| Author | Message | ||
     Sofauxboho |
I've been riding for 9 years. I haven't owned a car for over a decade. I've owned at least 15 different motorcycles, including a BMW R1100S and a couple M2 Cyclones. But none of them were anything like this. The 1125R just seems like a whole different thing. I feel like I'm relearning things as basic as how to position myself on the bike. It's so tremendously powerful I spend the first portion of most rides just trying to get over it a bit and calm down. And I haven't even taken it past 7,500rpm. I'm still breaking it in. So, is anyone else a bit cowed by their new toy? | ||
| Kevin_stevens |
My only problem is one I used to have with a Suzuki TL1000S. With the bar position I have a tendency to press *down* to initiate a turn, instead of *forward*. Down doesn't work.  It then takes a second or so to realize and react to the fact that the bike isn't turning - by which time I'm way late for whatever I'm supposed to be doing. I'll have to just be conscious to keep my wrists low and push forward until I learn the fit of the bike. As for the power - well, no, but then my other bike is a ZX-14. I'm still waiting to get it up in the revs where it seems to want to be (break-in almost done!). KeS | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Okay, maybe a little bit ... But don't tell anyone! | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Coming from an XB9R, I do find the bike a bit intimidating. | ||
| Cafefun |
Nope not here, other bike is a modded ZX 14 as well runs 9.20 in 1/4. Am I impressed with the Buells power Hell yes way more then I expected just love the 2nd gear power wheelies! | ||
| Pablo959 |
My experience with Buells is a 2000 X-1. This is a WHOLE different enchilada! | ||
| Gotlime |
I'm with ya. I pick mine up tomorrow. My buddies want to ride right away. I want to spend a little time getting acclimated to the bike. I am a little intimidated. | ||
| Dirty_john |
its like a Firebolt with more power, not intimidating just more fun | ||
| Metalrabbit |
If you can get in "enough" of a tuck where your forearms get near level the bike will guide you thru the corners. You will feel the bars go neutral,, not many bikes do this to the extent the 1125r does. I'm not saying this is the only way to corner, its just an added feature this bike has. The higher your position, the more that you will be leaning or pulling on the bars. Once your arms get level a light goes on, with a little angel in it and he leans in and gives you a little kiss on your forehead. | ||
| Jldrooger |
This will be my second bike. I'm currently riding a ZZR400 in Japan and I've been riding for about a month and a half. I pick the R up in December when I go home on leave. Talk about being intimidated. Going from a 50hp bike to almost 150hp is just scary. Not to mention the fact that the torque is an even bigger difference. | ||
| Wastegate |
I haven't swung a leg over a bike in 12 years. My last bike was a 1995 ZX-6R. I was nervous as hell, but it came back to me quickly. You don't have to use all that power. I'm taking it easy till I build up my confidence, plus I don't need any speeding tickets. There is a track now 30 minutes away from me, can't wait till I'm good to go for a track day. | ||
| Sknight |
I went from a Hayabusa to the 1125R, so the power isn't too much of a problem. However I'm still sorting that "Wheelie at will" thing out. That's taking some getting used to. The other thing is how well it turns. I could hold my own with the supersports pretty well. I just manhandled it and made it turn. This bike? This one just does it. Very first hard turn I took I turned so hard that I crossed the center line and had to correct back into my lane. I need to relearn hard cornering, have a lighter touch. Not that I mind. | ||
| Ratgin |
In the cold on new tires and first couple of times in the rain. found it well behaved in the rain on / off ramps at speed while leaning at a decent angle so that you are using the edges of the new rear tire is interesting until you scrub the new tire crap off it,} | ||
| Heinriech |
I have to agree to a certain point. I haven't been on a bike in about a year and half. But my other bike was an SV1000s so I am used to how the v-twin behaves and the torque. The only thing is the Buell is much more rideable with the very wide torque band. | ||
| Fryman1125 |
