| Author | Message | ||
     Patches |
Not too many folks (other than real Buell fans) know that Erik Buell worked on a bicycle project with Schwinn Bicycles back in 1991. Chris Fiorini, a product designer at Schwinn’s Paramount Design Group, wanted to design a mountain bike for downhill racing with long travel suspension. He contacted Buell because he had heard about the suspension system they were using and thought it might work on the bike. Erik liked the idea of working on the project and the SASS (Schwinn Active Suspension System) was born. The bike was called the Paramount Buell SASS bicycle.    | ||
| Squidbuzz |
Is this one yours? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I knew this  Is that your bike pictured? | ||
| Sifo |
The pedal feedback must have been pretty bad from that high pivot point and the crank being mounted on the front triangle. Looks like a total XC package to me, but I have to remind myself that it's from '91. Are those components close to the originals? I just don't understand bar-ends on a DH bike of any era. Water bottle cage on a DH? Those hydraulic brakes used to be the hot set up though! | ||
| Patches |
"Is that your bike pictured?" No, just found it on the Internet thought it was interesting. I would like to have one. I worked for a Schwinn dealership back in the late seventies. | ||
| Froggy |
There was one that sold in the classifieds here about a month or 2 ago. | ||
| Smoke |
i bought it. it has a lot of extra stickers and waterford where paramount is on the frame bar. supposed to have been redone by waterford. rides nice, taking it to the track with me for a pit bike. didn't get any paperwork with it but it suits my fancy. got any links or brochure paperwork? tim | ||
| Patches |
Smoke, If you have a local Schwinn dealership near you they maybe able to order a manual for you. Here is a link for online brochure. http://www.trfindley.com/pg_schwinn_cats.htm | ||
| Odie |
Serious Mountain Bikers knew about this bike also. This bike was coming out right when dual suspension bikes were just being developed and sold to the public. In my opinion, it was ahead of it's time and set a benchmark for others to follow. I should really ride my bike more often. Might help me maintain my girlish figure. | ||
| Rick_a |
I recognize the brakes, too...Magura hydraulic rim brakes. | ||
| Court |
Many threads here on Badweb about the Buell bike . . including my interviews with Chris, his background with Waterford, Richard Schwinn, Glen Adams, the World Downhill Championships in Italy and all the articles I've posted about the bike. I have one sitting right here next to me. Fun stuff. There is quite a bit of information in "25 YEARS OF BUELL" but only about 20% of the information I submitted. I have some of the "collaboration" documents which in those days consisted of the same drawing faxed back and forth. I have a picture frame with Erik's original concept (Chris's drawing), the Patent Drawing and a photo of the bike . . . kind the "idea-patent-actual" progression. Very cool stuff. There are a couple bike designs that never got built as this occurred just about the time Erik got the call from Jeff Bleustein saying "why don't you drive up here, let's have lunch and talk". | ||
| Court |
The magazines were very well aware of it . . . it was WAY ahead of the curve. Even the pundits, when Glen was seeded 50th and got a Bronze Medal in Italy (he missed Silver by 0.002 seconds) folks stood up and took notice. Just looked and I've still got folders of engineering documents, photos, patents, and the original Paramount brochures . . .those were fun times.  | ||
| Patches |
I thought it was cool he had a hand in Designing something non-motorcycle. Did he also work on the Design of the Suspension for the H-D Softail? The Suspension looked similar to me. | ||
| Court |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/479167.html#POST1522343 No. Softail suspension is completely different. He worked on FXR rubber mounting before moving to Tests and Analysis. He has patents on bikes, electric guitars, public transportation systems and stuff wisely put in others names . . . | ||
| Patches |
Cool, Thanks for the info. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
got to talk to erik a little over at hals about my 83 fxrt during hc weekend. pretty excited to find out how much input he had on that bike. i guess technically i got one of the first erik buell bikes. | ||
| F_skinner |
I actually got a chance to ride one at the S2 Gathering. Very cool. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
More reasons why I wish the whole HOG board would retire and let Erik run the company. | ||
| Smoke |
patches, thx for the link. court, can you email me the full res on that pic of the brochure you posted? thx, tim | ||
| Court |
More reasons why I wish the whole HOG board would retire and let Erik run the company. I've long been an advocate of that. Harley-Davidson would make new and exciting products, hire new employees and make money. | ||
| Iamike |
I read an aticle on it in Bicycling, it wasn't until Court inquired about it that I realized I should have kept the mag. I just didn't realize early on what a special thing this Buell phenomena is. | ||
| Court |
>>>I just didn't realize early on what a special thing this Buell phenomena is. Don't feel bad . . I was only mildly excited until about 1987 . . then I went wild.  | ||
| Froggy |
What? Court and Buellgrrl agreeing on something? Thats funny, hell isn't frozen yet. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
you never know what can happen froggy. btw, hows that hd buell cr. |
