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IMPORTANT! Please note: Thru at least April 8th, 2008, Buell 1125R Owner's Manuals contain errors in the procedure specified for checking engine oil level. Buell is furnishing the corrected version in the online 1125R Owner's Manual available on www.Buell.com.

Buell 1125R Online Owner's Manual - Correct Oil Check Procedure

The correct procedure is basically to check the level as specified except with the bike held upright/vertical rather than resting on the sidestand.

The correct total oil capacity is 3 quarts (2.8 L). Please do not put more than 3 quarts (2.8L) of oil into your Buell 1125R motorcycle. Please note that though total oil capacity is 3 quarts, some oil will remain in passages and coating surfaces of the engine and transmission, so no more than 2.7 quarts (2.6 L) should be required during any routine oil change.

Following is the Corrected Buell-Approved Procedure for Checking Oil Level in Your New Buell 1125R Motorcycle:

An accurate engine oil level reading can only be obtained with the engine at normal operating temperature (hot check). The engine will require a longer warm up period in colder temperatures.

For pre-ride inspection, simply verify that there are no oil leaks from the oil filter cover or oil lines prior to operating the motorcycle.

NOTE: Perform a hot check of the engine oil level at each fuel stop

CAUTION
Do not allow hot oil level to fall below MIN mark on dipstick. Doing so can result in equipment damage and/or equipment malfunction. (00573b)

CAUTION
Do not overfill oil tank. Doing so can result in oil carryover to the air cleaner leading to equipment damage and/or equipment malfunction. (00190a)

CAUTION
Do not switch lubricant brands indiscriminately because some lubricants interact chemically when mixed. Use of inferior lubricants can damage the engine. (00184a)

1. Ride motorcycle for approximately 10 minutes. Ride at least 5 miles 8 kilometers to ensure the oil is hot and the engine is at normal operating temperature. Readings taken with colder oil could lead to an overfull engine condition..
2. Hold motorcycle upright and vertical on firm level ground. An uneven surface will produce a false oil reading..
3. Idle the motorcycle for three minutes. Shut off the motorcycle..
4. Wait for three minutes after shutdown before reading the oil level, or false readings may result..
5. Unscrew and remove dipstick from oil filler hole. Wipe dipstick clean..
6. Insert dipstick into oil filler hole, screwing dipstick in completely..NOTE: Refer to Recommended Engine Oils. Use only recommended oil specified in Engine Lubrication: Buell 1125R Models..
7. Unscrew and remove dipstick and note oil level. An indicated oil level between MIN and MAX (measured after performing steps 1 through 6) is acceptable for safe engine operation. Oil should be added in 3 to 7 fl. oz. (100 to 200 mL) increments, depending on how far the level is from the MAX reading. Confirm oil level by repeating steps 5 through 7..NOTE: If the oil level is at (or above) the OVERFULL mark, drain oil at 7 fl. oz. (200 mL) increments until the oil level is between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick. Repeat steps 1 though 7 to confirm proper level..
8. Hand tighten dipstick into oil filler hole.

Filler Plug/Dipstick Location (Buell 1125R Models)






Oil Dipstick Proper Operating Range
(Buell 1125R Models)

1. Minimum (MIN) hot oil level
2. Maximum (MAX) hot oil level
3. Graduation marks, 3.4 fl. oz. (100 mL) increments
4. OVERFULL mark

Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post Archive through April 10, 2008 Court 30  1  04-10-08  05:23 pm Archive through February 15, 2008 Blake 30  1  02-15-08  07:38 pm Archive through January 18, 2008 Jedipunk 30  1  01-18-08  07:59 pm Archive through January 15, 2008 Blake 30  1  01-15-08  04:39 pm Archive through January 13, 2008 Spectrum 30  1  01-13-08  08:10 pm Archive through January 04, 2008 Buellborn 30  1  01-04-08  09:30 am Archive through January 01, 2008 Court 30  1  01-01-08  08:36 pm Archive through December 28, 2007 Court 30  1  12-28-07  08:40 pm Archive through December 28, 2007 Bearly 30  1  12-28-07  08:44 am

