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Buell S2T Thunderbolt

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Make Model.

Buell S2T Thunderbolt

Year

1994

Engine

45° V-Twin, four stroke, pushrod actuated overhead valve, hydraulic self-adjusting lifters, 2 valve per cylinder.

Capacity

1203 cc / 73.4 cu in
Bore x Stroke 88.8 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio 10.0:1
Cooling System Air cooled

Induction

2 x Ø40 mm Keihin carburetors

Starting

Electric

Max Power

73.6 kW / 101 hp @ 6000 rpm

Max Torque

90 Nm / 9.2 kgf-m / 66.4 lb.ft @ 5500 rpm

Transmission

5 Speed 

Final Drive

Kevlar belt

Front Suspension

Ø40 mm Showa fork, adjustable for compression and rebound damping

Front Wheel Travel

120 mm / 4.7"

Rear Suspension

Single Showa shock, spring preload, compression and preload damping

Rear Wheel Travel

116 mm / 4.6"

Front Brakes

Single Ø340 mm disc, 6 piston caliper

Rear Brakes

Single Ø230 mm disc, 2 piston caliper

Front Tyre

120/70 ZR17

Rear Tyre

170/60 ZR17

Dry Weight

200 kg / 441 lbs

Wet Weight

218 kg / 481 lbs

Fuel Capacity 

20.4 L / 5.4 US gal

Consumption  average

4.8 L/100 km / 20.8 km/l / 49 US mpg

Braking 100 km/h  - 0

31.1 m / 102 ft

Standing ¼ Mile  

12.6 sec / 167 km/h / 104 mph

Top Speed

201 km/h / 125 mph

In 1993 Harley-Davidson became almost-half owner of the Buell Motorcycle Company. Milwaukee, in a refreshing bit of candor, admitted its specialized factory sport bikes had achieved little success. Better to assist someone well-suited to the design, chassis and assembly requirements of those machines, with Harley-Davidson acting only as the engine supplier.

The timing was right. Buell was under-capitalized, Harley needed a sport bike and an investment opportunity. In 1994 the Thunderbolt was the first product of the new partnership between Milwaukee and MukWonago. The chassis' wheel-base and steering geometry were unchanged, but the new design left more of both the engine and frame visible. The riding position became something of a compromise between the racer's crouch and the cruiser's slouch.

The Thunderbolt bristles with tasty techno-pieces, from the frame and engine mounts, huge disc brake with 6-piston caliper, inverted fork, to the subverted shock absorber and carbon-fiber air cleaner cover. The oversize muffler permits some tweaking of the 1200 Sportster's performance profile, and the horsepower rating bumps up to 76 at 5,200 rpm, with exactly matching figures

for torque. The curb weight is 481 pounds (218kg). The production schedule was set for 300 Thunderbolts in its debut year.

In 1996 the S2T was introduced with color coordinated saddlebags and fairing lowers, with touring handlebars and footpegs. Another example of Harley-Davidson's support showed in the prices; the S2 listed for $11,995 and the touring model for $12,795, well in line with the competition.