| Author | Message | ||
     Xbolt12 |
Again, what I (I) said is that I wish the 1125R looked like the Firebolt which in my opinion was a very unique and attractive look. I can tell you that my red 04 XB12R Firebolt got way more parking lot interest and approving comments than my 749R ever has (except the bad comments about the engine which I never agreed with). That said Ducati is certainly concerned with image and marketing, no doubt. But racing is where the heritage and development comes from. Of course styling is a different story. Look at MotoGP and tell me what small factory is winning right now. BTW, did you know that Ducati sales unit sold numbers are similar to Buell for the US (at least last time I looked they were both at about 10k bikes sold per year a couple of years back). Ducati is not a large company, but they spend a fortune on racing and like many Italian motorsports companies, tend to get into financial troubles from time to time, arguably because they spend so much on the racing program. Image is important to them-an image based on racing that is (at least when it comes to superbikes)... | ||
| Unibear12r |
It would be very hard in my view to improve on the simple, clean, lines of the Firebolt. But when I try to think of a place to put a radiator on that bike I can't think of anything better than what Buell did. I've never liked radiators on bikes without full fairings and the 1125 is the first one that I think looks good enough for me to buy. One of the reasons I've always been an air cooled fan. | ||
| Xb984r |
Unibear,the Honda Superhawk has the radiators on the sides and doesn't have full fairings.the TL1000s didn't have a full fairing and did a good job of hiding the radiator,as did the Ducati Supersports.Sorry but the majority of the opinions on other motorcycle message boards and from asking people to look at the bike has not been favorable.But hey if you like how it looks that's all that matters,I think it's UGLY!!!!! | ||
| Brad1445 |
If Image did not mean anything than you would not shower are comb your hair thus you would never get laid unless everyone stopped showering and combing their hair. Even if you have the largest wang in your city, image maters. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
Image may be a large factor in the beginning of the journey, but it quickly fades once you decide to dive deeper and become intimate with the other half. I've been turned off many times not because of the image, but what lies underneath it's shiny exterior. In my opinion Buell didn't undertake the 1125R and hope that it cast a great "image", but it designed the bike to bring the rider and the motorcycle together as one. Buell rider's don't keep coming back and buying more because they look sexy (even though many think they do), they come back because Buell is the only bike they have that makes them feel invincible on the road. | ||
| Xbolt12 |
Well, the Duc will make you feel invincible too, but after 30 minutes you may begin to also feel other things like pain. The 749R is certainly not comfortable unless you are running at racetrack kind of speeds and aggressiveness. The 1125R is comfortable and still confidence inspiring on the racetrack. I definitely like the bike. Not that I plan on getting rid of the 749R because I love that bike, but if I could afford another it might be an 1125R, especially for epic mountain and canyon rides. I am sure without spending a great deal I could easily change the looks a little more to suit my taste. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
I agree with everything Xbolt12 has said plus, especially about "epic mountain and canyon rides" which for me include three or four canyons in the mountains and about 200 miles at a time usually on Sunday afternoon when the traffic is less. I believe my new 1125R coming soon will give me everything I would want to do just that, enjoyably and without "pain". Bob | ||
| Zac4mac |
Bob - let us know if you start building a fairing for the 1125. I'm interested to see how it would look in "formal wear" compared to your M2(nice job) Z | ||
| Blake |
Uniqueness can very much overcome any perceived lack of conventional appeal. The 1125R, contrary to the peculiar opinions of some, is a VERY unique motorcycle. It will not be mistaken for ANY other sport bike on the road today and is instantly recognizable and identifiable from 100 yards or more away. | ||
| Bonjoxb12s |
+1 for Blake | ||
| Bob_thompson |
