotoCorp. of India paid $ 2.8 million for Buell's consulting business. Belfer stated his intention to work with company founder Erik Buell to re-establish

1728-402: A separate company, with majority ownership transferred to Bain Capital. Though the company is a major manufacturer of two stroke engines and four stroke motors for several industries it is better known for its consumer recreational products. They now make Ski-Doo and Lynx brand snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, Sea-Doo personal water craft , jet boats, and Evinrude outboard motors (through

1836-623: A single throttle body, zero maintenance hydraulic valve actuation, and zero maintenance gear-driven cams. Buell advanced their 1190 platform significantly under the Erik Buell Racing tenure. Engine technology improved to the EV-V2 1190cc 72 degree V-Twin that produces 185 horsepower at 10,600 rpm and 102 ft. lbs. of torque at 8200 rpm. The RW 750 was a development of the Barton Formula One racing motorcycle. Buell bought

1944-445: A six-piston unit, was now made by Nissin. The most technological change came in the new Dynamic Digital Fuel Injection (DDFI) system, replacing the old carburetor. The S3 had a half fairing that surrounded the headlight and gave decent wind protection for the rider's torso. The S3T model then added lower fairing extensions that gave better wind protection to the rider's legs. The S3T also had hard saddlebags that could be color-matched to

2052-469: A six-speed transmission. The Helicon engine was developed and built by BRP-Powertrain in Austria. The design had significant Buell input and was funded through Buell's cashflow. The 1125R did not have a full fairing, as that would have put it in the same class as Japanese sportbikes. Erik Buell agonized over this, saying "it's about not listening to the voice of the customer." Cycle World magazine said

2160-563: A streetfighter version of the 1190RX. On November 18, 2016, EBR announced for Spring of 2017, the Black Lightning a blacked-out version of the 1190 platform. Key changes included: different gearing, bike lowered 2 inches, a lower seat height, lower foot pegs, higher bars, and an optional comfort seat. Another street model was hinted on the Erik Buell Racing Website and mentioned in several articles. This model

2268-461: A top speed of barely 20 mph. The Bombardier B12 and C18 were probably the precursors to the more modern snow coach used by resorts for transporting tourists. In their day, the B12 and C18 vehicles were used as school buses, mail delivery and emergency vehicles in northern United States and Canada, and were best suited to flat land conditions, frozen roadways, or frozen lakes. While more than 3,000 of

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2376-508: Is a separate trim level built specifically for cross country racing. The Outlander 800R X-XC is a version of the Renegade with the same trim level for cross country racing and non-racing trail riding. The XT-P is the modern outlander XXC and features the XT package with front sway bar and beadlock wheels. The 1000cc engine was introduced into the quad classification in the 2012 model year for both

2484-505: Is also more efficient 40 percent less oil burn than the previous Etec. and 30 percent quicker throttle response; this engine paired with the new SP chassis which moves the rider even further forward and provides a big weight reduction over the XP chassis. This makes the 2017 the most capable snowmobile ever, reaching speed of upwards of 120 mph in the MXZ models. During the 1970s, Bombardier built

2592-515: Is an American motorcycle sport company which produces street and racing motorcycles, based in East Troy , Wisconsin , USA. The business entered receivership in April 2015. After two previous attempts, the business remnants were sold in January 2016 to Liquid Asset Partners (LAP), an American organization specializing in the purchase and liquidation of failed businesses. Liquid Asset Partners kept

2700-431: Is not true. Only two cylinder Rotax engines were equipped with rotary valves . As a rule, the later rotary valved sleds were liquid cooled as well. Fan cooled sleds were usually piston port (2-stroke) induction. Sleds such as the formula III, later model mach-1's and the mach Z were powered by three cylinder, 2-stroke, Rotax engines. In 1994 the company produced the first snowmobile equipped specifically for mountain riding,

2808-488: Is signified by only two letters, AX. According to early magazine articles, this would have been an adventure version, based on the same platform as the 1190RX and 1190SX. A later article stated that the AX would not be based on the 1190, but would be a completely new motorcycle. In an interview with the editor of Cycle World magazine shortly after EBR entered receivership in April 2015, Erik Buell stated: "We've been working on

2916-589: The 1125R model, then subsequently offered an updated 1190RS model for the street or the track, and produced further improved 1190RX and 1190SX models which are intended for street or track use. In February 2021, Buell Motorcycles announced they are back in production under the new ownership of Erik Buell Racing (EBR). Buell announced they will use the superbike platforms developed from 2011 to 2020 to build out their model line up to approximately ten models in 2024. The models will include variations for touring, dirt, adventure, and cruisers. The first Buell motorcycle,

