This menacing 2000 Buell X1 Lightning recently listed on eBay combines Harley-Davidson grunt with a Euro-style steel trellis frame and a short wheelbase. The result is an unusual and rare proposition.
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A Harley-Davidson Sports Bike?
Erik Buell, the veteran Harley-Davidson chassis engineer and privateer racer, split amicably from the fabled Milwaukee company in the mid-1980s. He established Buell Motorcycles in Grand Rapids, Mich. Buell wanted to build his own road-going, race-inspired machines.
In 1999, Buell Motorcycles launched the X1 Lightning to replace the S1 Lightning. Buell was responding to criticism aimed at the previous offering. Reviewers loved and loathed the S1 in equal measure. Its performance was good, but the bike lacked smoothness, seat comfort, and turning radius. Enthusiasts also wanted more appealing bodywork.
The seat and body panel revisions were easy to improve. With the steering head shifted four inches forward, the turning radius was improved but still tight. But the X1 was more than a sharpened Harley-Davidson in sporty dress. That underestimates Buell’s skills.
Stiffer and Smoother
Buell was involved in racing long before arriving in Milwaukee. He had already guided H-D toward an electronic frame-testing system, which deserved the credit for improving the handling of its products.
For the X1 Lightning, Buell employed a stiffer chassis than the one used on the S1. He used fuel injection for greater smoothness. The X1 utilized a 1200cc Harley-Davidson engine equipped with Buell’s “Thunderstorm” cylinder heads and improved pistons (carried over from the S1) to give a very torquey 95 horsepower. Isoplanar rubber mounts, another Buell innovation, were fitted to the steel frame. That removed the vibration associated with the motor when mated to Harley-Davidson frames.
The bike has a relatively short wheelbase of 55 inches, which is crucial if you want sharp turning. However, this also meant that Buell needed a place other than out back to mount the rear damper unit. Look closely in front of the rear brake lever, and you’ll spot a rocker system.
The system translates the rear swing arm’s vertical movement into horizontal motion—to act upon the horizontally mounted unit running beneath the engine. And if that wasn’t neat enough, the damper operates by tension rather than compression. This helps give the X1 rear its super-clean look.
Shop now for Buell partsBig Value
The X1 Lightning, when new, cost about the same as an exotic Ducati 900 Supersport. This put some buyers off at the time but makes X1 an intriguing proposition today. The Lightning for sale on eBay has a Buy-It-Now price of $5,500. That’s decent for a bike that looks menacing, sounds divine, and covers serious ground in the twisties.
Ground clearance is a modest five inches. Despite improvements to the seating, the X1 is not considered a comfy place to sit all day. So think carefully before launching one off a tall curb and steer clear of rough terrain.
This 2000 Buell X1 Lightning for sale on eBay is an all-American, fast, reliable machine that looks great. It’s a gem that has reportedly covered merely 4,900 miles. The gleaming black bodywork seems to be in exceptional condition. The seller recently fitted a new drive belt and battery.
This motorcycle has been kept on paddock stands, which help preserve the suspension units’ integrity. The sale comes with an entire service history and a clear Florida title.
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