| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
 Looks like some folks have a hobby here on the Badweb. How bout more of this:   The thread is about riding impressions. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Barber Motorsports park with two cohorts and ride the pre-production bikes on the track there. (All three of us work at the same dealership.) I am considered the "Buell Guy" at work, never been on a track before. I am fairly familiar with most popular bikes of any brand since the early 80's. As for my companions for the trip, one is AARP material but FAST, with track experience and previous ownership of 64 bikes over a lifetime. The other was the only XX chromosome type in attendance, but she's a serious GEARHEAD, carries a current track license and even knew personally the track marshal and others working corners there (the track marshal was her instructor prior to obtaining her track license.) She's DAMN FAST, on or off the track. All this goes to say we all have various levels of sportbike experience, all of us went to this event with high expectations. Our expectations were met, exceeded, and generally blown away. This bike takes the general goodness of the XB line and steps it up +2: handling, braking, line changes, you name it this bike will just do it. Very forgiving, easy to ride fast or not. It made me realize my limitations, even giving me a greater appreciation for my XB9SX toward that end. The motor and drivetrain are simply the best I've ever experienced. Clutchless upshifts, flawless downshifts (with the fudge factor covered in the slipper clutch)- I was very impressed by the gearbox. The motor is like this: Most folks talk about low end, midrange, top end, as if these should be considered separate from one another. This motor just has "RANGE"!! Above 3k RPM, it might as well be electric. Like being shot out of a cannon. We all agreed that it was much like being Dark Helmet demanding LUDICROUS SPEED!!! THEY'VE GONE TO PLAID!!!! Stopping was like the next sequence in the movie- "Emergency Stop"..... I believe we are talking MOTY 2008. This bike will change the rules for what a superbike should be. Technologically speaking, it is as impressive as the Moto-Cysz- but it is in production NOW for the price of a chromed out Sportster. My riding impression was GROKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!! THIS THING IS FAST! WHOA, IT GOT ME THROUGH TURN 1 ON THE BRAKES }i'm not worthy!!!!!) (Crap- is the 20 minute session over already???? I was just getting comfortable this time out.....) Yes- we only had four separate 20 minute sessions spread throughout the day. Waiting to get a "Demo" bike to take out on my regular roads. Just delivered the first one today, was sad to watch it go  Whomever buys one of these will be quite happy- GREAT bike for the buxxx. | ||
| Bigblock |
All I have to say is A W E S O M E ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! My new bike ROCKS ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A Thing of B E A U T Y ! ! ! GO GET ONE! Bye, Gotta go ride... | ||
| Hammer71 |
Ray.. Congrats on bike. Now how are the headlights for night riding? If anything like the bolt I'm goin elsewhere. | ||
| Anonymous |
The aerodynamic thinking didn't get lost; we figured out how to make a semi-naked bike still have good aerodynamics. When we do a full faired bike we do it right (see XBRR, 2nd fastest bike at Spa in a field of 1098's,999's, Milles, etc., we didn't do that on horsepower!), but this bike was not meant to be one. It's just the best aero on a semi-naked bike. And where were the fans of aero when we did the RR1000? They were talking about how the bodywork must not work otherwise the Japanese would have done it (want a laugh, look at a Japanese sportbike fairing from 1985, cause that's when the RR1000 was built and shown on the show circuit). And we sold as many in 3 years as we sell in a day now. Don't like the semi-naked look? Well that's fine, but don't think we don't know how to do it. We chose not to do it. | ||
| Buellnewbie |
Sorry Anony, still not buying that guy's story about smoking an R1. Even the magazines have said it wouldn't keep up with a liter bike straight line. Either his buddy didn't know how to ride or the guy's exaggerating just to "talk up" the 1125. Like I said, I'm not downing the 1125...I think it's an awesome bike and will probably prove to be one of the best street bikes ever, but there is no way it's faster than an R1, I don't care what anyone says. I owned an '04 R1. Even that year R1 had more hp at the wheel than the 1125 has at the crank. However, we'll soon know, won't we? As 1125s start appearing at local bike nights around the country we'll start hearing and seeing just how fast they are. I'd love to see that guy "smoke" me on my '06 GSXR1000. In fact, I'd go pinks with him. I personally don't care how fast it is in a straight line, as that's not what it was built for. But I don't like seeing people make claims that give the impression of something that isn't true, that is, that an 1125 will beat a liter bike straight line. | ||