3024-604: The Buell 1125R production model, under license from Harley-Davidson, to support privateer racers . On July 1, 2013, Hero MotoCorp , a motorcycle manufacturer based in India, acquired 49.2% stake in the company for $ 25 million. The two companies announced that EBR will distribute Hero motorcycles and scooters in North America starting in the summer of 2014. On April 15, 2015, Erik Buell Racing filed for receivership , with

3132-579: The Can-Am brand of off-road competition motorcycles designed for motocross and enduro with Rotax engines displacing 125, 175, 248, 366, 500 and 800 cc. The bikes competed successfully in professional racing with Gary Jones winning the 1974 US 250cc AMA motocross national championship . In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles of Lancashire, England . 1987

3240-643: The Government of Quebec passed a law requiring all roads to be cleared of snow; Bombardier's sales fell by nearly half in one year. Armand Bombardier therefore decided to diversify his business, first by producing tracked snowplows sized for use on municipal sidewalks, replacing horse-drawn vehicles , then by making all-terrain vehicles for the mining , petroleum, and forestry industries. The machines had removable front skis that could be replaced with front wheels for use on paved or hard surfaces, thus providing greater utility to his large snowmobiles. In 1951,

3348-908: The RW750 , was built in 1983 purely for competition in the AMA Formula 1 motorcycle road racing championship. At that time, Erik Buell was a top contending privateer motorcycle racer. After completion of the first two RW750 racing machines, one of which was sold to another racing team, the Formula 1 series was canceled. Erik Buell then turned his focus towards racing-inspired, street-going machines using engines manufactured by Harley. In 1987 Rockville Harley-Davidson in Rockville, MD (now District Harley-Davidson / District Cycles, formerly Battley Harley-Davidson / Battley Cycles in Gaithersburg, MD) became

Buell Motorcycle Company - Misplaced Pages Continue

3456-496: The Sportster , to power its motorcycles. Most Buell motorcycles use four-stroke air-cooled V-twin engines , originally built for XR1000 Sportster . After these were depleted, a basic 1200 Sportster engine was used. In 1995, the engines were upgraded with Buell engineered high-performance parts and further upgraded in 1998. The liquid-cooled Harley V-Rod motor, developed by Harley-Davidson then made street legal according to

3564-562: The Suzuki GSX-R1000 , and that the inertia of having the weight further out on the rim, and the heat generation near the tire, were not negative factors, based on testing. Askenazi concluded that testing and race track experience had proven the ZTL to be "state of the art." Other industry innovations introduced by Buell in the XB lineup were the "fuel in frame" technology, and the dual use of

3672-607: The "Trilogy of Tech": mass centralization, low unsprung weight, and frame rigidity. Buell engines were designed to be street-friendly both in fuel efficiency (up to 70 mpg ‑US or 3.4 L/100 km or 84 mpg ‑imp with the Blast), and in torque (the 1,203 cc version produces 110 N⋅m or 81 lbf⋅ft). They are also simple and easy to maintain. Most Buell two-cylinder engines utilize computer controlled ducted forced air cooling (variable speed fan that only activates as required), two valves per cylinder,

3780-422: The 1125R was "a bit of an oddity." The bike was initially released with a crude spark map, leading to criticism of the bike at low speeds. The Rotax Helicon also ended up costing significantly more by production time due to fluctuation in exchange rates . For the 2009 model year, Buell introduced the 1125CR, a version of the 1125R in the cafe racer style. This was done in response to customer feedback, which said

3888-415: The 1125R wasn't what was wanted, and causing Buell to shelve plans for a Streetfighter , going for a cafe racer instead. The 1125CR has a longer swingarm, a longer wheelbase and a shorter secondary drive ratio. Buell also produced a limited series of 50 XBRR (1,339 cc or 81.7 cu in, 150 hp or 110 kW) racing-only machines for factory-backed and privateer racing teams. The XBRR frame

3996-448: The 1190RS. EBR riders achieved several podium finishes. Riders have included Geoff May, Danny Eslick, Cory West, Larry Pegram , Mike Baldwin, Travis Peartree and Aaron Yates. EBR entered the 2014 Superbike World Championship season fielding two 1190RX for Geoff May and Aaron Yates. The American company signed a partnership with Italian team QB Racing, managed by Giulio Bardi and Claudio Quintarelli, who provided logistical support and

