| Author | Message | ||
     Kinder |
Just curious... It just seems that whenever people start bragging about 1125CR's Ducati comes up then the comparo's begin. When I was looking at bikes Triumph ST, Aprilia Tuono, Kawasaki Z100, Yamaha FZ1 and Suzuki SV1000 were what I compared to. Now I was looking at 'naked' bikes but then why do the non naked versions of the same bikes no get compared to Buell? I loved my XB12Ss. I love my 1125CR. I feel they have more 'personality' than the others I mentioned. But I suffer from no illusions as to how they perform against them or other liter bikes. And considering they race against 600's I think we all know how they truly stack up.  So why Ducati? They are not the only twins in town if thats the reason. | ||
| Jaimec |
But they ARE the most well known. | ||
| Albert666 |
surely the rc8 is a closer comparison thats what i'd like if i wern't a buelligan | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
"And considering they race against 600's I think we all know how they truly stack up." Yes we do, with a good rider - they do great. With the other riders who campaigned them in DSB - not as good. I think its just cause they (Duc) are well known Vtwin sportbikes. Agree, I think the RC8 would be a closer bike to compare to. | ||
| Sprintst |
Hmm, let's ponder - race inspired - v-twin, liquid cooled - relatively rare/exotic | ||
| Fresnobuell |
And considering they race against 600's I think we all know how they truly stack up. Here we go again. The 600cc factory teams poured big money into modding their 600cc weapons of choice, whereas the Buell's case was never cracked. So you can almost make the case a stock 1125R (or at least much closer to stock than the 600cc competition) indeed has its hands full versus a DSB factory 600cc bike. Stock for stock? The 1125R wins with comparable riders. I believe there was a comparo with a stock Kawi 600cc and a stock Buell 1125r (and maybe one other bike??) when all DSB hoopla was going down a couple years ago. As I remember the Buell won. | ||
| Crmike |
It was an 1125r vs. ZX-6R vs. Aprilia RS1000V. The R kicked butt in every test and even the hater who was doing the narration for the comparison wound up giving props to the R. I would consider it a complement comparing Buell to Ducati. Ducati is considered the best by a lot of people. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
Well, the same can be said about the RC8. Though, all of the comparisons regarding the RC8 and 1125R seem to be no comparison at all in the eyes of the reporters. They all seem to relish the RC8 while at the same time show a complete dislike for our beloved R/CRs. I would really love to make that comparison my self and really get a feel for the RC8 and how I think it stacks up to my R. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Though, all of the comparisons regarding the RC8 and 1125R seem to be no comparison at all in the eyes of the reporters. Has there been an actual comparo with these two bikes? I can't remember one. We all know the shift of the motorcycle universe from Japan to Europe, so it shouldn't surprise anyone the reporters are drooling over the RC-8. Combine that with their preconceived notions of Buell....and we can see Buells don't really stand a chance. I just went in an looked at a RC-8 Factory which was for sale at around $22,000--and I think it was an 2009! Considering I bought my last 1125R for $6,000 I am quite satisfied. Even the most jaded journalist can't say the RC-8 is four times better than the 1125R. | ||
| Jdugger |
Fresno, I agree. The Buell provides incredible value, even at "full" price. At the price a lot of us paid, it's a no-brainer. Easily the best bike for the money. I love Ducati, but there's no way I'm going to drop that kind of coin on something to throw down the track. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
+1 JD $6,000 brand spankin' new I might add. I love not having a ton of dough invested in the bike. I don't have to worry about it nearly as much. Every scratch and ding isn't the end of the world. I can get away from paying ridiculous collision insurance rates. The list could go on. | ||
| 1_mike |
While I'm happy with my CR, the dealer near me has the 09, RC8 tagged for $21,950, but a salesman said they'd go out for about $10,000. Which puts them at the same cost as the Buell,R/CR (pre Harley-sellout). My last time there, they had two 09's and one 10 on the floor. I "think" some of the 09's may have been demo models though..!? Mike | ||
| Xtreme6669 |
My good friend just bought a 2010 RC8 for 10.5 plus fees... The "r" version is a bit more. That bike is SICK!!! I haven't got to ride it yet as he is just breaking it in but its components and style are very top end!! We went out to a bike night this past Sat night at the Scottsdale pavilions and the RC8 was the star of the show for sure! | ||
| Bigevildoer |