| Rocketman |
Well that's fine, but don't think we don't know how to do it. We chose not to do it. Wouldn't it be more correct to say, you were forced to do it by design constraint? Please let's not kid anyone here. The Japanese designers are well up on aerodynamic design, so they can do it too. Rocket | ||
| Darkice19 |
Sorry Anony, still not buying that guy's story about smoking an R1. Even the magazines have said it wouldn't keep up with a liter bike straight line Buellnewbie it was a 2006 R1. the magazines are talking about 2008 models which have way more HP and Torque. The 2006 Model is comparable to the 1125r. And his bike is a couple years old with almost 20k miles on it. Which means its probably not as fast as it was when it was new. Either way i did pull away from him in every gear. Weather you believe me or not i don't care im happy with my bike. Have you bought an 1125r yet buellnewbie or you just here to rag on me for being excited about my bike? | ||
| Anonymous |
No it would not be more correct, Rocketman, in fact it would be wrong to say that, which of course wouldn't stop you. How absurd to say we were forced into anything. The Japanese are well up and can do it too? What? Oh yes, I see what you want from us. "The Japanese and Italians know it all so much better and do it all better in every way, we should all kill ourselves for even attempting to build a motorcycle, we are so inferior, we apologize. We should crush all 112R's on the alters of Bologna and Hamamatsu, and then set ourselves on fire for our arrogance to assault the gods." | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've got a Jap bike. A Gixxer 600. It's my "track •••••" bike. The generic, cookie cutter, thousands and thousands of them sold, easy to find pars on eBay bike. Given my size, and riding skill, I'm willing to bet that I can ride my Ulysses on the same track at the same day and be very close in lap time. I don't really care if an R1, Gixxer, Ninja, etc. can outrun an 1125. I have both a twin and an inline, and I can tell you for a fact, the twin is LOADS easier to ride. The power curve is MUCH more friendly. I would love an 1125R, but I would hate to wad up a $12,000 bike on the track. I paid $3000 for my Gixxer. I'm hoping they put that beautiful Rotax engine in the Ulysses. Then I'll be rushing to buy one. But hey, the Ulysses ain't bad on the track the way it is. Click the image below for a slideshow of the Ulysses in action. I'm ready for my 1125r test ride Mr. Buell.   | ||
| Bigblock |
Hi Hammer, I love the new bike! I'd say the lights are about as good as my M2 with the high beam and auxiliary lights on, those are 2 halogen driving lights. I have not rode a "Bolt at night, so I can't compare, sorry. | ||
| Reepicheep |
(trying to bring things back on track)... Riding impressions of the 1125R... On a close course (Mid Ohio) where my speed was constrained mainly by my skill and my comfort, I was lapping faster on the second lap on an 1125R (2.5 miles total experience with the bike) then I was on my personal XB9SX. At that point, I had 20k miles of experience on the 9sx, including 20+ laps on that track, and 2.5 miles experience on the 1125r. When I returned to my XB9SX for the following sessions, I was again slower, and remained so for the rest of the day. I was riding the 9sx more aggressively (My main mission on the 1125r was to respect somebody elses bike), and still going slower. Built from the rider down! | ||
| Ceejay |
If I compare any of the GSXR's or CBR's I've ridden I'd have to say they are slower than an 1125r. Of course the only time I've ridden an 1125 was on the same closed course as Reep, for which tried to push the bike to it's limits but only found mine. The only time I've ever ridden any of the offerings from Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki(sorry I've never had the opportunity to ride a british or italian bike) was on regular old streets. Fun? Certainly. But, as was stated earlier, what I thought was fast on the street, and on good equipment too, was nothing compared to what I was willing to do on the track. This doesn't really take into account top speed, for which I don't really judge a scooter based on it's top speed. Now if the japanese motorcycle manufacturers can step up to the plate and let me fly around on the track with one of thier bikes the same way that Buell Motorcycle Company allowed me to do on one of thiers, my thoughts and comparisons may change. | ||
| Buellnewbie |
