BIKES4US

The 2009 Buell 1125CR. It's an absolute blast...

MotorBox recently had the opportunity to test ride the new Buell 1125CR. Here are some excerpts from what they have to say about the machine:

Erik Buell always dreamt of getting his hands on a high-performance engine – something significantly more powerful than air-cooled Harley v-twins – because such an engine would unlock the true potential of Buell motorcycles. And with the liquid-cooled Rotax Helicon v-twin, which produces 146bhp at 9,800rpm and 111Nm of torque at 8,000rpm, that dream has come true…

The 1125CR’s Rotax mill, the same engine that’s also used on the 1125R, gets a freshly tweaked fuel-injection system for better low-rpm power delivery and reduced fuel consumption. The cooling system has also been fettled for better heat dissipation, and those who ride 1125CR now needn’t have their legs roasted.

The 2009 Buell 1125CR’s gearing has been altered for better low-rev acceleration, at the expense of a small loss in top speed – a step in the right direction. The swingarm is now 5mm longer, and is supposed to offer better high-speed stability.

It certainly won't beat litre-class repli-racers around a racetrack, but on the street, for having a few laughs, the Buell 1125CR is pretty cool...

The 1125CR’s chunky, muscular styling oozes testosterone, but this certainly isn’t a beautiful looking bike. The riding position reminds you of older Ducati Monsters, the spacious saddle lets you move around a bit till you find a position that’s comfortable for you, and the clutch and brake levers are adjustable.

On the move, the Buell 1125CR feels unexpectedly docile. At least in the beginning. But open up that throttle and you feel a direct connection between the accelerator and the rear wheel. And the six-speed gearbox is quiet, precise and quick.

The 1125CR can be hustled around corners pretty quickly. The bike’s aluminum perimeter frame, which also doubles as a fuel tank, mated to a 47mm USD fork at the front and monoshock at the back, works well. The Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tyres are excellent, and the 375mm single brake disc at the front, with its eight-piston calipers, is quite capable of hauling up the Buell in a hurry.

With its rather extreme steering geometry, the 1125CR is very agile and changes direction in a snap. But the surprising bit is that it also manages to remain stable at elevated speeds and remains planted in high-speed corners. The suspension, however, may benefit from some recalibration – the bike tends to hop around a bit when the roads get rough.