By Joe Gresh
As my age keeps creeping up and I slowly fall apart like Jeff Goldblum in the movie, The Fly, there is an urgency, a panic lying just below my normally placid exterior. Time is running short for all of us and if you have unfulfilled dreams, it’s best to get a move on.
Owning a tube frame Buell has been on my wish list since the S2 model came out in the mid 90’s. The combination of modern sport bike and 1957 lawnmower engine had a strange appeal to me and let’s face it: everyone should own a Sportster.
The dawn of 2026 found me frantically searching the internet for a 2000+ Buell Cyclone and I found a few. Several were pretty beat up all were reasonably priced but far away.
I happened upon Iconic Motorbike Auctions and they had a pile of Buells from a private collection. The crown jewel was a Cyclone with only 6 total miles. It was a brand new, 25-year-old motorcycle. I bid on the bike and it made reserve at $4,000. What a deal! $4K was out of my self-imposed Buell budget so I stopped bidding. Someone got a hell of a deal.
Next up at Iconic was a clean, Buell Ulysses complete with Buell saddle bags. It was a gas-in-frame model. I prefer a tube-framed Buell but bid on the Ulysses anyway. It sold for $3,250! I didn’t bid anymore on it because it just wasn’t the bike I wanted. Although if I got it for $2K I would have learned to love it. After that, Iconic had an S3 with saddlebags that went for over $5,000. Now I was starting to freak out. I had Buell Fever bad-like. What if I was witnessing a Buell market correction in real time?
Iconic has a buy-it-now section for motorcycles that don’t make their auction reserve. I plundered around in buy-it-now and found a beautiful 1995 Thunderbolt with only 13,000 miles for $3,000. It has a few minor issues to sort out like any 30-year-old motorcycle but what really got to me was the Harley VR1000-tribute paint scheme . It looked cool as hell. I loved the paint job. I pushed the button.
It’s not an actual Cyclone, but it mostly is a Cyclone. The main cosmetic difference is the front forks and faring. Also the 1995 Thunderbolt used a bone-stock Sportster engine that Cycle World dynoed at 65-ish horsepower. Later Buell’s were pumped up a lot with Buell-specific heads and other parts churning out 100 horsepower.
While I wouldn’t mind another 35 horsepower, the truth is I just putt around on bikes. My go-fast days are behind me much like the strange growth I had cut out of my back a few months ago (see The Fly with Jeff Goldblum).
One advantage to the Sportster engine is that parts availability should be excellent for the remainder of my life and beyond. If I truly need more oomph there are tons of Sportster hop-up parts and 60 years of institutional knowledge on the Internet. 75 horsepower is a pipe and cams away.
But I probably won’t do anything to the Thunderbolt except ride it and look at it. I’ll be fixing the minor issues right here on ExhaustNotes so you’ll be able to follow along with this Buellishness.
Got to go. Driving out to Panorama City in California to pick up my dream bike from Iconic motorbikes.
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Well good luck . At least you got a trellis Buell and one of the better looking models. Kind of a shame it isn’t the more powerful later one but that’s fine.
I don’t care for Eric Buell himself.
And I am just not a fan of his bikes. I know several people that have had buells over the years. The bikes don’t turn out to be keepers . All though one guy is a buellie. Has a couple.
If it’s me I would love the 100hp Buell motor to put in a chopped sportster. Even the wheels and front end. Otherwise no thanks.
The one you show with 25 miles was a gift at the price it went on. I bet in 4 or 5 years it doubles in resale price.
Used bike prices are in a down turn . Which is killing me. But low mikes special interest bike will appreciate much in time. The rest of us just keep losing money . I am getting killed on my “66 BMW R60
My Brit bike projects are now worth less than what i got into just their motors. Oh well. Maybe the shovelhead will save me . I doubt it but it will cost me to find out . lol.
BB,
The extra 35 HP would come in handy but the 60MPG of the stocker is nice too. I rarely go fast anymore so I should be ok with the 65.
Also used bikes from the 80’s 90’s are cheap as hell now. Big twin Harleys that look new go for $5K!
Buells seem like they have poor resale value but that’s good for me as I plan on riding the thing.
The cool thing about the paint is it gives you plausible denial when you “forget” to pay for your lunch tab . . .
Fun on the cheap is the best kind. Looking back across my herd over the years, my favorite was probably the R1100GS. Big ass thing but felt remarkable once you got over 5mph. Best handling? Bimota DB3 Mantra, flickable doesn’t begin to describe. Best time for dollar spent? Either the Hodaka 100 or the pressed frame Suzuki 80 I grew up on.
Hard to beat a Hodaka for fun-ness.
Fantastic post. Buells rock.