| Author | Message | ||
     Bumpnzx3 |
I just purchased the bike ('09 1125r). It had 1900 on the odometer and about 20 miles on the new '10 engine. I've put about 300 miles on it, and all seems well...so far. Like the rest of the people who haven't had issues, I know I'm on borrowed time. As best I can tell, it does not have the upgraded harness. Some of the fixes and ideas that I've read about here haven't always given way to a surviving stator...then again it's usually a stator that had a fair amount of use on it already. What's the best plan of attack for prolonging the life of my new engine/stator? Different VR, updated harness, just start shopping for a spare, etc.? For what it's worth, I never ride in traffic. I am in town for a total of about 10 minutes before I get out on the open road. Also, about how long will the battery last once the VR bites the dust? I've got several different routes I like to take. All of which keep me within a 60 mile radius of my house. Would I make it back? | ||
| Tbowdre |
My opinion would be to upgrade the R/R to either better shunt style Mosfet unit or even better yet a switching type such as the compufire.... right away. Then wait for stator to eventually fry. once stator is fried then upgrade to an 08 stator and rotor. One thing I would NOT do is worry. Take it on long trips , track days, ride the crap out of it.... 1125R is an awesome bike Have fun! todd | ||
| Bumpnzx3 |
Thanks for the tips. I'll look into the Compufire as well as a different mounting place. The factory location is horrible and the lack of heat sinks is certainly not helping matters. So far, I love the bike. I've owned/ridden several Jap bikes. This is my first v-twin, aside from a couple HD's that I've ridden. I must say, I am hooked. Even though I am still getting the feel of the bike, I love it. I handles really well and inspires a certain amount of confidence, even being new to the bike. And the sound...let's not even get me started on the sound. The bike is a thing of beauty- the sound, the look, and the power. I plan to take it to a couple track days- especially since the local track (Gateway International) will be opening back up next year. I doubt a go on any long trips. None of my friends ride and I have 2 jobs, so the opportunity is never really there for me to do anything more than my usual day trips. Add in the fact that my wife won't get on a bike...multi day trips are not an option for me. That works for me though- I never have liked riding double. I don't like the feel and I don't like being responsible for her also. I am OK with potentially hurting myself on a bike, but I don't want anything to happen to her. The 4-5 different routes I like to take are roughly 150 miles- some a little more, some a little less. Like I said though, I am never any further than about 60 miles from home. Even when the thing finally does crap out- I'll still be fairly close to home. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Some here have suggested 3.4 quarts of oil. Oil does help to cool the stators. I tried it and have had no puking issues or anything else. | ||
| Bumpnzx3 |
Fill her up with oil and check the gas....I had a car like that in high school  | ||
| Rhard |
I have a question on the oil level. Isn't the 1125 a dry sump engine? Why would more oil change the cooling of stator? I also had a '10 engine in my '08. It lasted 2100 miles before stator went south. | ||
| Stimbrell |
Damn good point Rhard, I have been thinking the ambient temperature would make vastly more difference and the stators are failing all over the world, hotter and cooler locations. | ||
| Sparky |
If the VR goes, you'll likely get a constant SYSTEM VOLTAGE on a dimmed IC with fans running, no turn signals, brake lights and possible burned out headlights because of overvoltage (rectification but no regulation), but it should continue to run until you run out of gas. If the stator fails, A) you'll get Battery and Check Engine icons. Immediately switch the IC to monitor voltage where it'll run until volts get below 11.0 at which point you'll be on borrowed time until it stops running at 10.0 volts or less. B) You should learn where the headlight fuse is under the seat so that you can pull it while the engine is running in order to keep riding as long as you can without the headlights draining the battery. Don't pull the fuse if the engine is stopped because the headlight fuse is also part of the Starting circuit. C) Make sure someone (with a pickup vehicle preferably) knows you're out riding and/or keep a cell phone handy to make a disabled vehicle pick up call. Finally, there's a movement around here to file a complaint with the NHTSA for those who've had charging system failures in order to gather data to initiate a recall against H-D to fix this problem. Good luck with the new bike! | ||
| Bumpnzx3 |
Sorry, I meant to type stator rather than VR. I've had a VR go out on me before- I know the general end result of that. I always take my cell phone with me when I go. I also let my wife or someone know my general route before I head out. I just got in the habit of that from when I had my first bike when I still lived at home (10 years ago). Pops had to come pick me up with his truck due to a broken chain. Every since then, I've always let someone know when I was heading out. Good tip on not pulling the headlight fuse while stopped. I would have never known it was part of the starting circuit. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
That's a damn shame, It won't let you start the bike with the headlights off, but you can ride into the sunset with the kickstand down. I put up with it because like you and many will agree it is an AMAZING machine even with its faults. I let my buddy who despises Buells (My Firebolt XB9R) ride it and he is hooked, but he did warn me about the system voltage error he got on the IC when trying to restart the bike from a stall. | ||
| Roadrash1 |
Where are people thinking about mounting the R/R on the front? Other than where the horn is, there seems to be little real-estate to do it. I sure understand the desire to get it in cool, fresh air. The R/R on my tuber was in front. That made it easy to notice when the bracket holding it on broke at the 500 mile mark.....  |
