| Author | Message | ||
     Ron_luning |
For those that believe the 1125R should only be a "superbike", I am about to offend your sensibilities. Here are some pictures of my daily commuter. Changes include dropped pegs, raised bars, sport-touring profile windscreen, Buell touring seat, Buell heated handgrips, and JC Whitney topcase bolted to a spare passenger seat. The topcase is obviously easy to remove for sporty riding. The dropped pegs are not a concern at any sane street pace. The higher and wider bars I think have actually enhanced control of the bike at all speeds below about 120mph. The touring seat does inhibit movement and the ability to get low on the side of the bike for higher lean angles, but again can be easily swapped with the stock seat. I currently have Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires installed front and rear. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of them in terms of handling. The profile of the rear tire is not too far from that of a flat spotted sport tire, so the bike kind of doesn't lean in a linear fashion. The last set on there were Bridgestone BT016 F/R and they lasted over 5000 miles, so I may go back to them once these are done. Forgive the filth, I recently rode through some snowmelt.     | ||
| Daggar |
Looks good. I've been thinking about getting the high bars. They seem like they would make commuting more comfortable. | ||
| D_adams |
Crikey! That is one tall windscreen. Where did it come from? I assume the raised bars are from American Sport Bike? I just got 6300 miles out of the rear with a little bit left on it with the BT-016's. Sure, it had a pretty good flat on it from slab rides/commuting, but it held up very well. Probably had another 400-500 miles left on it but I just got 3 new tires in from jakewilson.com a week ago, so it got changed out. | ||
| Myotherbike |
If you could provide some more info about the bars that would be great. Like where did you get them and did you have to run any longer cables to get them to work? Thanks! | ||
| Ron_luning |
The windscreen is the Zero Gravity Sport Touring model. I got it from American Sportbike, but it was that last blue one that Al had. They may have either the smoke or clear ones on hand. I believe that it was discontinued, but maybe will be sold under another brand name or something like that. The bars are from American Sport Bike as well. They made the second biggest difference in comfort for me, with the lowered pegs being first. My right knee is not so good. | ||
| Ron_luning |
Here's some more info on the bars: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/529555.html?1268855044 A longer clutch line is needed, the others you can use the stock stuff. I put the longer clutch/brake lines and throttle cables from the CR high bar kit on mine. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
There's nothing wrong with commuting or even touring on a sportbike and there's nothing wrong with making it more comfortable either, especially if the comfort-based mods don't have a negative effect on performance. I get to do sport riding at most once a week, and the rest of the time I commute on my bikes as well. | ||
| 98s1lightning |
WOW, thats GAY, hahahahaha. Maybe not Gay but why? I do have the same seat. Why not just buy the bike you want? | ||
| 98s1lightning |
As for the tires, they suck. The tire I think you might like is the 021's, great tire. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Why not just buy the bike you want? Looks like he just did. Look at the pic in his profile. Its not like he cant ride. | ||
| Tbowdre |
Looks good! Makes me happy to know the LEO's in Cbad get to see another white/blue 1125R around.... hopefully behaving | ||
| Ezblast |
Really - to me he just made the bike more personally his. What your supposed to do, if you plan to enjoy a bike long term. EZ | ||
| 98s1lightning |
You dont buy a Ferrari to commute. Then bitch about it not having trunk space. We have been down this road before, Put whitewalls on your Vette so the tire last longer, DUMB! OH yea, the bike is UGLY and sits sort of stupid. but thats just my opinion, it means nothing. | ||
| Bishopjb1124 |
Well stop expressing your STUPID ass opinion then!!!!! He obviously bought the bike he wanted, but also uses it to commute and wanted to be more comfortable. So he made a few very easily reversible changes. STFU | ||
| Spectrum |
Looks awesome Ron. That Topbox is actually made by Bestom. I've had a Bestom Topbox in the garage for a while, just haven't gotten around to mounting it. Any photos of how you attached the base plate? I agree about the PR2's. I ran a set on mine and the turn in was just to slow for my taste. | ||
| Kidder |
I applaud the OP for making his bike more versatile to fit his needs. | ||
| Mountainstorm |
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT is my favorite so far. Nice work on the blasphemy  I see you nabbed the last blue ST screen...I had my chance...but sadly could not scrape together the required coin...at least now I know what it looks like...and it looks perfect. | ||
