| Author | Message | ||
     Deanh8 |
I have been a long time XB and tube frame owner. What do I need to know moving to a water cooled bike? | ||
| Zac4mac |
A LOT more HP, way more top-end. Redline is 10500 or 11000 rpm depending on ECM. Almost all fasteners are metric. Smoother 30-40 mpg depending on right wrist. tires may not last as long. different sound. Get the shop manuals... Have fun Zack | ||
| Froggy |
Your airheads will be up for sale soon. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Let's see- ~30 more rear wheel horsepower, ~3000 more RPM to redline, significantly lighter, ~35 MPG instead of 45-50 MPG. IMHO- puts out even more heat than the air-cooled bikes in stock tune, buzzier vibration but less of it than the air-cooled twins, not as happy being ridden "easy" as the air-cooled twins. | ||
| Two_seasons |
I'm not agreeing with Froggy on this one. First Buell I bought...2008 1125r Second Buell I bought...1999 X1 Third Buell I bought...2000 X1 Fourth Buell I bought...1996 S2T Each one has something different than the others. Each is fun to ride. Have fun! | ||
| Froggy |
Thats because you started at the top of the food chain. There have been numerous owners that upgraded to the 1125 and haven't looked back. 
This all comes down to the tune, in stock trim they are alright, but with a Race ECM, all the things Hugh mentions become a thing of the past. All bikes have a buzz, just at different RPMS, the 1125 has it really high up, so its non issue during day to day operation. When you are romping on it, it isn't a bad vibration like an idling XB that drives you nuts. Hugh is right about the weight difference, the XB feels like it has a passenger on it when you are just pushing it around the garage. If you do end up with a 2009/2010 bike, be sure you get the EBR rotor cup exchange service done, it will prevent potential stator issues down the road. | ||
| Phwx2 |
As for riding, because of the Ergonomics, the bike will feel very familiar. Just a badassed XB. As for maintenance not so much the same. More issues and harder to work on. Electric issues and heat issues. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
I havent rode my XB more then 3 times since I bought my 1125. The XB will be up for sale next spring. This bike has the kind of speed that the XB "looked" like it had...lol. | ||
| Stealthbobber |
The power, specifically the torque, is ridiculous. I love getting on it like half throttle and the front wheel just skips off the ground like a flat rock over water. I started with an 1125 and wish I had an xb as well though, the sportster platform is much more suited for traffic use and commuting. | ||
| Forerunner |
My XB is still my primary. More comfortable and less high strung to me than my Cr, which is in the middle of a clutch weep fix. YMMV, Nels | ||
| Dannybuell |
I use my S1 for in town, the 1125 hates stop and go. The bike is happiest when you are at 4,000 rpm and better. | ||
| Swamp2 |
Yup, i agree with the last couple posts. A CR is for the most part a highly strung XB. Handling is very similar, and ergos can be set up to be about the same. The CR's power is addictive but it can be a bit frustrating as you don't get to use it much in most real riding and it's not so happy living at lower RPM's. Still a lot better than an inline 4, but... XB's aren't so impressive far as overall power goes, but the power that is there is friendlier. | ||
| Sparky |
An EBR ECM for a Calif 1125R pretty much takes care of any negative driveability issues that might exist with a completely stock bike. Since installing said ECM I've found that the lower RPM falling-on-its-face problems I was experiencing vanished and made riding the bike in hairpins and tight twisties completely enjoyable. Not only that, but when hammering it on straightaways, the bike absolutely SNARLS as it hauls ass down the road! I can only imagine that further enhancements like an aftermarket exhaust would completely transform the experience. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
The biggest change besides the obvious (power) is the maintenance. The XB is just oil/filter/spark plug change thing. The 1125R requires valve inspections and engine rotations every 12.5k miles. | ||
| Swamp2 |
Yeah, i did put an EBR ECM (and Barker) on mine and it made low RPM driveability much nicer for sure. But it still gets a little frustrating compared to an XB as you just know it wants to be revving SO much higher, and most of the time you just can't... |