I agree 100% Blake and Bonjox and why I will probably leave my new one alone for a while or until it becomes run of the mill which will never get like a UJM but will be like MANY other 1125's in a short time, I'm afraid, with the interest here from all the newcomers to Buell and BadWeb, and yet I still have many people ask me "what IS that" about my M2. I usually just say its a "factory experimental Buell" hence the FX designation on the side. Then they say "what is a Buell" to which I just say "lets go ride" and I'll show you. Much ado about nothing; its all in the riding experience, period; to wit this new one will excel. Bob | ||
| Two_buells |
I just want to know where I can get some Givi Stickers to put on the front pods  | ||
| Bearly |
I think it's too bad that they didn't put the radiators where everyone else puts them. I know it wouldn't work as well, but I think it would be better behind the front wheel. It just makes no sense to put them where they put them. I think it looks funny. It's a shame about that front brake too. I don't understand why the can't put a great set of brakes on this bike that look like the other high performance bikes. I don't think it will work as well. I don't think that frame looks good. I think it should have a trellis frame like the Ducati's. And another thing, I think since this new bike has more horse power they should put a chain on it. Everyone knows that a high performance bike is driven by a chain. I think that fairing looks funny. Why can't they make it look good like my Suzuki? This car smells funny. Mommy he's touching me. Are we there yet? Move over, I can't wait to get mine. I think it's marvelous. It doesn't look like anything else, (especially my bud's kawi)and it performs (from all that reviewed it) really well. Solutions that work, amazing. Now sit down kids... were almost there. And put your seat belts on. | ||
| Diablo1 |
The Honda RC51 has twin side mount radiators. It also runs very hot. So hot that Honda came out with a racing radiator kit which locates the radiator in the traditional spot behind the front wheel. Preproduction tests of the 1125 have riders reporting that it runs hot.....hmmm. | ||
| Brad1445 |
Bearly, Thanks for the George Bush your with us or against us post. So, if it's different it must be good? I have not seen anyone here in this post thread titled radiator scoops complain about the brakes, the frame or anything else. That may be another thread title. This one is about radiator scoops, the different kind. Different air intake does not always work, just for the sake of being different.  Sometimes there are reasons you find certain similarities in a given item, it works. (Message edited by brad1445 on November 17, 2007) | ||
| Dbird29 |
Bearly You forgot the color cry "why did they pick that color? Are they blind or something?" Oh wait the thread police will bitch about not staying on topic. "How we think Buell engineers are stupid and we are smart" | ||
| Gregtonn |
Brad1445, You are obviously suffering from at least two varieties of BDS. Both can be treated. In general both result from the inability to think logically. Get well soon. G. | ||
| Blue_eyed_buellgirl |
I hear it's not easy getting rid of the Bullshit Dumping Syndrome!  Hope you recover soon! (Message edited by Blue_eyed_buellgirl on November 17, 2007) | ||
| Dbird29 |
Where is the shark jumping emoticon? How would politics be involved in a discussion of radiator scoops? I guess if you were losing realitie's grip. I want even BIGGER scoops! | ||
| Sheridan_bueller |
Big scoops are good!!!! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Patience, Brad. Mine will be here soon and you'll get to see one in the flesh. If you re-order quick you oughtta be able to get one in time for next summer. I want to ride this winter and I don't want to do it on the Wide Glide. No protection from the elements and Stainless Steel grips. Went to Sun today and picked up the "heated grip kit", no tour seat and no manual yet. Need that rocket bike. BTW, Sun has "Dorothy's Slipper" on the floor. That's the flashiest red metalflake I've ever seen on a bike, much less an XB12R. Looks like a bass boat. The bikes that overheated were early in the program and were running straight water(because of the tracks )that boils sooner . No mention of overheating at any of the recent track days. I'm not going to worry about that. Z | ||
| Diablo1 |
Overheating fixed? How? A change to ehtylene glycol won't make it run cooler. This is from the Nov 2007 Sport Rider when they ran the bike on a one day street ride on a 200 mile loop in CA: "My bike overheated quickly on the run up the mountainside - well into the 230 degree range and illuminating the warning light - and it took several miles of idling along before the temperature returned to something normal. The ambient temperature was close to 100 degrees inland, and every time I started hammering on the engine, the coolant temperature would shoot up. And that heat poured onto my legs and feet, making the ride very uncomfortable as well." | ||