4104-730: The 300 units Buell had projected. The S1 Lightning was a more fundamental sportbike than the S3 Thunderbolt and M2 Cyclone that it was marketed alongside and the production on this model was stopped at 5000 after only 3 years. Variants of this version of the Lightning were the S1 Lightning (1996/1997/1998) and the S1W White Lightning (1998). The S1W came with a larger tank and Thunderstorm cylinder heads which gave an extra 10 hp (7.5 kW). The X1 Lightning

4212-602: The Aktiv Snow Trac ST4 from Sweden, Thiokol , and Tucker Sno-Cat from the USA. The Snow Trac was produced, virtually unchanged, until 1981, but it was successful, with over 2,000 units sold, and it was used all over the globe for exploration and commercial purposes, as well as the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. Tucker Sno-Cat grew to become one of the world's largest builders of these vehicles, and produces

4320-463: The Bombardier 3.8, with hull length of 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m); the Bombardier 4.8 and the Bombardier 7.6 keelboat. In the 1970s and 1980s, the company diversified into railway and aeronautical products and became a multinational corporation known as Bombardier Inc. During restructuring operations in 2003, the original snowmobile and tracked utility vehicle division was spun off as

4428-598: The Bombardier B12/C18 variants were produced, Bombardier had competitors in both the North American and world markets. Most of the Bombardier production stayed in North American. The front ski design was incapable of being used in deep snow and rough ground conditions, which opened the door for the development of dual-track and quad-track snowcats . Unfortunately, the front ski design was not easily adapted to change for other ground conditions, so while it

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4536-659: The Bombardier-Beaudoin family and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec . Bombardier Inc., was founded in 1942 as L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée (Bombardier Snowmobile Limited) by Joseph-Armand Bombardier at Valcourt in the Eastern Townships , Quebec . As of October 6, 2009 , BRP had about 5,500 employees; its revenues in 2007 were above US$ 2.5 billion. BRP has manufacturing facilities in Canada,

4644-526: The Buell Riders Adventure Group (BRAG) which hosted events around the country. Buell discontinued BRAG in 2006, stating the changes would improve, "the privileges and ownership experience for all Buell owners more than ever before." In 1998, Harley-Davidson bought a majority stake and took control of Buell Motorcycle Company, and the company became a subsidiary. Since then, Buell has used modified Harley-Davidson engines, primarily from

4752-758: The DS-70 and the DS-90 feature four-stroke Rotax engines. The maverick side by side was introduced to stand up to the Commander's rival the Polaris RZR XP 900. The Maverick has an updated version of the commander's 1000cc V-Twin Rotax engine (1000R) this engine had a massive 101 horsepower. This was achieved by using high flow dynamics to increase exhaust and air flow. The Maverick comes in six packages (at February 2014) Base, XRS, XRS DPS, XMR, X ds, and X ds Turbo. In

4860-511: The EBR 1190RX. Like the previous 1190RS, the 1190RX is a sport motorcycle with 1,190 cc (72.6 cu in) 72° V-twin engine , but delivering 185 hp (138 kW) and 101.6 lb-ft (peak) of torque. On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, Erik Buell Racing officially unveiled their next production motorcycle, the EBR 1190SX. The 1190SX is

4968-451: The EPA by Porsche, was originally an Erik Buell project, designed for a fully faired AMA Superbike Buell by 1998. Harley decided the engine should also be used in a sport-cruiser, then took over development, making it "too big, too heavy, too expensive and too late" for Buell. Harley-Davidson forced Buell to follow the rigid product planning and distribution process beginning in the 1990s, with

5076-555: The Harley Sportster powertrain and was designed for both projects. Unfortunately, it was designed by Harley with minimum input from Buell. A turbocharger was to be sourced from Aerocharger to help pump the XB horsepower to 150 hp (110 kW), but the Aerocharger supplier deal fell through when Harley-Davidson decided to engineer one in house. That project was a failure, despite "millions of dollars" spent. Before

5184-427: The Harley-Davidson brand. Selling Buell was not legitimately considered, as Harley didn't want their Harley dealerships to sell an outside brand, and Harley didn't feel Buell had much value without the dealer network. In a news release on the Buell website the same day, company officials thanked customers, employees, and dealers for "an unforgettable ride". Closing the Buell brand was estimated to cost Harley approximately

5292-510: The Outlander and the Renegade series. The DS has four engine choices, a 450cc, 250cc, 90cc and 70cc. A 650cc engine was once available but has since been discontinued. An "X" trim level is available for the DS-450 and the DS-90. The Commander is a SSV or Side by side introduced for 2010 with either 800cc or 1000cc engines. Commander has several trim levels, including XT, X and LTD (Limited) at

