1125R Review

[smoothrod]

I got a chance yesterday to take out the 1125R for some city/freeway riding. Here are just a few things I noticed good and bad.

Good

Great handling and braking in usual Buell fashion, the new improved 8 piston front brake is insane.

Very stable on the freeway in windy conditions and high speeds.

Amazing power and torque, it was deceivingly fast. Did a couple of roll on wheelies in 1st and 2nd gear with very little effort. I was very impressed with how quickly it accelerates also.

This bike is a complete 180 for me from the XB line of Buells in a good way.



Bad

The motor is really noisy it sounds like its chewing itself up.

Yesterday was a 60 degree day, but the bike was running pretty damn hot the whole time.

At low rpm's he bike is very jerky, allot like the vrod from 1k to 4k rpm.

The gauge cluster is very hard to see in sunlight and you don't see it at all while riding unless you look directly down.

I have a love/hate with the looks, the front looks like ET or the robot maid from Rocky. The radiator scoops don't look as bad in person as they do in pictures.

Over all I give it about a 7 1/2 out of 10. The good far out weigh the bad for me with this bike, Buell has really hit a home run that will hopefully keep them in the market for a long time.

[sfarson]

Wow. And purposefully, nothing bad?

[smoothrod]

Originally Posted by sfarson

Wow. And purposefully, nothing bad?

Sorry man I had to save the post and get in the car the wife was rushing me. I just finished it up on the road.

[EZE RIDER]

Hey thanks for that input. A man of your word! My V ran hot until she broke in some and I got the PCIII for a less lean fuel curve. Sounds good.

[KBOlsen]

Mmmmmmmmmm Buell.... taaasty!!!

[sfarson]

Smoothrod... Nice review. Like balanced ones noting the +/-'s.

[3OliveMartini]

thanks smoothie.

[cptjam]

I rode one Saturday - got the free camelback! Great power and handling, but the rear brake pedal is hard to find. Roll on wheelies are a snap. Overall, very nice.

[rjrivero]

BUELL ON PODIUM AT HOCKENHEIM 1000
New 1125R Makes German Racing Debut on Easter Weekend

Cologne, Germany (March 25, 2008) –The brand-new Buell 1125R delivered a stunning debut at the start of the German racing season on Easter Saturday, posting 2nd and 5th place finishes on Hockenheim’s demanding Grand Prix circuit.

Over the past 33 years, the 1000-km of Hockenheim has not only become the established prelude to the German motorcycle racing season, the traditional endurance race is also considered the most important German production-based racing event for motorcycles. This year, BMW and KTM each supplied selected teams with extensive factory support, both competing in Class 4 for four-stroke motorcycles of unlimited displacement with three cylinders or less that features the best and most popular riders. No fewer than four BMW HP2 Sports and five KTM RC 8s claimed chances to win in a grid of 32 motorbikes that also held numerous Ducatis and Aprilias.

But as it turned out, others were to provide the true sensation on March 22nd – the only two competing Buell 1125R, entered into the race by the Buell dealers of Bonn and Hannover. Both bikes had only arrived in Germany three days before Easter, but despite minimal preparation, caused a stir right from the start with scorching lap times at low ambient temperatures on a dry track. In the sprint race over 14 laps, riders Axel Reimann and Ray Buchmann realized the 1125R’s full potential and left nearly the whole field behind, beaten only by the factory supported BMW under former Moto GP racer Jürgen Fuchs and professional racer Marcus Barth.

Volker Schirmer, manager of Buell Hannover, could not disguise his enthusiasm over his team’s second place finish. “I am absolutely ecstatic. The 1125R is a quantum leap in output and performance. The 146hp twin-cylinder engine, developed by Rotax to Buell specifications, is a perfect match for the best chassis that Erik Buell has ever designed.”

After coming in fifth, riders Julius Ilmberger and Martin Kratzer were also delighted with the new Buell. “With slightly harder tires, our chances would have been even better,” said Andreas Binner, boss of Buell Bonn. “But even so, I am really happy – my boys have done a fantastic job, and the 1125R is up for success.”

[GQ_01]

Sport bikes aren't my particular bag of chips, but I really like the 1125R. If I were to buy a sport bike, that'd be it. I think what I like most about it is the oh-what-the-hell looks. Literally, to me, it looks like the engineers asked each other, "Do you think we should _____? Oh, what the hell…" It's different from every other [insert sport brand here], which are all more of the same. Granted, it's "more of the same" MotoGP-winning formula(s), but I'm not in MotoGP… The best part is it seems like it all works pretty well! I sure would love to take one for a ride. Thanks for the review.