Skip to main content

Former Harley-Davidson Bigwig Returns with New Electric Motorcycle Company

Fuell Flow Fluid
Fuell

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.

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Jonathon Klein
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathon is a former contributor to The Manual. Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments…
Indian Motorcycle has a new limited-edition, carbon fiber-laden bike starting at $18,999
Classic cool with modern flare — we love it
Motorcycle rider out of focus carrying helmet toward Indian Motorcycle 2024 FTR x 100% R limited edition

Indian Motorcycle and the 100% motocross apparel and rider equipment brand announced its collaboration in the 2024 Indian FTR x 100% R Carbon motorcycle. The top trim of Indian FTR performance bikes, the FTR x 100% R Carbon, is a limited edition, with only 400 motorcycles available worldwide, with prices starting at $18,999.

The FTR x 100% R Carbon adds 100% styling, finish elements, and additional bodywork to the premium FTR R Carbon model. A single colorway is available: Blue Candy with white stripes and the distinctive red 100% logo. A glossy white trellis frame and red accents on the wheels and chin fairing add to the visual appeal. The trellis frame is the visible structure of metal tubular segments that connect the motorcycle's steering head with the swing arm, the section that connects to the rear wheel.

Read more
New BMW motorcycle, the 2024 R 1300 GS, brings new suspension geometry and improved hardware
It's sub-$30k, too
Two 2024 BMW R 1300 GS adventure touring motorcycles traveling on a highway with desert and distant mountains in the background.

Piling on upgrades and new performance features, BMW Motorrad's 2024 R 1300 GS touring adventure motorcycles set the bar high for competitive brands. BMW introduces a new 1,300 cc boxer engine with the R 1300 GS, the most potent boxer yet.
The new GS, available in several style and color variants in early 2024, doesn't leap ahead of earlier versions with its engine alone. For 2024, BMW redesigned the GS frame, dialed in greater steering preciseness, and improved the bike's stability.
The GS's new boxer mill pumps out 145 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm, nine hp, and five ft-lb more in a bike that weighs 26 pounds lighter than the previous model, the 2023 BMW R 1250 GS. You don't have to be concerned about engine peakiness, requiring that you wring it out thoroughly to hit the sweet spot because the new engine pulls hard in the wide 3,600 to 7,800 rpm range, BMW claims. The R 1300 GS redlines at 9,000 rpm.
One factor in the 2024's weight savings is the new placement of the six-speed transmission inside the engine housing, directly under the motor. BMW also reduced the versatile bike's overall size -- breaking from the common automotive tendency to make room for new features by increasing vehicle size.

BMW improved the R 1300 GS suspension with a redesigned steel and aluminum frame, increasing stiffness and improving stability. A new Evo Telelever design decouples the front fork suspension from the handlebars to reduce handlebar dive and tilt under hard braking and severe fork tube compression. The Telever system pairs with BMW's updated Evo Paralever to transfer weight from front impacts via the swing arm to the bike's rear for greater traction and stability.

Read more
Get the electric motorcycle of your dreams: Our top picks
From sleek, naked racers to big ol' hog cruisers, we've listed the best electric motorcycles
Johammer J1.

According to Michael Partridge’s "Motorcycle Pioneers," electric motorcycle development harkens back to the 19th century. During the days when moving mechanical vehicles were first being engineered, bicycle manufacturer Humber showed off an electric tandem bicycle at the 1896 Stanley Cycle Show in London. Like most internal combustion engine designs decades later, the motor sat between the bike’s wheels and ran via storage batteries. Over a century later, these battery-powered motorcycles are rechargeable, capable of achieving high speeds, and eat up sharp curves.

Today, the EV motorcycle market is large enough to label it ubiquitous. Makers from tiny Swedish startups like Cake Kalk to the massive Harley-Davidson have embraced electric motorcycles for adults. These producers are putting out styles that appeal to any and all bike enthusiasts, from naked street racers to big ol' hog cruisers. The electro-curious can be assured accessibility at any two-wheeled EV level with prices from $5,000 to above $100,000. With estimated ranges from 50 to 200 miles, these zero-emission motorcycles will get you where you need to go on whatever bike style gets your motor revvin’.

Read more