Introduced for the 1999 model year, this was Buell’s revised late-tube-frame Lightning streetfighter, evolving from the earlier S1 Lightning concept into a slightly more usable, more refined roadster. It kept the brand’s distinctive Harley-Davidson Sportster-based V-twin and Buell’s chassis-focused engineering, but added fuel injection and a number of comfort and handling changes intended to broaden its appeal without losing the raw character that defined the marque. The model sat in Buell’s lineup between the harder-edged S1 and the more touring-oriented Thunderbolt, giving riders a naked performance option with a distinctly American identity.
The nameplate ran through the 2002 model year as part of Buell’s original tube-frame era. Over those years it remained the standard-bearer for the company’s minimalist, chassis-first philosophy: short, compact, visually unconventional, and aimed at riders who wanted sportbike handling in an unconventional package rather than a mainstream Japanese or European formula. After 2002, the tube-frame Lightning was replaced by Buell’s newer XB-series Lightning family, which marked a major clean-sheet redesign rather than a continuation of the same hardware. Enthusiasts often view this version as the bridge between the early Buell sport bikes and the later XB generation, and as one of the most recognizable motorcycles from the company’s Harley-era years.