| Author | Message | ||
     Redbuelljunkie |
Finally got to ride an 1125R... It does have big power, but that's the only thing it does better than my XB12R. It is comfortable, but so is my XB. The engine is surprisingly noisy- sounds like an air-cooled VW with no oil. Brakes feel good, ditto on the XB. Could not tell any difference in wind protection, but only got up to about 85 mph on the ride. Thought my right leg was spontaneously combusting while stopped at a traffic light (CT=185 deg)- XB gets hot, but I've never felt heat like that before. Buzz through pegs at high rpm was more than I was expecting. Bike handles great- just like the XB. Mirrors vibrate more than the XB- that was a big surprise. Pods are not so ugly while seated on the bike- so if you never stop riding the bike looks fine. The fuel injection was spot-on, and low-rpm performance was acceptable (July '08 build date). Conclusion: I can understand why the 1125R has gotten mixed reviews from the magazines- I was really expecting a bike way more refined than an XB... in some ways it seemed less. I personally would not trade my XB for one- even if I got money back. I would, however, take some of the power- but only if it could be delivered a little smoother. I really hope Buell builds an 1125-based model that improves all of the above issues (starting with aesthetics), and does it soon- I want to love one of these bikes. | ||
| Oddball |
ouch.... valvetrain noise maybe? Almost a pain inducing description there. | ||
| Two_buells |
I do not get it. I really like my 1125R a lot. All of the magazine tests were of pre production bikes that had many issues. (look at the CR reviews) After the last re-flash the heat issue is much better than any of the previous 6 Buells that I have owned. (Two were XB’s) It was a little learning curve getting to know my 1125R. You can’t just dump the clutch and go smooth, you need to rev the engine a little. Now with a 1203cc XB it starts out smooth and you can short shift at low rpm’s, hit the massive torque in the mid range and feel like a rock star until you hit 6000 rpm’s when the power comes to a stop. If you ride an 1125 like a 1203cc HD and only rev it to 4000/5000 rpm’s and shift, it will feel like a slug. The 1125 wants to be revved. Shift at 6000, you’ll be going faster than any XB. Shift anywhere between 8000 and red line, look out, you need more road. It’s scary fast! 50 HP and 4500 rpm’s more, make a big difference. So if total performance is what you are looking for, and want the best handling most powerfull prodution bike Buell has ever made take a good look at the 1125’s. | ||
| Ruprecht |
RBJ... you were never really a fan of the 1125R from what I've read though, eh? Not that I think your criticism isn't valid, but it sounds like you were trying not to like the bike. | ||
| Freight_dog |
Confirms what I experienced, and I am disappointed that they still have the heat issues. I tested an '08 last fall; loved the power, comfort was good for a sport bike, fuelling was excellent with the last reflash, and the suspension setup was fantastic, but the heat was uncomfortable, and would have been unbearable on a really hot day. I really want to love the 1125R too. I am also looking at the Triumph Speed Triple. After a back to back test ride, if the Speed Triple isn't superior the Buell wins, but I hear the Triumph is a great bike. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Ruprecht- I was disappointed by the styling of the 1125R from the beginning, but I honestly expected to be more impressed with the overall package than I was. I sincerely hope there will be a redesign that helps push the 1125 into the arena of world-wide acceptance... the bike has such potential. Two Buells- like I stated, the power is where the 1125 is so impressive- but the only place it was smoother than my XB was at idle. In the upper rev range, the XB is actually smoother (relative rpms), and that really surprised me- the buzzing of the 1125 was quite distracting. I did exactly what you suggest and tested the best handling most powerfull prodution bike Buell has ever made... and I was disappointed. Freight dog- the Speed Triple is amazing, but it feels much bigger and heavier than the 1125R. I bet the hard numbers are pretty close, though. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Two Buells- like I stated, the power is where the 1125 is so impressive- but the only place it was smoother than my XB was at idle. In the upper rev range, the XB is actually smoother I was surprised about that too. The 1125 gets more "vibey" the faster you spin it. My 12 gets smoother the faster you spin it. At 3500-4000 rpms, you almost can't tell the engine is running on my ULY. I don't know, thought, that the vibrations from the 1125 are any worse than they would be on a 1000cc IL4. (Message edited by ft_bstrd on March 08, 2009) | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
My RSV1000R does not buzz like that... go figure. | ||
| Two_buells |
My 2003 XB9R was the best Buell I ever owned. In the three years I owned It I just put Gas, Oil, and new Rubber in/on it. My Uly was the same way, other than the kick stand. My Uly was as smooth as glass. I don't notice the buzz on my 1125 as much. I used to drag race a 1994 Fatboy. That bike knew how to vibrate. I had to tighten something after every ride. I really miss my Uly but I will not buy another one until there is a Rotax Inside. | ||
| Freight_dog |