Author Message   Brad1445 Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 08:14 pm:        Blake When a mule begins to pull as desired, you don't then commence beating the poor beast for taking so long to do so. You offer encouragement and positive reinforcement, yes along with further positive admonitions to continue to giterdone! Yes? ________________________ Yes I agree.. About the speed of the mule. J/K I guess I'm just getting Rotax fever. I have even found myself checking out Apriia's. I would prefer to get an American made Buell with a Rotax so I watch closely so I read as much as I can.   Xb9 Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 09:34 pm:        'My experience so far: I found when checking the oil level with the bike up- right COLD, if it is just touching the bottom of the dipstick, it will be around the mid-point on the stick when hot. This makes it handy for a cold check before firing the motor and heading out on a ride.' +1 what Bob said   Spectrum Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 08:49 am:        The online manual has finally been updated with the correct oil level check procedures. https://www.buell.com/om/99480-08Y_en/file-6.asp#h dtopic006397   Blake Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 09:13 am:        That occurred over a month ago.   Spectrum Posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 10:38 am:        Oops, looks like I'm behind the curve again!   Nxtr Posted on Sunday, June 08, 2008 - 10:21 pm:        One other mistake; both in the still wrong printed owners manual sent with a May 08 build date bike in regards to check procedures and oil filter part number, and the corrected online check procedures, and oil filter part number... Both state Q0064.1AM it should read Q1064.1AM Someone please pass this up the chain. If this has been posted already I am sorry, could not find it. On a related note what is the part number for the aluminum crush washers used on the drain plugs??? The 1125R ROCK'S... V/R, Nick   Rcrboy Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 10:32 am:        Anyone having oil consumption issues? Mine was .6L low at 2200 miles. Level was correct at the 600 mile service. And the level inspection procedure is a joke. Depending on how long you let it rest before checking the level (hot) it varies from too low 2 min, to too high 4 min. I'd prefer something that did not require me to rub my belly and pat my head at the same time............. Mark   Ccryder Posted on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 11:29 am:        Hmm, mine has been just fine. As far as oil level checking procedures it is not much different than a lot of other bikes I have owned. There is a specific scenario that needs to exist to determine if the oil level is correct. My Honda ST1300 is not much different than this procedure except, it has a sight glass. The real issue is trying to see the sight glass with all the tupperware!   Nikponcherello Posted on Friday, May 22, 2009 - 10:49 am:        Holy crap. I just changed my oil last night.... I followed the "updated" oil check procedure to the t and there was a full quart-reading's difference between hot and cold. Cold barely touched the bottom of the stick, hot was almost at the overfill mark. Anyway... Is there anyway to change to oil without spilling it everywhere??? Son of a... I think I'm going to stop following the procedure and change it on the rearstand from now on. I assumed I'd change it on the kickstand as prescribed in the manual because then the bike would be properly leaned for full drainage on the left side (and for the filter) and then also from the kickstand you can more easily tilt the bike to the right for the right side plug. Which would be impossible with the rearstand. But son of a.. on the left side it drains down the kickstand and then on the right side it pours on the pipe! I think 2.9 quarts of oil are on my garage floor.   Bearly Posted on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 10:24 am:        I want my spin on filter!   Ccryder Posted on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - 10:32 am:        Everybody has to have a dream. At least this one is easy access, you should see the spin on filter on my ST1300!   Blake Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 02:35 pm:        2009 Owner's Manual on Checking Oil Level of Buell 1125R/CR Buell 1125R/CR OIL LEVEL COLD CHECK Perform engine oil level COLD CHECK as follows: NOTE: For an accurate cold check, you must wait a minimum of four hours after the motorcycle has been run. See Filler Plug/Dipstick Location. Loosen the dipstick. Hold the motorcycle upright for one minute. While continuing to hold the motorcycle upright, remove and wipe off the dipstick. Insert dipstick into oil filler hole, screwing dipstick in completely. See Filler Plug/Dipstick Location. Unscrew and remove dipstick and note oil level. An indicated oil level between MIN and MAX is acceptable for safe engine operation. Oil should be added in 3.4 fl. oz. 0.1 L increments, depending on how far the level is from the MAX reading. If oil was added, proceed to the Oil Level Hot Check procedure. Buell 1125R/CR OIL LEVEL HOT CHECK Perform engine oil level HOT CHECK as follows: Ride motorcycle for approximately 10 minutes. Ride at least 5 miles (8 kilometers) to verify the oil is hot and the engine is at normal operating temperature. Readings taken with colder oil could lead to an overfull engine condition. Stand the motorcycle upright (not leaning on sidestand) on a firm level surface. An uneven surface will produce a false oil reading. Idle the motorcycle for three minutes. Shut off the motorcycle. See Filler Plug/Dipstick Location. Loosen the dipstick. Wait for 3-4 minutes after shutdown (with vehicle still upright) before reading the oil level, or false readings may result. Unscrew and remove dipstick from oil filler hole. Wipe dipstick clean. Insert dipstick into oil filler hole, screwing dipstick in completely. See Oil Dipstick Proper Operating Range. Unscrew and remove dipstick and note oil level. An indicated oil level between MIN and MAX (measured after performing steps 1 through 7) is acceptable for safe engine operation. Oil should be added in 3.4 fl. oz. 0.1 L increments, depending on how far the level is from the MAX reading. Confirm oil level by repeating steps 1 through 8. NOTE: If the oil level is at (or above) the OVERFULL mark, drain oil at 6.8 fl. oz. 0.2 L increments until the oil level is between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick. Repeat steps 1 though 8 to confirm proper level. 9. Hand tighten dipstick into oil filler hole.   Blake Posted on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - 02:39 pm:        It will be interesting to see how the new for 2010 sight glass will figure into the oil level verification scheme.   Bassettkyle Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 10:51 am:        Does anyone actually ever get the same result from a cold and hot check... I never do. They hot says too much and the cold sometime shows perfect, sometime shows nothing on the stick. I was into the dealer a while ago and they removed a wack of oil for me as another dealer had way too much, later I checked it again and it still had too much, they took some out again. Service manager said they did it properly the first time and it could be fule getting in my oil, I asked how and he said maybe a bad ring..... the bike only has 3000 miles on it... Anyone have any idea's / comments... This oild checking process is painfill... Kyle   Froggy Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 10:56 am:        Yes, quit checking it and ride.   Bassettkyle Posted on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 11:08 am:        Thanks Froggy, but how would I actually know if I had too much oil or not enough. I am at the point where I may just drain it and put it in myself so I know forsure. I guess I can also use a 10/40 since it is getting cold in canada.

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