| Author | Message | ||
     Larryjohn |
Hey all, it’s been a while since I have been on Badweb and this is the first time I have posted in the 1125R section. I’ve had air cooled Buells for about 7 years now and finally moved to the water cooled side last weekend with the purchase of a new to me 1125R DSB, with just under 400 miles. Since the bike is not street legal I had to wait until this past Friday when I took it to an STT Friday night track event at Gingerman Raceway and all I can say is WOW. I have been tracking a 2007 XB12R (old racebike) for two years now and words cannot explain the difference between the two bikes. This is the first time I have realized that I never really had the suspension dialed in correctly on the firebolt. The Firebolt has all of the right stuff (Penske shock and Traxxion Dynamics forks) but I never knew how well a properly set up bike could behave on the track until this past Friday. The engine is amazing in this thing but it is really the entire package that makes this bike so impressive. The bike is so forgiving it is hard to even describe. I told my friend who went to the track with me (he has a stock 1125R) that it was almost as if the bike was doing all of the work and I was along for the ride. Go into a turn a little too hot (mind you I’m not a fast rider so my “too hot” could by your “too slow”) it was as if the bike would say “don’t worry about this, I’ve got it, you just hang back and relax”. With everything this bike has, you would expect that kind of result, but it really has exceeded my expectations. I debated letting my friend take it out for a session but we both realized that would be a bad decision as there is no way he would be happy going back to the stock bike. About the bike – it is a 2009 1125R that was sold by EBR in 2011 to the previous owner (I have the original Wisconsin Title signed by Erik as the seller of the bike). The previous owner did some testing in 2011 and supposedly Taylor Knapp helped him with the suspension and some dyno time (I was told the bike puts down about 150hp at the wheel). The bike has only seen two race weekends, one in 2012 and one this year, I believe both were in AHRMA. Before I purchased the bike I traded a few e-mails with EBR to check the authenticity of the bike and the response I got back was this bike is basically the same build as Danny’s 2009 DSB. I think there are a few differences as this bike has full Ohlins suspension (vs Show Race that the RMR bikes had) and Brembo radial master cylinders for brake and clutch vs Nissin radial on the RMR bikes. I was also able to find the bike in action in a Youtube video from earlier this year. You can see the bike grid up and through the first turn then again at about the 2:20 point for almost two laps, it is the silver #6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QRxk43GeH8 This bike will only be seeing trackdays from now on, no racing for me but I thought I would share since I haven’t seen many of these around. | ||
| General_tso |
I moved up from an XB9R to a stock 1125R then up-fitted the 1125R with Suspension, Exhaust, ECM, Brake Master, etc but it wasn't until I put the chain drive swingarm on that the bike really came into its own. The extra wheelbase makes a big difference. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for the bike? Have fun | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
Just wait until you get back on the xb ....LOL. | ||
| Jdugger |
Take care of that DSB motor. It's high-compression, and puts out a good deal more power than a stock motor. You might find you get an extra pony or two running a high quality fuel like Sunoco 100 or 104 and tuning for it, as well. Mine knocked when I tried to run pump gas... Change the oil often (I do mine about every 5 hours of race time), in particular if you run a slipper clutch. Check the valves more often -- a couple of times a season is probably OK. Keep an eye out in the motor screen for bits of black plastic -- that's when you need new cam chain guides. It's a very durable motor, but remember... you have a RACE motor now. I didn't take that quite seriously enough at first with mine. | ||
| Larryjohn |
General Tso - I paid $12k for the bike, which I am sure a lot of folks would say is a bit too much for that bike and on some levels I agree but for me it was what I wanted and to me it was worth it, so that is all that really matters. I would spend a lot more money and time trying to put that bike together and I'm not sure it would be as sorted out as it is. It also came with a few extras such as a full set of sprockets, extra wheels and tires. Fig - I'm not sure if I will ever get on the firebolt again. That is a track only bike and if I am at the track I will be on the 1125r. I plan on selling my other Buells, which I posted in the classifieds last week. Judgger - thanks for the info. While researching the bike a bit I read some of your old posts. I sent an e-mail to EBR asking about the fuel and they told me my ECM was calibrated for 93octane. That is what I used this past Friday and had no issues. I was a little concerned after reading some of your posts but so far so good. My other options are to get 110 octane CAM-2 (Leaded) or buy fuel at the track. For the Firebolt I was mixing the 110 leaded (2 gallons) with 93 octane (3 gallons). I did that mainly because it would run on 93 but cough a little at idle when cold, but it didn't run that great on straight 110 either. The mix seemed to do the trick. Neither of my track bikes have O2 sensors so I am pretty certain I should be safe with leaded fuel. I definitely need to figure out how I plan to service the motor. Some of the stuff is easy, other stuff might not be. I did all of the work on my other Buells unless it was a warranty issue. Hopefully I can do the same with this bike. | ||
