| Author | Message | ||
     Dmcutter |
I want to add a crotch rocket or just something small and light to my garage and I'm seeing a lot of the 1125s for less than CBR600s...same money, twice the torque, how can you go wrong? Obviously I'm used to and accepting of Buell quirks since I have a Uly. I've read tons of reviews on the 1125s and they seem to be not as polished or normal as Japanese or Italian counterparts, but that's the Buell character coming out, right? So for you guys that own or have ridden both, if I want something smaller and faster than the Uly for one to three hours jaunts around twisty roads or when I just feel the need for a quick blast into triple digits, and I can put up with the unique characteristics of a Uly, would one of these fit the bill? | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
I owned both for 9 months.... aCR and a Uly.... I came to a realization this summer right before I sold the CR.... The Uly is more fun in the twisties and I trusted its handling more. The CR I had to work it harder to handle the twisties. It's a fun bike, don't get me wrong.... 3rd gear was all the higher you need to go.... 90+ in 3rd isn't hard to hit.... As we all know the Uly is the work or utility horse of this breed.... But it does it all so darn well. I sold the CR with the intent to buy a TT or XB12S.... A 2010 Uly found me first.... At this moment I own 2 uly's and actually I am considering make one into a Uly with a S or TT tail.... Buy one ... Either R or CR... They are affordable and fun but be warned, you likely won't ignore your Uly for long Cheers-pete | ||
| Slowride |
I owned a CR and I am currently on my 3rd Uly. The CR bars sit lower than the R. The gearing is different and set for light to light so to speak. It tends to be twitchy in the corners with me riding it. I get tired of the triple digit speeds because I couldn't keep my wrist out it. I got tired in my neck and shoulders fighting the wind. The R is setup more for the top end of the rev range and runs great in that area. There seems to be a little more input required to work the bike in the corners and is a lot more stable at speed. The rider bubble is nice too. I would get equally as tired riding my friends R just do to the riders position and not the wind. I have owned 2 R1's, 1 TL1000R and have ridden everything from a RC8 to a Bimoto. The 1125R/CR are not as refined or as confident to ride on the street as the japanese I4's. If I was in the sportbike market, i would be running the Honda or Suzuki bikes. This is my opinion only, take it with a grain of salt. (Message edited by slowride on August 20, 2013) | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've owned both an 06 Uly and an 09 CR since they were new. The CR is not "twitchy" once you set it up for your weight and style. It can be more aggressive on turn-in...but if you set it up to suit your tastes, it can also be less aggressive. It still has enough gearing-legs to turn WELL over triple-digit speeds at the flick of a wrist, but unlike the R it is much more tractable around town and on back roads. When I rode the R, I felt it was geared too high for real world riding. The CR fits me like the proverbial glove. It has gobs of v-twin torque, with more than enough top end HP. It is ridiculously quick. I have Ulysses pegs (1" drop) and a Buell Select seat (1" rise) to go with the stock clubman bars and on a whim one Labor Day, I rode it from Frederick MD, down the Blue Ridge Parkway, to Roanoke and back. One day trip, only turned around because I had to work the next day. I think it was around 600 miles round trip, not a sore muscle on me afterwards. That said, my 06 Ulysses has 30k miles on it...and my 09 CR has 6k. Mainly....that's from self-control (and luggage space). I can carry more crap with me on the Uly, so when I do three-day loops from MD around Lake Michigan, or single-shot runs from MD to FL, it's on the Uly. The Uly also has a better charging system, to handle my heated grips, gloves, jacket, aux lights, and GPS. Self control comes into play with the power (EASILY accessible power) of the CR. If I ride it daily - and I have, for weeks at a time - my senses get used to the power, and speed, and my 17 minute commute nudges about 12 minutes. That's when I make myself change bikes  If I had to have only one motorcycle, the Uly, as it sits...is it. If I had to have only one motorcycle...I could make the CR work, with luggage and stronger electrics and lighting. I'm in trouble when the AX hits the market... | ||
