Buell Street Fighter: A Chopper Profile

Having seen his share of long-legged choppers, John Dawson decided to build a machine that was the polar opposite of the traditional custom. He wanted to put a torquey V-twin engine in a bike that handled as good as it looked. Thus, Buell Street Fighter was born.

Chopper Image Gallery

Buell Street Fighter Chopper
Buell Street Fighter is a custom chopper with a
modified version of a Harley-Davidson
Sportster engine. See more
chopper pictures.

Eric Buell founded the company that bears his name in the late 1980s on very much the same idea. He took Harley-Davidson Sportster engines and mounted them in exotic sport-style chassis, which resulted in bikes that were decidedly different than anything then being offered.

Since that time, the Sportster engines Buell uses have been treated to significant changes that result in greatly increased power, but the chassis designs remain that of a high-riding "crotch rocket" sportbike.

So what John Dawson did was take a Buell motorcycle and swap its tall, sportbike chassis for a low-slung hardtail frame by MC Worx. The original Buell forks and brakes were refitted, and John adapted a host of new hardware to create a low-slung bullet. Chief among them is a small bikini fairing incorporating twin headlights.

The result is a machine that bridges the rather wide gap between sportbikes and choppers. But in simplicity of design and unique treatment, John just did Eric Buell one better.

Buell Street Fighter Chopper Specifications
  • Year: 2004
  • Class: Pro Street
  • Owner: John Dawson
  • Builder: John Dawson
  • Model: Buell Street Fighter
  • Frame: MC Worx
  • Forks: Buell, inverted
  • Rake: 32 degrees
  • Rear susp.: Hardtail
  • Front wheel: PMSR, 18-inch
  • Front brake: Buell, disc
  • Rear wheel: PMSR, 18-inch
  • Rear tire: 240 mm
  • Rear brake: Buell, disc
  • Engine: 74-cubic-inch Buell
  • Exhaust: John Dawson
  • Trans.: Buell, 5-speed
  • Paint by: Greg Garcia

Go to the next page for more photos and details of this sporty chopper, Buell Street Fighter.

For more information on custom choppers and motorcycles, see:

Buell Street Fighter Chopper

Buell Street Fighter is the opposite of conventional customs, with a powerful engine and sporty frame. Below are more pictures and details of this champion chopper.

Buell Street Fighter Chopper
The Buell Street Fighter's 1200-cc Buell V-twin
is a hopped-up version of a Harley-Davidson
Sportster engine and received numerous
upgrades to enhance performance even more.
Buell Street Fighter Chopper
Short, �open� exhaust pipes delete the Buell Street
Fighter�s muffler, cutting weight and back-pressure.
Buell Street Fighter Chopper
The MC Worx hardtail frame eliminates the Buell
Street Fighter's complex rear suspension.