| Author | Message | ||
     Ccurtis04 |
Hey everyone this is my first post but I have been scanning through the forum for a few weeks now. I have been in the market for an xb9s for my first bike. One I was going to purchase sold the day before I had my finances in line. Total bummer. Since then I have had trouble finding another one in my area (Louisiana). Today I came across a 1125r for a good price and I am wondering if it is going to be too much power for me. I know people suggest buying a Blast as a first bike but I just want something more than that. I have a good amount of experience riding dirt bikes but very little on the street. I was considering the xb9 over the xb12 because it seems more suited for a first bike. Upon researching I found the 1125 is even more powerful then the xb12 so I am a little worried even though I feel confident that I will be a good rider with my background in dirt bike racing. I am 145lbs and about 5'9". Any input is appreciated! I look forward to being a part of the Buell family! | ||
| Dmfb88 |
I would go for it. This was my first street bike too and I came from years of riding dirt. I was very intimidated by it at first but after a few weeks I learned its and my limits. The bike only goes as fast as you make it. I saw a lot of my friends buy smaller bikes because they were nervous then regret buying a more powerful one. That is just my two cents but the 1125 is a great bike and a joy to ride. | ||
| Nukeblue |
i'm a little confused... your profile says you have a city-x. i would just keep that  i say go with 9 or 12. pretty much the same street manners in my opinion. i went from a few 12's and a 9 to a cr. light years ahead in the speed department. like superbike fast. need to have restraint and some experience in my opinion | ||
| Snackbar64 |
I bought a Firebolt after outgrowing my Blast within 6 months. I did not know how to ride at all when I bought the blast. I now have an 1125R. The most frightening thing about this new bike is the brakes. They are much more sensitive and you have to keep that in mind and not follow vehicles too closely. A Blast will kill you just as fast as a bigger bike because it's too damn slow to get out of the way of faster cars. So, I guess it really comes down to what you are comfortable with. If a 1125R is all you have to ride and what you learn on, I imagine you can learn to ride it just as well as a smaller bike. however, given the same situation all over again, I don't know if I would buy either still, as a novice. | ||
| Cycledoc59 |
It's a lot more about how you ride than how much power is available; you can easily kill yourself on Blast or Honda Rebel, if you plan to be part of the "hold my beer; watch this..!" group. I have an XB12, and an 1125. I like the 1125 much better, but...it's a Lot more complex. The XB works well, considering it uses the simple old antique Harley motor, while the 1125 is close to leading edge in all respects. The usual answer for getting started on the street is to buy something fairly small and cheap that other people like. Ride it for at least a few months to get your sea legs, shopping all the while for a bike to suit when you sell the beater.... | ||
| Ccurtis04 |
Thanks guys I had the same feeling as Dmfb88 when he said the bike only goes as fast as you make it. And about how a smaller slower bike can be dangerous because you may not be able to get out of the way of things. There are just so many people that suggest getting a smaller bike to start on I figured I would ask. Oh and on my profile it does say I have the city-x this is the bike I was so close to getting but missed out on. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I would really look further for a XB9. The heavy flywheel is easy to ride It is a fantastic first bike. It was my second bike. If it had been my first bike there wouldnt be a 10 year gap in my riding history. While I just love my 1125, it is a a lot of bike to start with and could scare you off from riding. If you do choose the 1125, I would warn you that the power can be intoxicating. That can be deadly to a new rider. If you have good throttle discipline maybe you can pull it off. I think the 1125 would have been a dangerous choice for me. | ||
| Philp |
Please do not buy an 1125r as a first street bike. I have taught plenty of people with previous street and dirt experience and few of them (um... none) should have started back to street on an 1125r. What's more, as a light rider, I don't think you will find the suspension amenable. That said, these bikes will still be here when you get some street experience. Be patient and stay alive. Cheers and good luck hunting for a first street bike. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
Beater? Did I hear a Dave Ramsey term there somewhere? Good advice nonetheless! | ||
| Nukeblue |
i had a cyclone as my first buell. awesome bike for sure. but down about 50 horse from the 1125. i had so many near death experiences on that bike i couldn't even count. if it had been the 1125, well i'm sure i wouldn't be typing this. the things go fast. real fast. you hit third, the wheel comes up, set it down and you're going over a hundred. be careful. damn. am i gettin old?? i just don't think it's a beginner bike i'm sorry. | ||
| Sl33py |
