| Author | Message | ||
     Mikej |
Since there's a major snow storm with the threat of freezing rain outside, and since I was talking to someone over the weekend about bikes and the new Buell, I figured I'd throw this out for discussion: Assume equal riders, or one rider swapping between bikes to get rid of the rider variable. Based on street riding with occaisional track days, how would a 2008 Buell 1125R compare/contrast to a 2008 Suzuki GXS-R1000. Ergonomics, power band, whacking the throttle coming out of a wide sweeper, coming in hard and tight into a decreasing radius hairpin turn, riding from Milwaukee to Minneapolis and back in a day, daily commuter, weekend warrior, bench racing, maintenance, high mile keeper vs bi-annual trade-iner. In other words, how do I explain about this bike to someone used to 1000cc sportbikes? Apart from suggesting a test ride or visiting the 1125R mini web site. And I can't go to the Buell site from here because this system is Flash-impaired, so if someone could snag me the seat height and weight and wheelbase specs that would be great. Thanks. | ||
| Ratbuell |
1125r: seat height, 30.5 wheelbase, 54.6 dry weight, 375 not that I have it memorized...I have a problem, and I am thinking about treatment  | ||
| Mikef5000 |
In other words, how do I explain about this bike to someone used to 1000cc sportbikes? It's really tough to explain. The Buell is built more for the street. The gixxer is more for the track. The Buell should be more comfortable and easier to ride on the street. The power comes in much sooner, although doesn't last near as long. Oh yeah.... TORQUE. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I see no reason that comparable rider skills would not result in an 1125r leaving the Gixer behind in a good mountainous canyon road laden with switch-backs. Cornering on the 1125r is indescribable. Breaking is superior, suspension tuning & performance are phenomenal, and rider ergonomics best in class. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
Well seeing as how Suzuki had to totally re-do the Busa to keep it from being walked down by 05-08 model year gixxer 1000s, I don't see the bikes being in the same class. I would sure love to see a canyon run between the two though. | ||
| Slaughter |
Don't see specs on the big gixxer so can't say anything about weight but they're two totally different machines. There's no intention of competing toe-to-toe with the gixxer. It's a twin, the gixxer is a 4. All things being equal, the big Suzuki has the power - just the nature of the beast. Given that one bike makes 20 more HP than the other, with all other things being equal, what would you think? Again, the 1125R is NOT MEANT to race against the gixxer litrebike. It's meant to be a rideable streetbike and I'm betting it WILL BECOME an awesome twins class racebike. Having ridden BOTH gixxer 1000 and 1125R on the track, the 1125R is a FAR MORE user friendly machine and FAR easier to get comfortable when pushing it hard... problem is that there's 2 years time between my last session on the track with a gsxr and a couple months on a different track with the 1125R. I've posted elsewhere, it's apples and oranges. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/323177.html?1197124587#POST1024723 The ONLY way you could have a MEANINGFUL comparison would be twins - rotate the riders, setup suspension for SAME tires. Just like RRW does for their reviews. | ||
| Smoke |
my $.02. i think i could wax my own a_s with a well set up GSXR750 compared to the stock 1125R on the track, but i like twins. i don't want to work all the time at an inline 4 pace. (my brain can't keep up, or just refuses to.) ymmv ps. i bought the 1125R. tim | ||
| Blake |
Mike, BadWeB's version of Buell Motorcycle's Specifications for the Buell 1125R  | ||
| Mikej |
Thanks Blake, I should have been able to find that on my own, I must be getting rusty or distracted or something. I'd personally like to have a GSX-R750 to play around with just for grins, but do agree the 1125R is the better street bike. I can probably get my arse waxed on either bike though. Thanks for the insights and comparisons. I'll pass it along to the sportbiker. In the mean time I'll have to wander by a local shop to see if their's is on display yet and try to get a test sit on it. | ||
| Buellrcr |
depending on the race trace and rider a 1125 can beat a gsxr or a r1 | ||
| Rocketman |
Dream on..........................  Rocket | ||
| M2nc |
