Super Cruiser Next Steps: Your Vision to Our Platform
Buell Super Cruiser & custom builds
As more riders throw a leg over their production Super Cruisers, the conversation is quickly shifting from "when?" to "what’s everyone doing with their Super Cruisers?"
We will always celebrate marching to our own beat, and we hope these builds will push our riders to do amazing things with the bikes coming their way. In celebration of this creative expression, Buell CEO, Bill Melvin, and our Lead Custom Specialist, Jacob Stark, are exploring the potential of the Super Cruiser’s bulletproof 1190cc platform and answering the most important question of all:
“What if?”
NOTE TO THE READER: We build custom variants to inspire our riding community and to demonstrate the Super Cruiser’s incredible diversity and adaptability to any environment. While these machines and parts aren't available for sale, they continue to serve as a visual testament to the adaptability of 1190 platforms for the future, both near and far.
The 2025 Daytona Customs
Back in 2025, we arrived at Daytona with a mission to prove the Super Cruiser’s modular potential. Four distinct builds were created, demonstrating what performance could look like in a built-out Super Cruiser.
The 2025 Bagger Cruiser Duos
Buell Super Cruiser Bagger Customs, Daytona 2025
We took two Super Cruisers and outfitted them for the long haul. These projects featured sleek Advanblack front fairings and rugged, custom-isolated Viking saddlebags, delivering a vibe that prioritized speed and the utility needed for cross-country performance.
Of the two, the silver bagger was the "mellow" king, featuring a silver-forged aluminum front wheel, while the black bagger was designed to be the all-in iteration with FOX Factory suspension and a carbon fiber front and rear wheel set. After Daytona 2025, The silver bagger put on over 4,000 miles as Buell’s internal team made its way to Moab. A short while later, both baggers would ride on to 2025’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
The silver bagger was also worked to its absolute limit during the 2025 Sturgis stunt show. The residuals of this same machine would eventually become the foundation for the 2026 Warrior custom build that we brought to Daytona.
Jacob Stark on the Bagger Builds:
“The goal wasn’t to make these builds heavier, the goal was remaining aligned to the core product - and these builds were about the next step and you take it beyond the Super Cruiser without making it a ‘Dupe-r Cruiser.’
Adavanblack gives more wind protection, but it slows you down, so gearing was changed to accommodate that. Bags were added as well, so to combat that weight, a carbon wheel was added. Even the choice of componentry, the Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and Baja Designs light, it’s all high-quality stuff that matches the Super Cruiser’s original personality.”
The 2025 Flat Tracker
Buell Super Cruiser Flat Tracker Custom, Daytona 2025
Utilizing custom Lowry Racing performance parts and a signature Vance & Hines exhaust, the 2025 Flat Tracker was stripped down to its racing roots. To accommodate a massive 19-inch front wheel and keep debris out of the cooling system, Jacob integrated side-mounted radiators with a unique sideways orientation. By moving the radiators to the sides, the front wheel could be pulled closer to the engine for a shorter wheelbase, leading to a more agile bike that is easier to pitch into a slide.
This prototype was eventually upcycled into the Cafe Racer muscle prowler that debuted at Daytona Bike Week.
Jacob Stark on the Tracker:
“[The Flat Tracker] would have never been a competitive, functional flat tracker - too much power, too stiff - but it was a fun genre-inspired creative exercise.”
The 2025 “GOAT” Hill Climber
Buell Super Cruiser “GOAT” Hill Climber custom, Daytona 2025
Designed to be the “monster truck of dirt bikes,” the 2025 GOAT custom variant was an insane desert-runner hybrid with Viking bags featuring a fully mechanical ride-height adjustment and an adjustable wheelbase ranging from 65 to 75 inches. As a nod to the project’s personality, Buell’s iconic Pegasus logo made way for a Billy Goat to represent the build’s ability to stick to seemingly impossible surfaces.
Jacob Stark on the GOAT:
“It’s one of those ‘because I can’ builds. Can I get to the top of the mountain with all my stuff? Yes, I can. You just can’t kill these bikes, man. They keep going.”
The Daytona 2026 Customs
The 2026 Super Cruiser Cafe Racer
Buell Super Cruiser Cafe Racer custom, Daytona 2026
Born from the evolution of the 2025 Flat Tracker, the 2026 Cafe Racer is the ultimate road-course custom Super Cruiser. Jacob integrated Buell’s iconic ZTL perimeter brake, lowered the suspension with an Öhlins suspension system (2.5 inches shorter than stock), and added Clubman bars from the Buell 1125CR for an aggressive, tucked-in stance.
Jacob Stark on the Cafe Racer:
“No fluff here. I wasn't going for bells and whistles and fancy materials, just raw performance and simple power. It’s not going out there to convince people it’s cool; it just is. This build proves that individual expression does not have to conform to purist genre ideals.”
The Midnight Club-Style Cruiser: “The Warrior”
The Midnight Club-Style Cruiser: “The Warrior”, Daytona 2026
The Warrior leans heavily into the Super Cruiser’s less-is-more, minimalist, stripped-down aesthetic. Adding elements like a Memphis Shades Warrior windscreen and Baja Designs pod lights (DOT approved), the Warrior became an even further-specialized club-style cruiser. A special paint scheme, courtesy of Gary Bandy (Broken Toys Custom Paint), paid homage to the personality of our industry’s club-racing custom bagger scene.
