In the landscape of American motorcycling, Erik Buell stands as the ultimate outlier. A former Harley-Davidson engineer with a racer’s heart, Buell spent decades trying to prove that an American sportbike wasn't just possible—it could be revolutionary. His bikes were built around a trinity of design principles: mass centralization, low unsprung weight, and chassis rigidity. From the oil-in-swingarm XB series to the fire-breathing Rotax-powered 1125, Buell motorcycles have always been unapologetically weird and technically brilliant.
Despite the brand's turbulent history of corporate hand-offs and closures, the cult of Buell remains stronger than ever. Custom builders are drawn to the "radical" bones of these machines—the massive perimeter front brakes, the fuel-bearing frames, and that unmistakable V-twin soul. When you strip away the plastic bodywork of a Buell, you’re left with a mechanical playground that invites aggressive, futuristic, and sometimes downright brutal modification.
Here are nine of our favorite custom Buell motorcycles featured on Bike EXIF.
The XB9S ‘Lisa 22’ by Moc Tu
Moc Tu, the lead engineer at Nuen Moto, isn't just a builder; he’s a CNC virtuoso. Nicknamed ‘Lisa 22’ after his daughter, this Buell XB9S was a personal project designed to push the limits of precision engineering. While the signature fuel-in-frame chassis remains, almost everything else has been discarded in favor of bespoke, machined components.
The centerpiece is the stunning girder-style front end, meticulously designed for the bike's specific weight and paired with a fully adjustable Öhlins shock. The cockpit is a masterclass in integration, featuring a CNC-machined top yoke that blends the riser and dashboard mounts seamlessly. From the eight-piston Spiegler calipers to the hand-made oil reservoir with a transparent window, every detail screams high-end mechanical harmony.
To ground the build, Moc fitted Marchesini wheels from a Ducati Multistrada and a single-sided swingarm from a Triumph Sprint 1050—flipped to accommodate the Buell’s drive side. Wrapped in a forward-leaning aluminum body with a blue-accented "sports car" livery, this XB9S is a titanium-clad testament to what happens when a mechanical engineer lets his imagination run wild. [MORE]
The XB12S ‘Matao’ by Steven Lucas
Steven Lucas of Matao proves that sometimes the best way to honor a classic design is to tighten the focus. His take on the 2008 Buell XB12S Lightning keeps the "greatest hits" of the series—the perimeter brake, the fuel-bearing frame, and the oil-filled swingarm—but replaces the early-2000s translucent aesthetic with something far more sophisticated and brutal.
Steven ditched the blocky subframe for a handmade tubular steel unit, topped with an Alcantara seat by La Sellerie Fleury. The fiberglass tank cover pays homage to the original’s sculpted vibe but exaggerates the bike's front-heavy stance. Up front, a Baja Designs LED sits low on a custom steel number board, mimicking the aggressive "fly screen" look of the stock Lightning while providing modern, ultra-bright output.
Under the hood, the engine was sent to Twin Motorcycles France for a full refresh, now breathing through a chunky pod filter and screaming through a GPR exhaust. Finished in a muted silver and black palette with nickel-plated fasteners, this streetfighter is a minimalist's dream that emphasizes the sheer mechanical mass of the Buell platform. [MORE]
The 1125CR ‘Coco’ by Ad Hoc Café Racers
After a five-year hiatus, David Gonzalez of Ad Hoc Café Racers returned with 'Coco,' a Buell 1125CR named after his English bulldog. The 1125CR was the perfect donor: broad-shouldered, stubborn, and physically imposing. David worked with ER Motorcycles to digitally render the concept before hand-shaping the entire monocoque body out of metal.
The result is a futuristic, brutalist silhouette that utilizes the Buell’s massive main frame to its advantage. David replaced the curved factory side fairings with chunky, angular units and tucked a generous LED taillight into the rear of the bodywork. The front end features a rectangular LED headlight protected by a custom roll bar, giving the bike an "urban combat" feel.
The mechanical setup is equally aggressive, featuring a solid 18-inch rear wheel from a Harley-Davidson V-Rod and Avon Cobra tires. A custom Gears Racing shock and a raucous Race Spirits exhaust ensure that 'Coco' performs as wildly as he looks. Finished in a mix of textured powder coating and matte black, this build is a class in "black-out" elegance. [MORE]
The S1 White Lightning ‘Hardtail’ by Corban Gallagher
Corban Gallagher is a nuclear chemist by trade, and his first-ever custom build reflects the precision of his day job. Inspired by Rollie Free’s legendary Vincent land-speed record, Corban transformed a 1998 Buell S1 White Lightning into a low, lean, hardtail dragster. Using a frame from Bitter End Choppers, he captured the long, salt-flat-racer lines he craved.
The "Thunderstorm" spec V-twin was rebuilt with a DynaTek 2000i ignition and dressed in finned EMD covers to match the Lowbrow Customs oil tank. Corban’s resourcefulness shines in the details: he used radioactive material capsules as spacers and brackets, and repurposed a Honda Shadow fender for the rear. The bike rolls on premium Dymag MotoGP wheels, providing a high-tech contrast to the rigid frame.
