| Author | Message | ||
     Midnightrider |
OK - I'm declaring open season - on me. Any Uly riders take a test spin on the 1125 yet and any of those going to make the move? I've been sitting around the house recuperating from my recent crash. No real worries there. I'm so bored I actually started painting my shop-vac to look like R2D2. I always thought it looked like the little droid, I already had the rattle cans, ......anyway. How sad is that? So we had some company over and we got to talking about bikes and Buells. The topic of the 1125R came up and he mentioned how folks in his neck of the woods (Baltimore) had really been talking it up and are really excited about it. For the second or third time since I got the 1125 brochure in the mail, the wife said "Why don't you get one?" The Uly's barely 2 years old and although it hasn't been officially checked out by the dealer I believe it's very rideable as is. So what's wrong with me? I remind myself of the adage of never buying a first-year model - but that didn't stop me from buying the Uly without even a test ride. Then I wonder about the seating position of the 1125 - is it too much of a "tank-hugger" sportbike position that would put too much pressure on the hands of this aging body? I then think that I'll ride the Uly another year and maybe go for the 2009 1125. But I don't want to spend the next year kicking myself over the missed opportunity. I guess a test ride would answer this question - but I think one quick test ride and it would be "game over" I love the Uly but I really don't even come close to taking full advantage of its handling capabilities. My chicken strips are so embarrassingly wide I've been thinking of taking a little sandpaper to them. I'm working towards a track day in the near future to pick up some more skills and confidence. Maybe I think I'm just not ready for something like the 1125, Then again, my first bike was an X1 Lightning. Other friends borrowed somebody's 250 cc bikes for their road test but I practiced and practiced and practiced the maneuvers and passed my road test on the X1. I was the only one in my MSF Basic Course who already had their license and I took the Advanced Riders Course 2 years later just to learn. So how much could I get for a 2006 Uly with under 15K? | ||
| Karlsbad |
keep the Uly and add the 1125R, I have a deposit on one should be here in Nov. There is no way I will sell the Uly (Mines an 08) until the Buell designed Rotax shows up in the uly then off it goes for the upgraded version. So ponder this for a moment, I will be riding my new 1125 when you are waiting 1 year to work the bugs out. Let me be the first to say every bike has a few bugs, the FZ fuel injection looks like it may finally be right, BMW bikes still surge (I know been there) ST1300 & FJR1300 are bloody hot on a hot day,most HD brakes suck (got one of those as well) the list goes on and on. If you like the bike, you like to ride, buy the thing. When your heeled over in a huge sweeper and grinning ear to ear all the little bugs seem to go away then come back as splats on the visor. Ride it now you may not be able to tomorrow | ||
| Chrisb |
I rode the 1125 at the VIR PTT event. It took about a lap on the track for me to get used to the ergos of the 1125 after coming off the Uly. I discovered I had to keep my elbows real loose and use my "core" more for support to not cause my hands to go numb. I'll say this about the 1125, Wouldnt have given much thought as something to buy until I got almost an hour of track time with the 1125. I want one now but I'm going to wait until the bike of the month club guys start dumping them for something else or the first year gremlins coupled with the typical HD dealer BS about resolving Buell problems to "force" them to sell cheap in order to run back to their rice/pasta world. | ||
| Jlnance |
Any Uly riders take a test spin on the 1125 yet and any of those going to make the move? Yes, I rode one at VIR. It's a nice bike, I had a great time on it. Before I went, I was sort of toying with the idea of trading the Uly for one. Now I know I'm keeping the Uly. The 1125r is a great bike, it was a Blast on the track. If I was gonna ride on the track more often, I'd consider one. The Uly is a much more comfortable bike. I frequently do 600+ mile days and there is no way I could pull that off on an 1125r. Perhaps if I was younger. I'd miss the gas mileage I'm getting on the Uly, and I think the 1125 would suck for 2 up riding (though to be fair I haven't actually tried that.) Also the 1125 is fast as hell, I