| Author | Message | ||
     Thurstonbuell |
New ??? new to me , kinda cool http://www.mcnews.com.au/podcasts/podcast_32.htm | ||
| Brad1445 |
I LOVE that engine! | ||
| Pariah |
Thanks for posting... | ||
| Elvis |
Cool! Thanks. It looks like there was just some sort of Australian introduction. Here's a nice review: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23585734-5010760,00.html Erik Buell adds water and dynamics to 1125R By Mark Hinchliffe April 26, 2008 12:00am FORGET everything you know about Buell. The 1125R V-twin superbike is like nothing that has gone before. It revs, it handles, it changes gears smoothly, it's well finished, it even looks attractive. The most radical departure is that it is the first Buell without a Harley-Davidson engine. This American-made bike features an engine especially built for Buell by Austrian engine manufacturer Rotax which is part of the North American BRP company that also makes snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and water craft. And for the first time, it's liquid-cooled. Some may say it's no longer a Buell, but company founder Erik Buell would dispute that. He was in Australia last week for the national launch in the Victorian high country. "Who's to say what a Buell is, anyway? I'm Erik Buell, so I say what it is and for a long time I've wanted to make a water-cooled sportsbike. Unfortunately, a pinched nerve in his arm prevented him from joining the ride, but he was so enthusiastic, he ran around with a gerry can topping up the 20-litre tanks on the 16 test bikes as we waited and shivered in two-degree temperatures at Mt Hotham during a photo shoot. "It's my greatest achievement yet," he proudly states. And I'd have to agree. Previous Buells bucked like mules and tested the rider's patience and loyalty with their controversial looks, almost comical vibration, build quality issues and hot-running air-cooled engines. It still looks different from the pack, has a peripheral brake disc, belt drive and it still has that cooling fan that runs on when you switch off. (Erik agreed he probably didn't need to keep the dual fans that continue running when the engine is stopped and that he was being over-cautious about keeping the engine cool.) Almost everything else we know about Buell bikes has changed. Even before throwing a leg over, it is clear that this is a well-made and beautiful machine. That wide bikini fairing with the twin headlights looks like a Ducati 916, while the lower fairing seems a tad bulbous. It acts as an air scoop and housing for the twin fans, much like on the Honda SP-1. Build quality is superb. There are no issues such as badly fitting panels as on previous models. The triple clamp, frame and scaffolding inside the instrument pod ooze craftsmanship. I especially like the wide mirrors with their large integrated indicators which are easy to see and therefore very safe. When you switch on, the digital display reads "BUELL" and underneath it scrolls "WISCONSIN USA", leaving you in no doubt that this is an American bike. With a dearth of Japanese V-twin superbikes on the market, it could start gaining some converts from Italian bikes with its competitive $17,500 price, plus its sharp handling and high performance, high-revving motor. Buell said they "fought a huge battle" to get that pricing, but it comes with no loss of quality. Even the brake lines are steel-braided. The handling is very "Italian" with quick turn-in despite a longer wheelbase, no understeer and plenty of high-speed stability. The bikes were perfectly tuned for our weight according to a factory preset guide which retailers can adjust for buyers. The fully adjustable suspension also allows plenty of scope for riders to fiddle with the settings. What isn't Italian is the comfortable riding position. The seat is flat and firm, there is only a slight lean towards the bars and the fairing and radiator cowls offer great protection. My only complaint was the high-set pegs, but that meant 32 footpegs were returned unscathed after vigorous cornering. Brakes lack initial bite, but with an eight-piston calliper on the front they are very strong with excellent feel. The rear brake is a little wooden and there is also very little engine braking, so on a downhill charge on the Alpine Way, I had to rely almost totally on the front brake. Yet after a vigorous descent, the front single disc showed no hint of fade. Gears are now super-smooth – and there are six of them – with no false neutrals, although neutral can be hard to find until the oils warm up. It is also comforting that the slipper clutch doesn't allow the rear to wiggle under downshifts for tight corners. But it is the engine that will win most of the converts. On start-up, it feels smooth and refined, thanks to three engine balancers. No longer do the mirrors and indicators shake violently. Snick first, let out the light clutch and there is a lack of typical Buell low-down torque. But when revs rise over 4000, it pulls hard and keeps pulling through the extensive rev range. You will be using the slick-shifting gearbox more than before to keep the revs up, but the result is outstanding power delivery. Around slow corners, of which there are many in the alps, the on-off throttle operation is smooth even though it is fuel injected, although there is some low-rev surge. Harley-Davidson national marketing manager Adrian O'Donoughue said the 1125R would become their top seller but supply was limited to about 150 bikes this year. (Message edited by elvis on April 30, 2008) |