RedBuellJunkie - I was wondering about that. I definitely prefer a smaller lighter handling bike. I know the hp and torque numbers on the 1125 and the Speed 3 are close. I haven't found reliable actual weights anywhere yet, I expect the Buell to be lighter, but I have read on the BadWeb that it isn't as light as it feels. | ||
| Two_buells |
My RSV1000R does not buzz like that... go figure Thats a great bike, didn't it win WSB a few years in a row? As for the Buzz in the 1125, I guess that the angle of the vee, bore and stroke has a lot to do with that. I think the 1125 has 3 balance shafts and a Harmonic Balancer on the counter shaft sprocket. It should be smoother......} | ||
| Dynasport |
My only time on an 1125r was also on a test ride in Daytona. Last year, though, not this year. My impression was different. I test rode the 1125r, XB12XT, XB12SS, and XB12R pretty much back to back over the same road test route. Maybe I didn't get the bikes up to a high enough speed, but I found the 1125 much smoother than the XBs I rode. I also found the heat much less on the 1125. The heat on the XB12SS I rode was especially bad. The XT was not much better. It makes me wonder if it varies from bike to bike or something else. I did find the XBs easier for me to ride smoothly at low speeds. The 1125 would take more practice for me to have smooth starts. Maybe it is because I am used to low RPM torque on my FXDX and not a higher rev'ing motor. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hmmmm....Are we are at all surprised that you didn't like the Buell? Face it. You bought a RSV and the Buell had no chance to impress you. You were getting burned with coolant at 185 degrees? Really? With all due respect to XB (it's the bike I cut my teeth on and I'll always love it,) there is no chance in hell that the XB is close to being as refined as the 1125r. If you are looking for an unbiased review, this is NOT it. | ||
| R2s |
Didn't the 1125R kick the RSV1000R's but in a magazine shoot out. Wow.! And I don't know what you guys are taking about with the heat. I haven't noticed any more heat off of my 1125R than my Ducati. Remember with a twin there is a cylinder under your crotch. And you XB guys, you stick with your air cooled motors and Your 5 gears, but Buell could never be competitive with that motor and I and a lot of others interested in real performance would have never have bought a Buell if they didn't start using a different motor. AND I LIKE THE PODS( Scoops ). I like 1/2 fairings like the Ducati 900SS, and Suzuki SV650S, and to incorporate it into a scoop to me looks cool and different. I personally don't like the stylings of the 1200GS and Ulys, and they seem to be the most popular bikes of all right now, but I don't go on their site's and bash them. If you rode the 1125R, and you didn't like it, thats fine. You are entitled to your opinion, but the things you said were just plain not true. If I offend, sorry. just being honest. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Oh, I want an 1125. No doubt. I was simply surprised that the motor vibrated as much as it did. The heat is nothing! I ride a ULY. We roast our balls on every ride. | ||
| Brapbrapbrap |
All of us dreamed of the day a Water cooled Buell twin would be available. Rotax is a huge plus in my book. I think there are many that are waiting still as the 1125 did not seem to have the magic touch the XB Bikes did in particular the mixed styling themes of old and new. I think Buell is closer to ever to getting people's attention, and with a little more styling effort it would be a news maker all the way around, | ||
| Xbswede |
I have yet to notice the heat issue. I know its not the motor because it runs cooler then my other bikes. The frame yes it abosrbs heat and can be reduced some with heat shields. So far I have not been an issue while riding with gear. Maybe if I were to ride in shorts or something stupid like that I would Burn but then I think it would be deserved. I put 17000 miles on my XB before getting the 1125R and to me its smooth. Yes it is a little more viby but then again it is revving higher. If I wanted a smooth as silk machine I would have bought a R1. The 1125R has character and reminds me of a Hot Rod. This is also why I find it more fun to ride then my Yamaha. However I do agree that the 1125R was not what expected on my first test ride either. Especially the engine noise and the terrible exhaust sound. I was lucky enough to have a dealer that let me take it out for as long as I wanted so I was able to hit some of my favorite roads and get enough ride time to adjust from the XB to the 1125R. Once that happened I forgot all about my XB. By the way Latus plans on demoing both XB and 1125 at the track along with our PBR group. Anyone signed up for track day at PIR regardless of brand currently owned can take it on the track for testing. Got to love a dealer that understands that a rider wants more then a around the block test ride. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Yeah, the heat issue is very puzzling to me. I only ride in full leather, and my XB can "warm" my right thigh- but while sitting at that light on the 1125 the inside of my right knee felt like a blast furnace had been turned on. Seeing the CT was only 185 made it even more strange. Where could that kind of localized heat be coming from? If I wanted a smooth as silk machine I would have bought a R1. Interestingly, I find the harmonics of I-4's more uncomfortable than twins. The high-frequency vibes from the fours actually shake the blood out of my hands and they go numb in a very short period of time. After trying to live with three different I-4 bikes, I finally gave up realizing I would never enjoy a (traditional) inline four-powered motorcycle. I'm curious to see if the '09 R1 is different in this area. