Buell 1125R Review

marko138 · 02-26-2008, 01:20 PM

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.

marko138 · 02-26-2008, 01:23 PM

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.

Rider · 02-26-2008, 01:29 PM

What is MSRP on those things? If I remember right they are around the $11.5K range?

marko138 · 02-26-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rider

What is MSRP on those things? If I remember right they are around the $11.5K range?

It's either 11.5 or 11.9.

marko138 · 02-26-2008, 01:34 PM

Here's the dyno sheet. I blatantly and shamelessly stole this from a Buell board:

And for comparison:

dReWpY · 02-26-2008, 04:49 PM

200* aint bad for a vtwin truthfully

Mr Lefty · 02-26-2008, 06:39 PM

damn the 1125R is looking sexier and sexier

Gas Man · 02-27-2008, 07:33 AM

I didn't get to ride it but it is one sweet bike in person.

Mr Lefty · 02-27-2008, 07:45 AM

what does the 1098 put down for Torque? damn the Buell numbers are quite impressive! can't wait to see the thing in RL!

Rider · 02-27-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ebbs15

what does the 1098 put down for Torque? damn the Buell numbers are quite impressive! can't wait to see the thing in RL!

If I remember correctly its about 90.

02-26-2008, 01:20 PM	#1
marko138 DefenderOfTheBuelliverse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Moto: Buell XB12R Posts: 18,585	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.

02-26-2008, 01:23 PM	#2
marko138 DefenderOfTheBuelliverse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Moto: Buell XB12R Posts: 18,585	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. Last edited by marko138; 02-26-2008 at 01:33 PM..

02-27-2008, 07:33 AM	#8
Gas Man Trip's Assistant Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Imported from Detroit Moto: 2009 HD Street Classic Posts: 12,149	I didn't get to ride it but it is one sweet bike in person. __________________ -Chris "Why pay somebody else to fuck up your bike?" Run Amsoil Product

02-26-2008, 01:29 PM	#3
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	What is MSRP on those things? If I remember right they are around the $11.5K range?

02-26-2008, 01:34 PM	#5
marko138 DefenderOfTheBuelliverse Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Parts Unknown Moto: Buell XB12R Posts: 18,585	Here's the dyno sheet. I blatantly and shamelessly stole this from a Buell board: And for comparison:

02-26-2008, 06:39 PM	#7
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	damn the 1125R is looking sexier and sexier

02-27-2008, 07:45 AM	#9
Mr Lefty TWFix Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver CO Moto: 01 BMW F650GS Dakar Posts: 15,677	what does the 1098 put down for Torque? damn the Buell numbers are quite impressive! can't wait to see the thing in RL!