Here’s the new-for-2021 Buell Hammerhead, which (surprise!) is basically an update of Erik Buell Racing’s old 1190 RX model. Or at least, that’s what it appears to be.
As this seems to really just be a re-painted RX, the Hammerhead uses the same 1190 engine that EBR used for the last few years before it closed up shop, and the revived Buell brand now uses across the rest of its line. That engine should make 185 horsepower at the crank, at 10,600 rpm. Max torque is a claimed 101.6 lb-ft, at 8,200 rpm.
Like the previous RX model, the Hammerhead has an aluminum frame and swingarm, Showa linkage-free shock and Big Piston forks and eight-piston perimeter front brake, a Buell standard. The company claims the Hammerhead weights 190 kg “wet, no fuel.”
You can see the new Hammerhead’s entire spec sheet at Buell’s website here.
Tempted? Don’t expect to see these show up at a Canadian dealer anytime soon. Far as we know, the rebooted Buell factory is only selling bikes directly to consumers at this point, and it’s hard to imagine the company has gone to the effort off securing regulatory approval for the Canadian market. At least, for now.
Down the road, who knows? The people behind the brand’s revival seem to be pushing the company hard this past year, especially with much fanfare this winter over the plans for new motorcycles. Does that mean we’ll actually see Buell as a real, functioning moto brand in coming years, or is this just a pump-and-dump? Time shall tell. However, at this point, Buell would have to significantly update its technology to compete with Euro and Japanese offerings.
