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Former Harley-Davidson Bigwig Returns with New Electric Motorcycle Company

Jonathon Klein
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Erik Buell’s name was once a staple in the motorcycle world. His racing pedigree and penchant for building rad V-Twin-powered sportbikes made him known the world over. However, in the last decade, his name has been all but stricken from the public’s collective consciousness. Partially due to Harley-Davidson’s fall from grace and profitability, and partly because of some ill-timed ventures, Buell’s been out of the motorcycle game for some time. Now, he’d like to make a comeback with an all-electric motorcycle company called Fuell. Get it?

Buell is making this phoenix-like rise from the ashes based on two forthcoming electric motorcycles developed in-house by himself, mobility expert Francois-Xavier Terny, and Fred Vasseur, who is currently the team principal of the Sauber Alfa Romeo F1 team. The two motorcycles are actually classified as mobility solutions, but one looks to be a street-going motorcycle to compete against bikes like Zeros and Harley-Davidson’s forthcoming LiveWire, while the second is tailored to the urban riding public.

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Let’s start with the second. Called the Fluid, the mountain bike-esque electric cycle features a 980wH battery pack capable of giving it a range of about 125 miles per charge. Torque is capped at about 77 lb-ft which will give the vehicle a healthy dose of oomph when you twist the electric throttle. Pricing is said to come in at around $3,295, which isn’t out of line with other electric motorcycles having similar specs. But given the racing history and technical know-how of both Vasseur and Buell, the electric motorcycle may be the more interesting proposition.

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Dubbed the Flow, the electric motorcycle looks to have similar attributes as a modern upright cruiser, though with a style that’s definitely future-forward. Centered around either a 10kW or 35kW battery pack, the Flow has a theoretical range of 125 miles per charge, similar to the Fluid, but it can use a fast charger for a full range return in just 30 minutes. According to the company’s website, the Flow will set customers back around $10,995, which again, isn’t unreasonable. In fact, compared to its Harley-Davidson counterpart which is priced at $30,000 and doesn’t offer much more in terms of range or usability, Fuell’s Flow is a bargain.

Full technical specs haven’t been released yet, but according to the company, those details should be dropping soon. What we do know is that Fuell is aiming at a release for the Fluid by the end of this year, while the road-going Flow aimed at delivery for early 2021. If the motorcycle is as good as Buell’s previous offerings, we’re in for an electric revolution. We can’t wait.

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New electric motorcycle offers a customizable ride that packs a powerful punch
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Fuell Fllow electric motorcycle front end angle parked in an alley in front of a brick building.

The pandemic changed plans for everyone, including motorcycle designer Erik Buell. In 2019, Buell unveiled a set of electric two-wheelers, a bicycle that would become the Flluid-1S and a motorcycle that was renamed the Fllow under a new company called Fuell. While the bicycle has been on sale since last year, the Fllow hasn’t made it to market yet. Buell’s original plan was to bring the electric motorcycle to market in 2021. But then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and threw a massive wrench into things. With the world, at least from an electric mobility front, returning somewhat back to normal, Fuell is relaunching a pre-order campaign for the all-electric Fllow motorcycle through Prelaunch.
For a $200 deposit, shoppers can get first dibs on purchasing a Fuell motorcycle and $2,000 off MSRP. The electric motorcycle has an estimated target price of $11,995 and deliveries are expected to begin in early 2024. The good news is that the Fllow looks just as striking as the concept that Fuell showcased in 2019, resembling something that’s out of Cyberpunk 2077. The motorcycle’s specs look pretty promising, too.

The Fllow is primarily meant to act as a more enjoyable, efficient way for urbanites to get around, but still packs a punch. The electric motorcycle features an electric motor that’s integrated directly into the rear wheel and a battery pack that’s integrated into the chassis. The Fllow-1S has a 47-horsepower electric motor and a monstrous 553 pound-feet of torque. The motorcycle has a top speed of 85 mph, and thanks to a relatively light weight of 400 pounds can get to 62 mph from a standstill in 3.5 seconds. The bike’s 10-kWh battery pack offers an estimated range of 150 miles in urban driving. Fuell will also offer the Fllow with a 15-horsepower engine, though we’re not sure if that model will come to the U.S.
The 400-volt architecture allows the Fllow to go from 20% to 80% charged in less than 15 minutes when plugged into a 50-kW CCS fast charger. Going from an empty battery pack to a fully charged one takes less than 30 minutes. One of the cooler things about the Fllow is that it’s upgradeable. So, if you want more power, you can get a larger motor swapped in. Need extra range? A larger battery pack can be dropped into the SUV. The Fllow can keep up with your changing needs as more tech becomes available.
Early adopters will find plenty of tech features with the Fllow. The electric motor comes with a front-facing camera for anti-collision, blind-spot monitoring, a rear camera, and ABS. There’s an LCD screen that acts as the dashboard, and it can be connected to the rider’s phone, as well as the cloud. The dashboard has all of the pertinent information you need and can run apps, like navigation, that can be upgraded through over-the-air software updates.

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Think about how you use your vehicle. For most, it’s a lot of short commutes and shuttling people around. Those without a vehicle to get around might not see the purpose in owning a highway-ready hauler for jaunts around town. CRU, the latest offering from established golf cart manufacturer Club Car, may be able to do everything most of us want a vehicle to do, particularly an entry-level EV.

CRU is a NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle), much like a stretched golf cart. It’s not focused on toting golf bags around while you angrily drive to your latest sliced drive sitting dozens of yards off the fairway. Instead, CRU is meant for hauling people and groceries and is designed to be customizable. Its base configuration is a bit limousine-like, with an L-shaped bench in the rear of the vehicle and two seats up front. There’s an optional table in the back, and the front passenger seat can swivel around to face those sitting in the back. The CRU’s rear seating compartment is only open on one side – the right curb-facing side – for a few unique reasons.

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Some changes are in store for the BMW R 1250 RS for the 2023 model year. While not revolutionary, the changes are sure to be enjoyed by most riders and result in a more tech-forward bike. Plus, the best part is that the 2023 R 1250 RS costs the same as the 2022 model.
The major upgrade for the new year is the introduction of Dynamic Traction Control as standard. Previously, buyers had to spring for the Premium Package that cost an extra $3,175 to get the feature. So, seeing it as standard on the sport touring bike is a huge benefit for 2023.

BMW is providing riders with improved braking performance with the addition of BMW Integral ABS Pro as standard for the updated R 1250 RS. The system makes the bike more stable under hard braking, while Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) is also a new feature that stops any unwanted throttle inputs during panic braking.
Riders looking to maximize range and fuel economy from the 1,254 cc four-stroke boxer engine will be happy to hear that the R 1250 RS now has a new ECO riding mode. It joins Rain and Road modes, and brings an updated throttle map and a slight reduction in torque. Thanks to an efficiency reading on the upper left of the display, riders can keep track of their real-time consumption during a ride.
For a little more control over the available ride modes, like being able to have individual configurable riding modes, riders should look into the Riding Modes Pro feature that’s offered with the Premium Package. Not only does the package allow drivers to have a custom configuration for ride modes, it also brings Engine Drag Torque Control that limits brake slip at the rear wheel during coasting or downshifting.

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