Tag Archives: Erik Buell

Fuell Electric Motorcycle First Look

Just when you thought the electric motorcycle market was set in stone, a new player has emerged. Erik Buell is back as part of an innovative team of engineers and designers who just revealed their new electric motorcycle, the Fuell Flow. While electric bikes have been popping up all around the world, this particular e-moto is poised to shock them all with an affordable price point of just $11,995. If that MSRP holds true, then Fuell has an opportunity to influence the balance of power within the electric motorcycle market.

Let’s take a quick look at this electric motorcycle. Technical specifications are impressive if they pan out as advertised. Fuell claims 48 hp (35 kW) and 553 pound-feet of torque from the Flow with a range of 150 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. It weighs in at a claimed 400 pounds and has a 53.9-inch wheelbase and rider-friendly 30.1-inch seat height, so it has potential to be fun while zipping around town or touring nearby back roads. Charging time will be 30 minutes using a Supercharger/CCS (Combined Charging System) but still will take a while (10 hours) using the home charging system, according to Fuell.

At the core of the Flow is a 10-kWh motor housed in the rear wheel hub, powered by a 400-volt “Li-ion cylindrical cell array housed in structural magnesium housing.” That configuration should provide plenty of pep to keep the bike ahead of traffic within the urban sprawl. The Flow spec sheet boasts a 0–60 time of 2.7 seconds, which would be slightly faster than its competitor, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire. Keep in mind the H-D carries an MSRP of nearly $30,000 and has been teasing an actual release date for what seems like an eternity.

Just looking at the images reveals the obvious Buell/EBR influence in the design of the Flow. The large magnesium monocoque frame, single-sided swingarm, and hub-center motor combine with the curvy Buell-esque bodywork to create the familiar look of this e-brawler. A 40mm inverted fork and preload-adjustable rear shock appear underwhelming at first glance, but are likely a couple of the inexpensive components that help keep the overall cost down. Time will tell where the other corners have been cut but it looks like Fuell has come up with a nice overall package that ticks all the boxes.

As it is stated on its website, the Fuell philosophy is: “To offer a unique selection of innovative, attractive electric two-wheeled vehicles.” And as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we will let the public make its own opinion on the aesthetics of the Fuell Flow. But there is no denying the potential value of the Flow compared to other electric motorcycles.

The Flow incorporates onboard safety technology including blind spot detection, anti-collision, ABS with regenerative braking, plus a rear-facing camera, e-traction control, and an array of high-tech gadgets including what appears to be a large TFT-type dash that is the size of an iPad.

Check out the Fuell website at fuell.us for more details, and if you are interested in getting on board the Fuell e-mobility express in the early stages, the company is offering a $500 discount if you preorder your Flow now.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.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