Ice-Cool Buell: M2 Cyclone Café Racer

A custom-framed Buell café racer from Foundry Motorcycle…

Introduced in 1997, the Buell M2 Cyclone represented a two-seat, more pragmatic alternative to the uncompromising S1 Lightning. The early versions featured an 86-bhp version of the 1203cc Sportster V-twin, coupled with one of the last Buell tubular frames and Showa suspension.

“Buell design philosophy behind the M2 Cyclone was for an ‘all-around motorcycle — a do-anything sport bike.'” –Church of MO

For 1999, the M2 received the big-valve Thunderstorm heads from the Lightning, boosting peak horsepower to 93 bhp. As with any Harley V-twin, however, the torque and power delivery was where the engine shone:

“You get a hot-rod tractor, an engine that starts pulling hard just off idle, hits harder yet in the midrange, then happily and willingly winds out to 6000 rpm and beyond. The Cyclone puts out more peak power than the original Lightning, yet thoroughly crushes that machine in the mid­range.” –Cycle World, 1999

The 2003 M2 Cyclone you see here comes from Tom Simpson of the UK’s Foundry Motorcycle — a workshop located just two miles from the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit. Tom, who worked as a blacksmith before turning to custom motorcycles, has quite the enviable setup:

“I also have a coffee bar at the shop, which I open on Saturday mornings for people to visit. The rest of the week I lock myself away with all my metalworking tools.”

This project started as a collection of old Buell and Ducati parts. The original idea was to build a Ducati-style café racer with an American V-twin heart, but when the Pantah frame proved a no-go, Tom built his own one-off frame from scratch…along with the handmade steel tank! These were combined with a one-off stainless exhaust, modified Buell forks, Ducati 996 yokes, 916 steering damper, and much more.

The finished build weighs 180 kgs — about 40 lbs lighter than the original Cyclone. It looks amazing, but Tom was just as eager to find out how his scratch-built chassis would ride:

“I was super nervous to ride this after putting so much into the build and basically creating my own frame from scratch, but all fears were put aside very quickly. The wheelbase being slightly longer than the original Buell and the taller, slimmer Pantah wheels make for a very neutral, enjoyable ride…I put more miles on this before handover than any other bike I have built to date.”

Few bikes we’ve seen have managed to combine American power, Italian flair, and British ingenuity into such a stunning, well-buttoned package. Below, we talk to Tom for more details on this Buell-powered café racer, with photos from one of the best in the business, Gary Margerum.

Buell Café Racer: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

Foundry Motorcycle opened nearly 11 years ago now, based in Chichester, two miles from the historic Goodwood race circuit. I was a blacksmith prior to moving into the custom motorcycle scene, and being a creative I had various random jobs before that, all adding to the skillset I use now.

I have been fascinated by bikes since my early teens and over the last 30 odd years have owned/ridden almost every type of motorcycle, ultimately ending up with my favourite of them all, my ’56 Triumph T110 bobber.

I also have a coffee bar at the shop, which I open on Saturday mornings for people to visit. The rest of the week I lock myself away with all my metalworking tools.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

2003 Buell M2 Cyclone.

• Why was this bike built?

The Buell came about after an existing customer bought me a selection of leftover parts from a previous build. The original pile included an old Pantah frame, wheels, and some discs and calipers. He wanted to try and build a bike using these parts without using a Ducati engine.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

A classic Ducati based café racer was the original train of thought, but after the original frame proved to be of no use I had pretty much free rein to build the bike I wanted to build.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Way too much to remember in reality, but I’ll try.

One-off frame and swingarm, fuel tank, seat, stainless exhausts. Modified Buell forks sit in modified Ducati 996 yokes with a 916 steering damper. Custom air cleaner and breather assembly. Oil tank and electrics box with cast aluminium ribbed covers, stop tail light.

I know there is more but it’s been a while since the bike went off to its owner.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

I’ve never been any giving things names so no. The only times I named it was when it was presenting a challenge and stressing me out.

• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?

I haven’t ever measured power but in theory with the air cleaner and exhaust assembly it is effectively at stage 1 of tune, otherwise the engine is stock M2 Cyclone. We did weigh it and with a full tank and oil, I recall it coming in just over 180kgs.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

I was super nervous to ride this after putting so much into the build and basically creating my own frame from scratch, but all fears were put aside very quickly. The wheelbase being slightly longer than the original Buell and the taller slimmer Pantah wheels make for a very neutral, enjoyable ride. It has all the grunt of a Buell and soaks up country roads quite comfortably. I put more miles on this before handover than any other bike I have built to date.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I’m super proud of the whole thing when I look back at what has gone into creating this bike but other than the frame, maybe the one thing I could pick out is the handmade steel tank I created. That was a LOT of work.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

• Trim Deluxe always do a sterling job of the seat upholstery for me.
• S.Jago Designs for laying down the super shiny Guardsman Blue paint. I stole that colour from one of my favourite cars, the Shelby Daytona.
• A M Metal Polishing for bring all the aluminium and stainless up to a super shine.

More Details

Follow the Builder

Instagram: @foundrymotorcycle
Youtube: @foundrymotorcycle5700
Web: www.foundrymotorcycle.co.uk
Photography by @garymargerum