Tag Archives: Buell

Motorcycling at turning point: Erik Buell

Innovative motorcycle engineer Erik Buell has turned his back on fossil fuels and says motorcycling is at a turning point.

Last year Erik launched the Fuell Flow electric motorcycle and Fluid e-bike that he claims is virtually future proof with a replaceable and updatable battery, motor and charger.

It also has a connected dashboard that automatically downloads software updates.

Fuell Flow and Fluid electric motorcycleFluid and Flow

Now, Erik has released the first in a two-part assessment of the current state of motorcycling and the electric future in a post-pandemic world.

Erik says our streets are getting more crowded, yet people want more space and the obvious solution is single-track vehicles … in other words, motorcycles.

Here is his assessment of our riding future.

Erik gets “close and personal”:

Let’s get personal here. I’m talking close and personal.

That is the closeness of city streets and personal freedom to travel. Because cities are getting bigger, and more packed. Yet people want freedom to move. We don’t want to be trapped and limited. We want to go where we want, when we want to.

When I look to the future, there is one compelling solution for urban/suburban transportation. Well, two actually, two wheels… two wheels in a single track with green power. Whether it’s a human pedaled bicycle, a pedal assisted electric bicycle or an electric moto, two wheels are the clear solutions for urban mobility.

On a single track two-wheeler, you basically take up the same space as you do walking. Driving a car or riding in an Uber is like walking down the street with your arms stretched wide out, taking the street for yourself.

Mass transport works to some extent, but it’s just not a pleasant experience, and it only gets you vaguely near the place you want to be. It’s also a very expensive endeavor that burdens city budgets. Sometimes these huge expensive vehicles are full and sometimes near empty. In either case they keep running from point A to B at Y o’clock despite the fact that you need to get from C to D at Z o’clock.

In Europe where streets are smaller, the support and infrastructure for two wheelers is exploding. In the US it is starting as well. In Asia, two-wheelers have always been the solution, and now the growth is in making them greener, less polluting, less noisy. Replacing the 60 million new gasoline powered two-wheelers sold annually with electric creates a huge impact on quality of life.

Motorcycling at turning point: Erik BuellFuell Flow

What is happening now?
These past months have definitely reinforced the importance of personal space and safety. Worldwide, the movement to change our habits is accelerating. Urban transportation should be a comfortable personal tool empowering us to better live our multitasking lives.

Personal urban transportation needs to incorporate communication and safety devices, so that the experience creates a connection between rider, vehicle, and the environment (city, suburbia, open outdoors).

A really well designed two-wheeler becomes one with the rider, with speed and range far beyond the rider’s ability. Those great two-wheelers make you feel like you have super-powers!

We have to blend this feeling with the needs of today and tomorrow. So quite frankly, innovation is critical – you cannot build a new future hanging onto the old ways. New urban electric vehicles must not only feel approachable but also integrate with the digital environment and technology that is part of our society.

The goal is not autonomous two wheelers. We know riders do not want to give up control – if they did they’d be on a subway reading a book. What riders do want, in fact, is more control. They want unobtrusive innovative safety devices. They want the next wave of technology integrated into their personal urban mobility vehicles.

And Beyond?
We can imagine many other form factors coming to the market as technology, needs and regulations evolve. One can think about compact electric 3 and 4-wheelers, but must think first of the importance of single track wherever possible to minimize space use.  We cannot take the engineering easy way out, but instead must push, push ourselves to innovate in the two-wheeler format. And this innovation must include a complete integration with smart cities (the famous V2V and V2X protocols to connect all infrastructure and vehicles) and further safety assistance.

Today we are at a turning point. The only question is, which way will we go?

Erik Buell

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Buell’s electric Fuell Flow is ‘future proof’

Innovative engineer Erik Buell is back with the Fuell Flow electric motorcycle that is virtually future proof with a replaceable and updatable battery, motor and charger.

The Fuell Flow was designed in a modular way to make it easy to replace elements if or when they are superseded by rapidly developing technology.

It also has a connected dashboard that automatically downloads software updates.

It’s basically future-proof! 

The Fuell Fluid e-bike and Flow electric motorcycle were announced last month and are now available for sale online rather than through dealers. They plan to do a roadshow so buyers can test-ride the bikes.Fuell Flow and Fluid electric motorcycle

Prices start at $US3295 (about $A4650) for the Fluid e-bike and $US10,995 ($A15,500) for the Flow electric motorcycle.

