Buell 1125R

[tykho]

Just curious, any of you guys ever ridden this bike? I've seen a couple in town, and I think I'm in love with it. The distinct styling, the vtwin sound and power, and the overall uniqueniss make it so desireable for me. I mean I see at least a dozen R6s on a daily basis, it's so refreshing to see a Buell cruising down the street...I wish I had the money to pick one up now because I totally would, especially since Buell is going out of business.

Anywho, any of you who have ridden on it or at least sat on it...what do you think of it compared to other supersports?

[tt_four]

Can't give you much info on the 1125r, but I can say I love the styling of the 1125cr. I just can't get used to the giant fairing on the R. If they had put the old XBR front fairing on it I'd be all over it.

anyway, I just bought an XB9S. Doesn't have quite the power of the 1125, but it's still worlds ahead of the GS. Great bikes. There' still a bit of a stereotype to get over as far as reliability goes, but they're way better than the bikes from the 90's were known to be. I'm not sure what else you'd want to know, but I've loved riding it so far and they don't really have any issues. The base of the motor has been around for 50 years, so it's pretty solid like the GS. The v-twin is fun around town and lets me cruise around back roads with the RPMs nice and low where I like them. I should have my new exhaust in a week or two so I think it'll be fun riding around on a sportbike that sounds like a harley, though the 1125 wouldn't sound the same. I've been meaning to do the write up again compairing my xb9 to the gs500 for that thread for comparing bikes. I wrote up a super long one one night, but it didn't post it right and I lost the whole thing.

Either way if you look around you can still find some for decent prices. There's some dealership in illinois or somewhere that still has 109 of them for around $6k. It's definitely nice being on a unique bike you really enjoy. I don't have a problem with Japanese bikes, but they just don't really do it for me ever since I started looking into the Buells. The only annoying thing about it is that any time I want to leave a bike night or something else I have to fight my way out of the mob that's surrounding it. Then I've gotta ride away while they're all watching/listening, and I'm not really the kind of person who likes to be the center of attention.

Anyway, here it is after I brought it home. I've since traded the yellow plastics for black ones, and also have a set of the transparent red ones in the mail, chopped off that fender, some shorty levers, bar end mirror, have some Pirelli Angels on the way, and hopefully have my exhaust within a week or so. Definitely pleased, the only thing I might do different would've been to buy an xb12, but if that was the case I would've also had to pay an extra $1000 or so, so I'm not complaining.

[tt_four]

and a side note, of all the time I've spent on the Buell forums, I haven't come across a single  person who bought an 1125 and didn't absolutely love it. On occassion we get someone here on the GS forum who just bought their bike a month ago and already wants something else, but I haven't seen anyone regret buying an 1125.

the only other downside are parts are gonna be hard to come by in a few years. I'm a little softer on mine that I'd like to be, but I'd really like it to last me the next 15+ years so I don't want to beat on it, then have to part the bike out just because it's impossible to find the stupidest little part. Next fall I'm probably gonna buy something cheap and japanese just to beat on so I can keep enjoying the Buell as long as possible.

[tykho]

Thanks for the info, I really love the xb9s, very nice looking bike. I've pretty much decided to get my hands on some kind of Buell for my next bike, the only other bike I'm even really interested other than the Buells is the sv650, but they're so commonplace.

[tt_four]

I almost bought an sv650 years ago. The only reason I didn't was because it was taking so long for the 2003s to get to the dealership and the guys there didn't really seem to care enough to find out any information on them. The Triumph speed four was $1000 off, which made it only $7-800 more than the sv so i jumped on it. That was a ridiculously fun bike! I think the XB9 and SV650 are probably pretty similar to ride. The xb9 definitely has a nicer suspension but I doubt the power is all that different. Even though the xb9 is 984cc, it's nothing like what you think of when you picture riding an R1 or gsxr1000 or any other liter bike. The motor is pretty soft by those standards but it's super useful and I can cruise around at just over idle all day. Plus I was surprised to find out that the noise I swore I hated, was really just because I had associated it with Harleys. I don't mind it nearly as much when I twist my throttle. I like twins but I think most of them don't sound that great because it's too even and balanced. I think the slightly offset rhythm of the xb motor sounds much better. The SV is unfortunately a victim of that thing where any bike sold in america that isn't a full on supersport just gets considered to be a budget commuter and gets covered in cheap parts. I love that Buell takes naked bikes seriously and doesn't put any cheap parts on them just because it's a naked bike. It's not an older de-tuned version of a race motor either. All of their bikes have the same exact motor(between the xbs and xbr, obviously the 9 and 12 are different, as is the 1125)

Obviously the 1125 motor is what you think of when you picture other 1000cc bikes, but I just don't need quite that much power. I also enjoy the fact that I'll never have to adjust a valve, and never have to lube a chain on my xb.

My happy little basement family....

[tykho]

There's actually a guy locally selling a XB9R Firebolt for $4500 with 10k miles on it, I've been thinking about jumping on it.

[tt_four]

Do it!

It really depends what you're looking for out of a motor. The 1125s have your standard freight train of a 1000cc motor and the XBs are, well, motors that actually work on the street. I cruise around at 2500 rpm all day on mine, and really don't have to go over 4500 rpm if I'm really moving on back roads.

See if you can at least take it for a test ride. I was pretty surprised when I rode off from the dealership. I rode 5 hours to pick it up so I didn't really have the convenience of a test ride. It shakes a bit at idle, but I didn't even notice it after about 2 days. It makes a lot of random noises you're not used to hearing on the GS since the airbox is right under your chin instead of the GS's air filter being tucked under the seat. The exhaust sounds great though, even stock, but I'm really looking forward to my new exhaust showing up later this week, or sometime next week.

