Page updated 15th May - event rearranged.
UK Buell Enthusiasts Group
Buell S1 Lightning 30th Anniversary
Sunday 26th July
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1376909486
This free and informal meet commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the launch of the 1996 Buell S1 Lightning.
S1 Lightning total production figure during the 1996, 1997 and 1998
model years = 4,680.
S1 White Lightning total production figure during the 1998 model year = 2,210.
All Buell models and other marques are also welcome.
Time: 10.00am to 3.00pm.
Location: The National Motorcycle Museum, Junction 6 M42 motorway, opposite the NEC near Solihull in the West Midlands.
Buell S1 Lightning Story. Author Erik Buell, April 12th 2026.
The S1 has such a special place in my memories.
So, the story of how it came to be is very fun actually. It was kind of a perfect situation. We had built the S2, which in a way was a low volume productionized refinement of the RS. Sales were far better than anyone at H-D had expected, which was good.
Most of leadership there thought we’d make 300 or so a year and that our main job would be to experiment with engineering ideas H-D might use. And yet we were still so small that H-D wasn’t engaged in managing our products. So, Vaughn Beals (who wanted Buell to grow a lot and be a true Sportbike company) said go ahead and build something that you think would get attention.
I had ridden around pre-H-D Buell days on an RS1200 with the fairing off and it reminded me of riding a TZ with the fairing off and also of an XR750.
So, I decided to build the most minimal design possible, and started with a flat track tail section I had in the garage, and a minimal fuel tank, and the most tucked in headlight I could do, while still having it big diameter for night riding. The goal was to highlight massive engine and rear tire with road race forks and brakes and then have wild bright paint schemes that stood out.
H-D leadership and sales really did not understand it, but also didn’t care. The revelation came at the dealer show when the H-D dealers who were into racing really liked it. Also, the overseas distributors who understood Sportbike customers.
My favorite dealer show memory was when the H-D and Buell distributor (H-D had independent distributors at that time which really worked) for Italy, Carlo Talamo, came to the show booth. He walked around the S1 about ten times, then came over and said “Erik…this motorcycle is crazy. It is stupid. I will sell soooo many of them!!” And gave me a big hug.
Sales were way higher than anyone thought, which was good…and bad. Because H-D started getting more involved in Buell product planning.
Buell S1 Lightning Memorabilia
Buell USA 1996 S1 Lightning Sales Brochure
Buell USA S1 Lightning Magazine Advert
Tuesday 20th May 1997, collection of our new S1 Lightning from
Eddy's of Leeds
Framed image and
autographed page from the Buell USA 1998 MY sales brochure to commemorate our visit
to the Buell Motorcycles factory in East Troy on Monday 13th October 1997
Monday 27th June 2005, Erik Buell and our S1 Lightning,
Silverstone circuit, England
Inspiration for the name of the S1 comes from the
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Custom paintwork with P-38 mural on the fuel tank of our
S1 Lightning
Five pages from the March/April 1999 issue of American Thunder featuring the S1 Lightning. Click to enlarge.
