Buell introduced this Firebolt nameplate for the 2004 model year as part of its XB family of sportbikes. It represented the fully faired, more aggressive street-fighter side of the XB range, using Buell’s compact chassis philosophy and the company’s signature sport-oriented V-twin layout. The model quickly became one of the best-known Buell XBs because it combined distinctive American engineering with a sharply styled supersport silhouette and a strong enthusiast following.
For the early XB years, the bike established the basic Firebolt formula: a performance-focused Buell with clip-on riding position, bodywork that emphasized aerodynamics and mass centralization, and a chassis layout unlike most mainstream Japanese or European sportbikes of the era. Over time, it evolved through the XB12 generation and remained one of the core models in Buell’s lineup as the brand expanded its XB platform.
The nameplate continued through the final Buell XB model years and is documented in 2010 factory literature, making 2010 the last model year for this continuous run. There is no separate later revival of this exact nameplate in the original Buell production era, so it is treated as a single uninterrupted production period from 2004 through 2010. Today it is remembered as one of the most recognizable Buell street bikes and a defining example of the company’s unconventional approach to American performance motorcycles.