know I'd get speeding tickets. Which is all to say the 1125r and the Uly are very different bikes. What you want to do with it is going to have a lot to do with which one is better for you. FWIW, I have no doubt you can handle an 1125r. It is an easy bike to ride. The power delivery is very smooth, better than the Uly actually. The power band is so wide it doesn't matter what gear you're in. You're not going to accidentally loop it or anything. The only issue might be the same one I have. If you owned a bike that would run 160+, how many times would you have to do it? If you get a chance to go to one of the PTT (Inside Pass) days, do it. Even if you don't take your own bike, you'll get a chance to ride the 1125r on the track, and that will answer a lot of your questions. | ||
| Pso |
Midnightrider-First off I would like to say if I didn't know better your bike looks like mine. I do not use the rear bag, I also have the driving lights like you have. I also painted the windscreen black. Now for the 1125 question. I like the simplicity of the Lump in my Uly. Very easy to work on. I talked with one of the Buell wrenches at a local Hardley dealership and he told me that he was instructed if there is a major problem with the Rotax engine he is to send it back to the factory. I am not sure if he is accurate or not, but the major complaints about hardley dealers not beingable to do adequate work on a buell gives one pause as to how well they will be able to work on what appears to be a more complex MC. I have had a numbe of Japanese bikes, all of them good but all of them more and more complicated. For handling and comfort I have found my Uly to be the best so far for me, of course this is subject to change as the industry continues to improve the product. Just my 2 cents. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I talked with one of the Buell wrenches at a local Hardley dealership and he told me that he was instructed if there is a major problem with the Rotax engine he is to send it back to the factory. That's true. The program is dubbed "infant care" and there is a rapid response team poised to receive and analyze any issues. Not unlike what Ford did when they rolled out the GT-40. It's a system that rapidly matches technical needs and resources. Thought has gone into this bike that few have or will ever see. I'm not convinced there is anything at all complicated about working on the Helicon. But I'll reserve opinion till I've received and read the manuals. | ||
| Pso |
Court: I think this is another example of what makes Buell a truly superb organization. Also with "the infant care" program the service on these new bikes will probably be superb. I sure hope that the 1125 puts Buell on the big map. I know that the fellows (two parts fellows, service mngr and a few of the wrenches, all buell folks) at annapolis harley are looking forward to the new Buell. I think it is very interesting that there are few places that I go on my Uly or Sara on her Scg that people do not approach us and know of Buell's (and these folks might not be M/C folks). Seems like the word is getting out. | ||
| Court |
The word, in all candor, is getting out. I visit regularly with folks in about 8 countries and it's amazing. I told Erik last weekend that when Dr. Don Chase (President of the Buell Owners Club) bought his red 1990 RS-1200 and I saw he was from Tennessee I thought we'd gone WORLDWIDE and there were less than 100 Buells in the world. I told someone last weekend about trying to get a title for my first Buell . . . . "there's not such thing . . It's got to be either a Bricklin or a Buick" The 1125r also offers Buell a GREAT OPPORTUNITY at the dealer level. Folks like Liberty, anticipating the guff about dealers and their ability, are going light years beyond what is required in terms of technical training. There was an interesting conversation last weekend between Erik and Moose about one of the HD FLH's with the "fly by wire" throttle that suddenly did the WFO thing that is supposed to be impossible. Chris explained to Erik how he diagnosed the dual algorithms of the software, trouble shot and fixed the bike. Erik, no slouch wrench in his own right, commented that very few folks probably have that level of knowledge of both spinning wrenches and the technical issues involved. There will be outstanding training avialble to dealers for the 1125r and and incredible factory support system. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
