| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
What do you expect out of this? And to what ends will you go? I thought i was the first one to criticize BMC but enough is enough already. I expect not to be made out a liar. To that end I will speak the truth where necessary. It has nothing to do with criticism. It's about stating the facts, or just not lying in the first place. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
Get of your high horse Bill. What I know had absolutely zero to do with me being a custodian once upon a time. Best you get off my back if all you're intent on doing is trying to make me look like a fool, and now a traitor. Rocket | ||
| Crusty |
A fool? He doesn't have to try. A traitor? Are you turning your back on Ducati? | ||
| Rocketman |
Why don't you f * * k off. Rocket ...a little out of line, there, Sean. Fixed it for you... (Message edited by road_thing on January 10, 2008) | ||
| Rd3501 |
I was thinking tonight that maybe..just maybe..the front of this bike is so big with the fairing is because we as Americans have gotten so fat that is what we need to slice through the wind these days..  Maybe we need to down size our sizes so Buell can go back to making a slim profile. I remember when the XB9R came out and they talked and talked about how small it was. How small the front end profile was...What the hell happened??? Did Buell use some data from Jenny Craig and realize we got bigger in the last 5 years..I am on my 3rd Buell to let everyone know, been on them since 1998. When Buell came out with the S-1 in 1996 it was a muscle bike. Something so different that when it was seen on the street everyone wanted to know who made it, custom made looks. Though we wont go into how much it totally sucked mecanically and how it was the worse bike ever made for reliability. I really loved that bike when it ran. The 1125R might have some good ideas of inovation..but the bike is lacking in some serious kung pow. Maybe Buell needs to bring on Chuck Norris. Worked for that other guy. Huck and Chuck. Buell.Orris? Yes, its fast as the other big 4 companies...Yes...its the fastest Buell sold to the public in large volume. But seriously it is missing something that in the end is going to hurt it at the sales. The magazines are going to chew it up. Has anyone looked at Bimota, Agusta, Ducati, Benelli. This is where Buell used to be with its bikes. Now its going mainstream into the big 4. These exotic bikes look beautiful. Buells 1125R on the other had looks like someone pieced together a bike. Its 90 percent there. It goes back to the front fairing and the back end. They put two bikes together and it doesnt work. What Buell needs to do is figure out what part they want to use. The front end or the back end. Than adjust the bike from there to match the other end. For the muffler since it seems that bad welding is going to be accepted than they need to put a lower fairing on it to hide it. Still think they should have made the muffler out of ti or ss it would have looked much better down the road with all the weather wearing at it. What happens when that big muffler starts to rust? It is going to get even uglier. S-1 was a hit out of the ball park. XB was out in left field. But the 1125R is a fly ball. Now if you could go back and put a single sided swingarm on it, for the look factor. Change the shape and the look of the head lights so it doesnt looks so wide. Put the radiators under the seat, now we are talking something different. Until Buell 1125R 2.0 its just another fast big 4 that is not good looking. And doesnt even get the resale value down the road like the big 4..Now I know Buell is trying and trying but somewhere along the lines someone needs to get out of the shop and head down to the Victory Secret store and see what sexy is..not your local Wal Mart... | ||
| Zac4mac |
RD-3501 Have you ridden an 1125R? Do you love riding your 9R? I didn't drink any Kool-Aid, a few Stellas yes. I traded my 9R to my brother, and after 955 miles on the 1125R, I couldn't care less if it looked like a goat's butt. It rides like a Magic Carpet. Go take a test ride, look what happened to DucX1. Pay no attention to Sean, he's lost. Z | ||
| Rocketman |
So you've ridden a magic carpet Zac? At least I've seen the 1125. Rocket | ||
| Garrett2 |
i saw it in person - i dug it! i especially like all of the flake in teh blue | ||
| Zac4mac |
Several times, back in the 70s Shoulda been there. Z | ||
| Trojan |
I think that RD3501 has pretty much hit the nail on the head. The 1125R is 95% an exceptional machine. The chassis is great, the engine is fantastic and the brakes work at last. The only fly in the ointment remains the somewhat disjointed styling, and that could be put right in very little time. We motorcyclists seem to have been endowed with an overdose of the 'Look at Me' gene at birth, so naturally want something that people will look at and say Wow! instead of Uugh! We also spend a lot more time looking at our bikes than actually riding them. Some machines are stunningly beautiful and look like they are going 100mph even at a standstill, such as the Ducati 916 & 1098/848, MV F4 and KTM RC8. Others never look quite right for a variety of reasons, and despite having some advanced and impressive engineering never sell well. Bikes such as the BMW K1, Bimota Mantra, Yamaha GTS 1000 all had mightily impressive specs but flopped in the showrooms because buyers couldn't live with the oddball looks. I think sales of the 1125R will suffer because of this factor, particularly in Europe where pricing between the 1125R and the competition is much closer, and that is a real shame. Hopefully we'll see an updated and 'racier' model soon to pander to the Euro sportbike taste and appeal to buyers who have no Buell history, then the 1125R will be able to hold it's head up in any company. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I've been riding the snot out of mine and everywhere I stop, people come up to look at the bike. Not a one has said anything bad, and I've heard quite a few "wow, that's the coolest bike I ever saw" or some such. Riders and non-riders. Even my KTM riding friend, who constantly gave me shit about my "gutless" XB9R likes it. Wait till I let him ride it this Spring. If you really can't stand the looks, I'm sure there will be full fairing kits soon, maybe just a lower to hide the muffler. I've seen one PhotoShop where the pods were flowed into the fairing and it looked MUCH smoother and integrated. Myself, I love the look, if you couldn't tell. It really does ride well tho, I'm amazed. Can't wait till it's warmer and all the Winter sand/gravel is gone and I can lean it over more. I've still got an inch or more to the knife-edge on the rear tire. If you'd never seen an XBR, it wouldn't look so odd I think too. It almost looks like an XB, but then there's the pods. I'd think the front fairing would be better received, it's a street version of the XBRR, after all. Zack | ||
