| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Like most of you I have spent a long time studying the available pictures and specs of the new bike, and thought I'd share a few thoughts from the point of view of rider/racer/aftermarket parts supplier. Overall I am very impressed with the bike and particularly the engine, with just a few small niggles. 1. Styling at the front is brave and I think it works very well (after an initial gasp!). I am a little disapointed that the rear end looks to be standard XBR though, as it gives the bike a slightly nose heavy look. A modified XBRR 'big butt' seat unit would have been a better option in my view, and if you are going to be brave on styling go the whole hog! 2. There are no adjustment slots in the swingarm and the bike runs a fixed belt tensioner attached to the footrest assembly. This will make it harder than the current XB to convert to chain drive for race use, and will also create a few minor problems for aftermarket rearsets manufacturers. I hope the belt tensioner is an improvement on the XB fixed tensioer device. 3. The exhaust looks to be painted/coated mild steel and would have to go! Certainly here in the UK I can see problems with rusting mufflers and really thought that they would have addressed this after all the problems with the XB mufflers rusting. I have ideas for some ver sexy aftermarket mufflers already  4. Switchgear looks to be exactly the same as the XB and although I have never had a problem with it the press will no doubt criticise it again, as they always do. 5. There is no mention of the ECU or injection in the blurb, so I would be interested to see if there will be performance chips available from Buell. 6. From a racers stand point, most world race series rules only allow original silhouette fairings to be used, so I am a bit surprised that the bike does not have a full fairing as standard. Maybe we'll see an RS model suited for homologation purposes with a bigger engine, race ready bodywork and chain drive? 7. Suspension looks to be a big improvement on the XB, with 4mm larger diameter forks and an updated shock. I am sure that aftermarket shocks will still improve matters simply because stock items are made to work for a huge variety of riders and suituations whereas aftermarket shocks are tailored to the individual. UK price has not been announced yet, but it looks just slightly more than the Ulysses so I would guess around GBP8500 (US$17000) including taxes etc. This undercuts the KTM & Aprilia by around GBP1000. For the price shown on the web site they have done a cracking job though, and I can't wait for delivery | ||
| Jens |
Dont forget to offer the double brakedisc conversion... Jens | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
and the low profile air intakes..........  | ||
| Trojan |
Dont forget to offer the double brakedisc conversion... Jens As you are well aware Jens, the previous XB front brake needed beefing up for racing. Hopefully this one won't but we'll see ;) and the low profile air intakes.......... I was thinking more along the lines of a full fairing conversion (Message edited by trojan on July 09, 2007) | ||
| 12r |
I would love to see a full fairing for it. Like Toronto said http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=290431&post=924894#POST924894 the old engine was a visual masterpiece but the new motor is a jumble of pipes, cables and linkages. Definitely hide it (and that hideous exhaust) under a fairing with integral scoops  | ||
| Jens |
Matt, hope you learn to like the ZTL2 like we do. Yes, Sidepanels/fullfairing in combination with undertranny (we anyway need for the racetracks)will be the first step. Jens | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I personaly like bikes with half fairings, since I think the engine must be visible and shown. Also it saves repair costs..... Beauty and looks are OBJECTIVE. I like the new 1125R. I like the rear end. I like the swingarm & chassis following one straight line. They are HUGE and I am glad they are visible. I like the 47mm forks. The biggest in the superbike bussines at the moment. The MV Agusta 312R went down from 50mm to 45mm. I like the exhaust. I like the brakes, and I think this time they will perform OK. 21 lt of fuel !!!!!!! GO Touring I like the front fairing, but as people have already said, maybe it is too far away from the rest of the bike and give a big nose effect. BUT I do not worry and I do not care for its looks much. I just wish it goes to the TOP of the superbikes. Judging from my XB12R, I see why not... It is a MUCH improved XB12R in every area. As long as the PERFORMANCE & HANDLING is what we all BUELLERS expect it to be......People should start worry !!!! I think we have as new superbike KING !!! | ||
| Medic352 |
