1st Ride Buell 1125R: Various Sources (updated again)

[phoenix]

the specs are probably on one of those links, but I'll just post 'em here:

MSRP $11,995
Dimensions U.S. Units
Overall Length  78.6 in.
Overall Width 28.2 in.
Seat Height:  
Standard  30.5 in.
Wheelbase 54.6 in.
Tires:  
Type Pirelli®  
Front Diablo Corsa III (model)
  120/70 ZR-17 (specifications)
Rear Diablo Corsa III (model)
  180/55 ZR-17 (specifications)
Fuel Capacity 5.6 gal.
Reserve Fuel Capacity 0.8 gal.
Weight:  
Dry Weight 375 lbs.
Gross Rating 850 lbs.
Load Capacity 395 lbs.
Engine U.S. Units
Engine Liquid-cooled 1125cc Helicon® V-Twin  
Valve Train DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, finger follower design & shimming  
Bore x Stroke:  
Bore 4.055 in.
Stroke 2.658 in.
Displacement 68.7 cu. in.
Compression Ratio 12.3:1  
Fuel Delivery Dual 61 mm down draft throttle bodies, DDFI III fuel injection  
Exhaust Tuned, tri-pass resonance chamber with integral helmholtz tuning and mass-centralized mounting  
Torque 82 ft. lbs. @ 8000 RPM
Horsepower  146 HP @ 9800 RPM
Primary Drive Helical Gear, 0.554:1 (36/65) ratio  
Final Drive  Constant path, 14 mm pitch aramid-reinforced Goodyear® Hibrex® belt with Flexten® Plus technology, 2.593:1 (70/27) ratio  
Clutch Wet, multi-plate, Hydraulic Vacuum Assist (HVA) Slipper Action Clutch, hydraulic clutch lever effort
Transmission 6-speed, straight cut gears  
Chassis U.S. Units
Frame Aluminum frame, fuel in frame  
Front Fork 47 mm Showa® inverted forks with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload  
Rear Shock  Showa® coil over monoshock with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload  
Wheels:  
Color Diamond Blue  
Front 6-spoke, ZTL™ cast aluminum (type)
  3.5 in. (diameter)
  17 in. (width)
Rear 6-spoke, cast aluminum (type)
  5.5 in. (diameter)
  17 in. (width)
Brakes:  
Front ZTL™-type brake, 8-piston, fixed caliper, 375 mm single sided, inside out, stainless steel, floating rotor  
Rear Two-piston, direct mount caliper, 240 mm stainless steel, fixed rotor

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/07/07/2008-buell-1125r-liquid-cooled-rotax-v-twin/

[November]

Nice video. I'd love to see Buell continue to gain in the market share as they improve. Would be nice to see more on the road (I think I've seen one ever on the road (a Blast) and I live in Houston.   ).

Don't forget having one of the largest dealer networks around.

Only if they actually add Buell to the dealerships. Due to our own ignorance my husband and I went into a HD dealership near our home intending to take a look at a Uly. When we walked in a salesman approached us but when we asked where the Buells were he said there's only one place in Houston that sells them and it's on the north side of town. He had a chuckle and said, "There's a reason we don't sell them."  

Like Garry I'm intrigued by Buell and would love to go look at the bikes, take a seat, and possibly a ride, but it seems they are very separated from the HD dealerships.

I guess that just gives us a good reason to head over to the north side of Houston.  

[bomber]

Large Delaership Network?

Potentially, you bet!

In reality, er, ehem, uh, not quite so large.

As others have observed, not all HD dealers carry Buells -- I'll go further and say not all HD dealers should be allow to service HDs, much less Buells. There's bolting on accessories, and there's service a bike. not at all the same thing. Which leads to . . .

Techs that know what they are doing? Er, ehem, again -- there ARE dealerships with good Buell Techs, no doubt.

They are thin on the groundm though -- factor in the new mill, and the picture gets really interesting.

Me, I'm a Buell fan -- love my tuber, while none of the XB line quite does it for me -- I'd love to see Buell continue to expand, and make money faster than the law allows.

As always, their success is limited mostly by two things:

1 those that choose their rides from spec sheets, rather than riding

and

2 the destribution network -- enough has been written and said about that, no need for me to add to it

[1moreroad]

Fuel Capacity 5.6 gal.
Reserve Fuel Capacity 0.8 gal.
Weight:  
Dry Weight 375 lbs.

I think the Aprilia Falco comparison is interesting.  If this has decent tank range (i.e., NOT Falco or VTR1000), then I would be very interested.

Sounds like the ergos will be sporty, but more relaxed than your typical sportbike. Assuming I can live with the looks, this could be the replacement for the Ninja bike next year.

If you're looking for something just a little different, F4i or ZZR600.  Supposedly the new CBR600RR has less aggressive ergos, too.

