The Rebel Yell: The Buell Super Cruiser Is Here, and It’s Redefining American Muscle

The American V-twin landscape has long been a kingdom ruled by tradition. For decades, the narrative has been one of heritage, classic styling, and a low-revving, soulful rumble. But what if a rebel, a true iconoclast from America’s high-performance past, returned to shatter that tradition? What if you could take the heart of a snarling superbike and transplant it into the chassis of a West Coast-style cruiser?

That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s October 2025, and after what felt like an eternity of anticipation since its jaw-dropping concept reveal, the Buell Super Cruiser is now a production reality. Deliveries have begun, and the rumble of its high-revving V-twin is starting to echo through the canyons and city streets of America.

Born from a legendary collaboration with Roland Sands Design (RSD), the Super Cruiser isn’t just a new model for the resurrected Buell Motorcycles. It’s a seismic shift, a 175-horsepower middle finger to convention, and quite possibly the most exciting American motorcycle to be released in a generation.

A Dream Collaboration: Buell’s Brawn Meets Roland Sands’ Vision

To understand the Super Cruiser, you must first understand its genesis. This bike is the product of two powerful forces in American motorcycling. On one side, you have the new Buell Motorcycles, inheritors of Erik Buell’s legacy of innovation and raw, unapologetic performance, centered around their monstrous 1,190cc ET-V2 engine. On the other, you have Roland Sands, a champion roadracer-turned-visionary designer whose work has consistently blurred the lines between performance, custom culture, and art.

When Buell CEO Bill Melvin approached Roland Sands, the brief was simple yet audacious: create a cruiser that was worthy of the Buell name. This meant it couldn’t just look the part; it had to handle. It had to perform. It had to be a genuine Buell.

The RSD team didn’t just style a motorcycle; they engineered its soul. They took inspiration from the iconic Harley-Davidson FXR, a bike revered for its chassis and handling, and blended it with modern performance components and a West Coast aesthetic. They wrapped this vision around Buell’s fire-breathing superbike engine, and the result is a machine that is both brutal and beautiful.

The Heart of the Beast: A Superbike Engine in Cruiser Clothing

The centerpiece of the Super Cruiser is its engine. This is not a re-tuned, softened-up motor designed for lazy cruising. This is the full-fat, liquid-cooled, 72-degree Buell ET-V2 1,190cc V-twin, the very same powerplant found in their Hammerhead 1190 superbike.

Let the numbers sink in:

• Horsepower: 175 hp
• Torque: 137 Nm (101 lb-ft)

In a market where 100-120 hp is considered a “high-performance” cruiser, Buell has arrived with a 175 hp sledgehammer. This engine completely rewrites the cruiser rulebook. It craves revs, delivering a screaming top-end rush that is utterly alien to traditional American V-twins. Yet, it still produces a massive wall of torque in the mid-range, providing ferocious acceleration from any gear.

This is the engine that finally gives an American cruiser the firepower to not just compete with, but potentially dominate, international rivals like the Ducati Diavel V4. The sound is a mechanical symphony of raw power—deeper and more guttural than an Italian V4, yet sharper and more urgent than any Harley-Davidson or Indian.

A Chassis Built to Carve: The RSD Influence

An engine this potent would be wasted in a traditional, flexible cruiser frame. This is where the Roland Sands Design influence is most critical. The Super Cruiser is built on a high-strength steel tube frame that prioritizes rigidity and handling.

• Chassis: While inspired by the FXR, the frame is a modern piece of engineering designed to handle the engine’s immense power and provide a responsive ride. It’s a departure from Buell’s traditional fuel-in-frame designs, a necessary concession to achieve the classic cruiser silhouette, but the focus on performance remains.
• Suspension: The bike is equipped with a fully adjustable front fork and a fully adjustable rear monoshock. This is not your typical cruiser setup. This is sportbike-level componentry designed to provide a firm, controlled ride and allow the rider to dial in the handling for their weight and riding style.
• Swingarm: A beautiful, trellis-style swingarm adds to the bike’s aggressive look while providing the necessary strength to transfer 175 hp to the rear wheel.
• Brakes: True to Buell’s heritage, the Super Cruiser features a massive single-disc perimeter front brake. This signature design reduces unsprung weight and provides immense stopping power, a necessity for a bike this fast.