5400-566: The RR 1000 Battletwin include the RR 1200 Battletwin (1988–1990), the RS 1200 Westwind (1989), the RS 1200/5 Westwind (1990–1992) and the RSS 1200 Westwind (1991). Two-seater with Road Warrior-based chassis and Sportster engine. The S2T Thunderbolt (1995–1996) was a touring version, with saddlebags. The S2 was very expensive to develop (around $ 100,000), and 1,399 units were sold in the first year—well over

5508-525: The S1 Lightning and lighter and faster than the S3 Thunderbolt. The M2 was only available with the 1,203 cc engine and five-speed transmission. The frame was tubular CrMo steel. The Blast was Buell's only model to use a single-cylinder engine . With 492 cc (30.0 cu in) displacement and 360 lb (160 kg) dry weight, it was their smallest model, often used in Harley-Davidson's "Rider's Edge" new rider instruction/riding schools . This filled Harley CEO Jeff Bleustein's idea of having

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5616-573: The Ski-Doo Summit. Ski-Doo snowmobiles have been competitive for performance and in the marketplace, taking national titles in racing events from Sno-X to hill-climbing. In 1999 Ski-Doo introduced the ZX aluminum chassis which was lighter weight with better suspension and thus successful in sno-cross competition. In 2003 Ski-Doo introduced rider-forward REV chassis, which changed the sport and was followed by other manufacturers. In 2008 Ski-Doo introduced

5724-524: The Ski-Doo line to prevent it from crowding out other company products, while still dominating the snowmobile industry against competitors Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat . In 1963, Roski was created in Roxton Falls, Quebec as a manufacturer of composite parts for the Ski-Doo. In the 1960s, V-8 engines were added. On February 18, 1964, J. Armand Bombardier died of cancer at age 56. Until then, he oversaw all areas of operation and controlled

5832-453: The United States (Wisconsin, Illinois, North Carolina, Arkansas, Michigan and Minnesota), Mexico, Finland, and Austria. The company's products are sold in more than 100 countries, some of which have their own direct-sales network. BRP's products include the Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am motorcycles , Sea-Doo personal watercraft, and Rotax engines. The Ski-Doo

5940-593: The X ds lineup Can Am brought the first factory installed turbocharged engine to the industry. The turbo boosts the horsepower of the Maverick from 101 horsepower to 121 horsepower. In 2007, BRP announced the launch of a new three-wheeled roadster called the Spyder , which was released in Q4 2007 under the Can-Am brand. This is the first vehicle from BRP to go on the road. It was described as part motorcycle and part roadster ;

6048-505: The XB12X, which have added mass to make them stronger for off paved road use. The XB12XP is a police model that was available for the 2009 model year. (different frame with more fuel capacity, longer swing arm & wheelbase, 23.8°/23.5° steering axis angle, more trail) In July 2007, Buell announced the 1125R, a sport bike that departed from Buell's history of using Harley-Davidson Sportster based middle weight powertrains and tapping into

6156-533: The XBRR racing bike learnings. The Rotax Helicon powertrain uses four valves per cylinder, dual over-head cam, liquid-cooled 72 degree V-Twin displacing 1,125 cc and producing 146 hp (109 kW). It produces 83 ft⋅lbf (113 N⋅m) of peak torque but varies less than 6 ft⋅lbf (8.1 N⋅m) of torque from 3,000 to 10,500 rpm. There is a vacuum assist slipper clutch to give predictable drive performance in hard cornering and deceleration and

6264-455: The XP chassis, which moved the rider further forward with major weight reduction. The XP was the lightest machine available, with power-to-weight ratios in the Summit models for the first time under 3 lb per HP. For the 2017 snow year, Ski-Doo will release its most powerful engine. The Rotax 850 cc "Etec" engine. The engine produces 10 more horsepower (170 hp) than its predecessor, it

6372-407: The ZTL system's advantage in unsprung weight. But he pointed out the remaining weight is located further out on the rim where it is most detrimental to acceleration and braking, and that there were potential heat transfer issues, and the need for one fork leg to be stronger than the other. Responding, Askenazi disputed all of Parker's criticisms, saying the ZTL system was 30% lighter than the brakes on

6480-585: The addition of heated grips and increased turning fork swing from 54° to 74°. The Ulysses XB12XT differs from the Ulysses XB12X in several areas. It has a different front fender, unlike the Enduro - front fender that comes on the XB12X and lower fork protection is not as pronounced as on the XB12X, due to the intended purpose of the XB12XT which is more street than dirt oriented. Other major differences include

