The Buell 1125CR test

[davebullet]

What form of ECU fuel injection tuning is available on the Buell? Sounds like to me a lumpy low end throttle is misaligned fuel metering. Mid size twins can be made relatively smooth down low, so presume a well balanced racing version of a larger twin would be no lumpier...

[kiwifruit]

even the SV1000 was better than this!

thats a bit harsh!

If you get the chance to ride one round a race track give it a go....
I was most impressed with Blackbuell's 1125 round Taupo. Set off on it thinking it would probably be HORRID like the "old" buells, not the case. First gear is really tall! Loved the slipper clutch, felt like a two stroke when off the gas, bang it down as many as you like coming into a corner, really light lever action too. The Brakes worked really well, great feel and biblically(tm) powerful. I found myself going faster and faster as the laps went on, chassis felt great. Motor was impressive too, pulled right thru to redline (or what i think was redline, the clocks were vibrating that much!), didn't get dropped (ok, but only a few metres) by a 1098 down the back straight.

[Drogen Omen]

the engine fired up and idled at 3500 rpm,
The engine needs revs to keep going, it lugs badly below about 4000 Rpm.

The one you rode must have been faulty... cause the one i rode sat at 1000RPM on idle and was fine at slow traffic jam speeds, i managed to make it crawl under 5km and revs were round 1000rpm to 1500rpm, as i am short the only thing i found was that the bike was too tall for me, could only ti pi toe on one side.

[Scouse]

i am short the only thing i found was that the bike was too tall for me, could only ti pi toe on one side.

Ah so thats your Fookin Problem, youv'e got Napolean Syndrome

[Drogen Omen]

Ah so thats your Fookin Problem, youv'e got Napolean Syndrome

...??? Hey just cause I'm short doesnt mean i cant enjoy riding bikes... Whats the hight equivalent of Racist...?

Would have got me a Street triple if i had the $, but cc for $ was cheaper to get a Buell. 1200cc Buell for $14k compared to 675cc Street triple for $19k...

What is every ones problem with Buell's...? or are you guy's just Blindly Brand loyal...?

[buellbabe]

Well I have yet to ride a Buell that I am not instantly comfortable on but have to admit that the 1125R (haven't ridden the CR...yet) just wasn't my cupatea...although I didn't have any of the issues described in the first post.
I found the front brake to be the usual full-on buell brake (jeez did no-one warn ya???) I thought everyone knew they are aggressive? But the rear took me by surprise, was alot more grabby than I'm used to...and that made for an embarrassing wobble around a 35km corner...shame!

As for lugging under 4000rpm...thats because its supposed to be revving alot higher than that...it was a while since I rode the R but from memory I think its supposed to be around5/6000.
So don't blame the bike...YOU were in the wrong gear...surely the lugging was a pretty clear signal??? Why is that the bikes fault?

I found the R to be a heavy ride until it was full noise and then it really came into its own and those ponies certainly kicked their heels up! So what if it doesn't have the same top speed as an R1 of a Gixxer? Its not claiming to be another clone.

Its different and it certainly doesn't suit everyones tastes.

Oh and the R model is doing really well in the AMA sportbike series. In fact it came first in a butt-kicking round just recently.

[Pwalo]

Oh and the R model is doing really well in the AMA sportbike series. In fact it came first in a butt-kicking round just recently.

Don't forget that the AMA Daytona spec allows the Buell to run against Japanese 600's, Aprilia 1000s, and the Ducati 848, so I'm not convinced that that's particularly impressive. But I am disturbed that I find the CR kind of attractive.

[carver]

thats a bit harsh!

If you get the chance to ride one round a race track give it a go....
I was most impressed with Blackbuell's 1125 round Taupo. Set off on it thinking it would probably be HORRID like the "old" buells, not the case. First gear is really tall! Loved the slipper clutch, felt like a two stroke when off the gas, bang it down as many as you like coming into a corner, really light lever action too. The Brakes worked really well, great feel and biblically(tm) powerful. I found myself going faster and faster as the laps went on, chassis felt great. Motor was impressive too, pulled right thru to redline (or what i think was redline, the clocks were vibrating that much!), didn't get dropped (ok, but only a few metres) by a 1098 down the back straight.

haha, now there is something i left out, the gear shift action is great!

sounds like you had a ball on it, pity we have no local race track here-oh wait, it starts at my front door!

oh, and i aint ridden old buells-are they worse?

The one you rode must have been faulty... cause the one i rode sat at 1000RPM on idle and was fine at slow traffic jam speeds, i managed to make it crawl under 5km and revs were round 1000rpm to 1500rpm, as i am short the only thing i found was that the bike was too tall for me, could only ti pi toe on one side.

true?
anything under 3000rpm and it was surging and just unhappy!

Well I have yet to ride a Buell that I am not instantly comfortable on but have to admit that the 1125R (haven't ridden the CR...yet) just wasn't my cupatea...although I didn't have any of the issues described in the first post.
I found the front brake to be the usual full-on buell brake (jeez did no-one warn ya???) I thought everyone knew they are aggressive? But the rear took me by surprise, was alot more grabby than I'm used to...and that made for an embarrassing wobble around a 35km corner...shame!

As for lugging under 4000rpm...thats because its supposed to be revving alot higher than that...it was a while since I rode the R but from memory I think its supposed to be around5/6000.
So don't blame the bike...YOU were in the wrong gear...surely the lugging was a pretty clear signal??? Why is that the bikes fault?

