Buell XB12 Customized – BikeBound

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Matao Buell: From Bike Shed London to Wheels & Waves…

In 2002, Buell Bikes stopped manufacturing of their tube-framed bikes and launched a brand new set of bikes, the Firebolt XB9R / XB12R and Lightning XB9S / XB12S. The brand new machines featured aluminum beam frames that doubled as gasoline tanks, swingarms with built-in oil tanks, rim-mounted entrance brakes, and ground-pounding Harley-based V-twins.

The following-gen Buells have been like nothing else available on the market, and have been beloved and hated as such. Right here at BikeBound, we’ve at all times beloved these bikes for the out-of-the-box design improvements behind them, and so they’re at hoot to experience as properly.

“When Erik Buell got down to construct a 250 GP racebike-sized sportbike with a stump-pulling torquey V-twin, he wasn’t kidding round. The most recent era of Buell Bikes — that free-thinking, cornering-oriented division of Harley-Davidson — have wheelbases and steering geometry which might be even shorter and tighter than most modern 250 GP bikes, by no means thoughts all the 600-class sportbikes…” –Rider

The XB12S boasted 100 hp and 81 ft-lb of torque from its 1203cc V-twin, good for a quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds and high pace round 150 mph. Whereas not sound significantly quick by superbike requirements, the Buell had a heavyweight midrange punch and a great deal of streetfighter angle.

These days, we’ve begun to see extra Buells making their means into customized workshops. When our photographer Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/) captured this XB12 on the 2023 Bike Shed Moto Present, we needed to discover out extra.

Quickly we’d tracked down the builder, Steven Lucas, a 37-year-old French mechanic and boilermaker who lately based his personal model, Matao, situated in Quiberon, South Brittany.

“I spend my days creating, imagining, and shaping by hand every of your creations, furnishings and bikes…”

Although he’s been driving, constructing, and dealing on bikes since childhood, that is Steven’s first skilled shopper construct underneath the Matao model. Steven modified the rear subframe and entrance masks, put in a brand new headlight, personalized the tank cowl, revamped the controls and electronics with Motogadget goodies, changed all of the {hardware}, and had the engine rebuilt by the Buell specialists at Twin Bikes France.

AB DecoMetal and L’Atelier de So took care of the paint, whereas La Sellerie Fleury upholstered the customized saddle in alcantara and Greapz 3D Printing produced a number of bespoke elements.

All in all, that is one spectacular first construct, and we are able to’t wait to see what roll out subsequent from the Matao workshop. Due to Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/) for the present images, and Steven himself for the out of doors pictures.

Buell XB12 Customized: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

I created the Matao model in 2019. I opened my workshop as a result of I’m loopy about bikes. I’m a mechanic and boilermaker. I’m 37 years previous. I’ve been captivated with bikes since childhood.

• Why was this bike constructed and what’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor?

This bike is my first skilled challenge. My shopper requested me to change his bike which he didn’t discover to his liking. It’s a Buell XB12 from 2007.

• What was the design idea and what customized work was carried out to the bike?

I wished to offer this bike a brand new line by modifying the rear construction, which I didn’t like very a lot initially. I additionally modified the entrance face by mounting a headlight from Baja Design. The tank cowl has additionally been modified and receives all the electrical system of the bike, the Öhlins tank, the Ok&N air filter, and the battery.

The engine was refurbished by Twin Bikes France and repainted by AB DecoMetal. All the opposite elements have been repainted by L’Atelier de So.

{The electrical} system has been modernized with equipment from the important Motogadget model. Every part comes from them. A part of the braking system comes from Beringer. I had some items 3D-printed with Greapz 3D Printing. All the unique {hardware} has been redone. The saddle is finished in alcantara and made by La Sellerie Fleury.