6588-450: The bike color and were available in either "wide" for maximum storage, or "narrow" for a lighter feel. In addition to the lower fairings and the saddlebags, the S3T also came with a taller handlebar for a more upright, relaxed riding position. Each of the parts that set the S3T apart were available as accessories for the standard S3 model. The M2 Cyclone was produced from 1997 to 2003. It was in

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6696-469: The bike has been a part of several race and championship placings. In June 2011, Erik Buell Racing officially announced their first street model, the EBR 1190RS , a sport motorcycle with a 1,190 cc (72.6 cu in) 72° V-twin engine delivering 175 hp (130 kW). Released as a 2012 model, only 100 are to be made. On 16 October 2013, Erik Buell Racing officially unveiled their first production motorcycle,

6804-500: The business as soon as possible, including a manufacturing base in East Troy where Buell previously employed 130 people producing high-end motorcycles. The deal failed as Belfer was unable to secure financing for the $ 2.25 million purchase price, and the official receiver filed to re-sell the assets in a new round of bidding, so the remnants of Erik Buell Racing returned to auction on December 10, 2015. The auction had no bidders, and

6912-469: The company announced that it would exit the sport boat business citing a decline in global sales in the marine industry . This meant the loss of 350 jobs, including most of those at a plant in Benton, Illinois . On May 29, 2013, the company announced the closing of an initial public offering of 12,200,000 subordinate voting shares of the company at a price of $ 21.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds to

7020-519: The company began producing Can-Am motorcycles , which included Rotax engines. By 1990, the first product of the company, the Ski-Doo snowmobile, had become its weakest part, producing deficits and high inventories.   In 2001 Bombardier purchased the Evinrude Outboard Motors and Johnson Outboards trade names for the insolvent Outboard Marine Corporation . In 2003, the company sold Bombardier Recreational Products to

7128-489: The company intact and motorcycle production resumed on March 1, 2016, the first new model rolling out on March 17, 2016. Erik Buell founded Erik Buell Racing in November 2009 following the shutdown of his previous company, Buell Motorcycle Company , by parent company/majority stakeholder Harley-Davidson . Erik Buell Racing's first efforts were directed toward production of complete, race-only motorcycles and parts based on

7236-427: The early 1950s, Armand set aside his dream to focus on developing his company's other tracked vehicles. But by the end of the decade, smaller, more efficient engines had been developed and were starting to come on the market. Armand resumed his efforts to build a "miniature" snowmobile. He worked alongside his eldest son Germain, who shared his father's mechanical talents. Armand and Germain developed several prototypes of

7344-449: The early 1970s, Bombardier built the most successful snowcat models ever produced by any snowcat manufacturer. The B12 seated 12 people, and the C18 seated 18. Both were similar in design with long tracks in the rear and skis used to steer the vehicle. The B12 and C18 were very fast for their day, with speeds over the snow exceeding 30 miles per hour. Most historic and most modern snowcats have

7452-481: The first snowmobile using a drive system he developed that revolutionized travel in snow and swampy conditions. In 1937, he patented and sold 12 of the 7-passenger "B7" snow coaches . They were used in rural Quebec to take children to school, carry freight, deliver mail, and as ambulances. In 1941, Bombardier opened a factory in Valcourt. In 1942, L'Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée ("Bombardier Snow Car Limited")

7560-417: The first XB was sold, the cost was well over the target, leading to a sales price increase from the original price of $ 7,995 to $ 9,995. It was a popular bike, but never sold at Harley marketing department's expected volume, partly due to the significantly higher price. Buell introduced the XB frame in the 2002 Firebolt XB9R sportbike . The Firebolt XB12R was introduced in 2004 and was initially sold alongside

7668-409: The first new motorcycle, a limited edition "Stars and Stripes" themed 1190RX rolled off the assembly line on March 17, 2016. EBR's website indicates that the company is establishing a new dealer network to sell the newly produced motorcycles. The first focus of Erik Buell Racing, the 1190RR was an upgraded and restyled version of the Buell 1125R . Used for professional racing in several race classes,

7776-522: 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 . In an exchange in the pages of Motorcyclist magazine between Suzuki engineer James Parker, creator of the GSX-RADD hub-center steering system, and Buell's Director of Analysis, Test & Engineering Process, Abraham Askenazi, Parker conceded