Actually the last Superbike shoot out many bikes waxed the GSX-R1000. It was the slowest of the Superbikes in the test. The Triumph 675 beat it and GSX-R750 was right on its rear tire. The HP king that got fat during the last revision so the Suzuki engineers could not get the handling dialed in. The R1 was a mid-pack bike. The Ducati Waxed both these Superbikes with the MV F4 being the mack daddy in the class and the ZX-10R close behind. Saying the 1125R can beat a GSX-R1000 on a tight course really is not saying much. As for the R1, I waxed an R1 on a mountain road on an M2. So anything is possible if you have different riders and choice of track. I know on the street, I would rather be one the Buell. | ||
| Blake |
"Dream on"... from someone who has yet to even ride a Buell XBike let alone an 1125R. Daytona beckons. Let's race! | ||
| M1combat |
There's no helping him Blake... He thinks the 916 (a bike I'd pay dearly for btw) is gods gift to motorcycling. It was at one point I suppose... It's just a used up has been now. Really... | ||
| Blake |
I disagree. I've been a huge help to Sean over the years. Without me, he'd be even more lost.  | ||
| Trojan |
depending on the race trace and rider a 1125 can beat a gsxr or a r1 Of course it could. Mind you, depending upon the race track and rider a Suzuki SV650 could beat an R1 too, so that means nothing. The only way to compare bikes is to use the same rider and the same track (or even a number of tracks/roads to give a more balanced overall test). A skilled rider on a 1125R would invariably beat a novice on any superbike, and vice versa. Likewise, a 200bhp bike will always beat a 100bhp bike on a fast flowing track, whereas it would be much closer on a tighter and twisty circuit. Daytona beckons. Let's race! Blake, I'm sure that the 1125R will do very well in MotoST, but you cannot compare it or expect it to compete with Superbikes such as the GSXR1000 or R1 at Daytona. Nor will the 1125R race against such bikes in any class at Daytona or anywhere else as far as I know. As an interesting comparison, Neil Hodgson recently tested his new Honda Fireblade Superbike at Daytona in the Dunlop test sessions. His bike was a stock Fireblade with the exception of a race exhaust and some suspension changes and no electronic traction control or other aids fitted. Everything else was STOCK. His best time was 1'39.2" on this bike, compared to the 1125R's best of 1'45". The fastest time of the test was Ben Spies on the fully developed Suzuki GSXR1000 in a time of 1'36.1". Chaz Davies was lapping at 1'40" on his ZXR600 FX bike at the Pirelli tests. Good as the 1125R is, it isn't going to compete in Superbikes and would need some very serious work and a capacity hike to even get it competitive in that class, and Buell have not even hinted that they will be looking at getting the bike into Superbike spec any time soon. | ||
| Rocketman |
He thinks the 916 (a bike I'd pay dearly for btw) is gods gift to motorcycling. It was at one point I suppose... It's just a used up has been now. Really... Having ridden a 1098 for a full afternoon across Lincolnshire's finest A and B roads at breakneck speeds, lol, I'd wager the 916 handles infinitely better. Fashion changed the 916 to the 999, and you'd do well to remember that Masimo Tamburini is the master of design. Ducati losing him is what brought about the Pierre Terblanche designed 999. Terblanche, once upon a time understudy to the master, and still not as good. Put the 1098 motor in a 916, and the 916 would wax any other Ducati Super Bike ever made. Now there's a thought. Rocket | ||
| Trojan |
Having ridden a 1098 for a full afternoon across Lincolnshire's finest A and B roads at breakneck speeds, lol, I'd wager the 916 handles infinitely better. You are certainly not alone in that thought. A lot of very experienced race teams happen to agree with you regardiing the chassis. Unfortunately with Superbike rules being the way they are it is not possible to run an older model frame with the newer engine fitted (although Franky Chili did run a 996/999 hybrid for a few races and embarrassed the factory for a while!) | ||
| 12r |
how would a 2008 Buell 1125R compare/contrast to a 2008 Suzuki GXS-R1000 ? bwwWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAA-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH ! 1125 rider: "WTF was that ?" | ||
| Jammin_joules |
bwwWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAA-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH ! Is that the sound of the resale value of the latest, greatest crotch rocket dropping? Just wondering? | ||
| Andella |
bwwWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAA-WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH ! Damn annoying sounding four-bangers. | ||