Jacob Stark on “The Warrior:”
“Club-style racing is like cafe racers, only the bikes are stripped-back cruisers where performance and function are the number one priority. The Super Cruiser already fell under the club-style racing category, and this build pushed even further into the club racer performance bagger mentality. In the words of our CEO Bill Melvin, ‘That’s pretty sick.’”
2026 Buell Super Cruiser “Beast” & “Son of Beast” Stunt Bikes
2026 Buell Super Cruiser “Beast” & “Son of Beast” Stunt Bikes
For 2026, Stark built a dedicated machine for stunt talent Geno Lonati, who has been developing new, never-before-seen techniques on the cruiser stunting scene. Geno’s preferred machine of choice for this new pioneering project is Buell's Super Cruiser, and Stark wanted to highlight Geno’s successes with this new custom project. A chopped fender and a different final drive ratio were installed to slow down the rear wheel and provide mechanical leverage to the Super Cruiser’s 1190 platform. Specialized tuning and heat management - complete with an ECU-controlled electric water pump - also supports Geno in giving him an edge over other liquid-cooled competition.
Components for this build included a Square One exhaust, a front Öhlins suspension system, and Buell’s ZTL perimeter brake. According to Geno, the entire package applied to the Super Cruiser’s 17” wheel allowed for smoother turning and less potential for wheelies on burnouts.
Paired with the 2026 “Beast” Super Cruiser stunt custom, featuring a 19 inch custom front wheel & single disc Brembo brake. This machine features the same ECU-controlled water pump, and a Dean Adams Design race exhaust.
Jacob Stark on the Stunt Builds:
“Geno has figured out how to do high-speed slides and is using this Stunt Super Cruiser with the quickshifter in ways nobody has really done before - burnies through the gears without ever using the clutch, frequently drifting all the way to fourth gear. This is something new even in the drifting cruiser space, and it’s so amazing to watch the brilliant talent inventing new ways to use our 1190 platform.”
Project Leviathan: A Turbo’d Buell Project that’s Breaking Records
Project Leviathan: Buell Super Cruiser Turbo custom, Daytona 2026
While the previous builds explore style and versatility, Project Leviathan is an entirely separate breed of race-ready insanity.
Jacob Stark is currently pioneering new engineering solutions in the pursuit of a turbo bike for Land Speed Racing. Building on a long-standing collaboration with Jesse Brown (JB-Tech Racing), both Jacob and Jesse have been focused on the goal of exceeding 250 miles per hour at Speed Week in Utah this August. Jesse himself holds 13 land speed records on a Turbo Buell XB racebike specifically tuned for the demanding, ethereal conditions of the Bonneville Salt Flats. Together, Jacob and Jesse plan to push the 1190 platform into uncharted territory, cementing Buell’s legacy as a dominant force in world-class speed trials.
Here are the metrics of Project Leviathan that have been released to date, with an even higher equation projected for this project by the time Speed Week rolls around:
PROJECT LEVIATHAN METRICS:
401hp+ to the rear wheel (RWHP)
215+ ft-lbs torque
250 miles per hour
The build originally started as a Super Cruiser prototype with a "carte blanche" order from CEO Bill Melvin to fully unleash the 1190 platform. The main requirement for the project was to pay homage to Buell’s heritage, using as many Buell-designed parts as possible.
Together with Jacob’s design input and Jesse’s work in tuning and breaking in the Leviathan’s wire harness, the duo added pivotal componentry. FOX suspension was paired with forged aluminum wheels, while a mix of Hammerhead and 1190RS bodywork added a racy, aerodynamic silhouette. Custom sprocket hubs were also added to the project, designed for a 300 mph mechanical limit and higher durability figures.
Jacob Stark on Project Leviathan:
“So many race series are restrictive, and Land Speed Racing allows for a lot more creativity. While there was huge motivation and creative license in working with a more limited budget, I had to go back to the basics of motorcycle fabrication. Stuff that would normally be carried out with computer simulations had to be done by instinct and experience, and taking risks was a non-negotiable in creating a record-breaker.”
Special thanks to our collaborators, GFB (Go Fast Bits) and OneEthanol, as well as JB-Tech Racing, who have all committed parts and other support. We are open to support from sponsors in anticipation of our August Speed Week deadline. If you want to be a part of this record-breaking project, please reach out to stark@buellmotorcycle.com.
We built these Super Cruiser variants to show our rider community what is possible with a handful of great ideas. These custom variants are just the beginning of the Super Cruiser’s story, and we can’t wait to keep supporting our ever-widening pool of feedback from customers, partners, suppliers, and beyond.
Join us for our brand-new Engine Talks series, a deep-dive into the heritage and history of the engine tech that makes our bikes tick. We want to see how you’re hitting the pavement, too. Tag your photos with #MySuperCruiser and #BuellintheWild to share your new ride with our growing community.