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've ridden an 1125R at the track, but I've never ridden one on the street. On the track, it's awesome, and that was a 2008 model before all the flashes. I didn't notice any heat, but I did notice the high RPM vibes....which are mild compared to my Gixxer at full tilt boogie. Vibes have never bothered me. It's a motorcycle, it's SUPPOSED to give you some feedback as to what it's doing. If you want a smooth bike, Honda and Suzuki make a few you'll love. The ST1300 and Goldwing are like riding a refrigerator. Smooth as silk....boring too. Vibes are fine with me....now...SHAKING is something that has no place in my heart. I hate the XB motors tendency to shake my brain around in my skull literally giving me a headache if I don't stand up at extended stops. Guess I've had one too many concussions.  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I like the shake. I don't mind the vibes. I rode Mike's bike. It was both sterile and vibey. Worst of both worlds. I want an 1125CR. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
 Reading this thread reminds me of how glad I am God made Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads! I just wish I could have the power of the CR with the sound and vibes and shaking of the XB's! But I'll take the power...  R (Message edited by CarbonBigfoot on March 09, 2009) | ||
| Jlnance |
Reading this thread reminds me of how glad I am God made Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads! I just wish I could have the power of the CR with the sound and vibes and shaking of the XB's! Following your analogy, would that be like a calico girl? | ||
| Dirty_john |
As an owner of both a Firebolt and an 09 1125R both bikes have their good and bad points, both bikes are very capable machines and fine alternatives to both the best from any European or Jap manufacturer. If I had felt that the XB12R was inferior to the 1125R then I would have sold it when I bought the 1125R, I had at least 3 test rides on the 1125R before concluding that I needed to sell my Sportster to fund the 1125R and keep the Firebolt. The Firebolt encourages you yo ride the torque in the midrange and the 1125R wants you to drop it a couple of gears before going through the corner and then blast out. Different, quicker obviously on the 1125R but no less fun on the Firebolt. | ||
| Dalton_gang |
If the vibes are keeping you from buying a Helicon then just do like most of us here have. *Install some weights in the bars and get some heavy bar ends. *Change the grips to something more comfy. *Wear a decent glove. Except for the buzzing mirrors all is better with the mods. It sure is more comfortable on the long rides with the mods too! I think that I did the weights around 2k miles and the grips around 3k miles and it hasnt been an issue since.(I think I`m at 6500 miles now) I have not had any issues with the heat like some are concerned with. But I never commute and spend time in traffic. Usually the only time that I am going slow enough to feel any heat is to stop for food, gas, or a frosty beverage. | ||
| Ccryder |
Around 5k miles mine really started to run strong and was a lot smoother. From time to time mine will vibrate more one day than the next. It's usually due to some real weather/ temp differences. My 25rt likes warmer weather and it likes to be run HARD. The warmer and the harder the smoother and faster it runs. At 17,543 miles the 25rt is all that I can ask for, now that I've added 25+ farkels. If you around the Nashville area, give me a shout and I'll let you ride mine. Time2Work Neil S. | ||
| Thedavyboy |
They might be similar in some respect but power is much better on the 1125 . There is no comparison full out the 1125 will smoke it hands down ! | ||
| Hootowl |
That the 1125 feels buzzier at high RPMs vs. an XB shouldn't surprise anyone. The engine in the XB is rubber mounted in the vertical plane. Reach down and feel your XB primary cover on the freeway, it's shaking like crazy, you just don't feel it through the engine mounts. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
As great as the 1125R is, weren't any of you the least bit disappointed that Buell didn't stick to the sexy looks of the XBR? The XB9R was more of a break through in my opinion than the 1125R. That bike with its sexy and unique looks deserved that extra bump of power. I think that was the number one item on many of our wish lists from Buell. I thought they were heading in that direction with the XBRR. How would the 1125 and XBRR (in street form) compare stop light to stop light? Which one would handle better? We may never know. With that said I am proud of the 1125R. The XB has a seemingly timeless design. One that's so good, even though you already own one, you want next year's new sexy color scheme. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
How would the 1125 and XBRR (in street form) compare stop light to stop light? You'd be better on the RR for two stop lights, but if you went for the third you'd get your butt handed to you because your bike would quit running about half way into your run. The RR was a grenade bike unfortunately. | ||
| Brapbrapbrap |
Snackbar64 Posted on Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 12:56 am: As great as the 1125R is, weren't any of you the least bit disappointed that Buell didn't stick to the sexy looks of the XBR? OMG Yes! |
