At SHOT Show 2010, Magpul unveiled the Ronin, a concept motorcycle built around the Buell 1125R. The name comes from the title for a samurai who lost his master, an appropriate name for the bike given the discontinuation of the Buell line by Harley Davidson. The unique design of the Ronin included a custom monoshock linkage suspension system, front-mounted radiator, unitized handlebar assembly, new ram air intake, cast aluminum tail section, and high-flow exhaust system, features which enhanced the bike’s ride and decreased the total weight by 54lbs from stock. This concept gained enough interest that Magpul decided to expand production to 47 bikes, paying tribute to ‘The 47 Ronin’ of Japanese folklore.
Since the initial concept bike, the Ronin has understandably received some changes. The production Ronin is sharper and more distinct in appearance when compared to the concept bike. Additionally, on the production bike, many of the items have been unitized into a single part, such as the battery box and foot pegs having been integrated into a single cast unit. Perhaps most uniquely, the standard key ignition has been replaced with a hidden RFID chip, and the production model also features custom gauge and ECU.
The Ronin will be released in sets, each release different from the last. The first 12 bikes are currently available (with 5 of them sold at the time of writing) and come in the Black & Silver color of the original Ronin concept bike, priced below production cost.
This will be followed by 10 All-Black bikes at an increased price, further followed by a release of 8; these releases, the second and third, will be available in the coming next few months.
Further releases will come in a set of 6, then 4, and then 2, all with different color schemes and features. The remaining 5 bikes will be one-off designs from the factory, each unique. Each bike will come with a bamboo toolbox.
We’ve been following the Ronin project since its debut in 2010. To finally see its release 4 years later is a welcome event.
For more information on the Ronin, including how to purchase the bike, visit www.the47.com.
