| Author | Message | ||
     Redscuell |
Australian bikie mag Rapid Bikes (http://www.rapidbikes.com.au/latestissue.php) has devoted an article each in their Nov 08 issue to the CR and to the R, the latter being vs the KTM RC8. Both are quite positive reviews; and the author of the CR article owns an 08 R of his own, too; so he'll know more than most. If the link above doesn't permit viewing of the articles, I'll try to scan them and post. Based on the mag's comparison of the R with the RC8, I'd have to agree with the mag when it concluded that, with the R and the RC8 so closely matched in performance, the RC8 shouldn't cost A$10,000 more! | ||
| Adoogie3 |
the rc8 will outperform thats why its 10k more.Thats a no brainer. | ||
| Redscuell |
Adoogie, the article disagrees with you; that was the point of my post.  Their conclusion (quote): "They both share fairly even vital statistics except the Buell is nearly A$10,000 cheaper . . . we were a little disappointed the RC8 didn't completely wipe the floor with the Buell considering the difference in price".  | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Hmmm, I wonder what all you could do with $10K on an 1125R. I'm betting you could easily add some carbon, Ohlins components, and maybe a set of Magnesium XBR wheels, plus have $$$ left for tuning and exhaust. | ||
| Adoogie3 |
the rc8 just makes more power/ lighter/ race ready | ||
| Imonabuss |
Right, Adoogie, so buy one and come out and play with the 1125s. So far the score on the race track looks way better for Buell, not even counting the money. | ||
| Xb9 |
Adoogie, Don't believe everything you read/hear. I rode an RC8 back to back with my 08 1125r @ Mid-Ohio and the RC8 does not make more power, and did not handle better than the 1125r. It was more difficult to ride than the R. It's a nice bike don't get me wrong, but I would take the 1125r hands down over it, even if they were the same price. That was the general consensus of the other riders also. And the lack of a slipper clutch on the RC8 was very obvious with the back to back comparison, and really showed how nice the 1125 clutch really works. You'd think for that price you'd at least get a modern clutch. I asked the guys from KTM America about it, they said they think it's available as an accessory. (Message edited by xb9 on November 06, 2008) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Adoogie, one of the instructors from the company that runs the Inside Pass (the trackday company, not Buell) was able to ride the RC-8 and he was not impressed with the power delivery of the bike.....and lets not talk about the price difference. | ||
| Dirty_john |
I test rode an RC8, A Ducati 1098 and an unflashed 2008 1125R over a period of three consectutive weekends in the UK earlier this year and the 1125R was the only one that really made me have a grin on my face bigger than my Firebolt. Thus 1125R 2009 model ordered. In the UK at least the RC8 is begining to get a reputation for problems in the gearbox. Having had a Ducati for nearly 8 years in the Eighties I thought the Ducati was too rough around the edges for all but flat out riding | ||
| Redscuell |
Speaking of the R vs the CR, those of you who've opted for the latter are going to be so SORRY when you spend time on the freeways!  I've just returned (OK, I took time out to hang out my leathers to dry from the pissing rain, and to make a coffee) from a 2-hour roundtrip at 105 kph on my half-fairing Honda that, unlike the CR, at least has a windscreen! Being laid down on the tank, and with my boots back onto the passenger footpegs, and my Cramp Buster in place, it was quite pleasant -- except for the wind tearing at the top of my helmet. Not bad at all for a 25-year-old V4 that I rebuilt myself (frame off). I'm looking forward to having that much-criticised big fairing on my 09 R when it arrives this month, and will feel only pity for those of you who are saddled with doing it hard on a CR! (Message edited by redscuell on November 07, 2008) | ||
| Cataract2 |
Red, something I learned from my XB9SX. There's this amazing stuff called rain gear. Does wonders in the rain, let me tell you. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Speaking of the R vs the CR, those of you who've opted for the latter are going to be so SORRY when you spend time on the freeways! From my years on the XB9SX, I can agree that the wind was the number one most annoying thing on that bike. I can remember get buffeted so bad at times that I didn't even want to ride (and I had an aftermarket windscreen extension that did a pretty good job of smoothing out the wind too.) Even getting behind a car on the freeway would cut up the air so bad that it made for a buffeting ride. I absolutely love the fairing on the R. Yes, it is big and obtrusive--but I rarely ever give the wind a thought anymore. And when it does blow it doesn't push my upper body all around--it pushes the whole bike as a unit. Easy to handle. | ||
| Redscuell |
Cataract, you are so right. And I even own a set of slickers to go over my leathers! The leathers are perforated, to make matters worse. But I'd never been in these leathers on the bike in the rain for more than 20 minutes before, and didn't realise how wet they would get over several hours' time. I'll get it right next time.  | ||
| Gschuette |
Adookie where are you getting your "facts"? | ||
| Bdutro |
Do not feed the trolls | ||
| Cataract2 |
Red, hey, we all do it. I've ridden 160 miles home in the rain with no rain gear and it poured the whole way back. Good times. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
I also went from a cityX to the 1125r. The wind protection vs the cityX lack of was the first thing I feel in love with on the demo ride when I got on the freeway. The second thing I feel in love with was how quickly I saw 100 on the speedo.  | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
Wind protection?? We don't need no steenking wind protection! Ride Naked! R | ||
| Jammin_joules |
" ...Speaking of the R vs the CR, those of you who've opted for the latter are going to be so SORRY when you spend time on the freeways! " Then let's see how this would work. Lightning handlebars and the touring seat, Uly drop down pegs for more leg room. Mirrors you can now use. Stay tuned. Demo rides soon.  | ||
| Redscuell |
I have a pdf of the rapidbikes articles, but the file is too big to upload to the Board and I'm darned if I'm clever enough to get my zip software to make something smaller for posting! Who'll advise me here? | ||
| Thulsadoom |
Ooh, ooh I road that bike! | ||
| Lunatic |
surprising if you tuck in on the cr you can avoid a lot of the buffeting. i was quite pleased with it when i went out on a country ride. |