| Rubberdown |
"it's a street version of the XBRR, after all." You're not kidding are you.?!  | ||
| 04buell |
We went to Dales at Mt Vernon Illinois on Tuesday and saw the bike. It is a GREAT LOOKING machine. As others say, the pictures of it just do not do it justice. Plus, when they fired it up, I really liked the sound of it. It was pouring down rain so we did not get to ride it but Mike the saleman invited us back down when it was dry to take it on a test run. They have 2 in stock at this time that are not spoken for. | ||
| Brad1445 |
With all due respect to owners keep in mind what goes through your head when the guy from work shows up with a picture of his fresh newborn baby. You know in your head it looks like Winston Churchill with his head in a vice, but what do you say? Beautiful baby! Congratulations. | ||
| Zac4mac |
You know I was referring to the front fairing only, right? "Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the experience gained in the development of the Buell XBRR racing motorcycle were used to refine the airflow around the rider" From the 1125R mini-site. Z | ||
| Rubberdown |
Thanks. | ||
| Trojan |
I've heard quite a few "wow, that's the coolest bike I ever saw" or some such. Riders and non-riders. I stood by at the Motorcycle show and heard lots of 'What the F*ck is that!' and 'Christ that's ugly!'. Ididn't hear a single 'wow' or anything even remotely appreciative, and that is what I mean when I say that sales may suffer in Europe. Maybe we just have different tastes over here, but it certainly isn't in the same ball park as most of the other current sportsbike when it comes to looks. | ||
| Sarodude |
I dunno about anyone else, but in terms of public opinion, I think it's awesome that the only semi-ubiquitous gripe with this bike is styling. -Saro | ||
| Sheridan_bueller |
I've been getting the very same reaction from folks as Zac. So far, not one bad comment. The first time I rode it, I stopped at a rest area, parked next to an older couple sitting in their car. When I came out of the bathroom, the older lady (I'm guessing mid 70's) was standing out in the rain, really checking out the bike. She said, "WOW, is that a brand new bike? It is Beautiful! Just Beautiful." I spoke with her a bit before leaving, she was totally taken by my new bike. I s'pose she must have been a rider at some point from the way she talked about the bike. I think if it wasn't raining, she would have asked for a ride. I know that I'm taken by her. She has surpassed every expectation I had of her, comfort, power, easy to ride..... I've named her Calliope, for her being the inspiration for the Iliad and the Odyssey,,, I often seem to be caught away from home due to ill fated weather and not able to return! My daughter insisted she have a name. | ||
| Freezerburn |
"I know that I'm taken by her. She has surpassed every expectation I had of her, comfort, power,easy to ride." Could you clarify. Are you talking about the bike or the old lady?  | ||
| Brad1445 |
Wow, we hit the key demographics, 70 year old women? | ||
| Dbird29 |
It is Oregon after all, lots of retirees. But maybe they have more experience and can appreciate true beauty. | ||
| Rocketman |
Only in America  Rocket | ||
| Zac4mac |
whatever | ||
| 2kx1 |
I have seen the bike , and I like the bike. However , I think the styling will have more to do with the sales numbers that are needed to develop a bike that will surpass the 1125R. I myself will more than likely buy an 1125 next year when finances will allow. Also for those that have them, how are the modifications going? | ||
| Spectrum |
I've had similar comments as well and only had the bike for 3 days now. Not any 70 year old women mind you, but more than a half a dozen times I've been approached by perfect strangers saying the bike looked awesome and asking all kinds of questions. I also think the "riding a magic carpet" description somebody (maybe Zac) threw out was spot on. I've been struggling trying to describe how I feel while riding. I talk about the power, handling and how smooth and linear it is, but the words just don't describe the feeling you get riding this bike. "Feels like riding a magic carpet" just about sums it up for me as well. | ||
| Sound_uly |
Jeez! Do you guys really care this much about the aesthetics of this bike?  I think I'll go for a ride on mine and ponder the beauty, or lack thereof, of the 1125R. NOT! I pity you guys who aren't able to ride in the winter.  Cheers! Ron, 1125R in Seattle | ||
| Hattori_hanzo |
Remember all the ugly comments about the Uly? That hasn't slowed down the enthusiasm of Uly owners. | ||
| Rubberdown |
"Magic carpet" versus the other "rip snorting, rambunctious" description of other Buells. Not that it's worse. I like both types of Buells. It does show that the Buell lineup is becoming more comprehensive and offering different types of bikes to a wider market. | ||
| Brad1445 |
I have never heard a a bad word about the bikes power or handling it sounds well above average. I'm sure it is, thats why I love Buells. Do the looks matter? Yes and no. Ugly is ok, about a third of the bikes out there are ugly I had a Ulysses I loved it, and I know it was ugly. The 1125 is not so much ugly but if your a student of style its different proportions and angles send confusing messages. If you not into style you may not notice. Why do I care? Because I want the bike! I know its a great performer and handler. My training in design makes it torturous for me as I find its lack of care in design almost insulting. It's is soooo close to being the perfect all around bike. I like nice looking bikes. So sue me. If you are a true form over function person it should not bother you if people call it ugly as it does not matter to you, its the form that matters. So enjoy, you are lucky, your goals have been achieved. I will still get my 1125R as soon as I can dress it to my personal taste and IMO have the full. It may still be ugly when I get done but it will be more consistent in Proportions and angles. Again, I'm glad there are so many people that like the 1125R just the way it is. I want Buell to do well. |
