I’m surprised we don’t see more Buell X1 Lightning customs. The motor has a lot in common with the Sportster 1200 V-twin but pushes out around 95 hp, mostly due to Erik Buell’s high performance ‘Thunderstorm’ heads.
Filippo Barbacane of Officine RossoPuro is a fan, though. The latest custom from the Italian workshop, ‘Big Red,’ is a Buell X1 Lightning upgraded with modern suspension and a thoroughly contemporary look.
The 41mm Showa forks are gone, replaced by beefier 50mm Marzocchis, with Öhlins now on duty at the back. A complete new Brembo brake system hauls the bike to a stop.
A new aluminum subframe supports the custom seat unit. The rest of the bike drips with hand-made Officine RossoPuro parts—including all the bodywork and the foot controls.
The engine benefits from a Jagg oil cooler, and the digital instrumentation comes from Motogadget. As with most Officine RossoPuro customs, the simple but graphic paint was applied by Carrozzeria Melideo.
Buell’s ugly duckling has been transformed into a swan. This is an X1 Lightning with the X-Factor—don’t you think?
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