7884-481: The industrial vehicles division to the Camoplast of Sherbrooke , Quebec. The industrial vehicles division made tracked vehicles such as snowcats , sidewalk snow removal tractors, and Tracked Utility Vehicles, including the descendant of their original Muskeg tractor. In October 2007, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. ordered at least some U.S. ATV dealerships to stop selling vehicles to Canadian customers, as

7992-634: The latter is how the company refers to it. The Guinness World Record for the “Largest Parade of Can-Am Spyder Roadsters” was established in 2010 when 438 Can-Am Spyders paraded around Magog, Quebec . In 2018, the Can-Am Ryker was launched as a simpler, more easygoing counterpart to the Spyder. Beginning in the 1970s, Bombardier also built several sailboat models, including the Invitation sailboat, with hull length of 15 ft 7 in (4.7 m);

8100-414: The lightweight snowmobile and finally, the first Bombardier snowmobile went on sale in 1959. The Ski-Doo was intended to be named the "Ski-Dog" because Bombardier meant it to be a practical vehicle to replace the dogsled for hunters and trappers. By accident, a printer misinterpreted the name and printed "Ski-Doo" in the first sales brochure. Public interest in the small snowmobiles grew quickly. Suddenly

8208-512: The main EBR business. Bombardier Recreational Products BRP Inc. (an abbreviation of Bombardier Recreational Products ) is a Canadian manufacturer of snowmobiles , all-terrain vehicles , side by sides , motorcycles , and personal watercraft . It was founded in 2003, when the Recreational Products Division of Bombardier Inc. was spun off and sold to a group of investors consisting of Bain Capital ,

8316-485: The mainstream stuff. I can't talk about what was coming, but I will say some of it is much different than anybody would have expected. Stuff that is 18 months away from full-volume production that people would go "Holy s—t! EBR did that?!" It was all much higher volume and lower price." Erik Buell Racing has competed in the AMA Superbike Championship since 2011, initially using the 1190RR and then

8424-413: The middle of the Buell line up between the puristic S1 Lightning and the more comfortable but heavier S3 Thunderbolt. The S1 Lightning was faster and lighter than the others but had a very narrow seat. The S3 Thunderbolt was a touring bike that had a wider seat and more comfortable riding position, but was also heavier. The M2 Cyclone filled the gap between the sport and touring models with a bigger seat than

8532-484: The model run, there were significant changes made in 1999 that set it, and later models, apart from the 1997 and 1998 bikes. The early bikes used a rectangular section steel rear swingarm, WP Suspension front forks and rear shock, a Keihin 40 mm CV carburetor, and a Performance Machine six-piston front brake caliper. Beginning in 1999 a new cast aluminum rear swingarm was utilized along with Showa front suspension forks and rear shock. The front brake caliper, while still

8640-457: The motorcycle market, with the intention to release ten new models between then and 2024. Buell XB models also incorporated the industry's first 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 lets the suspension function better, improving control and traction, through reducing unsprung weight on

8748-490: The name Muskeg tractor. Each track is composed of two or more rubber belts joined into a loop. The loops are held together with interior wheel guides and exterior cleats, commonly called grousers . The tracks are driven by a large drive sprocket that engages the grousers in sequence and causes the track to rotate. Two belt tracks were common on early model Bombardiers and muskeg machines. For deep-snow use, wider tracks, employing additional belts, are used for added flotation over

8856-558: The parts and tooling from the failed Barton concern and developed the RW 750 for his own use and for sale to private entrants. The engine was a liquid-cooled two-stroke square four. Buell's development resulted in a more competitive racer, but production ceased when the AMA discontinued the Formula One class. The RR 1000 Battletwin was a street sportbike using a modified Road Warrior chassis and

8964-422: The philosophy that Buell was the starter brand, and customers would eventually trade up to a Harley. By 2008, Harley's credit arm, Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS), was struggling, and the lower resale value of Buell motorcycles meant that new bike sales were significantly affected. When Harley CEO Keith Wandell was hired, he immediately questioned why Harley even owned Buell. Wandell, who had never been on

9072-456: The proceeds going to creditors (including Mito Tech and Porsche Design Group ) and to former employees for unpaid wages. Liquid Asset Partners stated an intention to try to find a buyer experienced in motorcycle manufacture to re-establish the business. Liquid Asset Partners has kept the company assets intact and indicates they will continue to do so until a buyer or major investor can be found. Motorcycle production resumed on March 1, 2016 and

9180-400: The product was being used. Germain Bombardier, who had been groomed by his father, took over the company upon his father's death in 1964. He quit and sold his shares in 1966 after a disagreement with other family members. Laurent Beaudoin , the son-in-law of the founder, then became president, a position he held until 1999. In 1967, the company was renamed Bombardier Limited . By that time,