| Trojan |
Is that the sound of the resale value of the latest, greatest crotch rocket dropping? Don't be too quick to mock. This week's MCN had a small article in about their long term test XB12STT. After a year on the test fleet the bike is now going back to H-D UK apparently. They state that the New price was GBP7295 and that the value now (12 months later to the day) is a measly GBP3850. That is almost a 50% drop in 12 months  | ||
| Jc000 |
Look at all the beautiful tubers for sale for under $3500 which just aren't moving! It's a damn shame, but then again I buy bikes to enjoy them, not as an investment. I think a comparison of a GSX-R 1000 to an 1125r is ridiculous. In what possible way performance-wise will an 1125r better the Gixxer? That isn't the point. The Buell will likely come out ahead with ergos, street practicality, and character. But the Gixxer is a beast, with awesome performance and handling. I think the 1125r is an awesome bike and most def on my short list for my next motorcycle. But a comparison with the Gixxer is pointless IMO. It's like, I love tubers, but there's no way you're going to get me to say they could outperform an XB... | ||
| Zac4mac |
Trojan - not trolling, but how much of that price drop you mention is from the plummeting of the US Dollar? It was in better shape a year ago. Just checked conversions, no wonder you guys in England are crabby, 1125R - 8495 GBP = 17,323 USD. If you buy one here, you'll save 5 grand. Then you've got a round trip plane ticket and shipping(on a real ship!) Z | ||
| Meandrlily |
Everything else was STOCK. His best time was 1'39.2" on this bike, compared to the 1125R's best of 1'45". What that at the recent tire test? Remember, they had the 1125R limited to 118hp (Not sure of the exact number) with a throttle stop to conform to it's racing class. Unless there was a different event I didn't hear about. In which case... nevermind. | ||
| Blake |
I was referring to me versus the Rocketman at Daytona, on whatever machines we can wrangle. | ||
| Rocketman |
I was referring to me versus the Rocketman at Daytona, on whatever machines we can wrangle. That's not fair. I can't ride for toffee on the track. I'm a street riding demon! That's why I love my S1W so much. It's the ultimate street bruiser. How about the B1248 north of Wetwang, to Pickering? My S1 your M2? Rocket  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Hi 12R & UK, I hope you have great fan on your new R1. A few weeks ago, there was a Dunlop Qualifier RR test in UK's PB magazine. A guy that owned a 07' R1 (like yours) was given a XB12R with the Dunlops to test for a few days. He said he was impressed with the XB, and he was able to take a certain corner that was scary on the R1, with +15miles/hour faster on the XB than his R1. He was really impressed with the handling of the XB, and said that the XB was the best "bad weather" bike he tried in his life. Basicaly it was a stock XB12R. Imagine how an improved&modified XB12R with +15RWHP would feel like. Since everybody who tried the 1125R said it handles better than the XB12R, and it makes +40RWHP, I personally would not write the 1125R off against any IL4. The same goes for the 1098. I would choose a 140RWHP, V-2 Buell any time !! | ||
| Rocketman |
I can't wait for the day the 1125 makes me look stupid when it beats up a 1098. At the very least, I'll be immortal. Rocket | ||
| M2nc |
As an interesting comparison, Neil Hodgson recently tested his new Honda Fireblade Superbike at Daytona in the Dunlop test sessions. His bike was a stock Fireblade with the exception of a race exhaust and some suspension changes and no electronic traction control or other aids fitted. Everything else was STOCK. His best time was 1'39.2" on this bike, compared to the 1125R's best of 1'45". Thanks for making a good point for the Buell. I believe you missed some important details here. Honda 1. Upgraded suspension 2. Race exhaust Buell 1. Stock suspension 2. Stock exhaust 3. Throttle limiter to reduce HP by 20rwhp for MotoST. 4. Stock gearing on a long straight track like Daytona left the 1125R bouncing off the rev limiter on the straightaways. Honda with upgrades only managed 5.8 second advantage over a detuned gear limited 1125R. I wouldn't be boasting any advantage big guy. I'd be quietly walking away. The fat Suzuki with 162rwhp will shine on a long track like Daytona and be in the way on a tight track like Jerez. Even with the HP adavantage, the Buell would be close without the throttle restrictor and proper gearing for Daytona. (Message edited by M2nc on December 13, 2007) |