Hey Darkice....I'm not here to rag on you or your 1125. I would have bought one too if they weren't so much money. In fact, I was drooling over them ever since I sold my XB, until I found out how much they wanted for them. Instead I got a used gsxr1000 with 800 miles on it for $9000 OTD. I'm glad you're happy with your new bike and wish you the best. But, when you say you smoked an R1 right before saying that your buddy panicked and had to downshift, well, that's sounds a little fishy to me. The '04 thru '06 year R1 motors were all top end power...nothing below 8k rpm, so if your buddy wasn't in his powerband when you started, it doesn't suprise me you pulled him, and then if he had to downshift that's all the more time you have to keep pulling him. All I'm saying is that just because you happened to outrun your buddy's R1 doesn't mean the 1125 is faster than an '06 R1. And like I said, I guarantee you it's not faster than my '06 gsxr1000. I'm guessing you don't live near Tampa, Fl. That's ashame, because I'd love to run you for pinks and have a nice shiny 1125 in my garage next to my gsxr, and just to prove you wrong about your theory that the 1125 is faster than a late model liter bike. Anyways, didn't mean to rag on you or offend you....sorry, best of luck to you. | ||
| Dr_greg |
As the starter of this thread, I thank all of the "riding impression" contributors. The rest of you...well, this is the Internet. I wanted subjective impressions, and---being subjective---they are open to criticism. Sorry it degenerated at times. If I were about ten years younger (recently turned 60) I would've had my deposit on the 1125R within a millisecond of its announcement. This bike is exactly what I want in a sportbike. Don't care about comparisons to current I-4s, etc. I love torquey V-twins (that's why I own/owned Ducatis and Aprilias). However, the Uly fits my situation perfectly now, and I'm utterly content (40K miles in two years). But my younger self wants to hear about the new 1125R and how it works on the street. Sounds like a winner to me! Although I'm afraid I'm one of the group that would replace the exhaust with something a bit more stylish, however. So Erik & Co., thanks for bringing this baby to market! Who knows, maybe my chiropractor will work a miracle and I'll be signing up meself! | ||
| Jlnance |
the only time I've ridden an 1125 was on the same closed course as Reep, for which tried to push the bike to it's limits but only found mine. My experience was similar. I rode the bike at VIR. It was certainly my limits, and not the bikes that were holding me back. I distinctly remember deciding I was going to bang the bike off the revlimiter to see what it was like. I don't think I made it anywhere near the revlimit. I lack sufficient testicle mass. | ||
| Jlnance |
If I were about ten years younger (recently turned 60) I would've had my deposit on the 1125R within a millisecond of its announcement. Dr G, I hope you had a chance to play with one at an inside pass event. Those events are the motorcycle equivalent of not having to buy the cow because you want a glass of milk. | ||
| Blake |
All the off-topic rancor and related blathering has been moved into its own subtopic atop the page. Yech. Thanks sincerely to all who have taken time to share their Buell 1125R riding impressions. | ||
| Cobralightning |
Fun to ride when you get to open it up a little. I seem to have trouble keeping it at 20 mph. As I live on a military post that is the speed limit over most of post. My bike seems to almost stall out at slow speeds. Once I get to leave post the 1125R is spectacular. Good power every where and extremely comfortable. Almost as comfortable as my X1. Will give more impressions after I get some more seat time in. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Buellnewbie: Coherent way to state your opinion. Makes much sense. Dr. Greg: I feel similar, but I'll get one in the next couple of years. Don't "have to have it now", as I would when younger. However, Buell put all the things I'm looking for into the 1125, and I love reading the excited riding reviews. Please keep'em coming. I'm also glad we don't have to argue air vs. liquid cooled anymore. Fans of both now have their place in the Buell world. I want a review from someone on how fun the 1125 is to wheelie. Anyone??? Please!!! Some of us have to live vicariously for a while through the rest or you lucky SOBs. | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
My riding impression: Yeeeeeehawwwwwww!!!  O.K., really now. I had the chance to take one (some) to the track during the Inside Pass session at Motorsports Ranch in Cresson, Texas. Visual impression; looks much better in person than in photographs. I didn't really notice the radiator pods as being anything weird or intrusive. Need more colors, though. Seating impression; about the same ergos as my Firebolt (though I have S-model dropped pegs on mine to accomodate my long legs). Definitely better than the Honda CBR and Ducati 999 they had for comparison. Riding impressions; as everyone has said, it doesn't feel as fast as it is. The power "curve" is very linear; it just keeps pulling like a freight train. I have to say that the thing I was most impressed with was the handling. I usually ride an XB12R (which, as I'm sure you all know, was lauded as the "Best Cornering Bike of All Time blah, blah" by Bike Magazine) and I've always felt it cornered pretty well too, even though I'd never taken the time to set up the suspension properly. Well, I rode the 1125R for my first two sessions of the day and was amazed by how