| Doerman |
Overheating fixed? How? Well, I s'pose some fuel mapping changes in addition to flow path alterations could have done the trick | ||
| Brad1445 |
So I come home after a nice long ride today 400 miles on a 2008 Firebolt, my 5th new Buell. I see that under this thread titled scoops people are bashing the people talking about scoops. No one has bashed the color in this thread, the brakes, the frame, no one has said the engineers are stupid. The guy I had lunch with today I was telling him how much I want 1125R and how I may go ahead and buy now then modify the front end and scoops to my personal taste. Do I think the bike is ugly? Hell yeah. But I'm trying to find ways to continue to support Buell not to bash. If you like the scoops, you are very lucky. I want the bike. I have no doubt there will be solutions in the future just like there was for other items on other earlier Buells that according to the butt kissers here never existed either but somehow they too benefited when the short coming were improved. This issue is not form over function, you can have both. Several bikes have been done with dual radiators. It's not about change, his is not the xframe vs the the tuber resistant to change. I have waited long for a Buell Duc/RC51 beater made in America. This is ugly vs hot. I have not found one person outside of this Forum that thinks she is a looker. That does not mean it's a bad bike. Its a bad ass kick butt bike, just an ugly one. IMHO Please stop trying to interpret my words into anything else or anything more. It's about the scoops and just the scoops as in the thread title.  | ||
| Blake |
Caption for the above should be something like... How not to take a photo of a motorcycle, or... How to take the least flattering photo of a motorcycle.  I have yet to see an 1125R in person, but I have seen some flattering photos of the bike.    Cooling system intake nacels look fine in the above pics. | ||
| Ccryder |
"Big scoops" can make up for marginal looks (at least in some realms  ) I am not saying that the 1125r has marginal looks by any stretch, I am saying that they have some unusual/ atypical looks which IMHO make them stand out in a crowd and that's excellent! There were comments made on the looks of the RR1000, S2, Heimholtz box's, ....... If we all liked blondes then there would not be enough to go around and we would be in a world of HURT! (Last night I almost made a comment on Ducx1's big jugs but, I refrained, I even had just the pict to post but, I do try and stay on topic, sometimes). Time2Roll Neil S. | ||
| Acejay |
well just to add my two cents into the mix, i've seen the bike in person at the motorbike expo a month ago....... and its ugly. the front of it is so wide it looks like a hammer head shark, the fairing looks out of proportion to the back, the pods are massive and the muffler is a blob stuck on the bottom. that has got nothing to do with being a good bike or not. It looks to be all function over form, it sounds like it should be very impressive to ride, and i want one. however i may have to put a paper bag over its head first.  | ||
| Gregtonn |
Remember how the front end on recent Dodge pickups was thought by many to be plain ugly? I glanced in my rear view mirror yesterday and saw a Dodge pickup coming up behind me. Didn't realize 'til I stopped at a light and looked again... Huh? That's a new Toyota Tundra. Do you suppose Toyota did any market research before they made that change? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. G. | ||
| Bearly |
Yea ya'll this is so ugly, Don't buy one. (I may get mine sooner!) Tis a ting of beauty maun.  This car smells funny. Mommy he's touching me. Are we there yet? | ||
| Xbolt12 |
Don't worry Brad. Anyone who races will need a belly pan and that will quickly lead to a full fairing. In which case I suspect someone will ditch the pods and go with a more conventional side mounted radiator arrangement. The question is, without the pods can the bike still run cool enough? One way might be to have a high pressure duct from the nose just under where the headlights are leading to two separate sealed ducts leading to the front side of each radiator. Those could then be concealed by a full fairing. An arrangement like that might need fans on the back side of the radiators which leads to a question. Does anyone know if the 1125R uses thermostatically controller electric fans to cool the radiators at slow speeds and in traffic? If so, are they on the back side of the radiators (frame side), or in front, concealed in the pods? |