They say they will also have credit, leasing and battery leasing options.

A Fuell PR spokesperson told us they had already received several inquiries from Australia about the Flow electric motorcycle.

However, the company first plans to focus on certification for US and Europe.

Flow

Flow comes in two power versions. The 11kW is the equivalent of a 125cc while the 35kW model has a 0-100km/h time of just 2.7 seconds, a top speed of 135km/h in “Audacious” mode and urban range of 240km.

Click here for details on calculating electric vehicle range.

The 10KwH battery will charge in 10 hours with the onboard charger. There are also various optional chargers available that will bring charging times down to as little as 30 minutes with a DC “supercharger”.

Instead of a motor where a conventional bike’s engine would be, this has a patent-pending wheel hub electric motor.

FUELL Flow electric motorcycle
Rear hub motor

Since there is no motor in the usual place, nor a fuel tank, there is 50 litres of space under the hinged tank cover to accommodate your jacket, helmet and more.

Hi-tech features include a parking-assist slow mode to “walk” your bike forward or backwards, eTraction control, blind spot detection, front and rear collision alerts and an iPhone/Android app that provides vehicle status.

Fluid

FUELL Fluid e-bike
Fluid e-bike

The Fluid electric bicycle has two removable batteries and more than 1000Wh of energy.

It features a full-colour dashboard, five levels of motor assistance, a carbon belt and eight gears.

Fluid is available as a Pedelec (max 25km/h or 20mph) or a S-Pedelec (max 45km/h or 28mph), starting at $US3295.

About Erik Buell

Erik has had a rags-to-riches-to-rags story in motorcycling that keeps on surprising.

The former Harley-Davidson engineer developed the Buell brand in 1983, sold 49% to Harley in 1993 and Harley took over in 2003.

Erik Buell and MotorBikeWriter predictions ebr
Erik and MotorBikeWriter

Harley axed the brand in October 2009 when the GFC hit, but Erik relaunched as Erik Buell Racing (EBR) just a month later.

EBR ceased production in April 2015 and was bought by Michigan company Liquid Asset Partners in February 2016.

It returned to small-scale production in March 2017 and went into liquidation in June 2017.

Fuell Flow tech specs

  • Engine: proprietary electric wheel motor (patent pending), two modes – Urban and Audacious
  • Power: 35kW (48hp) continuous
  • Torque: 750Nm (553lb-ft)
  • Speed: 90km/h sustained with up to 135km/h on demand
  • Range: 260km (150 miles) urban
  • Battery: 10 KwH, 400V Li-ION cylindrical cell array in structural magnesium housing, with rear wheel regenerative braking activated automatically by application of the linked
  • braking system (patent pending)
  • Recharging: Quick charge or home w/ Onboard or accessory Fast Chargers
  • Charge Port CCS Type 2 (adapters for Type 1 available)
  • Charging Rate 750W on board, 3.3kW & 6.6kW available accessory fast chargers
  • Recharging: 10 hours (onboard), ~2.5 hours (3.3 kW optional), ~1.25 hours (6.6kW
  • Optional), ~30 min (CCS Type 2, DC Supercharger/CCS)
  • Recharge Time Home
  • 100% Charge: ~10 hours (Onboard), ~2.5 hours (3.3 kW Optional), ~1.25 hours (6.6 kW
  • Optional)
  • Suspension: USD 40mm forks, single-sided swingarm, mono shock with adjustable preload
  • Brakes: Single hydraulic front disc, rear regenerative braking, ABS
  • Wheels: 2.50 x 17”; 4.00 x 17″
  • Tyres: 110/70-17; 140/70-17
  • Weight: 180kg (400lb)
  • Wheelbase: 1370mm (53.9”)
  • Seat: 30.1”
  • Warranty: Power pack 5 years/unlimited km; motorcycle 2 years/unlimited km

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Erik Buell unveils Fuell electric bikes

Innovative motorcycle engineer Erik Buell has unveiled his first electric machines, the Fuell Fluid e-bike and Flow electric motorcycle.

Erik has had a rags-to-riches-to-rags story in motorcycling that keeps on surprising.

