| Author | Message | ||
     Ccryder |
Today was my day to test ride. I got to follow Matt B. He was riding my ST1300 and doing his best to stick a knee out and slide a cheek off the seat (Ricky Racer at his best). My impression was: A) 2500-3000rpm required for take off. B) After that everything is just ..... fluid. It just pulls and pulls and my helmet kept on getting pushed back (I didn't even pay attention to the speedo, much less the tach! C) Handling is very neutral, very stable even more than my 12r. I LIKE IT A LOT! D) Brakes had not been bedded in but, now they are ;+). After some heat cycling they are effortless and very progressive. 2 light fingers on the front is major braking. E) Ergos are very comfortable even compared to my r with Heli bar and "s" pegs. I'll still want higher bars and "s" pegs though. F) More vibration through the bars than my ST1300, much less than my "r". Nothing objectionable and I've been told with more miles they get smoother (this demo bike had 170 miles). G) 1st time with a slipper clutch and it sure makes down shift a no brainer. I don't think about on my ST. On the 1125 I had to break my habit to abuse a few down shifts and no squawking of the back tire or anything objectionable. H) Tranny is snick, snick, snick velvet smooth. It didn't matter fast shift or slow shift just went from gear to gear no false neutrals anywhere. Overall she is built for the rider. The 1125 just kinda disappears when you are riding or, I just got assimilated by the 1125 Borg! Will I buy one?????? Yep, she is a MAJOR shift in the motorcycling industry and technology. The 1125r is a benchmark for other bikes in the class. She is built to ride and, ride every day not just a weekend jaunt here and there to play. An 1125r will be sitting in my garage in the next month. Anybody want a sweet XB12r? I can either trade it in or sell it to a wanting Buelligan. (Take a look here: http://tinyurl.com/yvkp5p ) Time2Play Neil S. | ||
| Ducxl |
My impression was: A) 2500-3000rpm required for take off. You know,after many years on a Sportster then X1,when i got my 996 i was confounded when i couldn't leave a stop light without(many times) stalling it.These OVERSQUARE engines require more throttle to move from a standstill.They have lighter flywheels too which means more engine braking.The Rs' come down much quicker too | ||
| No_rice |
yep, half the time the first thing i do when i get on an inline 4 is kill it, lol. i get way to used to just dumping the clutch at idle on the xb's. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Got to ride one today: Brakes: Stellar, much better than the XB. 50 mph the rear wheel comes right up. Engine: Under 4k it ran poorly and shuddered a lot, but that is OK, I don't know why you would run a short stroke engine under 4k anyway. If you keep it over 4k it runs very well and starts making good power around 5k or 6k. It has more bottom end (4k - 6k) than an RC51 or a TL1000, and does pull really steady. You can tell the torque is there from 4k, unlike many other bikes. It didn't have enough power to really get me too excited, but had a super smooth power delivery. I could not take any turns because of the test ride location and the sand and gravel all over the roads. Riding position is very comfortable for a sport bike. Conclusion: Very nice bike that would be effortless to ride in the twisties. Much more power than an XB. Not enough power to get near a liter bike, including the lower RPMs. I'd like to get one in some turns to make a real judgement, but I assume it will work very well. It will certainly smoke an XB under any conditions. I think I could get much more excited about the engine if I were using it to pull out of turns with the smooth power delivery. I think that it is tough to appreciate the integrated package riding in a straight line and hope to get a demo on better roads or a track this summer. It did make me appreciate the obnoxious thump of my XB exhaust note. | ||
| Ccryder |
It is always a trade off in life. If you want the fast reving, you need lighter flywheels (I like fast reving). If you want the HP,flat torque curve and top end, you need the over-square bore-stroke (I like HP and flat torque curve). Riding the 1125r I didn't have a feel how fast I was accelerating or how fast I was going until I looked at the speedo or I was closing in on Matt. I think Matt was playing with the ST and not babying her. My point is even pulling up the ramp I could reel him in at an alarming rate. Almost too much fun, I can't wait to try it again (guess I'll have to buy one!). Time4breakfast Neil S. | ||