intuitive it was. The bike just goes where you want it to go; no struggle, no drama, very little intense thought put into it. Bad line? Just correct it. Need more lean? O.K., no problem. I could see there being a hazard in that it could make you a lazy rider, it's so easy. And all these sensations are happening on bikes that the attending Buell engineers have set up for a 170-180 pound rider (I'm about 230# in full gear). So then for my third session of the day, I get back on my Firebolt. Holy Crap, Batman! Someone has replaced the frame of my bike with a giant wet noodle! I was all over the place, overshooting turn-ins, off my line, etc. I actually ended my session early as I coudn't control the bike like I wanted to. Something had to be done 'bout this! Back in the pits, I approached the Buell organitrix and asked if they could set up an 1125R for someone of my weight. She got the attention of one of the Buell engineers (who were also riding the track with us) and they agreed to set one up. I've forgotten his name, (bad J!) but it turned out to be the lead engineer of the 1125R project! I also begged him to help me set up the 'Bolt so I could feel good about riding it again, which he kindly did and 10 minutes later, I'm back on the track on an even better 1125R. More of the same intuitive handling, just tweaked and tuned in a little better. Then I got back on my XB for the next session and it was infinitely better as well. Whew! If you haven't tuned your XB suspension, go outside and do it right now. Still not as good as the '25R, but great handling and most of all, fun! Anyway, back to the 1125R, I didn't notice the "hotfoot" that some people complained of on any of the three examples I got to ride. The only thing I could find that I didn't like was the hydraulic clutch engagement; the lever is almost fully released before the clutch "catches". I had the same complaint with my wife's Ducati Monster, also with hydraulic clutch. I could get used to it with practice and maybe it can be adjusted somehow, but it annoys me. Everything else was awesome and I'm sure I'll own one (or some variant of it) soon. It's a GREAT motorcycle! Thank you Erik and Elves!  HellBuelly J "Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for better wheelies, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger of creating a motorcycle with his name on it." --Theodore Buellsevelt | ||
| Unibear12r |
Good sense of humor and sarcasm Anon! Well spoken. | ||
| Crusty |
What Unibear said. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Great story Hellbuelly! | ||
| Al_lighton |
Did a bit over 170 miles today on my 1125R. Other than a Corbin seat and 1" droped pegs (which made it a lot more comfy), it's still stock. The ride had a bit of everything, some highway to start, followed by country road sweepers, then up the south side of Mount Palomar (very tight and twisty), down the east grade of palomar (longer sweepers, all perfect radius because they built that road for trucking the Hale Observatory Mirror up it), then some more tight twisties on Mesa Grande. We did the Cuymaca loop around Julian on Engineer road, and parts of that are just a goat trail through the woods. Overall impressions: 1) The engine sounds very different. On an XB Buell, it's all exhaust note and valve train clatter. The 1125R has more gear noise to it from both the tranny and the valve train. The XB sounds is better, IMHO. 2) No where near as much drive train lash as an Aprilia, but more than an XB. Not quite enough to be annoying, but it made me appreciate the total lack of lash in the XB bikes. 3) An XB is happy in roll-on from about 2500 up. The 1125R isn't happy in a hard roll on until 3500 or so. Below that, it's a bit gravel-ly/snatchy. I suspect I was lugging it a bit more than it should be, it's happier if you let it rev. But during break in, you're supposed to keep it below 6500 so I wasn't spinning it up that much. 4) In the very tight stuff, you won't run away from an XB on an 1125R. The low end grunt of the XB's really is noticeable in the real tight stuff. But when the twisties open up a little, it's easy to go faster on an 1125R. 5) The slipper clutch works, almost too well. I would like a little bit more decel from downshift. I wonder if that is adjustable per user preference. 6) Straight line acceleration is astounding. Even without reving it above 6500 (much), it'll run, not walk away from an XB. 7) The mirrors aren't as nice as I'd hoped. Visibility wasn't too bad, but a bit vibey, and the pivots walked back and don't seem to be tension adjustable. 8) Dash is nice, and it told me I was averaging about 27MPG. Tom was getting about 45MPG on his Uly on the same ride. 9) I never noticed any excess heat, but it was a cool day out. Near the ocean where we live, it was about 60 degrees and the ambient temp indicator was about 5 degrees hotter than that when moving, a lot more when stationary. Up on top of Palomar, there was snow and it was about 50 degrees or so. I wasn't warmed up by the bike that I could tell. 10) Overall feel is that you are more attached to the bike and particularly the engine than an XB. The vibes come through to you more "honestly". They weren't annoying but definitely more present at speed. The XB's are smoother in their highway sweet spot. 11) 80MPH was about 5K even, as opposed to 4K on an XB12. 