9288-514: The purchase of Outboard Marine Corporation ). Bombardier Recreational Products no longer sells outboards under the Johnson brand since 2007, as they have moved all sales entirely to Evinrude Outboard Motors. They support existing Johnson outboard motors through servicing and parts. They also produce motorcycle motors, kart motors, and small airplane motors, through their Rotax division. In December 2004, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc, sold

9396-414: The research department, making all the drawings himself. The younger generation took over, led by Armand's sons and sons-in-law, reorganizing and decentralizing the company. The company adopted computer inventory, accounting, and billing. Distribution networks were improved and increased, and an incentive program was developed for sales staff. That year, a survey was mailed to Ski-Doo owners to find out how

9504-403: The sales were a violation of dealer agreements to respect assigned geographic boundaries. Bombardier also announced that the warranty on any craft purchased by a Canadian in the United States – even if the purchase was initially made by an American - would be void. Newspaper articles revealed that some models were being sold in Canada for as much as 40% above prices in the U.S. In September 2012,

9612-558: The same as their total investment in Buell over the past 25 years. Erik Buell immediately began looking for outside buyers, finding BRP (who owns the Austrian Rotax engine manufacturer BRP-Powertrain) a good choice, especially since Harley would have to pay Rotax "an eight-figure sum" for the 1,125 cc engine contract. Erik Buell later founded Erik Buell Racing (EBR) to provide support for 1125 and XB privateer race efforts. In April 2015, EBR filed for receivership, despite

9720-495: The smaller displacement Firebolt XB9R. The Lightning came in 2003 and was marketed by Buell as a streetfighter motorcycle. The XB9 engines had a displacement of 984 cc (60.05 cu in), and the later XB12 engines had 1,203 cc (73.4 cu in). The XB12 engine had a longer stroke of 96.82 mm (3.812 in) compared to that of 79.38 mm (3.125 in) on the XB9. The cylinder bore size between both engines

9828-416: The snow. The research for the track base made it possible to produce a small, continuous-rubber track for the light one- or two-person snowmobile the founder of the company had dreamed about during his teen years. This led to the invention of snowmobiles . The company created the snowmobile market, and held its own after international competitors entered the market in the late 1960s. From the 1940s through

9936-729: The snowmobiles were very useful for the Inuit . In 1968, Clayton Jacobson II invented the jet ski and the company licensed his patents to create the Sea-Doo personal watercraft . On January 23, 1969, the company became a public company , listing on the Montreal Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange . In 1969–1970, the standard round windows reminiscent of portholes were replaced with larger rectangular windows that provided more interior light. A change

10044-645: The start, the company made truck-sized half-track vehicles, with skis in the front and caterpillar tracks in the rear, designed for the worst winter conditions of the flatland Canadian countryside. After producing half-tracks in World War II for the Canadian Army , the company experimented with new forms of track systems and developed an all-tracked, heavy duty vehicle designed for logging and mining operations in extreme wilderness conditions, such as heavy snow or semiliquid muskeg . They produced it under

10152-452: The suspension which is completely different between the two bikes, being about an inch lower on the XB12XT and tuned more for street riding, vs. the XB12X's slightly taller and softer suspension better tuned for dirt use. Along with factory Hepco & Becker hard panniers and top box, tall windshield and a 30.9 in (785 mm) seat height, the XB12XT also has wheels that are approximately 1 lb (450 g) lighter than those found on

10260-454: The swingarm as an oil tank. Also, all Buell models have a muffler mounted below the engine which helps keep mass centralized with some models featuring a computer-controlled valve to switch between two exhaust paths as necessary to maximize torque. Buell designs focus on providing good handling, comfortable riding, easy maintenance, and street-friendly real-world performance. Buell motorcycles were engineered with an emphasis on what they called

10368-430: The time the only engine option for the extra packages was the 1000. The XT had upgraded wheels, winch, front bumper and upgraded gauge and steering wheel. The X package had Bumpers, rock sliders , XT gauge and steering wheel, X package seats, and beadlock wheels. Commander Limited includes air ride suspension, an am/fm radio with four speakers, an iPod adapter, XT package and built-in touch screen GPS. All Can Am ATVs except

10476-454: The wooden bodies were replaced with sheet steel, and these vehicles were powered by Chrysler flathead six-cylinder engines and 3-speed manual transmissions. In the early 1950s, Bombardier focused on developing a snowmobile for one or two passengers. A breakthrough occurred in 1957 when Bombardier developed a one-piece molded rubber continuous track with enough durability to provide snow-gripping traction for lightweight vehicles. The vehicle