Well, from an aftermarket/race point of view: 1. Showa forks with an 8 piston calipar from the XBRR, means we can buy it for current XB's(maybe) 2. Showa forks and similar triple tress looks like adaptation to current XB's 3. We moved the drive to the left, why not make it chain drive? 4. Same as some of the above, it looks like it would not be to hard to put that R-1 inspired fairing on an XB, winder about that dash as an upgrade? 5. How about an XBRR homologation, I want big old cylinders and a K-model cassette transmission. 6. The radiator scoops sort of look like an after thought. This marks a significant step away from the H-D parent company motor. | ||
| Blake |
Matt, I think Jens is having some sport of you. And here I've been told that Germans lacked a sense of humour.  Hey guys, I seriously dig the muffler, especially the tail pipes, very hot-rod looking and certainly totally different than ANYTHING else out there. It ain't no "dog bone"; that there is a big bad ol' T-Rex bone!   Matt are you seeing a variable tension belt tensioner, akin to the one you offer, on the 1125R? There's gotta be a racing version in the works too. I agree on the tail section comment. Something for next year maybe? | ||
| Trojan |
The exhaust looks almost bearable in the above picture, but it does not show the welds that we see in other pictures. My problem is less with the aesthetics and more to do with the material used to make it though. If it was stainless then I doubt they would paint it, which means it is probably mild steel again. This is heavy and will rust in our climate. This is one thing that I really do have an issue with on a bike that is costing GBP8495 (US$17000) in the UK. Matt are you seeing a variable tension belt tensioner, akin to the one you offer, on the 1125R? It is certainly a possibility along with an adjustable chain tensioner for those wanting to go racing. The variable tensioner has proved itself time and again on the XB series so it will e worth looking at on this bike too I think. | ||
| Mndwgz |
First impressions..... 'bout time ya started talking to Arnolds' cousins. Design wise it holds true to the Buell way of thinking differently, but funtionally. Does it idle on 1 or 2 cylinders?  AND how does she sound? I would like to see the rear cylinder exhaust head left and front to the new "can". Don't know why, but a first impression. I'm still wondering how much volume there is for air flow through the rads, past the rear cylinder, and through the frame past the rear shock resevoire... and where's the fan(s)? Make mine NAKED when the time comes, and a little more comfy for the Mrs. when she wants to tag along. | ||
| Chessm |
i dont know why people are stressing out over the cans...its not like anyone will be keeping it stock anyway  | ||
| Jens |
Blake, HUMOR WITH THE ZTL2 ?????????????? No way! (-: Jens | ||
| Xbhutch |
Chessm People are stressing about the can because it's a cheap and nasty piece of work that looks like the one fitted to a Honda Transalp, but has been run over by a truck! As Matt states, this bike is going to cost us $5000 more in the UK and frankly, for that we should be getting something in Titanium! Look at the KTM Venom for an underslung silencer done with style. And why has the 1125R got a tail section design which is already 5 years old, too many XB9/12R body parts left in the store department??? Hutch | ||
| Buellshyter |
this bike is going to cost us $5000 more in the UK Considering the currency exchange rate, it should be 5k LESS in Europe. Jeremy McWilliams had a hand in the development so undoubtedly this bike will be going racing. I'm hoping the bike flies out of the showroom and HD/Buell step up with a full-on racing effort.... OORAH !!!! | ||
| Fireblot |
I love Buells, but this one has some issues. It has radiators (retarded), the fairing looks like Ella Fitzgerald, the muffler looks like a loaf of squished bread and the turn signals look like Power Ranger accessories. This is one ugly bike. Why couldn't we have an XBRR motor, 6 speed and slipper clutch in the lovely Firebolt? | ||
| Spatten1 |
I am very excited about the engine, new frame, longer swingarm, suspension, etc. I will own an 1125 in the next couple of years. I feel like a proud dad right now. My only real concern is with the final belt drive. I can't understand why Buell didn't at least offer an optional chain drive, and let the consumer decide. What of racers, stunters, and track day riders? Will an entire range of pulleys be offered at sprocket level prices? Also, the belt makes me queasy. I'm just not ready to trust it yet. I hope a year from now we have zero reports of broken belts, which will probably put me in line to buy the 1125. The wife is already on-board. She sees how excited I am. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Is it possible that the muffler is made of corrosion resistant metal, but painted black for aesthetic reasons? When I did custom work our rule of thumb was that if we wanted to make something disappear we would paint it flat black. |
