Pictured: Street version of Erik Buell Racing 1190RS with a pillion seat and footpegs
A photo released by Erik Buell Racing (EBR) on its official Facebook page has stirred quite a buzz and debate among the fans. The controversial photo is of an EBR 1190RS, but this one has, unlike a typical EBR, a pillion seat and rear foot pegs.
The photo of the two-seater EBR motorcycle released by the marque on its Facebook page
So why all the fuss? Since his exit from Harley-Davidson, Erik Buell has concentrated on the 1190RS racing motorcycle, which â" while street legal â" at $40,000 is a stretch for even the most ardent motorcyclist.
The EBR 1190RS
Recently, Indian two-wheeler company Hero MotoCorp, known for its cost-effective commuter bikes, purchased a little less than 50% stake in EBR with an investment of $25 million in the company. This has led to rumours that EBR could be planning street-ready models as well.
The involvement of Hero MotoCorp also indicated that EBR could be working on trimmed-down, less expensive versions of its track specific bike. This is being seen as a good set-up for EBR to push sales by developing a cache of more affordable and high-performance bikes for the streets.
While announcing the investment from the world's largest motorbike manufacturer Hero MotoCorp, EBR had teased three new models in addition to the $39,999 RS â" the RX, SX and AX, which appear as "future models" on their website.
Speculations are rife that the model in the leaked photo could be the new '1190RX'.