2009 BUELL1125CR
RINGLEADER: Marty EstesMSRP: $11,999MILES: 612 - 3,133AVERAGE FUEL MILEAGE: 36.2
While my last long-termer, the Triumph Tiger, was a comfortable and capable mount, it was a bit too "tourey" for my daily commute, which includes 20 miles of super-tight twisties. Comfort be damned, I needed something sporty, nimble and light, preferably something non-conformist and definitely not an inline-four. The Buell seemed to fit those definitions.
The 1125CR is nothing if not...
The 1125CR is nothing if not unique. Amongst other things, we'll look at exhaust options and concentrate on improving the ergos.
I'd spent enough time on the 2008 Buell 1125R to know it was a bike I could like, initial teething problems and all. When the CR version debuted, I knew I'd found my match.
After several months on the Buell, my impressions remain positive. While not as fast as your typical Japanese liter-bike, it has loads of power and surprisingly nimble handling. In fact, I've been having so much fun on it that I wore out the stock Pirelli Diablo Corsa III radials in under 3000 miles. A fresh set has been spooned on, and my goal is to shag them even more quickly, maybe with some time on a proper race track.
Nits? Not too many so far. The stock mirrors are only marginally functional, and become entirely useless above 70 mph. The ergonomics, while not awful, could use some adjustment to accommodate my 6'2" frame- I'm thinking a new set of bars to replace the stock clubmans. The aftermarket hasn't warmed up to the Buell yet, so factory-direct seems to be the only option. Thankfully, Buell offers an accessory handlebar kit that comes complete with longer brake lines and cables, so stay tuned to see how that works out.