| Xnoahx |
I think that because the power is so smooth that it feels like it isnt as fast as it actually is. There is no spot where it just hits and pulls, it does that the whole time. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I think that because the power is so smooth that it feels like it isnt as fast as it actually is. There is no spot where it just hits and pulls, it does that the whole time. The power band, or lack thereof is great. It will be perfect for powering out of turns without spinning up the back wheel too much and highsiding. However, for some reason I expected it to be super quick, after reading the posts here. It feels about like an RC51 with more power at lower RPM to me. It certainly does not accelerate in the same league as a literbike, including low-end power which is great on the in-line big bores. I just hoped that it would smoke the literbikes I was riding in the late 90's, and it does not. I guess that the old rule still applies that a V-Twin has a ton of advantages, but power will not be at the level of the 4s. The big selling point of the 1125 engine for me would be ease of riding with more than adequate power. Less shifting and more concentration on braking and cornering. It would be the trackday or canyon bike for dummies, myself included. (Message edited by spatten1 on February 10, 2008) | ||
| Ccryder |
Scott: I guess you will have to go out and see if you can spank some IL4's before you pass judgment. Anyway you do it will be fun. I can just hear them shifting and shifting trying to keep it on the "boil" as the 1125r just steams away. Those 2nd and 3rd gear roll ons should be REAL fun! Neil S. | ||
| Spatten1 |
CC: I've spanked a few literbikes on tight tracks like Summit Jefferson and Pocono East with my XB9, so I certainly know where you are coming from!   (Message edited by spatten1 on February 10, 2008) | ||
| Dalton_gang |
I also "expected more" for some reason at first. I guess with all the hype I just thought that the Helicon would be a little more "insane". I love how the power comes on and I totally agree with Xnoahx on how you get a sense of the bike feeling slow sometimes. Don`t let it fool you though. Just when you think that you got it tamed you will be lifting the front tire in 3rd or 4th gear coming over a small hill! | ||
| Xb9 |
ride one on the track and believe me it will show you a different character. There's no way to evaluate this bike's potential on the street. | ||
| Ccryder |
David: I agree with you 100%, the track is the only place to evalulate this bike's full potential. Having said that, I'm buying it for the street and just from one short ride, I feel it should fulfill my commuting needs and "play thing" needs quite nicely. Whenever I ride on the street I ride my own ride. There are many riders faster than me and, some slower but, we all ride our own ride and have a GREAT time at it. I feel that the complete package of the 1125r is what I am looking for in regards to power and handling. The other tweaks I will add will be to make it fit "Neil" that much better. Other tweaks will be to make it fit "Neil's" needs better. I think we will all agree that this Buell puts a big grin on our faces (maybe bigger than any other Buell) and enables the rider to enjoy the ride that much more. Thank you Erik and the Team that brought this motorcycle to reality. Their dream closely resembled mine, that's a very good thing, IMHO. Neil S. | ||
| Xb12mel |
A) 2500-3000rpm required for take off. Agree... I did my first Demo Ride Saturday. I stalled it a couple of times trying to get it going. Going from the 12S to the 1125R will take some getting use to.. The optical illusion you get from the faring / head pod when you turn the handle bars at low speeds was a little unsettling. Not to mention those lil @ss pegs for the break and shift lever. (good thing they're adjustable)Hope they are replaceable! I don't know...does the fairing stay straight on the R as well?} | ||
| Ccryder |
Neal: The 1125 doesn't give you those surges of torque (also known as dips (like the 1098, did, dig) ) so your perception of acceleration is less. Because there is no mistaking, this bike, really does "haul the mail"! At least that's the only way I can explain it, for now. Melvin: Yes the r and the 1125 both have frame mounted fairings. They don't move with the forks like the rest of the XB's. I come from the XB12r and a ST1300 so the stationary fairing is not an issue. At least on the r and 1125 the fairing is really out of your view so it doesn't trick your senses. Time2Work. Neil S. |
