Buell on ice!

Buell's resident UK stunt rider, Craig Jones, set a world record last May in Sweden, where he braved subzero temperatures to push a modified Buell 1125R™ to become the fastest bike on ice. After a short test period and several practices, Craig reached the phenomenal speed of 238Km/h. "Not very fast" we hear you say, but remember, this was done on ice - frozen Lake Dellen, to be precise - a rough surface with limited traction and only a few centimetres of ice separating Jones from the icy water.

The conditions meant the addition of some custom equipment, and the bike boasted some mammoth modifications. With nitrous oxide injection providing an estimated extra 50hp, the white Buell reached top speed on a 1.1km run. The tyres were specially adapted with protruding spikes (20mm on rear and 15mm on front) designed to increase grip on the perilous surface.

Undeterred by the risks associated with the attempt, Craig said: "I firmly believe that your head is the biggest limiting factor in pushing to the edge. The less you think about the risks, the further you can push yourself. So I kept it simple. I just put the bike into gear, tucked down and went as fast as I could."

Since then, some Swedish speed freaks have disputed the record, claiming Peter Westman clocked 246.2km/h with a 200hp Hayabusa at the 'Funasdalen Speed Weekend', long before Jones's run. To see Craig's antics, head to Harley-Davidson's YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/harleydavidsonaus - and click on the 'Ice Ride' video in the library.

Source: JUST BIKES, July 2009, Issue #241