Your life, your decision. I would not suggest 1125R or CR to anyone new to riding. And would try to talk a friend set on one out of it. I rode dirt as a kid, first street bike was a honda 450, in my 20's I jumped to a GSXR750 and had multiple near misses (almost all my own fault - bulletproof 20 something). I guarantee if i'd had the 1125's power then i wouldn't be here. It's not that you can't learn on one, but there is nearly no margin for error. I'd go for the XB9R or a 600cc streetbike if you want something with a bit more oomph, without as much risk. Good luck with your first bike - whatever you choose! | ||
| Syonyk |
I'm going to sit firmly in the "The 1125 is NOT a good bike for a new street rider" camp. The 1125 is firmly in the super bike category, even if it's a bit slow compared to the category leaders (1190RS!). It does what you tell it to do. However, the engine and brakes will very easily do things the tires cannot do, or the rider cannot do. It's very touchy at low RPM, and if you're cruising along in 2nd and inadvertently add a bunch of throttle from a bump/etc, it *will* accelerate - violently. At low altitudes with a light rider (hint: YOU!), it will happily bring the front up quite quickly. The brakes are very powerful, and have gobs of response. It's just a lot of bike, and in many ways it does not make for a good first bike. ====== Now, the XB9, on the other hand, would be an *excellent* bike for you. My gf weighs a bit less than you, has been riding for about 6 months, rode her first few months on a Blast, and is now on an XB9. She loves it, and is quite confident on it. It is a very well behaved bike, and is quite new-rider friendly. The bike has plenty of power, but it's not twitchy about it. If you give it a bunch of throttle at low RPM, it makes a bunch of noise & accelerates, but doesn't do so in a manner that will really startle a rider. The stock 6-piston caliper on the front brake is a bit less aggressive as well. Basically, if you ask the '9 to do something stupid, it will growl at you and make it clear you're being an idiot. If you ask an 1125 to do something stupid, it will assume you know what you're doing and do it. I own both. I ride both (the XB9 is my winter bike, as it starts in temperatures that the 1125 won't even consider). If I had to keep one of the two, as an all around bike, I'd keep the XB9. It's absolutely a "do everything" bike. It's easy to ride, quick enough that I've never had trouble with traffic, it's nimble enough to have a blast on twisty roads or the track, it's good enough on dirt/snow, and it's an all around great bike. I love my 1125 - don't get me wrong. But it's not as versatile a bike as the XB9, and it's *absolutely* not as new rider friendly, or as easy to ride as the XB9. Keep your eyes open. I think you'd be much better suited by the XB9, and I would highly recommend not buying an 1125. | ||
| Ccurtis04 |
Wow, I really appreciate you guys taking so much time giving me your expert advice. I guess I will reconsider buying the 1125. It is so hard passing up a '08 1125 with less then 10K miles for only $3500 especially knowing what an amazing machine it really is. On one hand I feel like I can handle it and just take it super easy until I feel confident in my riding skills but at the same time I know there will be situations where I would want to let it loose and could possibly get into trouble. I sure do hope I find a nice XB sometime here in the near future because I sold my truck just for this reason and am super excited to get riding. I like the look of the lightning so much that I felt like I would be almost settling if I bought the 1125 anyway. Again it is just that it is such a good deal that it is hard to pass up. | ||
| Milt |
Syonyk is right on the money. I couldn't say it better. | ||
| Syonyk |
The problem isn't normal riding. I could take a brand new rider, put them on an 1190RS, and they'd be OK - until the first "oh ****!" situation happened. Dirt is one thing. Road is another. On dirt, it's pretty much you vs nature. On the road, it's you vs every other driver out there. Trees, in general, don't suddenly jump in front of you. Cars, on the other hand, will happily merge into you if they don't see you. And did anyone mention you're functionally invisible? It's not "Can I ride it around the block?" It's "How will the bike handle it when I grab a fistful of brake when someone cuts me off?" Or "How will the bike respond when I narrowly miss getting creamed into a barrier & I stiffen and add throttle unintentionally?" The XB9 is a lot more forgiving in those conditions than the 1125. It's still a great bike, but it's a lot mellower than the 1125. If you're riding daily (which it sounds like you will be), the first 6 months are a mix of learning the bike (easy enough) and learning how not to get creamed by traffic (much more difficult). You want a bike that won't do something stupid if you ask it to do something stupid during that window. When I moved to Albuquerque from Iowa, and started commuting daily on the highway (vs working from home), it took me about 4 months to get to a point where traffic no longer surprised me. In that 4 month window, I definitely had to make some sharp evasive maneuvers to avoid cars. I've been riding for about 6 years now, and the 1125 was still a lot to handle at times. Obviously there's nothing any of us can do to prevent you