Classic Auto Mall Show #205 - Erik Buell, Founder of Buell Motorcycles and Erik Buell Racing + Keith Martin of Sports Car Market with host Stewart Howden
About this episode
Erik Buell, founder of Buell Motorcycles and Erik Buell Racing, shares his journey from working at Harley-Davidson to creating his own motorcycle brand. He discusses the challenges of engineering, the evolution of motorcycle design, and his passion for music. Keith Martin from Sports Car Market joins to discuss the complexities of organizing car rallies and the importance of balancing cost and enjoyment for participants. The episode is filled with insights on the automotive industry, motorcycle history, and the camaraderie of car enthusiasts.
Show #205 Airdate 08-06-2025. Stewart welcomes Erik Buell, Motorcycle Designer and Manufacturer, Racer, Musician and Actor. They discuss his time at #HarleyDavidson, his own brand #Buell, corporate egos and planning and testing a motorcycle at #Talladega at 179mph! + Keith Martin of Sports Car Market's #specialoffer plus insights on classic tours and rallies. @Porsche https://www.buellmotorcycle.com https://www.sportscarmarket.com/testdrive6
Erik Buell, founder of Buell Motorcycle Company which was sold to Harley Davidson, joins Stewart to discuss his career on another great episode. Erik started as a musician, but soon grew tired of the lifestyle and became an engineer for Harley Davidson before starting Buell Motorcycle Company and then Erik Buell Racing after he sold to Harley Davidson. He is also a musician.
Buell is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and was inducted in 2002. Erik is an honored guest this year at the 2025 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance in Malvern, PA. They even have a class for Moon Motorcycles.
The first Buell Motorcycles were Formula One biked with Harley Davidson engines. He talks about the difference between Yamaha and Ducati and what he liked and disliked about each bike. He discusses the powerband of the bikes and how they rode.
Stewart and Erik discuss the rise and fall and ups and downs of Harley Davidson and what made them incredibly successful, as well as mistakes that hurt them and things they did that made them so popular. Harley Davidson went bankrupt in the early 1980s before rising to incredible popularity. Erik brought his racing mentality to Harley Davidson that helped their design and performance. Erik had just come off Formula One racing and really tried to put the bikes to the test.
The first Buell Motorcycle he built was the RW 750 and it did 178 miles per hour at Talladega and it could have gone faster but they ran out of gearing. The bike probably could have gone 190 miles per hour and had 165 horsepower.
Harley-Davidson sold Buell brand motorcycles through their dealerships. Harley eventually purchased Buell Motorcycle Company and Erik Buell went back to work for Harley Davidson. Jeff Bleustein who was CEO or Harley-Davidson at the time
Buell started a powertrain with Porsche that became the V-Rod and led to the Revolution motor, which was a 60 degree V-Twin. Harley executives wanted the engine, but they didn’t realize that their customer base didn’t want it.
Erik modeled his Er
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Recorded in our Showcase Studio just inside the entrance of the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, PA, Host Stewart Howden, Classic Auto Mall President and Classic Car Specialist Steve Saffier talk about this unique and amazing place often with amazing guests.
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Dodge Charger
"...rue. But I put a 426 hand-me-in out of a 60-piece charger. And that's no joke."
911 930 Turbo
"...hese cars with violent power bands. It's like the 930 turbo Porsche when they first came out. Those things, w..."
Chevrolet Nova
"...ings that the engineers wanted to do, like the V4 Nova with some new engine project. And he said, what m..."
Porsche Cayenne
"...ing the V8 all wheel drive, you know, like was it Cayenne? Yeah."
Tesla Model
"...g Harley touring bike has about the same CDA as a Tesla Model S. Right."
Tesla Model S
"...ey touring bike has about the same CDA as a Tesla Model S. Right."
Chevrolet Corvette
"...d I think about that stuff, you know, like the 57 Corvette I left. Right, with a hemmy."
Ford Mustang
"Yeah. 1986 Ford Mustang SVO, silver metallic over charcoal gray and light..."
Jeep Wrangler
"Borg-Warner T5. Also new arrival, the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, Raptor Black Kevlar."
F-150 Raptor
"...rrival, the 2016 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, Raptor Black Kevlar. It is."
Shelby Cobra
".... So other new arrival, the 1965 Factory 5 Shelby Cobra Roadster, Blurple."
Porsche 944
"... of chrome. And one of my favorites, 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo, Guard's Red, which is a very, or it's Pors..."
Chevrolet Camaro
"Ready to rock. Also last but not least, the 2017 Camaro 2SS 50th anniversary edition convertible."
Mclaren F1
"because 92 is the year of the NSX and would let McLaren F1 in and running the people out in two groups. Say ..."
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