Buell 1125's reborn as 47 Ronin's

The Buell brand certainly has its share of ardent fans, who see Erik Buell as a great visionary and even an American Hero. When Harley Davidson shut down the Buell brand, and Erik went on to produce extreme sports machines under Erik Buell Racing, the admiration for the orginial Buell marque still lived on. In fact, a team of designers and engineers bought 50 of Buell’s finest models, the 1125 series sportsbikes, as the brand was being winded down.

From that, the Ronin rose from the ashes. The Ronin team proceeded to transform the 50 bikes into extraordinary machines. The 1125’s engine, frame and wheels - which were already perfection – were largely maintained, but the remainder of the bikes were restyled and recast. The result is the shedding of some 54lbs, a mean looking front radiator and a modified girder fork. A uniquely coded RFID chip (for added security) activates a receiver, located under the airbox, to power up the Ronin’s computer and electrical system.

Three of the bikes are prototypes and for testing, while the rest – called the '47 Ronin' after the Japanese historical event/legend - are for sale. The technical specs are beyond critic and the styling is outstanding, but to get one of these 47 marvels, you’d have to fork out US$38,000; that’s about US$20,000 more than Erik Buell Racing’s range-topper, the EBR1190RX. Would you? Well, Jay Leno thinks it's great:

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