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Larsgm
Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 12:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I just got a 1125r, a red one (2009). We rode out to Alpine AZ this weekend I found out how it does in the twisties up highway 191. The old 666 highway. It did not disappoint. I am 48 yrs old and have been riding since I was 16 and all on yamaha's. I do have a few questions for the group.

1. Why is the back brake so light? It is essentially useless. Probably intentional but I am used to a much
stronger one. I did use it at all this weekend.

2. There is a small amount of gas that is dripping out the tube attached to the passenger peg. I assume this is due to expansion and our extreme heat here in
az. Do other 1125r owners that live in hot area's have any pointers? Don't fill the tank so full maybe?

3. My fans are running for minutes after shut-off. I
assume a pig-tale for battery trickle charging is a good
idea. Parts and pictures please.

I love the slipper clutch, belt drive, and the peppy
motor. The whole concept of a short wheel base sport
twin is something I have always liked but an air-cooled
v-twin bike in Phoenix is not something I was going to
do. So Buell finally builds what I want and they get killed by HD. HD is can only blame themselves and their own financing practices. I hope they bring it back, and it is good that Erik continues to develop this bike.

Cheers

Lars
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Reepicheep
Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 09:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Great questions!


quote:

1. Why is the back brake so light? It is essentially useless. Probably intentional but I am used to a much
stronger one. I did use it at all this weekend.




It's light to avoid unintentional lockups that could lead to highsides, and to make it easier for you to have very fine control as you modulate it setting up for a turn. It still can lock the rear at any speed if you push hard enough.

So there are sound reasons why that is a "better" setup than the traditionally hair trigger Japanese setups, but also a "personal preference" or "what you are used to" aspect to it. Ride it for a while and try and adjust, and see which you end up preferring. You can likely graft on an alternate master cylinder to get it twitchy again if it continues to bug you.


quote:

2. There is a small amount of gas that is dripping out the tube attached to the passenger peg. I assume this is due to expansion and our extreme heat here in
az. Do other 1125r owners that live in hot area's have any pointers? Don't fill the tank so full maybe?




Yup, just gas overflow. Probably from topping off the tank, and parking someplace hot. Fill it less, or just ignore it, and aim your lit cigarettes the other direction. : )


quote:

3. My fans are running for minutes after shut-off. I assume a pig-tale for battery trickle charging is a good idea. Parts and pictures please.




Ahh! The fan... that's the sound of oil not breaking down (as much) around your rear cylinder exhaust valve. When you shut off the engine, all that heat from that valve starts soaking out, and you are no longer circulating oil to transfer it to a place where it can cool off, and it just sits there and *bakes*. The post shutdown fan sucks heat out of there and spares your oil a lot of unnecessary pain.

If you have a good battery and a well working charging system, I don't think the fan makes a significant dent in your battery reserve capacity. And if the battery reserve capacity is low enough that it does make a dent, the fix is probably a new battery, not an external power source.

That being said, I think a smart battery tender probably does extend the life of batteries, and help bikes that sit a lot stay topped off. Typical setup is just a two prong automotive connector (like a trailer light setup connector) going straight to the battery. Run the connector out the right side under the seat, there are a few nice places there it will route through and tuck in nicely. Though I worry if that wire gets rubbed through you have a welder running under your seat.
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Larsgm
Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 01:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

muchos gracias Reepicheep,

Thanks for the quick answers. Still very much in the learning stages w.r.t. this 1125r but very happy so far. This bike is a beast. My corner speed is higher than my thunderace for sure, the exit speed is way faster, and this is week #2.

Cheers

Lars
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Boogiman1981
Posted on Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 09:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

the fans will shut down and not leave you stranded. yes a tender is a very very good idea. the battery they stuffed into the R/CR platform is just barely big enough to do the job.

keep you eyes on the voltage, check the 1125R/CR board for on going and valuable discussion regarding you new ride.

i've had an 08R since Jan 09 am up to about 8500miles so far. and have had the clutch issue the cluster issue and for a few of us the rear brake becomes an issue as well.

on the dripping gas make real friendly with the local Harley shop and they should be able to get the 'cali-can' installed, one downside reported by a number of converts is some of us have issues with hot restarts after the can goes in. simple fix for that is when you go to key on have the throttle WFO which 'clears' the plugs and should allow for an easy start
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1125rcya
Posted on Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 03:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There is a small amount of gas that is dripping out the tube attached to the passenger peg. I assume this is due to expansion and our extreme heat here in
az. Do other 1125r owners that live in hot area's have any pointers? Don't fill the tank so full maybe?