The ULY and the 1125r are vastly different in their intended uses. Like a rubber mallet and a sledge hammer..both hammers... but very different. The Uly is for Sport Touring, light offroad and all around easy trnsportation..The 1125R is pure sport bike...best suited for the track as in GSXR, CBRR, R1..great fun...not too practical...but great fun...There is no law saying someone can't have both..... | ||
| Strokizator |
I'm not too concerned about dealer service. HD dealers have been working on the V-Rod for years and it's not the typical Harley. Engines are engines. My local "powersports" dealer sells Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Polaris and Can-Am (street bikes, dirt bikes, quads, jet-skis, even generators)and services them all without much difficulty. The fact that Buell is going the extra mile for the 1125 tells me they are very committed to customer satisfaction. The fact that it's got a "new" engine wouldn't scare me off a bit. | ||
| Court |
>>>>The fact that it's got a "new" engine wouldn't scare me off a bit. Me neither. Now if they would just make a blue Ulysses with heated grips! | ||
| Sparky |
Uh oh, Court. They do make a blue one for 2008. George K (the California Kayaker of SCAB fame) posed with one outside the Buell display at Laguna Seca. Yeah, he wants one too. Even bought a matching license plate frame! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Midnight, Hang on to that ULY. I personally think that Buells are so different than other bikes that years from now they will be considered highly prized by bike aficionados. How many times have you heard some old coot say something like this, "I sure wish I had kept that 32 Chevy coupe I had when I was just back from the war". That is what a lot of us will be saying about the Buell we sold but really didn't have to. That's also why I haven't sold my 97' Electraglide. Eventually it will be very rare to see an old Evo on the rode. Even today, you mostly see twin cams. Rarely do you see shovel-heads, and count yourself lucky to see panheads, or knuckleheads on the road. Air-cooled Buells will be the same. The tubers are already rarely seen but cool as hell to look at imho. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Bad news Court, they did, but you can only buy it if you promise to ride it from Liberty to the Pacific Ocean, then back to NY. I doubt you would be up to it. ;) if that don't do it, I don't know what will | ||
| Court |
Actually . . that's been a bit of the kicker. . . . If I had the thing, I'd likely ride it! I'd love to pick the thing up at Liberty . . . have the first service done in Topeka. . . slip out to see Jerry Johnson. . . like I did last time . . get tire changed and bike serviced. . . visit with my youngest son . . take him and his new (in 2 weeks) wife to din-din and then ride home . . . How tough can that be? | ||
| Mike_dinger |
I'm still holding out for the pics of R2D2.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Different tools for different jobs. You wouldn't do surgery with a steak knife and you wouldn't cut steak with a scalpel. I am not really interested in any true sport bike ergos. I am looking for naked standard. If you really want an 1125R, make in addition to the Uly or you'll wish you had your steak knife back for those vast swaths of slab "meat". | ||
| Garry |
Other than more acceleration, what would the 1125R offer that the Uly doesn't for your riding/needs? It's a sportbike and you claim to have huge chicken strips. Sounds like you don't need a sportbike if you're not getting a lean on with the Uly. You'd just end up with an 1125R with huge chicken strips, but you would be less comfortable and it'd be less practical. Now put that 1125 engine in a 2009 Uly and you'd have something... | ||
| Florida_lime |
I'm sure everyone here has seen various sport bikes with huge chicken strips. That means the rider isn't using the bike to it's full advantage, and it isn't logical for them to own a sportbike. But... How many people really do use the motorcycle to it's full advantage ? Plus, motorcycle buying decisions are rarely based on logical reasoning, but emotional reasoning. Completely logical thinking might have prevented me from buying my Ulysses due to hearing about the numerous problems we are all aware of. I bought my bike because I wanted it, and am thankful that I did.  Of course, buying something that doesn't do what you expect from it (CRF50 for touring  ), or is a danger to the rider (Hayabusa for a first bike  ) are examples that come to mind, so all things within reason !  | ||
| Cavi |
