Buell 1125R Review
I had a chance to ride the new 1125R back in September at a Buell sponsored track day at Pocono's East Course. The bikes were pre-production models and the Buell reps asked us to fill out survey's after the ride and let them know of any issues we had with the bikes.
My initial response to the bike was that it was ugly. The radiator scoops on that thing looked hideous in pics. However, that feeling disappeared when I saw the bike in person. The scoops and nose fairing aren't nearly as huge in real life as they appear in pictures. Now let's get down to business... On the track this baby rolls. The exhaust sounds good, but not overly loud. Handling is typical of the Buells. Goes where you want it with little effort. Pulls like a freight train from just about any RPM and any gear. It's a total joy to ride. Very forgiving and very easy to go fast on. Nice top end on it too. A lot more so than the XB's. The slipper clutch was really nice. A lot of guys where saying how flawless it was when just clicking down a gear and dumping the clutch. As a guy who blips on the down shift it worked very well for me. The stock Pirelli's have great grip. Ergo's are pretty comfortable as well. The best thing about this bike, and most v twins for that matter, was the torque. Buell claims something like 83 or 84 ft lbs of torque. It felt like it too. The front end gets very light between corners. The ZTL brake on the front does an incredible job of slowing that sucker down at the end of the straight. It's easily a 1 or 2 finger job to slow it from triple digits. There were a few things I didn't like about the bike. First...they were all running sort of hot. Around 200*. Although after some discussions with Vtwin owners, 200 doesn't seem to be a concern. This was the end of September, so air temps weren't hot at all. The Buell rep down played the 200* and said it wasn't an issue. Also, all the demo bikes had a nasty black scuff of the right side of the swingarm from the rider's boots. It was odd to feel the swingarm moving against my boot. And my other complaint was that the rear brake pedal was sort of tough to reach. It was placed oddly behind the clutch cover and took a very deliberate movement to reach. The bottom line was I LOVED the bike. If I had the cash I woulda dropped the money right then and there for the 1125R. It was a BLAST to ride. Insanely fun. But then again, most V's are. Here's two shots of me on the 1125. http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...%20pics/Q2.jpg http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...%20pics/P2.jpg |
Also....Buell is claiming something like 134hp to the wheel. And 82 or 83 ft pounds of torque.
Well they aren't far off. I've seen a 1125R dyno sheet. Hows bout this: 141HP and 80 ft lbs. BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH! Buell FTMFW! Torque curve damn near flat as a fucking board from 3k all the way to the 10k redline. |
What is MSRP on those things? If I remember right they are around the $11.5K range?
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Here's the dyno sheet. I blatantly and shamelessly stole this from a Buell board:
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/134/322963tq2.jpg And for comparison: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Photos...ti_1098_hp.jpg http://images.sportrider.com/bikes/1...orsepower+.gif |
200* aint bad for a vtwin truthfully
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damn the 1125R is looking sexier and sexier:drool:
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I didn't get to ride it but it is one sweet bike in person.
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what does the 1098 put down for Torque? damn the Buell numbers are quite impressive! can't wait to see the thing in RL!
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90.4 lb-ft @ 8000rpm (At the wheel of course) And thats the standard 1098, not the 1098R ,that puts down 99.1lb-ft @ 7750rpm |
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Of course. I'm doing the Vtwin tour this spring. :lol:
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Yeah I love the new 1098 and 848... they've got everything in my opinion... (except all day comfort :lol:)
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Mine has about 10 minute comfort.
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What about that Buell though? All day comfort?
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(I'm going with the latter... and I'm jealous as hell! of him... not the bike:fu2:) Quote:
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yup multi quote works :dvrofl:
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180 when runnin on the highway |
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have to see what kinda strings i can pull. |
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wow, they let you test it on a track? Sweet!
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:drool: lucky you!
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gotta check into that. would love to test ride one.:drool: |
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thanks, on there now.
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they've got one scheduled in Oct. @ that new track that's being
built in NJ. |
doing it tomorrow.... Homestead-Miami Speedway Buell Inside Pass track day!!!!!
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^^^^ good, will need a review from you as well sir!
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i agree with everything that Marko said, with the exception of the clutch controls and foot positioning....I didn't find any |
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Found a write up on a journalist that low sided a 1125R at an inside pass track day
here's the link. http://www.2wf.com/content/view/1366/44/1/0/ |
Its funny that this thread came back today. I actually just saw and sat on an 1125r today for the first time (first time seeing in person) and it is pretty damn nice bike. I have to agree too that the front intakes arent nearly as ugly in person and it was relatively comfortable. The only thing I didnt really like was how tall it was. I could put my feet down, but I was still on my toes. Other than that I wouldnt mind one.
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They are a BLAST to ride... Hit 100 miles tonight before I got chilly. Power seems to just keep building as I get more miles on it!! |
come to the gap. i cant wait to pit the rc against the new contestant.... can i lure you into a corner by chance....
cutty, u a knee dragger? sparky's for the mother fucking win... |
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There are a couple 1125's at the gap, saw the pics on killboy. one stock colored, another repainted the black to a burnt orange. |
that exhaust needs to get gone
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The look isn't as bad in person. It kinda blends with the bike.
My biggest worry with changing it is losing the kick ass torque curve... or line in this case. |
that blue frame with the burnt orange looks like SHIT!
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He's talking about doing frame and wheels black over the winter... but with the frame as the gas tank, it's harder to find a powder coater to do it. |
I took a look at one of these today at the harley dealership, it sits like a KLR650, but it feels so nicely balanced, and light. I mean you'd think it was an EX500, not a big fucking 1125.
I talked to the sales rep a little, and am thinking seriously about buying one for myself now, just to play with it. they seriously look VERY VERY VERY good in person. everything I looked at was just so nice, clean and refined. a fender eliminator is ALL I"d need to do, and its perfect. |
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and that's the thing I like... of all the factory bikes out there, the buell has one of the cleanest tails out there. |
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but yeah... 100 is pretty weak... :lol: |
Cutty...have you had the latest re-flash done? I'm reading it makes the bike all but perfect!!!!!
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I still havent scored a ride on 1125 yet. I do like it tho. |
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Sorry, to me, I'm not going to risk my brand new bike on icy roads just cause it's new... there was lots of summer left and the 7K on it now attest to that. Quote:
I guess I may have to get it in and then ride it a bit to see the difference. But with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's... heat isn't an issue right now anyway :lol: |
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