FresnoBuell said I just went in an looked at a RC-8 Factory which was for sale at around $22,000--and I think it was an 2009! The dealer is smoking crack. Can get a 2011 RC8-R in Canada for $18.5K. And we end up paying between $1-1.5K more for bikes like that than the buyers in the USA pay. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
Here is one review that I read a few years ago. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with the writer's views! Tiff of the Twins : KTM RC8 vs Ducati 1098 vs Buell 1125R Buell 1125R vs KTM RC8 vs Ducati 1098! Pics: Moto Revue / Jacques Clipet "Moto Revue recently pitted three twin-cylinder sportsbikes – KTM RC8 1190, Ducati 1098 and Buell 1125R – against each other, and while you’ll have to buy the mag for the full story, here are a few quick impressions. The Ducati 1098, with its hard saddle, stiff suspension and very racer-centric ergonomics, is the least comfortable of the three bikes here. The RC8, with its adjustable ergos, and the 1125R, with its softer suspension, are more suited for longer journeys. Now this turns out to be interesting, they pitted three V-Twins against each other. The images themselves are beautiful but I wish they had an MV Agusta instead of the ugly Buell. I think Buell’s are not the best of motorcycles and are still sluggish so there was no reason to have it in this comparison, mentioned in the article that the Buell always feels outdated and doesn’t give you confidence when riding the machine on the road." | ||
| Court |
Yeah . . . as I watched those MV Agustas thunder toward the checkered flag at Daytona . . . er, never mind. | ||
| Forerunner |
To paraphrase Jeremy Clarkson 'the RC8 designers were only given a staightedge to design the bike.' Yeah, I'd buy one.  Nels | ||
| Jdugger |
> MV Agustas thunder toward the checkered flag at Daytona Yea... I think the classic problem with the MV has been a lack of racer support. And, there's not been a factory effort at MV for a number of years, so the whole program really suffers. No one is going to race a bike that's got parts access problems and no racer support. | ||
| Jdugger |
Ty Howard and his RC-8R put down the first perfect season in the history of the CMRA last year. 10 rounds, 3 races each round (SSA, SBA, F1), and a perfect 30 wins. It's a story about Ty really as much as anything else. Ty won a Moto-ST national Championship on the Aprilia (beating a bunch of Buells) a couple of years ago, and he's really the region's best rider, holding nearly every track record around here. He's having a tougher go of it this year. In round one in Houston, he messed up a start that resulted in two wins and a 5th place finish, and he crashed in a race in the first corner at TWS last weekend. I think it shows the RC-8 to be a very competent and capable bike. But honestly, I think Ty would win on whatever you put him on. It's not like he wasn't kicking ass when he rode a Kawi 600, that Suzuki 1k, the Aprilia, and so on. | ||
| Blake |
>>> 10 rounds, 3 races each round (SSA, SBA, F1), and a perfect 30 wins. I don't care what you're riding, that is a huge accomplishment. Besides the bike's capability and Ty's talent, it clearly demonstrates his work ethic and dedication. | ||
| Trojan |
If you look closely at the RC8 (and more so on the RC8R) you can see that individual components are far higher quality than most mass produced street bikes and that is what justifies the high price tag. There is also the 'image' to consider, particularly outside the US where Buells were sold with no patriotic connection. KTM are seen in Europe as a race company that just happen to build road bikes. Even their slogan 'ready to race' and clever viral adverts featuring wheelies and hooligan riders appeal to the sportier rider. Compare that to Buell Europe who never did any decent advertising and whose products were always conceived as 'quaint' or 'oddly styled' by the mainstream press here, and you can see why Ducati and KTM get the lions share of the attention. I was at THE major UK bike show here when the 1125 was launched here(the same show where the KTM RC8 was launched too). The Buell stand was tucked into a corner and staffed entirely by agency bimbos handling out leaflets. If you wanted to speak to a 'real' employee about tech stuff then you had to cross over to the H-D stand nearby and track down someone who actually knew anything about the 1125 (harder than you could imagine as it happened!). They had just one 1125R on the stand and it was just forlornly propped in the corner with no attention grabbing pointers or staff anywhere near it. Now cross to the KTM stand nearby........4 separate KTM RC8 bikes on the stand (2 of each colour), each accompanied by a fully briefed uniformed member of KTM head office staff who could and did answer every question fired at them by large crowds of onlookers, from performance figures to spares backup and aftermarket race parts. Even before the bikes had turned a wheel the KTM had won the marketing battle at the first hurdle. I left that show quite depressed  | ||
