This special-edition streetfighter was introduced for the 1998 model year as a higher-spec version of the S1 Lightning. It stood out immediately for its distinctive white bodywork, white-painted frame, and matching wheels, giving the bike a very different visual identity from the standard S1. Period road tests and contemporary coverage described it as a flagship variant aimed at riders who wanted the raw, minimalist Buell formula with extra refinement and more performance-focused hardware. The White Lightning also adopted the newer Thunderstorm cylinder heads, along with related engine and chassis updates, making it the most developed expression of the S1 concept. Production was limited and the model is remembered today as one of the most desirable early Buells, especially because it captures the company’s late-1990s air-cooled, big-twin sportbike era in a distinctive and collectible form.
MODEL HISTORY