The riding position is a perfect blend of cruiser cool and sportbike aggression. You’re sat low in the bike, but the mid-mount controls and tracker-style handlebars put you in a commanding, slightly forward-leaning position, ready to attack the road. It’s comfortable enough for a long day in the saddle but aggressive enough to communicate every nuance of the road.

The Market Showdown: A New King in the Ring?

The Buell Super Cruiser doesn’t just enter the market; it crashes the party with a vengeance. It has its sights set on the top of the performance cruiser category, and it has the credentials to challenge them all.

• vs. Harley-Davidson (FXDR, Fat Bob): The Super Cruiser is a direct challenge to Harley’s performance-oriented Softails. While the Fat Bob and now-discontinued FXDR offer aggressive styling and strong Milwaukee-Eight engines, the Buell operates on an entirely different planet in terms of sheer horsepower and handling technology. It offers nearly double the horsepower and a far more sophisticated, sport-focused chassis.
• vs. Indian Motorcycle (FTR 1200, Chief): The Indian FTR is perhaps the closest American competitor in spirit, with its flat-track-inspired design and focus on fun. However, the Super Cruiser boasts over 50 more horsepower and a more aggressive, power-cruiser stance. Against the more traditional Chief, the Buell is a purebred racehorse to a prized show horse.
• vs. Ducati Diavel V4: This is the international benchmark for the power cruiser segment. The Diavel is a technological marvel, with a sublime V4 engine and a sophisticated electronics suite. The Buell Super Cruiser positions itself as the raw, unapologetic, American-made alternative. It may not have the Diavel’s level of electronic refinement (lacking features like lean-angle sensitive traction control in its initial release), but it counters with more raw torque, a visceral V-twin character, and a bare-knuckle riding experience that is uniquely its own.

Who is the Buell Super Cruiser For?

This motorcycle is not for the faint of heart. It is a highly specialized machine designed for a specific type of rider.

1. The Buell Loyalist: For the die-hard fans who have waited patiently for the brand’s return, this is a dream come true—a modern, powerful, and beautifully designed machine that carries the torch of Erik Buell’s original vision.
2. The Power Cruiser Enthusiast: This is the rider who has experienced bikes like the Diavel or V-Max and craves the ultimate in straight-line acceleration and muscular styling, but wants it with an American soul.
3. The American V-Twin Rider Craving More: This is for the Harley or Indian owner who loves the V-twin lifestyle but is tired of being left behind by sportbikes in the canyons. The Super Cruiser offers a familiar engine configuration but with a level of performance they’ve only ever dreamed of.

The Final Verdict: An Unapologetic Masterpiece

The 2026 Buell Super Cruiser is a triumph. It is a bold, uncompromising, and brilliantly executed motorcycle that successfully merges the worlds of superbike performance and cruiser style. It is a testament to the vision of Roland Sands and the engineering prowess of the new Buell Motorcycles.

It’s not just a new chapter for Buell; it’s a new chapter for the American performance V-twin. It proves that American iron doesn’t have to be shackled by tradition. It can be innovative, thrilling, and world-class. The rebel yell is back, and it’s never sounded so good.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the Buell Super Cruiser in production? Yes. As of late 2025, the Buell Super Cruiser has officially entered production. Initial deliveries to customers who placed pre-orders have begun, with wider dealership availability expected throughout 2026.

2. How much does the Buell Super Cruiser cost? The Buell Super Cruiser is positioned as a premium performance motorcycle. The starting MSRP is approximately $21,995 USD, though this can increase with optional finishes and accessories.

3. What engine is in the Buell Super Cruiser? The Super Cruiser uses the Buell ET-V2, a liquid-cooled, 72-degree, 1,190cc V-twin engine that produces 175 horsepower and 101 lb-ft of torque. It is the same engine used in the Buell Hammerhead 1190 superbike.

4. Does the Super Cruiser have modern electronics like traction control? The initial production models of the Buell Super Cruiser are focused on a raw, analog riding experience. While it features a modern ECU and ABS, it does not come standard with advanced rider aids like multi-level traction control or ride modes. Buell has indicated that a more tech-focused “ST” version may be considered for future release.

5. How does it compare to a Harley-Davidson FXR? The Super Cruiser’s design was heavily inspired by the H-D FXR’s reputation for great handling. However, it is a completely modern motorcycle. It uses a different, more powerful engine, a modern frame, and superior suspension and braking components. It pays homage to the FXR’s spirit but is a far higher-performance machine in every measurable way.