Introduced for the 2006 model year, this was Buell’s longer, more comfort-oriented version of the XB12S Lightning. It used the XB platform’s distinctive sport-naked layout but stretched the riding position to give the motorcycle a more relaxed feel for taller riders and for longer days in the saddle. Buell positioned it as part of the Lightning family rather than as a separate platform, and it quickly became known among enthusiasts as the “Long” variant of the XB streetfighter line.
The model was carried through the end of Buell’s original production run, with 2010 being the final model year. During that period, it remained a niche American performance motorcycle aimed at riders who wanted the character of Buell’s XB chassis with a roomier ergonomics package than the standard Lightning. It did not undergo a revival after Buell’s original shutdown, so its history is a single continuous production run from introduction to discontinuation.