Erik Buell founded the Buell Motorcycle Company, which later became partly owned by Harley-Davidson.
Buell established the company in 1983 after working as a motorcycle engineer. The firm developed sport motorcycles featuring unusual engineering solutions, including perimeter-mounted front brakes, fuel stored in the frame on some models, and oil held in the swingarm on certain designs.
Harley-Davidson purchased a minority interest in Buell in 1993 and later became the company’s majority owner. Buell motorcycles used Harley-Davidson-derived engines in several periods, while retaining their own sport-oriented chassis and engineering identity.
Harley-Davidson ended production of Buell motorcycles in 2009. Erik Buell subsequently continued motorcycle development through later ventures, including Erik Buell Racing. Buell is therefore a separate motorcycle marque founded by Buell, not a Harley-Davidson model family.