| Syonyk |
I see no problems with being compared to Ducati. And Buells don't even sound like a bucket of bolts with the clutch in! (not sure if it's everywhere, but around here, the first thing any Ducati buyer with a dry clutch does is get an open cover for it - so you really hear the clatter) Would you rather see Buells compared to, say, Harleys? Or Hyosung? Ducati, deserved or not, has a quite nice reputation as a brand of high end, technically impressive, exotic bikes that look stunning. They're also a niche, low volume bike - I don't know exact numbers, but I know Ducati doesn't sell nearly as many bikes as Yamahondukasaki does. Which is just fine! The fact that many people put Buells in the same class says something. You don't see Hyosung being compared to Ducati terribly often... | ||
| Hammer71 |
I think Buell’s are not the best of motorcycles and are still sluggish so there was no reason to have it in this comparison, mentioned in the article that the Buell always feels outdated and doesn’t give you confidence when riding the machine on the road." LOL youre kidding right? | ||
| Brumbear |
Well tell moto revue this ol fat doggy will take my sluggish ugly Buell and I'll wait for them when I get where they want to go. | ||
| Court |
Ducati and Buell share a common passion among their owners that sets them apart in many ways. In addition, the folks at Ducati have done some amazing and elegant things over the years . . . you can't help but admire them. I have a Ducati history library, a collection of models and some goodies they send from time to time. . all amazing. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
Ducati's the mark. It's why cars are compared to ferrari and lambo's. Ducati is the ferrari of the sportbike world. I don't think they should be. If you talk to any non motorcycle person they all think ducatis are the best, they don't even know vtwins, i-4's, but they "know" ducati is the best. I think its a complement. Even though Erik Buell had to deal with harley, and all there crap he managed to make a kick a$$ bike that imo is better then a ducati. | ||
| Father_of_an_era |
Well, I really like the styling of the RC8 and the Ducs and my all time favorite looking street bike is the R1 but I really can't stand how the R/CR gets no respect. I happen think that it is one of the best performing bikes out there. I hope the 1190 can open the eyes of some of these closed minded individuals who write for these motorcycle mags. In my opinion, the looks (minus the exhaust) ranks up there with the Ducati. I would love to see an under slung exhaust on it... | ||
| Puredrive |
I got to ride a Streetfigher 2010 model. The handling was superb..very tossable handling. My 1125 CR feels a bit more heavy, not as light on its feet..On the power cpmaprison, there pretty comparable to each other. my bike has a HPE exhaust, the Duc was stock. And where can I find a RC8 for 10K? I love the styling on those bikes! | ||
| Sandmacker |
As afore mentioned there has been tests against the KTM ,the duke , and the Buell of which the Buell got the testers money if he were to buy one. The Buell is elite purely on it's approach alone , and in my humble view; it works.With some simple mods here and there the 1125 is as fast as you'd ever want on the road,remembering it was designed for the purist rider who rolls it out of his garage for a sunday run through the canyon. With this in mind , the Buell is up there with the best,to the point where it can compete extremely well against the best bikes designed for the track. How Hammer thinks the 1125 doesn't inspire confidence in handling is bewildering. Personally I find the Buells handling characteristics awe inspiring. Often I've come out of corners with the front paw hanging in the air and I've had the bike less than a week.And I don't believe I've got even close to its potential. Considering the price ,the Buell will run with the best of them on the street. I like the Buells menacing looks , I like the innovative approach ,and I love the way the Buell handles.The fact that they compare the Buell to the best in the biking world is a testimony to the Buells characteristics . Now , a new can ,some carbon fiber bits, a new power commander, velocity stacks, and learn how to really exploit this bikes amazing handling potential, and it will do me fine.  That will be a 160> 165 kg bike(with all that weight in the right spot), about 165hp with stump pulling torque in a 600 frame /wheelbase. That's why they compare it to the Duke | ||
| Dirty_john |
My old Firebolt and the 1125R are the best handling bikes straight out of the crate that I have ever owned, I wish I had the cash to buy one of the 1190 Buells. I was one of the faithful who paid full price for the 1125R in Nov 08 but I still think the bike is god value for money even with the worry about stator failure etc and good luck to those who were lucky enough to get their 1125R or CR during the firesale. |