from buying an 1125R instead of an XB9. But, for every rider who has said "I can handle it, I'll just take it super easy until I grow into it" and done just that, a whole lot don't survive. Or crash and maim themselves for life. None of us want to see that. The 1125 takes a LOT of restraint to ride sanely in town (or even on the highway). The way I describe the two bikes to people is as follows: The 1125R wants to run. It LOVES speed. At 80-90mph on the highway, it's sitting there *taunting* the rider. "Come on, you pansy. Open me up. Drop down 3 gears, roll on power, and let me up to redline for the next few gears. I dare you." If one listens, one is now doing somewhere north of 150 and still accelerating hard. New riders usually die shortly after listening to the bike at this point (whatever it is - all the race bikes sing the same song). The XB9 is a lot more mellow. I've had mine up through 115 or so, but above 85-90mph, the XB (at least the Lightning) is saying, "Really, this is quite fast enough. See, we're going a lot faster than traffic, and things are coming really quite fast. Are you sure you wouldn't rather slow down a bit and enjoy the ride?" It doesn't taunt you like the 1125 does. Now, that doesn't mean it doesn't have things it likes - it just likes different things. "You know, that dirt road over there - it looks like an awful lot of fun to go bombing down." Or, "You know, this traffic jam sucks... but that sidewalk is quite clear. You should try it!" Again, it's up to you, but I would strongly discourage a new street rider from even considering an 1125 based Buell. The XB9, on the other hand, is an amazing bike, and I have zero concerns recommending it to a newer rider. | ||
| Ccurtis04 |
I never thought this would be so entertaining! I love your two bike descriptions... I once wrecked a moped riding on the sidewalk lol (Message edited by ccurtis04 on September 26, 2011) | ||
| Zac4mac |
Seen a few of these threads since the 1125 came out. Takis was the first. His 1125R was his first bike. He is also an Engineering prof at Texas A&M. He listened to the plethora of advice but still bought the 1125. A short time later he also got a KLR or something to go play in the dirt and learn. He bought and read books by Pridmore and others. Pretty sure he's been to some classes/trackdays. He was still alive a few months ago and doing quite well, so I KNOW it can be done. Be careful, ride like the cagers see you and are trying to kill you. you'll last longer that way. Enjoy the ride, rinse, repeat. Zack | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
The 1125R wants to run. It LOVES speed. At 80-90mph on the highway, it's sitting there *taunting* the rider. "Come on, you pansy. Open me up. Drop down 3 gears, roll on power, and let me up to redline for the next few gears. I dare you." If one listens, one is now doing somewhere north of 150 and still accelerating hard. New riders usually die shortly after listening to the bike at this point (whatever it is - all the race bikes sing the same song). The XB9 is a lot more mellow. I've had mine up through 115 or so, but above 85-90mph, the XB (at least the Lightning) is saying, "Really, this is quite fast enough. See, we're going a lot faster than traffic, and things are coming really quite fast. Are you sure you wouldn't rather slow down a bit and enjoy the ride?" It doesn't taunt you like the 1125 does. Now, that doesn't mean it doesn't have things it likes - it just likes different things. "You know, that dirt road over there - it looks like an awful lot of fun to go bombing down." Or, "You know, this traffic jam sucks... but that sidewalk is quite clear. You should try it!" This is both hilarious and accurate!  | ||
| Syonyk |
Zack - It's totally doable. That some people do it successfully still doesn't make it a good idea. | ||
| Duphuckincati |
Spend a year on a Suzuki SV650. Great used ones for the same money and hold value just as well or better. You'll have more fun, learn more, be lots more comfortable/less scared and for the street you can go just as fast, i.e. fast enough to get dead or arrested. I and others here have many decades and machines in our past. (40+years and 70+ bikes for me) We are smarter than we look so listen to us. Kid. | ||
| Froggy |
Same thing was asked only a few days ago: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/652265.html | ||
| Duphuckincati |
Here, I found you one in your town... http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/mcy/2589411029.ht ml Go buy it. I have a V-Strom 650, same motor, love it. | ||
| Jules |
I suspect I'd fall into the "not a good first bike" camp too, if I look back on the way I rode when I first started (30 years ago!) i know I wouldn't be typing this if I'd had the money to buy something like the 1125 as a first big bike. I had an old X1 once, and look back on that with (rose tinted) fond memories, it was, fun, forgiving and friendly. With 3 bikes in the garage now I refer to them as "my chop", "my old man's touring bike" (ZZR1100) and my "hooligan bike" (1125R). Even afetr riding for 30 years I still struggle with the 1125r, not because there is anything wrong with the bike, but it seems to be possessed by the Devil as (as has been mentioned before) it seems to taunt me to go "just a little bit quicker" and I can feel it thinking "you can fit through that gap if you're quick" and "you're wearing the front tire out - get it off the deck!" My old TL1000S was similar - but even that seemed to have days when it was happy to let me pootle about..Not so the 1125. I realise this is a failing on my part (not the bike's) but even at my age I find it hard to resist temptation, and the 1125 has that in spades! | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