The former Harley-Davidson engineer developed the Buell brand in 1983, sold 49% to Harley in 1993 and Harley took over in 2003.

Erik Buell and MotorBikeWriter predictions ebr
MBW with Erik Buell in happier times

Harley axed the brand in October 2009 when the GFC hit, but Erik relaunched as Erik Buell Racing (EBR) just a month later.

EBR ceased production in April 2015 and was bought by Michigan company Liquid Asset Partners in February 2016.

It returned to small-scale production in March 2017 and went into liquidation in June 2017.

New beginningsFuell Flow and Fluid electric motorcycle

In April last year, Erik joined new electric motorcycle company, Vanguard Spark, which had just partnered with Monday Motorbikes.

Vanguard Spark was formed by Alfa Romeo F1 principal Francois-Xavier Terny of Vanguard Motorcycles and Frédéric Vasseur, founder of electric Formula E race car company Spark Racing Technology.

Now they have changed their name to Fuell, which is a clever reference to Buell, even though their machines have no fuel!

We could have expected the founders’ racing genes to flow through to their products.

However, they have unveiled the Flow “urban mobility” electric motorcycle and the Fluid pedal-assisted e-bike.

The bikes are not available for test ride until they are fully revealed on April 23, but will be on show in New York for a month to investors, journalists and “influencers”.

FlowFuell Flow City electric motorcycle

Flow is an electric motorcycle available in 11kW (125cc equivalent) or 35kW versions.

There is no pricing information or technical details available yet such as range, but they keep referring to it as a “city” bike.

As expected from Erik whose Buell motorcycles had innovative features such as oil in the swingarm, fuel in the frame and peripheral brake discs, the Flow does have technical innovations.

Fuell say it has a proprietary wheel-motor1, connected dashboard and a low centre of gravity.Fuell Flow City electric motorcycle

It has conventional upside-down forks, a mono shock rear and no clutch lever.

That means it will be twist-and-go like a scooter or the coming Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle.

FluidFuell Flow and Fluid electric motorcycle

In a smart move, the company is also producing an e-bike called Fluid.

E-bikes are rapidly growing in popularity, particularly in Europe.

This pedal-assisted e-bike can be ridden a total of 200km without paddling thanks to its two removable batteries with a total of 1000Wh.

Fuell Flow and Fluid electric motorcycle

It has 100Nm of torque and is virtually maintenance-free with its carbon belt and internal hub gears.

Fluid will be offered as a Pedelec with a maximum speed of 32km/h (20mph) or S-Pedelec (45km/h-28mph).

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

EBR back in fourth incarnation

The Lazarus of motorcycle companies, EBR, has risen once again, but only in limited edition high-performance machines.

In its the fourth incarnation, EBR (Erik Buell Racing) will be hand-built at Grand Rapids, Michigan by new owner Bill Melvin. He took over when EBR went into liquidation in June 2017.

Roller-coaster history

It’s been a roller-coaster ride for motorcycle innovator and former Harley-Davidson engineer Erik Buell.

Erik Buell and MotorBikeWriter predictions ebr
MBW with Erik Buell in happier times

He started making sports bikes with Harley engines in Wisconsin in 1983.

His bikes included a number of innovations such as underlying exhausts, perimeter brake discs, fuel in the frame and oil in the swingarm.

Harley bought his company in 2003 and continued making Buell bikes until the GFC hit in 2009 when Buell was axed.

Erik reopened for business as EBR in 2010, first with race bikes, then 1190RX and 1190SX road bikes.

Despite some racing success, sales were slow and they stopped production in 2015 and was bought out in 2016 by Liquid Asset Partners.

They kept high-volume production going until early 2017.

Since then, they have only produced parts for its bikes.

EBR still alive

Now Bill is keeping the iconic brand alive with specialised and performance builds of the 1190RX in his warehouse.

So far they have built just three, but they plan to continue to build to order.

Bright spark

While Erik has nothing to do now with Bill’s venture, he is still involved in motorcycles.

Erik this year joined forces with F-X Terny of Vanguard Motorcycles and Frédéric Vasseur, founder of electric Formula E race car company Spark Racing Technology.

Together they have formed VanguardSpark to initially make two electric motorcycle models with four patents pending.

There has been no further news since the announcement in April 2018.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com