Unless you’re living under a rock, you’d know about the titanic rivalry between Buell Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson. It all began when the latter threw the former under the bus, leaving the talented Erik Buell head in hand. Soon, the ex-Harley-Davidson engineer kickstarted the Buell Motorcycle Company, with the motive to beat H-D at its own game.
In 2023, though, this rivalry has taken another turn, progressing from big V-twins into the world of electric motorcycles. That’s because Buell’s EV initiative ‘Fuell’ has opened pre-orders for its first electric motorcycle just days after Harley-owned LiveWire announced full specs of the S2 Del Mar. And to no one’s surprise, the new Fuell Fllow aims to do everything the Del Mar does, only better.
The Fuell Fllow Electric Motorcycle Offers Impressive Performance
Starting with the heart of the matter, the Fllow electric motorcycle boasts a proprietary electric wheel motor with 47 horsepower and a whopping 553 pound-feet. These will take you from zero to 62mph in just 3.5 seconds, followed by an 85mph top speed. Since the claimed acceleration figures are rather fast, Fuell has also thrown in an ‘eTraction Control’ system and two ride modes (Urban and Audacious).
Concurrently, the electric motor draws juice from a 10kWh Lithium-ion battery pack. This offers a maximum claimed range of 150 miles (240 km) in urban conditions–40 miles more than the Del Mar. Once out of charge, the supplied charger will take 10 hours to juice back to 100 percent. Whereas, optional 3.3kW and 6.6kW chargers bring the wait time down to just 2.5 and 1.25 hours, respectively. Not just that, the Fllow comes with a CCS charge port, usable with a widespread Supercharger network that unlocks a super-short 30-minute recharge time. In contrast, the LiveWire takes over two hours even when plugged into a Level-2 charger.
The Fuell Fllow Has Contemporary Underpinnings
Next, underpinnings. Fuell has built the Fllow around a magnesium monocoque chassis. The battery pack is embedded right in the frame structure, claimed to help keep the weight down and improve stability. We believe the first claim, considering the sub-400-pound heft.
In the meantime, the frame relies on 40 mm upside-down forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock for suspension duties. This is topped by 17-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 110/140-section rubber (F/R). The front alloy also houses a single disc brake (size not announced). Together, these should ensure swift riding dynamics, perfect for carving country roads, slicing through traffic, or just a grocery run. Oh, and all of it is made in the USA by a team of American technicians.
The Fuell Fllow Promises Truckloads Of Features
EVs and features are synonymous terms, so it’s only fair the Fllow came loaded with tech. And that’s what Erik’s team has done, too. The centerpiece is a big TFT instrument cluster, ripe with connectivity features. It stays connected all the time, can receive OTA updates, and shows a plethora of information, including your phone notifications. Further advancements come from a dedicated app, including geo-fencing, remote ignition, service reminders, and bike tracking. You’d also appreciate the 13-gallon illuminated storage space, large enough to store your helmet.
What interests us most, however, is the smart rider aids here. Fuell claims the electric motorcycle can detect blind spots, front collisions, and even rear collisions. We don’t know how this works, but we’re sure it’s a rarity in the entry-level motorcycle space, be it ICE or EVs. The Walk Mode and Reverse Assist are easier to digest, meanwhile.
Finally, the Fllow has a futuristic design. It looks special in its own way, without being too out of the box. We particularly dig the grab rail-mounted LEDs and vertically stacked LEDs up top. There are four colors on offer—Silver, Red, Blue, Black—all with a gloss finish.
The Fuell Fllow Is Priced At $12,995
Fuell has priced the Fllow at just $12,995, undercutting the S2 Del Mar by ~$1,500. But it gets better. If you book in the next 20 days, the Fllow can be had for only $10,495, which makes it one of the most VFM electric motorcycles out there. There is a catch, though, and it’s the delivery date. Fuell claims the Fllow will reach dealerships (and your homes) by no sooner than the end of 2024. That’s more than 365 days in the future–simply too long a wait in our opinion. Not to mention, the final product could also differ in specs or features.
Is it a risk you’d be willing to take? Tell us in the comments.