BUELL 1125R (2007 - 2010) Review

Version: Erik Buell Signature

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £120

Light, powerful, track, street and highway handling is superb. Maintenance is simple for self service. A Ducati is more expensive and fares less well in the same race category for CCS, WERA and club road course racing segments in the USA. Even older parts can be still be obtained for less or equal cost than most of the same year competitive bikes.Primarily an out the dealer's door track ready street bike that requires nothing 'right out of the shipping box' and still, in 2024, fulfills that marque. Best weekend track bike investment you could ever make and ride to work on Monday.

Buying experience: Price as advertised was well within the range of an advanced (still advanced today) track/street motorcycle.

Version: 1125r

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £400

Starter system sprague clutch and flywheel way to expensive for wear an tear parts

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £250

Could be so much better. The engine is a peach and the bodywork quality is excellent. Unfortunately the centre of gravity is too high to make it handle really well but once you learn its abilities it can take it to the best of them.

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £500

Buells/EBRs have no peers, they stand on their own. Most misunderstood bike that offer the experienced ride something unique. It is shrouded in mystery as few ever get to ride the 1125R long enough. My bike has full race ECU & suspension and 1190rx brakes with touring pillion seat and panniers for long distance 2-Up riding. This bike with 2-Up hauls easily, hard cruise at any speed, hook a corner at 45 deg and stop exactly where you want, it has brilliant lights. Personally I consider it a very safe sports touring bike.

Buying experience: Used from Dealer

I've put 18,000 miles on one without commuting and it wont get sold until the engine goes bang. It stops, corners and below 140 it's quicker than all the latest 4s' though not a ducati. Ok, you do need to buy an ecu and a pipe, Buell never figured out how get the fueling smooth and past an emissions test. But with their factory race ecu, which comes pipe specific :)..... Ha ha you'll be listening to the music from East Troy and on my god is it loud, as I'll out gun you all over the passo. Come to think of it, do you even know where they made your Jap litre yogurt pot. But you're right it is wierd but then it's a Buell.

An enigma is the Buell . 1386mm wheel base (600 class), 111 nm torgue, 146 hp , 170kg , and that 21 degree rake . Nothing is like it . Some consider it a little weird , but get used to it and the Buell does deliver. Reliability issues have been the main concern with a stator and now the rear wheel bearing collapsing ( scary !). But in it's defence ,upon reading , the Aprilia RSV factory and the KTM RC8 seem to have similar niggles as the Buell . Stator , vibration , electrics, surging etc. To ride the beast though is in my opinion a real pleasure . It's nimble and sharp , allowing you to get the power on nice and early. Believe it or not , I am reluctant to part with it . There is nothing like it , and it does it well . From the sounds of it , if I get an Aprilia factory or a RC8 , I could well be going down a similar road .These bikes are not the reliable japanese bikes . But make no doubts about it , the bike is a great ride

Simply Superb!

I spent an afternoon on a Buell fun day at Castle Combe - lovely bunch of people, thanks for that! I went out on the track on a 1125R and took it for a spin on the lovely country roads and I had a hoot. I've only ridden a VFR800 and a Thundercat in terms of sports bikes so all this is from the perspective of a novice. The controls are a bit clunky and it takes more getting used to than I had time to do, but the only real stand out problem was the disparity between the back and front brakes. Front was very sharp - great on the track, but a pain anywhere else. The rear brake did nothing meaning that slow speed stuff was a pain. However, it was great to ride. I loved the setup, it was comfortable and forgiving and gave me loads of confidence. The engine pulled like I was attached to a giant elastic band. I could happily spend more time getting used to that magic lump! It looked great and I found it comfortable and confidence inspiring, bearing in mind it was my first time on a big twin and first time on a track I was really impressed by how much fun I had and how impressed I was with the Buell. Try one if you get the chance.

Jeez, what a torquey motor this thing has, apparently a bespoke unit, very impressive. handling is a lot more predictable on the track than on the road, it seems to be heavy at speeds up to 60-70mph