Hugh Hefner, sleeper with thousands of gorgeous women, was recently quoted as saying, “It’s good to be selfish. But not so self-centered that you never listen to other people.” Though Erik Buell and Hef are not exactly in the same business (we’re certain each has its own perks), it seems that the Buell Motorcycle Company’s founder follows a philosophy much the same. He sees what people want, even if they don’t know what it is themselves, and aims to give it to them in his own stubborn way; tradition, conformity and nay-sayers be damned. A shock that gets pulled apart as the rear wheel goes through its travel? That was just the beginning of what was to become a trademark of the earliest Buells (and one that’s been done away with on this new Firebolt).