They're super easy for around town as well. I know one thing people usually regret when getting a bigger bike is how easy the GS was to toss around, but I think my XB actually feels smaller than the GS. The bars are super close to the seat, which felt awkward for the first few minutes but I got used to it pretty quick and now the GS feels so stretched out. The XBR wouldn't be as bad since it has the clipons.

I used searchtempest.com to find mine. It lets you browse craigslist for any mile range without having to go on 15 different sites for different cities. That might help your search as well. Oh and did I mention it has self adjusting valves and no chain to lube every week? Very low maintenance, plus they're still air cooled twins so if you ever have to pull it apart to work on anything it's not nearly as intimidating as other bikes.

[mister]

When I look at the bikesales.com.au website, there are a Lot of Buells for sale with hardly any distance on them. I know you get this in any bike, but the percentage like this compared to the total number of bikes being sold is really high. Not having ridden one, would there be a handling reason or something other thing you could think of as to Why?

Michael

[tt_four]

Definitely not handling, these bikes have some of the best handling of anything there is. The firebolt even got #1 in one of the the magazines in the past couple years that compared 100 motorcycles, pretty much every sportbike there was, and they said the firebolt handled the best.

The reason there are so many for sale is because people aren't used to the motor. That's why I was saying it's a good idea to test ride one first. If you ride around town and back roads you wouldn't think a thing of it, but if you're a guy who likes to spend his evenings flying up and down the highway with your buddies going between 80 and 150mph, it's definitely not the bike for you. I think a lot of people get them and are disappointed that they can't keep up with their friends on R1s and zx10s on the highway. You'll be able to pull away from them on back roads and you'll enjoy your bike more in traffic or around town since you have a good bit of power right off of idle, but it doesn't have that insane rush of a top end that most japanese sportbikes do. It's really a street motor put into a sportbike, as opposed to being a full on race bike with a headlight and turn signals stuck on it, so it depends on what you're looking for. I assume some people get tired of the heckling that I'm sure they get when they go out with a group of 10 guys who are all on japanese bikes with 150hp.

Also, now that Buell has closed, it's a good time to sell because some people are paying a bit to get one. I luckily found mine cheap and will be holding onto it forever.

[tt_four]

By the way, here's some pictures of a pretty good looking 1125cr. I'm much more attracted to this one than the 1125r





The air scoops don't even bug me anymore, but if I had one I'd put the normal lightning tail on it like mine has, get some of the much thinner/less noticable radiator covers to replace the big scoops, and possibly find a new headlight and I think it would look/be amazing.

[tykho]

I do like the crs a lot too, they look like such a beefcake lol. I'm going to look at the firebolt tomorrow, if it's in good shape I might go grab a small loan and buy it, I think I'd be better off with it than a 1125 for insurance and shaZam! anyway. The more I look at the cr the more I agree with you though, it's a extremely nice looking bike.

[tt_four]

Awesome! good luck with it. I think you'll definitely enjoy riding it. Just remember not to let the shaking at idle bug you, you won't even notice it after a few days.

[makenzie71]

By the way, here's some pictures of a pretty good looking 1125cr. I'm much more attracted to this one than the 1125r





The air scoops don't even bug me anymore, but if I had one I'd put the normal lightning tail on it like mine has, get some of the much thinner/less noticable radiator covers to replace the big scoops, and possibly find a new headlight and I think it would look/be amazing.

Those things remind me of the Veratech fighters lol...I really want one.  It'll piss me off to ever buy one now, though, seeing as how I know people who got brand new ones for $7k out the door not too long ago...

[tt_four]

Definitely. Imagine how pissed the people were who just spend $12k on one a week before Buell started the sales. I would've been fuming.

It made it a lot harder when I was looking for a used xb. People were getting used xb9sx's for $4k, and I'd still see used ones 5 years old with 15k miles that people were trying to sell for $4000-4500. I found mine for $3200 with only 3400 miles on it. I figured that was close enough to new for the price. Hope I never have to sell it, but if I do I think I shouldn't have a problem making back most of what I paid for it.

[Toogoofy317]

By the way, here's some pictures of a pretty good looking 1125cr. I'm much more attracted to this one than the 1125r








Those scoops make it look like a decepticon to me 

[bill14224]

What you're telling me about the 1125 makes me want one, but as an older person I can't get past those ridiculous air scoops.  Seriously, they're ridiculous, but I have no doubt they're fine bikes.  Bikes like this are what I call robobikes.  No matter how good they are I can't get past the Transformer looks.  It looks like at any moment it'll sprout legs and arms, stand up, and blast me with its ray gun.

[tt_four]

I used to hate them so I'm more than willing to understand why other people don't like them. i really don't even notice them anymore.

[loco]

By the way, here's some pictures of a pretty good looking 1125cr. I'm much more attracted to this one than the 1125r





The air scoops don't even bug me anymore, but if I had one I'd put the normal lightning tail on it like mine has, get some of the much thinner/less noticable radiator covers to replace the big scoops, and possibly find a new headlight and I think it would look/be amazing.

Let me wipe the drool off of my chin.  That is a fantastic looking bike.  I've loved the Buells every since I first laid eyes on them on my local Harley shop.  The wife would have killed me if I bought a new bike, but I'm in love with them.  And I just love the black paint scheme.

Chad

[tt_four]

Got my new airbox cover last night so now I've got the transparent red bodywork on it. My new exhaust also came in the mail today  I just spent the last hour putting it on and taking it for a spin around the block. Ridiculously loud, but sounds really good. I'm just hoping it's not so loud that it turns into a hassle cruising around densely populated areas since I live in the city, and also like to take an occasional spin through the park. Gonna have a friend help me load a new map on it next week so I can put the new air filter on and hopefully squeeze a few more hp out of it.

Crappy picture since it's in a dark basement but it was dark outside by the time I got the cover on.