Buell Super Cruiser Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

Buell's Super Cruiser drops a 1190 cc, 72° liquid-cooled V-twin into a steel-tube frame built to sit long and low. That engine makes 175 hp and 94 lb-ft at 8,500 rpm, which is sportbike arithmetic wearing a club-style silhouette. The chassis runs 17-inch wheels at both ends with a fat 190/55 rear, an upside-down fork up front and a 386 mm front brake. ABS and traction control are standard, and a TFT display and LED headlight handle the modern housekeeping. Everything else is metal, dark paint and stance.

It behaves like what it is: a heavy, low machine with genuine power on tap and a deliberately short spec sheet. At 485 lb wet with a 32.0 in seat, the mass sits low and the bike feels planted once it's rolling, and the build quality is the kind you'll still be happy with after years of thumbprints. It's for the rider who wants presence and mechanical noise, not a features list. The honest caveat: this thing is stripped. No cruise control, no luggage, no heated grips, and 4.0 gallons means you plan the day around gas stations.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	175 hp (130 kW)
Torque	94 lb-ft (127 Nm) @ 8,500 rpm
Displacement	1190 cc
Engine	72° V-twin
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Fork	Upside-down (USD)
Front brake	320 mm
Front tire	120/70-17
Rear tire	190/55-17
Seat height	32.0 in (813 mm)
Wet weight	485 lb (220 kg)
Fuel capacity	4.0 gal (15.1 L)

Equipment check

Lighting

LED Headlight Standard

Safety

ABS Standard

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Buell Super Cruiser pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Metal-and-Muscle Presence

Rumble & Character

Low-Speed Confidence Despite Mass

Relaxed Boulevard Ergonomics

Living-Machine Feel

Relaxed Torque Authority

This bike Class average

The shape of the Buell Super Cruiser — numbers and character vs. the average Cruiser

Head-to-head: Buell Super Cruiser vs. its rivals

Power

175 hp This bike 111 hp Indian 101 Scout 180 hp Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT 168 hp Ducati XDiavel V4 120 hp Harley-Davidson Sportster S RH1250S

Torque

94 lb-ft This bike 82 lb-ft Indian 101 Scout 166 lb-ft Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT 93 lb-ft Ducati XDiavel V4 94 lb-ft Harley-Davidson Sportster S RH1250S

Displacement

1190 cc This bike 1250 cc Indian 101 Scout 2458 cc Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT 1158 cc Ducati XDiavel V4 1252 cc Harley-Davidson Sportster S RH1250S

Wet weight

485 lb This bike 549 lb Indian 101 Scout 705 lb Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT 505 lb Ducati XDiavel V4 503 lb Harley-Davidson Sportster S RH1250S

Seat height

32.0 in This bike 26.8 in Indian 101 Scout 29.5 in Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT 30.1 in Ducati XDiavel V4 28.9 in Harley-Davidson Sportster S RH1250S

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Super Cruiser is actually built for.

Aerial view of a winding asphalt road cutting through volcanic terrain on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The road curves through sparse green vegetation with rocky volcanic peaks visible in the background and a settled valley to the left. Clear lane markings, dry climate, partly cloudy sky.

Best cruiser for Sturgis?

The sound, the stance and the presence are all here for rally week, and it holds its own in any parking lot on Main Street. Just plan on stopping for fuel more often than the group does.

Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week

Best retro motorcycle for road trips?

Two-lane roads and slow towns suit it, and the dark, purist look earns attention without trying. Go in knowing it's a style machine with real power, not a soft, easy-going cruiser.

Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway

Best touring motorcycle for long distance?

Be honest with yourself here: no cruise control, no luggage system and 4.0 gallons of fuel make big park-to-park days more work than they need to be, and more so two-up.

Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road