I found the R to be a heavy ride until it was full noise and then it really came into its own and those ponies certainly kicked their heels up! So what if it doesn't have the same top speed as an R1 of a Gixxer? Its not claiming to be another clone.

Its different and it certainly doesn't suit everyones tastes.

Oh and the R model is doing really well in the AMA sportbike series. In fact it came first in a butt-kicking round just recently.

i never bitched about the top speed!

wrong gear, i found first to be the lowest it would go unsurprisingly, and it still had to be at 4000rpm to give any resemblance of being smooth.

i would rather hitch-hike with the village people than buy this!

the honda predator is far better than this, and by so much!

Don't forget that the AMA Daytona spec allows the Buell to run against Japanese 600's, Aprilia 1000s, and the Ducati 848, so I'm not convinced that that's particularly impressive. But I am disturbed that I find the CR kind of attractive.

dont be disturbed, we could have dinner some time!

[Crusty]

haha, oh look, you own a buell too!

I've owned four. The first, a '98 S3-T had 60,000 miles on it when I traded it in on a 2000 M2. The M2 had 55,000 miles on it when I bought my '06 XB12X Ulysses. I kept it for two years and 34,000 miles, then traded it in for an '08 Xb12XT. I've only managed to put 14,000 miles on it since I bought it last May.
Yes, I'm loyal to Buells. They've earned my loyalty.
I've owned motorcycles from England, Italy, Germany, Japan and the USA. I've been riding 40 years, and I love ALL kinds of motorcycles.
But I can recognize a troll when one surfaces.

[Dazza]

Hey carver, go test ride an older Buell & see what ya think. I test rode the 1125R (was supposed to be the CR but wasn't ready for demos as they where changing the bars & stuff, not much point in having 2 bikes with the same riding position) yesterday after being after a ride 12mths ago but they wouldn't allow it is the fuelling was rubbish below 5000 RPM, same bike nearly 12mths later & the fuelling is much improved, still hunts aroung 5000 RPM, & agreed the mirrors are shit. But to me these are a neat bike, the motor is f'n awesome & she's a good bang for buck bike. Go buy the Predator, it's different strokes for different folks.

[carver]

Hey carver, go test ride an older Buell & see what ya think. I test rode the 1125R (was supposed to be the CR but wasn't ready for demos as they where changing the bars & stuff, not much point in having 2 bikes with the same riding position) yesterday after being after a ride 12mths ago but they wouldn't allow it is the fuelling was rubbish below 5000 RPM, same bike nearly 12mths later & the fuelling is much improved, still hunts aroung 5000 RPM, & agreed the mirrors are shit. But to me these are a neat bike, the motor is f'n awesome & she's a good bang for buck bike. Go buy the Predator, it's different strokes for different folks.

wow, someone with a open mind, so there was a issue with the fueling eh?

this was one of the biggest issues with it.
i will try get my hands on a late model 12x if i can

[Dazza]

wow, someone with a open mind, so there was a issue with the fueling eh?

this was one of the biggest issues with it.
i will try get my hands on a late model 12x if i can

As I said there was an issue with this particular bike 11mths ago which appears now to be sorted (so it can be sorted), the surging @ 5000 RPM may have something to do with the emmission/certification thingy stuff !
Yeah, go ride a XB9/12 (nothing wrong with the fueling on the one I rode) & see if you can check out an even earlier model to see where these bikes have come from. I'm not a Buell owner so I'm no way speaking as a fan or past owner, I would suspect that alot of owners buy the older models for the engine characteristics (aswell as the chassis/handling of course) but the new engined 1125 is a damn fine engine which most certainly performs

[Big Dave]

What a load of crap.

I did 1000km on one and it's a great $20k motorcycle.
Wicked fast and brilliant handling.

Full report in KR - $10 at your news stand.

That is all I have to say about that. :-)

[BMWST?]

The front end disappeared as I sat on the bike, I turned on the key, and the fans started their fucking annoying whining before I even started the engine.
The ignition switch pressed, the engine fired up and idled at 3500 rpm, the dash proudly telling me this bike was made by Buell in Wisconsin.
On idle it sounds like a overlocker on full tilt.
The engine needs revs to keep going, it lugs badly below about 4000 Rpm.
It’s a bit like a 450 MX bike engine, your either on the gas or off it.
This bike is like fucking some annoying slut that wont shut up.
I found myself yelling at it to perform.
Its frustrating to ride, in town its terrible, on the open road its ok, nothing great.
It handles ok, the brakes are nothing, nothing, nothing…..then severe fork dive and they bite too hard.
The mirrors belong on a coke heads table, they are fucking useless.
It wheelies ok, but I ended up wheeling it out of frustration.
Apparently its thirsty too….
The headlight does the job, bit like the girl next door-its nothing special.
The styling is ugly, and far too overdone.

So there you go, another American piece of shit that misses the mark badly, and should be used as a urinal.

as a review for someone who actually wants to know what whats about this bike this test is hopeless.Your opinion of the bike comes across loud and clear in the first sentence.You dont say anything that i can form an opinion on

[carver]

What a load of crap.

I did 1000km on one and it's a great $20k motorcycle.
Wicked fast and brilliant handling.

Full report in KR - $10 at your news stand.

That is all I have to say about that. :-)

all i have to say about KR is that your a load of greasers who never seem to find anything bad with any bike.

as a review for someone who actually wants to know what whats about this bike this test is hopeless.Your opinion of the bike comes across loud and clear in the first sentence.You dont say anything that i can form an opinion on

my style-straight, harsh and clear.