| Jdugger |
My ECM was for pump gas, too, but what I found out was Texas pump gas wasn't so great with this motor. It would knock on some days. Fueling for Sunoco 100 really made a difference in the bike's consistency. I recommend you tune for a specific fuel and always run it. It's helped me. I also have struggled with the clutch on and off with this bike, but I'm using the Suter. It's a different animal, especially when set up soft as I have it. If you are also using that clutch, I have some documents you will find very helpful. Main this with this motor is stay on top of the valves and the oil. Every 2-3 track days is a good plan, and run Motul 300V 15-50. On valves, mine was 3-5 thous out of spec within just 20-30 hours or so at first. So, do a check early. Get the shims kit and some extra bat wings (finger spacers) and keep them in stock along with oil filters, brake pads, hang pins, a nice complement of replacement fasteners in typical sizes, and so on. Also, the DSB-spec, if you are using the Flexi-Glass bodywork, is way easy to work on. I can have the bike down to the motor in a couple of hours. You don't need to pull the rads, either. | ||
| Larryjohn |
Good info there Jdugger, I will definitely look at the valves as soon as I can and get the shims and extra batwings. As for the fuel, I will see what options I have locally and go from there. I'm not trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of the engine, but I do want it to last. I also have the Suter. It seemed to work really well for me on Friday. I have the original docs that came with the clutch but I would love to see what documentation you have. I do have the flexi-glass bodywork and have already had it off. It took a little longer than the fairing In have on my Firebolt but was pretty straight forward. I still need to get a service manual for the bike before tearing into it also. | ||
| General_tso |
Regarding Fuel; NC has a pretty good network of Dealers selling Ethanol Free 93 so that's what I run in my bike. When I upgrade to the DSB motor later this year I'll stick with E free fuel so I'm interested in your experience with pump gas It's a heck of a lot less expensive than Sunoco Race Fuel. | ||
| Peeweesp |
id like to hear your impressions on the 1125 compared to the triumph, not only in power but setup and handling. | ||
| Jdugger |
Send me a PM so I have your email... I've got a Suter set-up guide you will want. | ||
| Larryjohn |
Jdugger - PM Sent. EBR has also confirmed that my bike still has stock compression so I will plan to stick with pump gas unless I hear any grumbling (knocking) from the engine. Peewee - Not sure who you are asking about the triumph. I've never ridden one so I cannot speak to the differences in the the two bikes. | ||
| Jdugger |
> EBR has also confirmed that my bike still has stock compression Please ignore my comments regarding fuel, then. However, I truly doubt you are getting 150HP at the wheel. That's high-compression, DSB-build territory. My motor did 149 at EBR, and 155 here in Texas. It's at 14.8:1. | ||
| Peeweesp |
Sorry i saw the video and thought it was you | ||
| Larryjohn |
Nope, wasn't me, just a video that I found on Youtube that shows the bike I bought. You can tell that both the Buell and Ducati that he beat were a bit faster in the straights, but he took them in the turns. The guy who shot the video is an STT instructor who I have seen at Grattan a few times (never met him though) so I am pretty sure he is really familiar with that track. | ||
| Larryjohn |
However, I truly doubt you are getting 150HP at the wheel. Agreed and I am actually pretty happy with that. I'm not looking to win any trackdays with the bike and at the moment the power it has is enough for me. I was able to hold my own this past Friday. There was a KTM RC8 at the track that was able to pull on me in the straights but that was about it in the group I ended up riding in. Hopefully the stock compression translates into engine longevity. | ||
| Jdugger |
The high compression motor is surprisingly durable, but I'm sure bone stock is more so. On my bone stock motor, I did over 30,000 track and race miles before I declared it tired and replaced it with my DSB-Spec Motor. In showroom trim, the 1125r motor is detuned pretty far from what it's really capable of, IMO. After two seasons on my current motor, I'll probably have mine split and rebuilt just as a safety precaution. New bearings, full inspection and blueprint, etc. I seized a motor in a race a couple of years ago and had to upgrade my left clavicle with 8 screws and a plate. Since then, I'm a little more cautious of motor condition!!! BTW, depending on how you set up that Suter, it dumps a lot of debris in the oil. CHANGE IT OFTEN, like every couple of track days or so if you ride the full 2 hours or so you would get in a typical track day. Drop the screen every couple of changes, too, and keep a close eye on what you find in there. | ||
| Stirz007 |
JD - you run the slipper with a lot of slip = yes? Mine is set up with less slip, so doesn't foul the oil quite as fast FWIW. My DSB is also about 14.8:1 and I also run 100 octane Sunoco. I got 144 RWHp at 4500 altitude. Probably makes around 150 at sea level. |
