There is a specific kind of madness required to dedicate one’s life to a defunct American motorcycle brand in the heart of French racing country. But for Hugo, the manager of Mecabuell Garage, it isn't madness; it’s a mission. Located within the perimeter of the Alès motor racing circuit in southern France, Hugo’s workshop has become a sanctuary for the plastic-clad, fuel-in-frame oddities that Erik Buell unleashed upon the world.
Hugo has been a Buell devotee for fifteen years, but in 2021, he turned his passion into a professional crusade. Mecabuell isn't just a repair shop; it’s a revivalist movement designed to keep the French Buell scene thumping. Alongside his garage duties, Hugo co-founded Buellmachine, a performance brand that develops everything from billet triple trees to custom engine mapping. If you’re looking to buy, sell, or customize a Buell, Hugo is the man you see.
To showcase the full extent of his workshop's capabilities, Hugo spent 1,000 hours over nine months creating the machine you see here. ‘Hyperion’, named after the Greek Titan of Heavenly Light, is a 2004 Buell XB12R Firebolt that has been stripped of its mid-2000s plastic and reborn as a neo-retro street fighter.
In stock trim, the 2004 XB12R was an experiment in mass centralization. Its 1,203cc air-cooled V-twin pumped out a respectable 103 hp and 84 lb-ft of torque, held together by a frame that doubled as a fuel tank. For Hyperion, Hugo decided the ‘Harley-on-steroids’ powerplant needed more than just a tune-up.
The engine was pulled, and the cylinders bored out to accommodate oversized Wiseco pistons. Breathing is handled by a K&N filter and a custom Buell Machine exhaust system, all tied together with a bespoke ECM remap. The result is a crisper, more urgent delivery that does justice to the XB’s 179 kg dry weight. To manage the power, Hugo performed a hydraulic clutch conversion using a Buell Machine piston and a 17.5mm HJAK master cylinder.
The Buell XB series is famous for its 375mm perimeter front brake, and Hugo has taken that signature trait to its logical conclusion. The front end now sports an EBR 8-piston caliper clamping down on an EBR disc. But the real showstopper is the rear.
Hugo custom-built a rear wheel that integrates a second perimeter disc mount, a feat of engineering that required custom machining of the wheel spacers and the pulley to match. This rear setup uses a ZTL 6-piston caliper mounted on a billet bracket. It is, quite possibly, the most over-engineered braking system ever fitted to an XB, and it looks absolutely lethal.
The chassis didn't escape the updates, either. The swingarm was reinforced and opened up with a trellis-like design, while the rear subframe was shortened and modified to create a more aggressive, nose-down stance. Everything, from the frame to the triple trees, was powder-coated in a textured black.
Visually, Hyperion is a departure from the typical Buell aesthetic. The handmade bodywork was inspired by the MV Agusta Superveloce, blending Italian curves with American muscle. The paint is a deep Marbelizer Candy Gold that seems to glow against the textured black chassis.
The cockpit is a study in high-end minimalism. A Raximo curved drag bar wears Buellmachine aluminum switchgear, a semi-quick throttle, and Motogadget bar-end mirrors. The wiring harness was completely modified to accommodate a Motogadget keyless ignition and an M-blaze lighting system. Even the gauge face was customized to match the Hyperion theme.
Every detail reflects the 1,000 hours poured into the build: the two-tone leather and Alcantara seat with the embroidered Mecabuell logo, the turbine-style LED taillight, and the custom side-mount license bracket. It’s a build that proves the Buell legacy is in very capable hands in the south of France.
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Comments
.....sigh.....
It's great to see someone so dedicated to Erik's machines