| Author | Message | ||
     Tooladdict |
I am fairly new to a motorcycle. I have had a 2005 ninja 250 that i bought with 400 miles on it. I have put 5000 miles on it since then. I am looking around at bikes and Buell no longer makes the XB9R like what I like. I am really liking the Kawasaki ZX-6R but I also really like the way the Buell 1125R looks and sits. I never rode one. I was wanting to know would this be a good bike for me to consider purchasing? I really want a bike that won't pick the front tire up, and if it does can i adjust the suspension to minimize it? I do ride my bike a bit hard at time but normally don't jam into the throttle. I normally ease into. Any help you be much appreciated. | ||
| Tooladdict |
Also, I don't want to buy anything used, I am buying new off the floor. | ||
| Dalton_gang |
Sorry Tooladdict, It does wheelies quite easily. But they are usually very controllable as long as your prepared for it.  | ||
| Tooladdict |
Thanks, my biggest concern is it flipping on me. It's not something that will sway me from test riding it but its just something I wanted feedback on from people that have been riding a 1125R for a while. Could the suspension the suspension be tuned to help prevent it or not? I am not sure what I want my next bike to be but I really want a Buell. | ||
| D_buckle |
Hahaha good luck. A Twin that makes this much torque is going to pick the front end up alot no matter what you do. yes suspension can get tuned to minimize it but its still going to happen... Is it that terrible? nothing better than passing a giant group of kids or cops while standing on the back pegs for about 2 kilometers  If you baby it in first and second then the front wont get too light, also depends on your riding position! If i slide back 2 inchs on the seat from where i normally ride then there really isnt a point in having a front tire cause it never comes down  | ||
| Tooladdict |
I ease into the throttle normally. The only time I open the throttle is when I'm on curvey roads or straight roads. As far as riding position goes, in town I sit up and get in a relaxed position. Outside of town I'm hunched down and I'm as close as I can get to the tank (would be the airbox on a Buell). | ||
| No_rice |
any of the models you listed will easily lift the front tire. most sport bikes will. it is up to you as a rider to not be ham fisted with the throttle. you can accelerate quickly with most bikes and still not have the front come up. | ||
| Kpmo |
Tooladdict: The bike comes up easy but is sweet on the corners. You just have to adjust your riding style. I know you don't want to buy used but somebody has one with like 100 miles on it on Ebay, cheap $$$$$$ anyway, good luck. | ||
| Tooladdict |
Thanks very much for the input guys. Its gonna be a month or 2 before I buy my next bike. Hopefully I can get it cheaper because the new models will be announced. Unless Buell re-releases the XB9R, I am really considering a 1125R. | ||
| Krassh |
If you ease into the throttle you will not wheelie. It can get a little light in the front under strong accel but nothing bad. You can get it to wheelie easily but with the way you describe your acceleration tactics you have nothing to worry about. | ||
| Black_snowman |
If you like the XB9R the XB9SX isn't too far off. Not as much wind protection but a little easier to ride and more comfortable thanks to the upright position and wider bars. The 1125R is somewhat tricky to manage at low speeds. The 9 motor is the friendliest in parking lots and urban areas. I wish I had held out for the City-X I wanted for my 2nd bike. I'd probably still be riding it. Still I should have kept the Lighting. But now I have the 1125R, and suddenly I want to take a racing school and do track days. . . ut oh. . . I see more $$$ flying away in my future. | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Tooladdict - if wheelies scare you - I STRONGLY suggest you take the time to attend the OnOneWheel.com school. I used to be afraid of the "accidental wheelie" (I am too old to be doing wheelies on hwy on ramps). After completing a one day class - I am very happy to have the front wheel lift. I can control it easily. I went from scared silly (butt puckering actually) to putting myself in "wheelie mode" when rode/traffic/safety conditions warrent. After work today, I chose a route home that is my favorite for safe wheelies. I rode a wheelie for almost a half mile. 5 hours later, I still have a grin on my face. Take the class. You may not look for places to wheelie like I do - but at least you will understand what you need to do to manage the situation. | ||
| Aj06bolt12r2 |
Stick with the 250... sheesh, if you are afraid of the front end coming up I sugggest you dont buy a bike with 130 rwhp and a short wheel base. Or go but a gixxer 600 with an after market longer swingarm.  | ||
| Mustangturbo |
Don't fear the wheelie... | ||
| Yesac72 |
Tooladdict i'm not going to •••••• foot around. if you have to ask a ? like this you are far from ready to own a bike like this. keep practicing your throtle control and enjoy a smaller bike for awhile. | ||
| Cutty72 |
FYI, you're 250 can wheelie too, I've done it. | ||
| Jpfive |
Yesac, if tooladdict is anything like I was a young rider he'll have an 11 now if he has to steal it...  | ||
| Kttemplar |
Tooladdict, The fear of accidentally flipping the bike is a healthy fear to have. I traded up in power from a Buell Blast to the 1125R and had my doubts and fears as well. I have only accidentally lifted the wheel off the ground about two times(All the other times were intentional). I was coming up an on-ramp and hit the throttle a little too hard (OK..maybe, a lot too hard) and lifted the front end. The second time a light turned yellow and I was about 25ft from the intersection, so I decided in my infinite wisdom to downshift and hit it, which caused me to ride the rear wheel through the entire intersection. In each instance, I was able to just let off the throttle a little and the front end came down. I do not think that you are going to flip the bike unless you go from 0%-100% throttle on takeoff. If you do that, you deserve to flip the bike anyway. If you feel apprehensive about the bike after you have taken delivery, and it feels like more than you can handle, go somewhere like a big, open, secluded and empty parking lot and practice, practice, practice. The last place that you want to find the limitations of your riding skill or gap between the bike's power and your comfort level is when you are in a critical situation. Also, if you have not already done so, take the beginner and advanced MSF safe rider courses. You will be fine if you: -Respect the bike's power -Do not ride beyond your abilities or comfort level -Practice the techniques taught in MSF courses Just my thoughts. Mike | ||
| Mustangturbo |
You can ride any bike like a 250!! It's all in the wrist! Buy the bike, or you'll regret it everytime you saddle up on whatever else you are looking at. | ||
| Josh_ |
I just spend two days at Code's Superbike school - the first on their ZX6R, the second on my 1125R. The power comes on faster and earlier on the 1125R, but 1600miles and a track day later and I have yet to wheelie. 'Course I put 46,000 on an S3 and only wheelied it three times - once at the drag strip (12.24 @ 111) once at Road America (powering out of Turn 5 and heading up the hill) and once uphill with a passenger. Like Smokey Bear said, only you can prevent wheelies. | ||
| Rick914 |
Josh_ - and once uphill with a passenger. LOL bet they loved that! My wife will not ride with me anymore because of that =) She'll only ride her bike now. | ||
| Randlepmcmurphy |
I agree with what is said about throttle control. When I was shopping for my first bike I was thinking of getting the XB9R because I thought it would be more in my power range. My father took me out to the garage and showed me the throttle on his bike and demonstrated (with the bike off) the spriing inside that returns the throttle to the off position. The bike will only produce the power that you feed into it through the controls. Needless to say I bought a 12 and have loved it aside from the recent engine trouble. |