"its like a Firebolt with more power, not intimidating just more fun" What? This bike makes a Firebolt seem like a moped, seriously. Don't get me wrong, the Firebolt has its' strong points, but is not comparable in the power area. I don't think the 1125 is intimidating if you know how to utilize the power in your favor. 2nd gear power wheelies are sweet, but do you really need to do that on the freeway? The bike is built to handle anything you want to do with it, especially on the track!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 Sofauxboho- I'm not nearly comfortable with the power and can't imagine I'll ever be. I was finishing up the break in on my new CR on Sunday morning. On the interstate with little traffic in 4th gear trying to do 6000 RPM to 7500 RPM acceleration bursts. Holy crap! I can't yet quite fathom going to redline on it. | ||
| Lovedabueller |
This Thread is is Hilarious. "INTIMIDATING" TOO ME NO MOTORCYCLE IS INTIMIDATING......But then again i was a 11 year old kid on an '82 IT 465. YOU are in Control....YOU make the bike go faster.......YOU should not be intimidated by a machine that YOU make do what YOU want. just my .02 | ||
| Cafefun |
No second gear wheelies on the freeway are not needed, but on country back roads ya there fun. | ||
| Milt |
Coming directly from a Blast, I'm a little awed, and yes, maybe more than a little scared. So that's why they put the cowl on the back: Keeps your butt from sliding off the back when you roll on the throttle ! | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
I've had a Buell before, an '00 X1 Millennium ... And it was definitely different than all the H-D's I owned, just as you would expect. My last bike that I sold earlier this year was an '03 Softail Springer Anny. I'm thinking the 1125R might be a bit more hardcore  Mike | ||
| Ratbuell |
Respect the bike. My first stint on an 1125 - ever - was at Pocono, during a product knowledge "track day" when the 1125r was released in '08. Things happen VERY quickly on these bikes, and the bikes make it very easy to reach those velocities. That turn coming up down there?....whoa, it's-here-already-brakebrakeBRAKE. DAMHIK.  | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Go into it with a healthy respect for your mortality, and ride within your limits. The bike won't do anything you don't tell it to, but it WILL do pretty much anything you DO tell it to. Be careful what you say to it! R | ||
| Jaimec |
I actually found the 1125R LESS intimidating than the XB12Ss I traded in for it. That's because the 1125R is "softer" on the bottom; the power doesn't hit as quickly as it does on the XB12Ss. I also found the clutch and transmission "friendlier" than the one on the XB. This made the 1125R easier to launch because the power delivery was less abrupt. The only downside is that there APPEARS to be a tiny bit more "slop" in the drivetrain than the XB had. Not as bad as some of the chain-driven sport bikes my friends own, but not as "instantaneous" as the XB either (I don't know if I'm phrasing this right). In any event, the only time the bike gets "scary" is if you hold the throttle open too long. The XB runs out of steam LOOOOOONG before the 1125R. | ||
| P_squared |
Right wrist = throttle Right fingers = front brake Left fingers = clutch Left foot = shifter YOU control the bike. Nothing to be intimidated by here. Respect, yes. Intimidation, no. | ||
| Mrbikle |
only time I found it is a bit much is when I mis-position my throttle hand and wack the throttle open too far.....acceleration can pull you off the back if your not ready for it. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
}The only downside is that there APPEARS to be a tiny bit more "slop" in the drivetrain than the XB had yeah... kinda noticed that too during the demo I took.... having another 3 or 4k of RPM takes some adjusting too also | ||
| Adeptus_minor |
Yeah, what P_squared said. Not fear or intimidation... just a little healthy respect. This isn't exactly my first liter twin rodeo | ||
| Zac4mac |
Early on, I had the rear tire step-out full sideways on me a few times. Relax, let off the wick and she straightened right out, every time. My 03 XB9R dyno'd 78HP, my 1125r has dyno'd from 122-128 HP. Respect the power Z | ||
| Kevin_stevens |
The higher your position, the more that you will be leaning or pulling on the bars. Once your arms get level a light goes on, with a little angel in it and he leans in and gives you a little kiss on your forehead Don't you find that distracting mid-turn?  The TL1000S was the only one of my other bikes I've noticed this on - funny because in all ways it's the most similar. Presumably the 1125 won't be possessed by pure evil as the Suzuki was, though. KeS | ||
| Dirty_john |
fryman1125 - yes it is like a Firebolt with more power, I had my Firebolt for quite a few years and kept it for a further year when I bought my 1125R. |