12) The handling is very precise. Goes where you point it, RIGHT NOW. It is similar to an XB, but a little "tighter". I still need to do some setup work on it, though. 13) I got a little bit of wiggle in the bars with hands removed at speed. Nothing bad, and as I wrote above, I still need to do some setup work. 14) Back, butt and legs had no problems with the seat time, but my wrists and throttle elbow were DONE by the time the ride was over. Bar risers are DEFINITELY in my future. Here are some pics from todays ride.             | ||
| Unibear12r |
Say Al are you turning the world on it's side with your 1125R there? (Yes I know, bad,bad pun. Sorry I couldn't help it!)  BTW Good write up AL! (Message edited by unibear12r on December 17, 2007) | ||
| Bigblock |
I put 125 miles on her today, mostly backroads, very spirited riding, a little in town and highway riding, too. `towards the end of my ride today I reached the 7500 rpm break in point. 2 nd starts lofting the front about 6,000 3rd about 7 or a bit over, the front gets light, the road may not have been totally flat, but repaved last month, straight. It was definitely lofting third, too. got a little shake shake through some bumpy fast sweepers in 4th, I'd never been through there so fast, and yet I just stayed relaxed, and I barely even puckered, it wasn't a real bother. I simply couldn't go through there that fast on my M2.( it was unintentional, one of those "Ludicrous speed" moments) And if I did, the shake would probably toss me off... The M2 has racetech front end and rearshock rebuilt by them, too. Full rearsets , and the motor has cams and the carb is worked over. It pulls any stock or pipe/ecm tuber or XB. The suspension is very well set up for me, and works wonders for a tuber. The wind protection is stellar, better then anything short of a full dresser, and infinitely more stable in the gusty wind. The wet traction is confidence inspiring, (as I found out following my unnamed crazy friend on his xb12 with scorpion syncs through his favorite stretch of dark slipery nastiness) a combo of those great tires and that wonderful suspension, I suppose. I have ridden a gsxr 750, a RC51 with a PC, and others, too. This thing will smoke anything I have ridden , and thats just keeping it under 8,000 rpm. No, I have NOT rode an R1 or gsxr 1000, neither a Duc. The only thing I rode that even would come close is an old 4spd evo sprty I put together, an 88" seriously pumped motor with a lot of compression, some serious heads and HUGE redshift cams. That thing would smoke the tire in third while it was lifting the front. YEEHAW! That ZTL2 is amazing, the feel and stopping power has amazed me, and I haven't even really put it to the test yet (well, there was this 5 mph pick up hauling something around a bend yesterday...) It seems much smoother than my M2, except MAYBE for a small little sweet spot that it has for a 3 mph range. So far, atleast at the 125 mile type half day of riding, it seems less fatiguing than my old bike. The clutch is great, I think I am finally getting used to very little engine braking. It gives me an excuse to use that wonderfully precise rear brake a little bit. The clutch pull and feel are excellent. The headlights do seem to be quite effective, much better than my friends XB12S. Noticeably better than my M2 with the auxiliary halogen driving lights, which I thought were so powerful. A real good spread of light, too. | ||
| Bigblock |
I really like the riding position, no arm pump or wrist pain or fatigue for me. I suppose the bars could be back and up an inch, which I originally thought was going to be a necessity for me, but I am growing to like it, I may not change it. And I have a somewhat still sprained wrist. I think I must use my abs mostly to support my weight. (Or maybe my gut just sits on the airbox cover and holds me up  ) | ||
| Bigblock |
Makes good useable torque from about 2500 rpm, and will accelerate briskly from there if rolled on properly, but doesn't like big throttle until 3500. Doesn't like cruising much below 3,500, sometimes 3,000 is ok, definitely feels a bit snatchy trying to cruise at 2,500 rpm. This appears possibly to be improving a little as the miles accumulate, but may be temperature related, too. If it gets a little snatchy, I downshift, problem solved. Not supposed to lug a new motor, anyways. | ||
| Bigblock |
These are all observations I have made in the last 2 days, take them for what you will. I L O V E my new bike! | ||
| Metalstorm |
(as I found out following my unnamed crazy friend on his xb12 with scorpion syncs through his favorite stretch of dark slipery nastiness) HUH?  If it's still raining buckets tomorrow we needs to go on a wet run to fully test out the aerodynamics of that fairing |
