With its tweaked Harley-Davidson 1200cc Sportster engine and nimble chassis, the Cyclone is the all-rounder in Buell's line-up. The torquey Thunderstorm V-twin engine is housed in a rigid chrome-moly steel tubular perimeter frame.
Wheelbase is an ultra-short 55.5 inches (1410mm), and combined with a steep steering head angle, this makes the Cyclone a blast through back lanes and city streets.
This is a Harley that handles well enough to keep ahead of sportsbikes through the twisties.
Like the more focused Lightning, the Cyclone offers abundant show and go. There's only one disc brake up front - but it's a pretty impressive stopper. The 340mm fully floating disc is one of the biggest you'll see on a motorcycle.
Buell improved the gearchange on year 2001 Cyclones, so expect a smooth, slick shift from the five speed box. The Showa rear suspension has also been recalibrated. A wider range of adjustment gives the M2 Cyclone a more comfortable ride and better damping over rough roads.
The latest Cyclone also gets a higher output oil pump.
Other upgrades include a new instrument panel with a tachometer - owners of earlier models complained that they wanted to see the needle hit 6500rpm, not just feel it through the seat of their pants. The engine produces 93.5bhp at 6100rpm and impressive torque - 83-ft lb at 5600rpm. Top speed nudges 130mph.
The simple two-valves per pot air-cooled Harley engine is easy to maintain, and even features self-adjusting hydraulic tappets. A single 40mm Keihin CV carburettor fuels the motor. Final drive is by Kevlar-reinforced inverted-tooth belt.
Owners are still stuck with that ugly black plastic breadbox of an air filter stuck just below the petrol tank on the right, but smaller, neater carbon fibre covers are available.