"I'm sure everyone here has seen various sport bikes with huge chicken strips. That means the rider isn't using the bike to it's full advantage, and it isn't logical for them to own a sportbike" I am not sure this is accurate, keep in mind that where you are riding makes a whole lot of difference in how much you really can push the limits and lean the bike. Just because you do not use the whole tire, never means you shold not own a sportbike. As far as I am concerned when riding I never want the bike to be the limiting factor on the ride, it should be me. The bike should always be better than me. If I ride better than the limit of the bike then I might push the bike over the limit and end up 6 ft under. If the bike is better than me then I always have room to grow, as long as the road permits..... Picture a twisty road, a guy on a sportbike takes turn 1 at 75 MPH, he uses all of the chicken strip, I come buy at 65, and do not use the whole strip. then I try it on my goldwing(which I do not own) at 45 all is okay, then I try again to match my 65MPH from the sportbike, guess what, it does not work. So because I could not match the guy who did the turn at 75, why should that mean I do not deserve a sportbike? It doesn't. Chances are that Valentino rossi couldtake that same turn at105... | ||
| Florida_lime |
I am not sure this is accurate That was my point. It was meant as sarcasm. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I rode the 1125r at Miller Motorsport Track out side Salt Lake City. Woah, wow, whooosh! I am 6' 4" so not the typical rider of sport bikes but this one fit better than most I have tried. Narrow drive train, not overly aggressive sport haunch over the tank but you can be all business. IMHO, Erik said it best; "built from the rider down" Regarding service, the bike has some great designed in service-ability but it will be unique for a while, at most dealers, but the response should drive dealer interest. With Harley production capacity meeting demand, incentives for dealers to carry Buell that are less than mildly interested is weeding out those not as not committed to the brand. Therefore I don't expect the remaining dealers to be problems with the new technologies especially given the likelihood of further water-cooled platforms from Buell. ~jammer | ||
| Chadhargis |
I want an 1125 REALLY bad, but it's not in the budget right now. Just bought a track bike a few weeks back, so my fun money fund has been depleated. I figure I'll hold out until someone sells one cheap. | ||
| Smcnamara |
Not to hijack, but what did you pick up Chad? | ||
| Florida_lime |
GSXR600 Suzuki I think. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Wait til they come out with a Uly with the 1125 engine. I hate to say it but it is probably coming down the pipe in a year or 2 at most. They are just testing the water with this one model. Give it a bit of time. The Uly and the 1125 are so totally different in there purpose at the moment. Be patient my friend. | ||
| Johnny_uly |
I agree with everyone that said they are two very different bikes... I especially like the steak analogy | ||
| Garry |
Couldn't hurt to do some instructional track days on the Uly to use more its sporting capability. Get some leathers and sticky sportbike rubber mounted and have at it for a weekend. Be sure to go to one that does classroom time between sessions and offers personal feedback from coaches. You might find that higher speeds and big lean angle doesn't really interest you and the Uly has all the sport you need. Or you may decide a more focused sport machine like the 1125r is absolutely what you want. Either way, bikes come and go but investing money in skills improvement lasts forever. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Garry, I see your homepage is Triumph oriented. Nice bikes. Do you own a Buell, or are you being drawn like a moth to a flame? It is futile to resist. | ||
| Garry |
I see your homepage is Triumph oriented. Nice bikes. Do you own a Buell, or are you being drawn like a moth to a flame? It is futile to resist. I am/was the local Triumph RAT Pack leader. Currently between Triumphs and riding either a ZX-6R, Wee Strom or DRZ400S. I find the Uly very attractive on paper and less so on the road. But it somehow stays on my "short list". The 1125r is interesting if the ergos are relaxed enough. Consider me "Buell Curious"... | ||
| Chadhargis |
Yep...I got a 2001 GSX-R600. It's an uncomfortable torture rack to ride on the street, but it sure is fun on the track. Nothing like that top end rush and the sound of a 4 cylinder engine at 14,000rpm. |