Some call the fix for this problem the Cali-Can or Carbon Canister. Basically it's just a carbon filter that help's eliminate this drip and some of the odor!
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/526137.html?1261253057
}
Part #'s
27042-84A Carbon Canister
P1032.1AM Hose Assembly,fuel vent W/hose clamp
P0066.1AM Hose Assembly,throttle body to carbon canister
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Mountainstorm
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 08:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Oddly enough the gas drips more from my bike when the tank is almost empty than when I top it off. It's probably fuel boiling. When I open the cap I can hear it percolating in there. The cure might be to line the inner part of the frame/tank with heat reflecting material. Not the easiest job in the world. The Cali Can purges all of that back into the airbox. Frankly I do not want a compartment filled with explosive fumes that close to my man parts.

My 08 has the original battery and I've never had an issue with failure to crank or charge. I wouldn't worry about the fan.

You can improve the feel of the back brake by installing EBC HH pads. They might squeal sometimes.
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Rogue_biker
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 03:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm just starting to get to know my 1125R myself. I agree that the rear brake is very weak, which I think is pretty silly considering my Firebolt's rear brakes are weak enough but still effective. I believe rear brakes should be sufficiently strong but very easy to modulate to avoid lock up. In any case, regular use clears the rear brake rotor of exhaust soot deposits, which increases the pad grip, which increases the braking power some. It's still weak though but at least it's not touchy like the one on my VFR800.

As for the fan, I don't know why it runs after shut off as well. It's supposed to be liquid cooled so the coolant does the bulk of the cooling. Thus, allowing the fans, that are located behind the radiators, run after shutdown is a mystery to me. If Buell wanted to evacuate hot are soaking the rear cylinder, then they should have put the fan back there like on the Firebolt.

I love my 1125R and Buell's bikes. But there are design & mechanical elements on the 1125R that still makes me wonder.
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Froggy
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 03:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)


quote:

1. Why is the back brake so light?




Break it in per the directions in your manual. Problem solved. : )

A little bit of fuel dripping is normal, it is just expansion.



quote:

3. My fans are running for minutes after shut-off




Again, normal, thats what they are programmed to do. Battery tender isn't needed, but it can't hurt.
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Sprintst
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 03:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

after smoking 2 batteries in my ATV and offroad bike, I put everything on tenders now

Batteries are way sensitive, and you go a few weeks w/out riding and you can destroy those things. Easier to just plug it in
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Ottobotz
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 03:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Larsgm-


-Congrats on your new Buell. I love this bike. I have the 1125 CR. Very fun to ride and it gets all kinds of attention.

-Phoenix, huh? I live in Tucson and there is another 1125 R rider on here from up north of ya that goes to school here @ the UofA.

-When ever your down here, hit me up. When I am up there I'll hit ya up. We'll go for a ride.

-BTW, Pipe, ECM and K&N are the way to go for some X-tra ponies........
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Rex
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 04:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

welcome to the group. Don't forget American Sport Bike Night , Arizona. The first MOnday of each month at Chases diner in Chandler. 6:30 pm. 2030 N. Alma School road. Chandler Arizona 85224 REX
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Zac4mac
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011 - 11:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lars - first welcome to BWB
Second - make sure you aren't filling over the "tank".
Look inside, don't fill past the inside ring, a couple of inches below the rim.
Gas will pee a lot when you fill past that.

The fans will run a lot and so does the fuel pump.
Pump is very high-pitched, runs for 3-5 sec every 1.5-2 minutes for ten minutes with current ECM flash.

Have your dealer check with Digital Tech that you have the most current flash for rideability and power.
Then order a race ECM from Erik Buell Racing for 250 bucks and get the best from your new baby.

Enough, I'm getting buzzed and I try to not post once drunk....

Zack
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Larsgm
Posted on Monday, February 07, 2011 - 07:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks for warm welcome dudes,

I will check out ASBN @ Chases tonight. I normally ride the 1125r to work but it would not start this morning. It did have the battery light on when I was riding it home Friday & I was going to hook up the trickle charger but forgot to, so no start this morning.

Ottobotz my email is larsgm@gmail.com, especially interested in any rides to the NM line etc..

I do have a few friends here that will go as well so a trip to Hannagan Meadow end of June is a must.


lars
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