[Schneegz]

When it comes to models on the showroom floor, I'd think HD would care about the average age of the potential buyers of its bike lineup, not the age of bike owners.

I don't remember the exact wording of the article, but I took it to mean that the average Buell buyer is 38, while the average Harley buyer is in his 60s.  Besides, even if the author meant owner and not buyer, the difference is academic at most.  If the average Harley owner is over 20 years older than the average Buell owner, then it is also highly likely that the average Harley buyer is over 20 years older than the average Buell buyer.

[Johnny Monsoon]

Is Eric Buell maybe the smartest man in the US moto-industry?

Seriously, he develops a bike using a cheap and readily available engine.  It works well for his design innovations.  Then as he progresses, his company is adopted by HD.  He slips around in HD's shadow for a while, biding his time.  He says things that give the MoCo warm fuzzies like "I'll never leave the Evo engine".

Yet, here he is, now essentially divorced from the MoCo (what else about the Buell ties him to the HD line?) and developing a US made bike that now finally has some credibility with a much wider scope of the riding population.

Smart.  Very, very smart.

See, you guys aren't getting my point, exactly.

Sure, he's going to be part of the MoCo, but in name only.  I mean, really, what else is related?  It used to end at the engine, but now that's been replaced.  The Buell bashers that harped on the Evo powerplant won't even have that argument anymore, and let's face it, that's the most founded (and realistic, I think) argument for NOT buying a Buell up to this point.

[Schneegz]

A much longer write-up from RacerX.com.

[Clive]

I don't remember the exact wording of the article, but I took it to mean that the average Buell buyer is 38, while the average Harley buyer is in his 60s.  Besides, even if the author meant owner and not buyer, the difference is academic at most.  If the average Harley owner is over 20 years older than the average Buell owner, then it is also highly likely that the average Harley buyer is over 20 years older than the average Buell buyer.

With some Googling: the average HD buyer seems to be around 45, give or take a couple; the average Buell buyer is reported as being just under 40.

[Schneegz]

With some Googling: the average HD buyer seems to be around 45, give or take a couple; the average Buell buyer is reported as being just under 40.

Apparently the disparaty isn't as great as that article made it out to be.  

[Clive]

Apparently the disparaty isn't as great as that article made it out to be.  

Well, the HD age over the last 10+ years has been rising while the Buell age has been holding relatively steady -- maybe the article was trending things out?

[Snowbird]

That is my *one* regret about the CBR/F4i. I know, I know... "it's a sport bike". Damnit... if I can't carry stuff, there's little point. I even told myself several times that it's just a weekend weapon for the twisties and bopping around. Yeah, uh huh. Meanwhile I've put more daily miles on it than on the FJR since buying it.

Like the rest of us, you're torn between touring and sport. But, that's not such a bad thing.  

[VAX]

Like the rest of us, you're torn between touring and sport. But, that's not such a bad thing.  

I'm not torn, I'm in nirvana.

[Schneegz]

A very short snippet from Raptors & Rockets.

[Mastros2]

Nice video, agree with the point that the Thunderstorm is not dead yet.  With the changes, it looks to be a better bike than year's past. And with the price drop, more people will look at them.  
Thanks Erik!  Way to go!

[ventur4th]

I was at Laguna this past Monday, finishing up some work involving the Monterey Historics, and saw the Buells there.
First, I did ask and they said no I couldn't ride one.
Sitting on one found the ergos to be a bit more aggressive than my Sprint ST. The triple clamp doesn't look like it would lend itself to risers.
Fit and finish were good.
The looks are something only a mother could love - but that's why I've always liked the Buells.
Speaking with the R&D manager was interesting. I asked about distribution and if Buell would sponsor their own dealerships and was told that they would continue to be sold at the HD shops. HD techs will be sent to training to learn the new motor. In response to questions about other versions/models with the Rotax, he said not at this time. Nor was there plans to go racing with this platform.
While the U.S. moto journalist crowd was out road riding, the Buell factory guys were getting track time on a couple of the bikes. These are fast bikes - they accelerated and drove out of corners hard and looked like they were on rails all the time.
Availability is scheduled for November and the suggested retail is 11,999.
It's an interesting bike and makes my short list for next years purchase.

[goodhawk]

Looks hot to me - not so much the visuals, ( side rads /air scoop kinda funky) >the specs - something I would design for my use - excel power ( for me, even 'too much') , comfy ergos, I'm sure if need be Helibars wold fit , top suspen.,brakes - even a large 5.6 gal tank, I'd guess it must have 200 mi + range before res.
probably moved to # 1 on my short list for purchase next summer, the BMW R 1200 S , then Tri Tiger 1050 ( with lowering Kit)
with the note that actually buying first year prod. is something of a gamble . . .could I actually be buying a BUELL ?
great job Eric