I swing a leg over the 2026 Buell Super Cruiser on a warm, late-afternoon that promises both twisty tarmac and empty highway stretches. The plush step-seat and long silhouette tell you this is a cruiser in form — but the weight of its reputation, the chatter, the spec sheet, hints that this machine is trying to be much more than that. It’s a cruiser with edge: raw power, big torque, and enough performance muscle that you expect your pulse to rise when you roll off the line.

Starting Up / First Impressions

Key turned; the V-Twin rumbles into life. That 1,190 cc liquid-cooled, 72-degree V-Twin doesn’t hide what it is. It’s not quiet; even in neutral you feel the pulse, the mechanical vibrations, a reminder this is built to perform, not to soothe. On warm idle the engine is settled, but you can tell there’s a lot of tight tolerances — compression is high (13.4:1), so fueling and heat management will matter. 

Clutch is hydraulically actuated, with a vacuum-assisted slipper function for cleaner downshifts. The gearbox is six-speed. Even before riding, you sense Buell has tried to mix cruiser comfort with sport engineering. 

Styling grabs you: the Roland Sands Design touches (fairing, stance, lines), the round headlight, the bobbed front fender, the radiator, the exhaust. Some cruiser cues remain (stepped seat, wide grip), but there’s nothing meek about it. The build looks solid, parts appear heavy-duty. No lightweight plastics hiding things. 

Riding Feel & On­Road / Off­Ventures

Taking off, throttle-on, the 175 hp output is immediate. When you twist the throttle a bit, there’s a surge: torque comes alive around mid-rpm, though peak torque (≈ 94 lb-ft / ~ 127 Nm) doesn’t show until up high (~8,500 rpm). It wants to be revved. That means at low speed you have to plan your roll-ons carefully; lugging is less of a problem than you’d expect with some cruisers, but performance really blossoms when you push.

Despite its cruiser silhouette, the Super Cruiser doesn’t ride like a sleepy giant. It’s much more agile than many in its class. The wheelbase, rake, trail are relaxed compared to a sportbike but tighter than old-school baggers. The choice of 17-inch wheels front and rear, Dunlop SportMax Q5A tyres, helps here. Grip is good, turn-in isn’t overly lazy, and you can lean further than you might expect.

Braking is impressive. Dual 320 mm Brembo four-piston monobloc front calipers with a 220 mm rear Brembo for stopping choreograph well — strong bite, good modulation. It gives you confidence to push harder into corners, to brake later, with less drama. 

Suspension: front is Fox inverted fork (≈ 43 mm in latest spec), rear is a Fox monoshock without linkage. It soaks up pavement bumps better than many cruisers of similar size. When the road deteriorates (cracks, expansion joints, patches), you feel the premium components doing their work. But the lack of linkage in the rear means the ride can feel a bit raw over very sharp drop-offs or very irregular road surfaces. 

Seat height is around 32 inches; wet weight downtown is claimed ~ 485 lb (≈ 220 kg) in production spec. That’s heavy, but not excessive for what this is trying to do. You feel the mass when maneuvering at low speed (parking, U-turns), but when moving, the weight settles behind you. The rider triangle (foot peg position, bars, seat) seems designed for cruiser comfort but with enough leverage to manage spirited riding. 

What Really Works / Highlights

1. Power and Performance: 175 hp in a cruiser body—this is the Super Cruiser’s biggest claim, and from what’s known, it delivers. For someone who wants cruiser aesthetics with superbike-adjacent acceleration, this is rare.

2. Brakes and Chassis: Having Brembo duals, Fox suspension, 17-inch sport tyres front/back, all these contribute to a level of handling and stopping that elevates it above many cruisers. You can ride it aggressively if you want, and it gives you more margin. 

3. Styling & Presence: The design is bold. The stance, the fairing, the finish — everything signals that it’s not a boulevard cruiser just for slow rolling. It turns heads. Design input from Roland Sands shows, giving cues of both retro and modern. 

4. Mixed Character: It’s not a pure cruiser, not a brute bagger, but a hybrid: cruiser ergonomics + high-revving V-Twin + sportier chassis bits. If your ride includes highways, curvy roads, even some spirited backroad runs, this bike seems built to perform.

Trade-Offs / What May Not Sit Well

• Mass and Size: At ~ 485 lb wet, seat height ~ 32 in, this is not tiny. For shorter riders or those less used to managing big bikes, low-speed manoeuvres will be demanding. Parking, tight turns, slow crawl traffic will require caution.

• Fuel Range / Practicality: Fuel tank is 4.0 gallons (~15.14 litres). Depending on how you ride, especially with aggressive opening of throttle, range might be modest. For long highway segments between fuel stops, you’ll want to plan. Also, cruiser seating might not be as comfortable over multi-hour rides with highway vibes and wind exposure. Fairing helps somewhat, but it’s not a full windscreen.

• Heat & Performance at Low Speed: Liquid cooling helps, but given the displacement, power density, and high compression, the bike may run hot in traffic or slow urban riding, especially in hot climates or stop-and-go traffic. Riders might feel engine heat down low.

• Cost & Support: MSRP is ~$25,900 (US). That places it at a premium. Also, Buell is rebuilding its dealer / service / parts network; resale, spare parts availability, service in remote areas might lag behind more established cruiser brands. For many markets outside the US, import costs, taxes, etc., might push the real cost much higher. 

• Cruiser vs Sport Compromises: Because it’s trying to do both, it can’t be as pure or forgiving as either a dedicated sportbike or a dedicated long-distance cruiser. The riding position may fatigue on long stretches; the ride suspension tuned for sport might feel harsher over rough pavement; torque delivery demands revs more than many cruisers are designed for. If you’re expecting low RPM torque and lazy cruising, you’ll have to work a bit more.

Overall Impressions

After spending hypothetically a few rides on this beast — highway runs, curvy backroads, maybe even a twisty coastal road or two — the 2026 Buell Super Cruiser comes off as a very exciting and rare kind of motorcycle. It’s unapologetically powerful, visually striking, and aims to blur the line between cruiser comfort and sport performance.

For riders who have always felt constrained by cruiser power, those who like torque and grunt and want to be able to lean, carve, and accelerate with enthusiasm, the Super Cruiser seems almost like a dream fulfillment. For everyday riders who value very low maintenance and mellow, relaxed rides, or for those who ride in dense city traffic a lot, some of the compromises will be felt.

If I were choosing this bike, I’d accept the higher cost and bigger size in exchange for what it gives: sheer power, presence, stopping ability, and a ride that doesn’t force you to choose between cruiser style or sport performance.