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Buell 1125R - Would you consider one now?

18K views 59 replies 42 participants last post by  drewpy  
#1 ·
The Buell 1125R uses the Austrain BRP-Rotax liquid cooled engine, on paper this is a giant leap forward from the air cooled version that has been used in the past.
The engine is a 72-degree V-twin. Buell engineers wanted the angle of the V to be as narrow as possible, to allow more flexibility for positioning in the frame, but still wide enough to allow a clean straight path from the throttle bodies into the combustion chamber, 72 degrees is the ideal number. Buell claims an output of 146hp at 10,500 rpm at the crank & 82 foot-pounds of torque. The engine has a "dry sump" and has an oil storage tank in the left side, oil is not stored in the swingarm. Like previous Buell's the fuel is stored in the frame and has a capacity of 5.6 gallons.

The clutch, uses engine vacuum to reduce clutch pull effort and to provide a back-torque-limiting effect. It's easy to feel the effect by pulling the clutch with the engine off, then again with the engine running. Closed-throttle deceleration creates an engine vacuum which reduces the clutch clamp load. It's an entirely different approach than your typical, mechanical slipper clutch, Buell engineers claim it offers the advantage of using a free power source, the engine vacuum.

Specs

MSRP - $11,995
Engine - Rotax V-twin - 146hp
weight -375 lbs (421 wet)
Tansmission Six-Speed
Brakes
Front
Single 375mm floating rotor, 8-piston caliper
Rear
Single 240mm fixed rotor, two-piston caliper

Front Suspension - Showa Forks (47mm)
Rear Suspension - Showa adjustable single shock
 

Attachments

#20 ·
Possibly. I owned an X1 once and it was a fun red green light to red light traffic bike. The looks still do have something to be desired. But I personally can't speak wonders of the 08 CBR 1000 front end either.



There really isn't to much HD left in that bike. Maybe some misc parts, but the major contributing factor HD had WAS the power plant. Now that it has been swapped for the Rotax, I want to see where the Buell/HD relationship goes.
 
#37 ·
I am with you on this one. To be honest if i would have had the money Tat is what I was looking to buy. I dont know if any of you have ridden the firebolt or the 1125r but i love them. they are great bikes and the bike's seem to fit me perfectly. I am 6'2" and my 954 feels a little to cramped where I did not have that feeling on the buels.
I have not ridden either in the twistees but from what I have heird and read they are hard prest to be beet with there flickability.
I duno. I love my honda but if i had the cash i would still buy either a Firebolt or 1125r.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I don't have a problem with the technology. I've wondered when it was going to happen. I always thought that Buell was limited way to much by the Harley lump. It's just that I've never found the Buell esthetic to be all that attractive to me. That's a very personal and subjective judgment, I love sportbike twins like the RC51 and the Aprilias. And I assume the Rotax engine has a lot of promise. So, no, there is not a Buell in my future, 1125R or otherwise.
 
#22 ·
I like the look,

It's different and I like the idea of riding something that isn't the cookie cutter image.

I don't like the fact that it has a belt drive, It needs a chain and if I were to ever own that would be the first thing to go aftermarket.

A chain drive will take the engine load better.

Chain drives are narrower, they are much more efficient (no hysteresis losses), are more durable, take shock loads better then a belt, and have a longer life span in higher HP applications.

Belts have a tendency to break under high load and are subject to dry rot.
 
#25 ·
I don't think it looks too bad actually - dare I say, almost Japanese?. But you'd have to change the belt drive and those wheels. Even if looks are deceiving, they really do look brittle and in complete contrast to the rest of the bike.
By the sounds of what some you guys are saying, good performance, road-holding and handling, just drop the price to something a little more reasonable and Buell might be on to a winner. Good luck to them, I say. Variety is the spice of life...
 
#27 ·
"The scoops..."

When I saw a picture of the 1125R for the first time my reaction was sorta "well, not bad, has a little less of that Buell look... not as generic as the inline 4's... not bad I guess... wow, those scoops are kinda big..."

The more I looked at it the more I saw "the scoops".

Now all I can see when I look at it is "the scoops".

I guess I have a personal problem with "the scoops". I'll call my therapist tomorrow and make an appointment.:rotfl: