Doing a stupid - Buell 1125CR

[lilredmachine]

Having once had a Buell XB12R, I have visited a chap callled Maz in Manchester who is the last registered Buell tech in the country. Whilst I was there having the proper 10k service done on my XB12R ~ a grand and 2 days work ~ I spent most of it staring at something I hadn't seen before. It was an 1125CR. He fired it up and blew my ear drums out, then gave a me a giant list of reasons not to own one.

So naturally, after 7 years of edging, i have decided to ignore that advice.

https://i.postimg.cc/4xWKXns9/IMG-20190817-125006281-HDR.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/sgh8rGpn/66510159-10157459450363485-6345893589490335744-n.jpg

Bottom picture is when I first picked it up, I have since removed the gash mirrors and fitted a tail tidy in the top one.

For those that are not familiar with Mr. Buells last foray into Harley funded bikes, these had an engine called a Halicon, which was a Rotax built, huge bore, short stroke ~ 103mm/67.5mm ~ Vtwin full of all sorts of exotic materials and whizzbangery. It doesn't sound like an old school Vtwin and it makes peak power at 10,000 RPM, unlike an old school Vtwin.

This one had 17k miles when I bought it, and it was very well kept, which means it's a good one. I have done about 1,200 miles on it with no issues which is almost unheard of. Part of that is I have fitted a race ECU programmed by Mr. Buell himself to match the Jardine can and KnN filter, which also makes the bike run considerably cooler and happier. It also has the happy addition of lumping about 15 extra ponies into it which it didn't really need. You need to be in 4th at over a ton before this thing won't just hit you in the chin with the bars at over 8k rpm.

It's short, light and incredibly angry and I'm happy to be enjoying riding it until the inevitable service and this happens:

https://i.postimg.cc/3JBV10gV/poK76qW.jpg

Yes, you have to do this to check the valve clearances. The manual also tells you to remove the engine to change the spark plugs. It is just doable with the engine in place, but it's a cunt.

So look forward to that workshop thread.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[Ste]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[chickenstrip]

[lilredmachine]

I thought it was a widely recognized term? You're a brave man to enter that in a search engine.

Bike looks like a crab and an insect crashed into a spaceship. Sort of a love it or hate it thing.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[lilredmachine]

[chickenstrip]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

"Hedging," maybe, although it does appear to be wearing a bra so....

I do like it though.

[lilredmachine]

[MarJay]

https://media2.giphy.com/media/l0MYLraSJ4qyxTqJq/giphy.gif

I sold my 3rd XB12R in the summer because I never rode it, and parts were starting to get expensive. I miss it, but logically I can't justify it.

Oddly my VFR has a hint of what I miss about the Buell. It's something about a V engine I reckon. If I could buy a fully faired 1000cc V4 sports tourer that doesn't weigh too much I'd probably buy it but Honda insist on keeping the 800cc capacity and the ludicrous weight - I have the VFR for my 100 mile a day commute.

A 1125R was on my list for a while - 150bhp V twin, that weighs not a lot, with the potential for great handling - a no brainer. Except the stators destroy themselves and the front suspension is underdeveloped. It's a Ducati 1098 but uglier. But my commute has now changed my bike requirements and how often I ride etc.

As it is, I'm probably going with something like a GSXS1000F next year because of the ULEZ. But that slot in my garage should really be for a Buell, and that'll make me sad.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[lilredmachine]

[MarJay]

[Ste]

[stevo as b4]

One word:

turbo?

[Ste]

Turbo edging or turbo hedging?

[lilredmachine]

Harley have a lot to answer for, and I hope their present struggles with sales and staying relevent either gives them a good fucking kicking or obliterates them from the face of the planet. The Buell story is a classic one of left field concepts and clever engineering being hobbled by bean counting and overbearing Mothership decisions aimed at not alienating their customer base of chaps wearing tassle fanciers. Now they are desperately scrabbling to reconnect with the real world.

I share that feeling of almost-pity for these and pretty much all Buells. I've always wanted one of these because it is such a raw and visceral machine. Journalists didn't like it when it came out, at the time they were happy to put their arms round it's shoulder, give it a run, then go and recommend that you should buy some heavy 1050 design that Triumph have been shitting out for years, or a hugely out dated Aprilia Tuono twin. In the real world, point to point, the 1125 will chew up and spit out things a couple of times more expensive.

https://i.postimg.cc/q74S6zkB/1-A8-E989-F-2756-46-DC-B838-EFFA0-F9-FE91-A.jpg%20%20

That Dyno graph don't lie, a TWIN motorcycles slip on, ECU remap and KnN filter and that thing's putting out 144 RWHP and 90 ft/lbs of torque. This dyno graph is of Joe's stock motored 1125 straight line bike which runs 9.1 in the quarter mile, that's the same time you'd expect out of a tweaked, stretched, slammed 2005 GSXR 1000 drag bike.

The 1098 you referenced is similarly sad. It don't even compare to a well fettled 1125.

https://i.postimg.cc/W31qY67D/1098g1.gif

Look at the 7k RPM mark, the Buell is making 30HP more than the 1098. Fucking 30hp.

https://i.postimg.cc/W3z6qPCf/1098g23.gif

Torque is similarly weak, It's over 12lb/ft weaker than the Buell at peak

That's a 1098 on a Full titanium Termignoni system and remap, opening the motor and fiddling with the cam timing got it to 142 rwhp, and 82lb/ft but if you were to do that to the Buell...

The 1125 Helicon motor is an absolute animal. And the 1190 only pushed it further. 175rwhp is roughly what you can expect from one of them, and that's about in line with a tuned 'Busa or a Panigale, but the Helicon will have a butt load more torque everywhere...

https://i.postimg.cc/xjMh0wD3/CCI30012016-2.jpg

Or, if you can compare it to a Tuono V4, more of a fair comparison in terms of naked to naked:

https://i.postimg.cc/zBHq00QX/2017-Tuono-Factory-dyno-comparison.jpg

Oooooh dear.
____________________
Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[lilredmachine]

[stevo as b4]

OK you got me, I have to admit that's a satisfactory sickness or illness to have to be excused from blower installing.

I do have to ask though, where is the snail hiding on the Honda though?

P. S. I can hear the brapping (think that's what they call it still?) from here in my head, but you're an evil man if you think you can post that sort of pic up without sending the sweet aroma of fresh pre-mixed goodness out through my screen.

[NJD]

I don't think I'll ever moan about how time consuming removing the fairings, lifting the tank and unbolting some gizmo I forget is just to do the plugs on my CBF1000, nor the rear wheel to do the caliper, after looking at those pictures.

Hats off to the dedication.
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The do it all, T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶,̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶l̶u̶m̶p̶,̶ ̶C̶h̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶N̶o̶o̶d̶l̶e̶

[lilredmachine]

Don't need no snail.

Has a Panthera electric start kit, ported and plished, CRF front and rear ends....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haqv8bdjcRU
____________________
Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[MarJay]

[lilredmachine]

[MarJay]

Oh yeah, the bloke who bought my beautiful black and translucent orange Firebolt

... wrote it off a week later.

https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/buell-10.jpg
https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/tag1.jpg
https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/img_4010_small.jpg
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Easy-X]

N00b observation: that front brake rotor looks interesting, tell me more
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[MarJay]