| Ron_luning |
Yeah, sorry about buying it before you. I waited about a week after you told Al you wanted it though, and figured that was enough time... If you post a request on this forum to buy a used one off of someone that doesn't want theirs anymore it may happen. A lot of people have parts sitting around that they don't bother putting on eBay or the classifieds, but still would sell given the opportunity. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
+1 on the 021s And once warm up, stick REALLY well. And last a long time. Otherwise, 98S1, quit being a douchebag with your comments. Don't like the bike? Well, you don't have to ride it either. Ron, nice job. | ||
| No_rice |
Otherwise, 98S1, quit being a douchebag with your comments. Don't like the bike? Well, you don't have to ride it either. you'll have to talk louder then that steve, he hasnt been able to here anyone speak to hm yet  as far as that topcase goes, what do you think of it? decent quality? for the price i had considered getting one and basically doing the same thing. plus then i could run it on any of my bikes if needed, bonus! not that id use it alot, but once in awhile it might be handy | ||
| 98s1lightning |
You guys are a bunch of CRYBABBIES! Oh and internet tough guys. Listen, its MY OPINION, deal with it. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
And, I think the consensus is... You're a douchebag. Listen, its MY OPINION, deal with it  | ||
| 98s1lightning |
LAME | ||
| Thunderbike |
WHY DID'NT YOU BUY THE BMW IN THE FIRST PLACE? | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Uuuuhhhhh, American Made? Lighter? Handles Better? R | ||
| Ron_luning |
I'd wanted a Buell since pretty much the late 90's, but could never afford one. I could have bought a Uly in 2007 and beyond, but after a test ride decided that the aircooled engine and 5-speed weren't really my cup of tea. Since 2004 my commute has been primarily by motorcycle, and I had a 2002 Yamaha FZ1 that worked very well for that, and all other kinds of street riding. I wanted a sportbike to ride on the weekends because the FZ1 was getting pretty tired. My choices were narrowed down to either the 1125R or a Triumph Daytona 675. Keeping the FZ1 for long rides and having one of those for fun would be perfect. I got the 1125R, obviously. Fast forward to October 2009 when some cun.trag decided to kill Buell. Now my $12K bike's value was slashed from probably $8500-9000 (used value after a year) to $5500 in an instant. Instead of looking at the Buell most of the time, I decided to start racking up the miles on it since it wasn't going to hold its value. So I sold the FZ1 and now do all riding on the 1125R. What I really wanted was a Ulysses with an 1125 based engine/transmission. Too bad we'll never get to see that now. Concerning the topcase: I had a Givi 46L topcase on my FZ1 that I have sitting on the garage floor. The reason I didn't just transfer it to the Buell was that the mounting plate was specific to the metal mounting bars made by Givi. The plate was not well shaped to bolt to a passenger seat. Givi makes a flat plate, but it costs almost as much as this case and plate combined from JC Whitney. The JC Whitney case is definitely cheaper feeling and has poor finish compared to the Givi. However, it is not bad in general. The waterproof sealing of both cases is just about equal. The only way to get water inside is to spray the latch area with a garden hose. Even then, it is a small amount that gets in. The latch is easier to use on the Givi, but not enough to warrant spending 3-4 times the money. To mount the case, I just bought 4 bolts/washers/nuts at Home Depot and drilled through the seat to line up with the holes in the mounting plate. I didn't remove the foam from the seat because I figured it would help provide a little bit of cushion when bouncing over bumps. The foam is of course very compressed between the mounting plate and the seat pan due to tightening up the bolts/nuts. I removed the excess clearance below the passenger seat using a small piece of self adhesive tailgate seal for a pickup truck. I tried to take up the slack between the case and the mounting plate using the same stuff, but it didn't quite do the job. I put squares of gasket material between the case and the little bumpers that are supposed to keep it from bouncing around to keep it all snug. With that, it is a pretty solidly mounted piece. Here are some photos:    | ||
| Daniii |
Let us know which hard bags you mount, and how you mount them...... | ||
| Steve_mackay |
He built the bike the same reason I built my Ulybolt. Ulybolt Build... Page1 page2 Final Pics Lightweight bike, that handles, and rides the way he wants it. And in 30 seconds, bags removed, and ready for a track day. Most sport touring bikes are quite portly IMHO. | ||
| Steeltech |
Steve_mackay...can I have your garage please? | ||
| 98s1lightning |
Not the same, sorry. |