10584-460: The world's first Buell dealership and the owner, Devin Battley has Buell #1, an RR1000 in his personal collection. In 1993, Harley-Davidson purchased 49% of Buell, investing $ 500,000 and taking Erik Buell's house as security. Erik Buell took the deal, against strong advice from his attorney. Harley-Davidson CEO Jeffrey Bleustein had bought it as a skunkworks development. In 1994, Buell created

10692-548: Was a XB1/XB2 hybrid, the suspension came from Swedish manufacturer Öhlins , and the wheels were made of magnesium. It was the first model using the ZTL2 eight-piston caliper by Nissin. In 2009, Buell announced production of the 1125RR, also a race-only motorcycle. The bike was internally called the B2, aimed for the supersport market. Built from the 1125R, the 1125RR changes include a titanium exhaust, magnesium wheels, full fairings and

10800-461: Was called the "Ski-Dog" because it was meant to replace the dog sled for hunters and trappers. However, in 1958, " Ski-Doo " was accidentally painted on the first prototype, and immediately became the popular name. The public soon discovered the fun of speedy vehicles zooming over snow, and a new winter sport was born, centered in Quebec. In the first year, Bombardier sold 225 Ski-Doos; four years later, 8,210 were sold. Bombardier slowed promotion of

10908-576: Was founded in Valcourt . During World War II , the Government of Canada issued wartime rationing regulations. Bombardier customers had to prove that snowmobiles were essential to their livelihood in order to buy one. The company then shifted its focus to the arms industry . In 1947, during a blizzard in Saskatchewan , the company received positive press coverage when army snowmobiles resupplied isolated radio communication towers. In 1948,

11016-513: Was identical at 88.9 mm (3.50 in). The Buell Ulysses XB12X debuted in July 2005. It had seating, ergonomics, and long-travel suspension that are suited for use on unpaved and rough roads. Buell advertised the Ulysses as "the world's first adventure sportbike." For 2008, among other changes, XBRR oil pump and ignition timing systems have been changed tapping into the XBRR race bike as well as

11124-532: Was made to the Chrysler Industrial 318 engines with the automatic Loadflite transmissions. In 1970, the company acquired Rotax , an engine manufacturer based in Gunskirchen , Austria . In 1971, Bombardier acquired Moto-Ski . Also in 1971, Bombardier launched Operation SnoPlan, a program to promote snowmobile safety after a mounting death toll due to snowmobile accidents. In the 1970s,

11232-462: Was ranked 17th place on CBC Television 's The Greatest Canadian Invention in 2007. In January 1934, a blizzard prevented Joseph-Armand Bombardier from reaching the nearest hospital in time to save his two-year-old son, Yvon, who died from appendicitis complicated by peritonitis . Bombardier was a mechanic who dreamed of building a vehicle that could "float on snow". In 1935, in a repair shop in Valcourt , Quebec , he designed and produced

11340-565: Was successful on flat lands, frozen lakes, and snow-covered roads, it could not compete on rough, off-road conditions. The combination of the lack of design flexibility, incompatibility with off-road conditions, and the advent of modern snowplowing practices of public roadways beginning in the 1950s, and becoming common in remote areas by the 1960s, probably led to the demise of the B12/C18 design. Today, B12s are still in used in large-scale ice fishing in northern Canada. Notable competitors included

11448-622: Was the last model year for Can-Am. In 2007 Bombardier renamed their all-terrain vehicle line of products Can-Am. Can-am Off-Road has seven models of ATVs, the Outlander, the Renegade, the Commander, The Maverick, the DS, the Traxter, the Quest, and the Rally. The Traxter and Quest (no longer in production) had two engine sizes 500cc and 650cc. The Rally (also no longer in production) was available with

11556-485: Was the successor to the S1 Lightning line. They all used the Thunderstorm heads, fuel injection (Dynamic Digital Fuel Injection) and incorporated larger fuel tanks as well as completely different body designs. The most recognizable frame piece was the brushed aluminum tail section that swept upward and back underneath the two-up seat. The S3 Thunderbolt sport-touring model was produced from 1997 until 2003, along with

11664-483: Was ultimately the most expensive development project Buell undertook. Because the engine was overpriced, it ended up making money for Harley while losing money for Buell. It was regarded as a technical success. In July 2009, Buell ran an ad campaign stating that the Blast would no longer appear in their line-up. The ad showed a Buell Blast being destroyed in an automobile crusher. The XB powertrain still had its roots with

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