not first bike camp here too. the descriptions above are very fitting. it does taunt you mercilessly until you give in. being functionally invisible isn't unique to the 1125R experience rather a by product of being on less than 4 wheels and being in a narcissistic society. you swing a leg be ready to not be seen by anyone and do not trust the ones that look like they do. i can tell you that if i hadn't started with a less powerful bike i'd be dead as a doornail. even so going from my honda shadow making all of 53HP to the 1125R with a measured 128HP on the ground.... let's just say that you learn quickly to adapt what you've already learned and you seek out the advice, knowledge and wisdom of others. or you might just get killed. don't forget no matter what you ride. ride suited and ride often. keep your skills sharp. | ||
| Dbolemiss |
Yep, I'm with these guys. The R is a monster and not a first bike. That being said, my 1125R is at the Harley shop in Baton Rouge as we speak (stator). I should be over there this week to pick it up if you just want to check one out up close (no rides,lol). and Baton Rouge traffic is not bike friendly. | ||
| Old_mil |
Excessive horsepower and weight are the enemies of the novice rider. While the 1125 is lighter than a good many motorcycles out there, it is much heavier than a starter bike. Also, it has too much horsepower. Finally, given that most people drop a bike a few times while learning to ride, why get one with all that expensive to replace plastic? A Blast would be a good choice. So would a small displacement Ninja. http://www.chuckhawks.com/good_first_motorcycles.h tm http://motorcycles.about.com/od/howtostartridin1/t p/Ten-Beginner-Bikes.htm http://www.motorcycle.com/how-to/choosing-your-fir st-motorcycle-a-beginners-guide-89771.html | ||
| Two_seasons |
Make sure you include money for gear. I spent $2,000 on two-up gear. Worth the investment!!!!! Here's my experience... One of my first bikes I owned was a 1975 Kawasaki 900 that I purchased March 1975. Fastest production bike in the world at that time. I was 20 then. Took an 8,632 mile, six weeks long ride, two months later, to sort out my life at the time. Sold that bike March 1982. As nice then as when I bought it. Regretted it for 28 years. Bought my 1125r in May 2010. Just turned 8,000 on her this month. Six months later, November 2010, I bought my '99 X1 Lightning. I have put over 5,000 miles on her in less than 10 months. Less than one month later, another X1 Lightning, my '00 X1 Lightning, in December 2010. She now has an additional 4,000 miles on her. I'm 57 now. Buells are addictive. Nothing else handles like them. HOWEVER, handling and speed are two very different things, unless you're on the race track. On the road, handling is where the fun is, speed doesn't factor into it nearly as much. If you can temper your riding when in traffic, you'll be ok. If you can't, any motorcycle can kill you! Enjoy your new venture at this time in your life. You'll recall fond memories as an old geezer! | ||
| Dannybuell |
Rpm4x4 'The Devil made me do it.' I believe you! I am 58 years old and riding motorcycles since H.S.. Buells for 15+ years. The CR does not hold a steady state very well which as you say 'taunts' you to go just a few more RPMs more to smooth it out. It took me about 2 months to figure that out. My strategy to overcome this lack of low speed cruising ability is to get up to speed (in first) then coast in neutral until more speed is needed. | ||
| Geforce |
When my friends ask me for this type of advice I normally have the luxury of knowing their habits and maturity. Those two factors greatly weigh in on how I suggest starting out in the street bike realm. 1. Habits - If that friend is impulsive and tends to sway in his or her opinions depending on the situation... I tell them to start slow. 2. Maturity - If that friend is reckless and has little regard for life or safety... I tell them to start slow. If they are the opposite, I tell them to buy the bike they want to begin with, and I'll help you pick out all the gear and bring it home. At the end of the day it is your choice and I don't have the privileged of knowing you better to help guide you through the process. Some people would have you start on a bicycle, graduate to a scooter after 6 months, then transition to a starter bike and after you win several class championships or put 10,000 miles on it... then finally... after you have all this experience and a race license... get your first "real" street bike with a lot of "Oomph" to it. It all depends on the caliber of the rider and their willingness to learn and ride safely. If you fail to respect those basic fundamentals, it might hurt. Good luck and welcome to the 1125r board. | ||
| Guard_rail |
Great price. get the bike and never take it out of first gear Till next year. Lol. That's what I would do. Do the speed limit and you'll be fine!!! |