The aesthetic is a nod to the "AMF Harley years," with a vintage eBay nose fairing and a hand-painted livery. For a first-time builder working in an active machine shop, the "poor man's GP bike" is an incredible debut that balances vintage drag racing vibes with modern performance components. [MORE]
The XR1 by Bottpower
David Sánchez of Bottpower brings 16 years of race engineering experience to the Buell platform. His XR1 series is less of a custom build and more of a total re-engineering of the XB12. The most radical change is the removal of the twin-spar aluminum frame, replaced by a backbone-style unit that uses the 1,203 cc Thunderstorm engine as a stressed member.
Since the frame no longer holds fuel, Bottpower engineered a three-stage carbon fiber fuel cell system tucked under the tank cover and seat. The suspension is pure track-spec, featuring Buell 1125R forks with K-Tech cartridges and a custom-valved Öhlins TTX rear shock. A JvB-moto headlight and carbon fiber flat-track-style tail give the bike a neoclassic aesthetic that masks its savage performance.
With 140 hp potential and a weight-saving carbon fiber body, the XR1 is built for the experience of riding. It’s a bike that looks like a street tracker but handles like a European Superbike, proving that David’s background in data engineering translates perfectly to the custom world. [MORE]
The ‘HS1’ by Hazan Motorworks
Max Hazan has owned this Buell S1 for twenty years, and its evolution from a "blown-up" first bike to the 'HS1' is a story of redemption. After a nitrous experiment gone wrong in his youth, Max rebuilt the bike with twenty years of fabrication wisdom. The only original parts left are the bottom end of the motor, the turbo housing, and a portion of the frame.
The engine is now a 1350cc monster, featuring a Garrett GT25R turbo pushing 20 psi of boost. This setup delivers 175hp and 160 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheel. To manage the power, Max ditched the rubber-mount system for a hard-mounted chassis, installed 2014 CBR1000RR forks, and fitted magnesium Marchesini wheels.
The aluminum bodywork is purposeful, shaped first in foam to ensure perfect lines. Weighing only 415 lbs wet, the HS1 is "super sketchy" with its short wheelbase and lack of rake—exactly how Max wanted it. It’s a pure, unadulterated adrenaline machine built by one of the greatest fabricators in the business. [MORE]
The ‘Tex Design’ XB12 by Paolo Tesio
Paolo ‘Tex’ Tesio is an automotive designer who uses CAD software and 3D printers like a traditional builder uses a hammer. His Buell XB12 Firebolt was developed over 18 months in the digital realm to ensure that every bolt-on component fit with factory precision. The result is a futuristic kit that requires no cutting or welding of the original bike.
The most striking feature is the telescopic fork cover system, which allows the Husqvarna 701 headlight to slide up and down, hugging the front wheel at all times. A new bolt-on subframe and tail unit house a Lithium-ion battery, while the airbox was replaced by a sophisticated channeled intake system to manage the V-twin's heat.
Tesio’s build represents the future of customization—digital precision meeting mechanical soul. Because the kit is non-destructive, it allows XB12 owners to transform their bikes into aggressive, futuristic concept machines while retaining the excellent stock suspension and brakes. [MORE]
The Ronin 47 by Magpul Industries
The Ronin 47 is perhaps the most famous "production custom" in motorcycle history. When Harley-Davidson shuttered Buell in 2009, Magpul Industries bought 47 units of the 1125R and set out to fix every one of its flaws. The result is a bike that looks like it was designed for a samurai in a cyberpunk future.
The weak points of the 1125 were addressed with military precision. The Showa forks were replaced with a cast aluminum linkage fork, and the overheating Rotax engine was fitted with a massive front-mounted radiator. The bike was lightened by 50 lbs, and the ECU was remapped to boost the already impressive 146 hp output.
With details like hydraulic radial master cylinders, a ceramic-coated muffler, and an RFID ignition, the Ronin 47 is a high-concept machine that actually works. At $38,000, it was a steep entry price, but for a piece of American motorcycling history that looks—and rides—like nothing else, many would argue it’s a bargain. [MORE]
The ‘Zonkern’ by Custom Works Zon
Japanese builders Custom Works Zon are famous for their "core of the sun" aesthetic, and the ‘Zonkern’ is no exception. While they kept the 1998 S1 Lightning engine for its "sporty response," they threw everything else away. In its place is a completely bespoke, compact trellis frame designed to emphasize agility.
The front end is a work of art: a shrouded springer-type setup of their own design, complete with custom triples and one-off clip-ons. The single-sided swingarm and monoshock rear end support a massive 8.5-inch wide rear rim wrapped in a 240-section Michelin tire. It’s an extreme stance that somehow maintains the "turning and stopping" functionality the builders insisted on.
The hand-beaten aluminum bodywork is the showstopper. It features a completely enclosed front end with a 1950s sci-fi vibe, reminiscent of classic rocket ship designs. Finished with silver pinstriped flames and a tuck-and-roll leather seat by Back Drop, the Zonkern is a masterpiece of Japanese metalwork. [MORE]
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