| Uly_man |
I have never rode either but would look towards the CR if I did. I see nothing "un refined" about either myself. I was looking to buy a R once and the build quality is as good as anything else. The Uly is as well. All are great value for money bikes. "I want to add a crotch rocket or just something small and light to my garage and I'm seeing a lot of the 1125s for less than CBR600s...same money, twice the torque, how can you go wrong?". I guess you can not for a "same year" bike. But for half the price again a 10 old Aprilia Millie or Kwak 9R will give you the "hyper speed" you want. But unless you want to be doing 100 plus 80% of the time, have the roads and laws to let you I do not see much point myself. But of course that is just me. I have set up my 10 Uly for "sporty" road riding and I can ride it faster, harder and better, sub 120 mph area, than any sports bike I have ever had and one of those was the Aprilia Millie RSV-R. With my size I could never get past a 120 on it due to serious buffeting but I can cruise at 120 for a while on the Uly and 110 all day long if needed. It does, or mine will, get to 100 fast enough for the road. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I owned a CR for about a year and I still have my Uly. I wound up selling the CR and keeping the Uly (and 6 months later I had to replace its engine!). I liked the CR, and it had all the good qualities you describe. OTOH I never felt as confident on it in the twisties as I do on the Uly. The main characteristic I didn't like about it was that it didn't "like" to be ridden gently. The Uly seems to be very tractable- it's equally happy cruising or being hammered. The CR was just not happy below about 3500 RPM. Even if you want to, you can't always ride fast (well, you can't do it and keep your driver's license). I think I could have done things to the CR to make it more to my liking, but the Uly was fine just the way it was, and rather than diving into another model (and buying manuals, parts, etc.), I decided to keep the Uly and sell the CR. The only time I've regretted it was when the crank failed in my Uly, but with my 09 engine I'm happy with the Uly. | ||
| Dmcutter |
I am very conflicted over this...I have had 2004 ZX10Rs before both of my Ulys. Between 150 and 160 hp at the rear wheel, 425 lb wet. Stupid fast and quick, and with higher bars and lower pegs I rode one from NC to Mt Rushmore and back in a week. Like the Uly, it made lots of usable torque down low-I could be at 4 grand in any gear and just roll open the throttle and off you go, with serious power not even starting until 7 grand. I guess I remember the highlights and forget the low points. They actually didn't handle any better than the Uly and the ride was not anywhere near as plush, and forget about a passenger. The only time I really long for something smaller and lighter is when I'm trying to walk the bike around on tiptoes on uneven ground-at speed it's as good as I'll ever need. That and the human condition of always wanting what we don't have. I really love the 690 Duke but at 9 grand, I just can't see it. I suppose I will just let inertia run its course and I will ride the Uly as time allows and not buy anything. Who knows, maybe the AX will be the next great thing. | ||
| Nateba |
This may be a little off topic, but I've heard from quite a few sources that the R/CR doesn't like being driven at low speeds. I've also read that it is geared for "stop-light to stop-light." Is the gearing similar to the Uly? Lots of clutch work at low speeds? Or is the throttle just twitchy? | ||
| Uly_man |
"The only time I really long for something smaller and lighter is when I'm trying to walk the bike around on tiptoes on uneven ground-at speed". Yes I thought this may be the case. Trying to walk a bike around on "tiptoes" is the worse thing you can do as both you AND the bike are on the balance point. Get off and push it. The best way to do it, and how they do it in the show room, is with the left hand palm on the riders seat and the right hand on the throttle side to cover the brake if needed. Balance the bike and push WITH THE SEAT AND NOT THE BARS. With practice you should have no problems. If you are on the bike, for slow riding, use clutch slip, throttle and rear brake for control. If you come to a stand still slide your ass off the seat to put one foot down. As soon as the bike starts moving get your feet back on the pegs. DO NOT let them "dangle" as this may upset your balance on the bike. Again with practice you should have no problems. The Uly is a big/tall bike but it is NOT top heavy or unbalanced. (Message edited by uly_man on August 23, 2013) | ||
| Slowride |
The CR is geared differently than the R. The CR has no issues with slow speed riding, much like my Uly after it had the xb9 primary swap. Little clutch work for either. The R i rode bucked a little at slow speed. It reminded me of the KTM RC 8 I rode during a demo. It was either on or off even with lots of clutch slip. The stock uly has a pretty tall first gear and many have talked about slipping the clutch in slow speed riding on them. Honestly, it has been so long since I rode a stock uly I don't really remember. Mine has the xb9 primary and I don't have to slip the clutch. It crawls pretty good right now in 1st. | ||
| Bluex |
The CR "makes"me ride more aggressively! I feel more confident in corners, especially in hilly curvy roads, you have total speed control with your throttle alone. I still ride the Uly because I can carry my gear more comfortably. (The Fatboy is seating covered in the garage, neglected after the CR addition!) If you are looking for something light, fun, how can you go wrong? Added bonus: you'd own a bit of American sport bike history! | ||
| Ratbuell |
If that's how they do it in a showroom they're idiots. Left hand on left grip. right hand on seat or tail section. you are on the kickstand side, pushing the bike upright. If you stand to the right of the bike you have to pull it off the stand and when the stand clunks into the up position because it caught a rug or a floor tile...you're screwed. If its moving fast enough you need the brake...its also going fast enough to be balanced, so you can put both hands on the bars. | ||
| Froggy |
I've had 3 XBs, a 06 Uly, a 06 Long, and a 08 XT. I still have both the Long and 08 XT, I also have a 08 1125R and 09 1125CR.
Indeed. Personally I find the 1125s to be more comfortable overall than the XBs, so regardless if it is around town, or 3 hours, or 3 days, I prefer to take a 1125.
The only way that is possible is if your CR had two flat and blad tires that are more squared off than a Scion. I run the same rubber and suspension setup on all my bikes, the Ulysses feels like a semi truck going through the turns after being on my CR
The CR with clubman bars is the same position as the 1125R.
It is no worse than the Uly. Yes the motor loves to stretch its legs, but with a Race ECM it is fine at low speeds. The CR does better at low speeds due to its shorter gearing, but the R is fine too.
I'm not sure what stoplight to stoplight means, but the gearing is good. The throttle is more responsive than the Uly, but I wouldn't say it is twitchy. | ||
| Orygun |
Here ya go! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-Yamaha-RD400F- Daytona-Special-/271262554381?forcerrptr=true&item =271262554381&pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3f2882190 d&forcev4exp=true | ||
| Dmcutter |
How is the engine vibration of the CR compared to the Uly? | ||
| Froggy |
Less vibration for sure. Above 6000RPM there is a high frequency buzz, but the Uly does it too. Below that, it is smooth as silk. No shaking at idle, no walking itself down the driveway while on the kickstand, no random bolts falling out, and so on like a Uly. | ||
| Dmcutter |
That sounds appealing...I just read a 2009 comparo on Motorcycle USA's site where it bested the Duc Streetfighter and Aprilia Tuono. | ||
| Froggy |
If you were local, I would gladly loan you my CR for a day to see what you think. If you do look for one, all the 09/10 models have a problem with the stator overheating. It is fixable with a replacement rotor cup from EBR for $175 (after core refund). The only other common issue is the clutch slave cylinder seal, the older revisions of the piston wear out and leak, EBR has one for $100 that they use on the 1190RS and works great. | ||
| Uly_man |
"If that's how they do it in a showroom they're idiots." Opps. Sorry Guys it was as Ratbull says. I do not know my ass from my head some days. | ||
| Dmcutter |
That would make it hard to see when you ride, for sure. |
