Buell 1125CR

As a modern Café racer, the Buell 1125CR model combines the 146-hp, liquid-cooled Helicon 1125 cc V-Twin engine with the Buell Intuitive Response Chassis (IRC) to create a bad attitude bike backed up with exceptional performance. A new upright tapered aluminum handlebar adds comfort while transforming the ride from sport to pure streetfighter. Final-drive gearing optimizes acceleration for the street, and an upgraded front master cylinder improves brake feel. New graphics, bodywork colors, blacked-out components, LED taillight, rear turn signals, and a flycut ZTL2 logo on the brake caliper deliver style. A new engine cover sightglass for oil checks and a battery tender plug pre-wired into the wiring harness add convenience. The 1125CR model is now available in a new Artic White/Midnight Black color combination, as well as Midnight Black and Racing Red.

Model Highlights

New Tapered aluminum streetfighter handlebar
New Polished stainless steel headers
New Master cylinder piston seals for improved brake feel
New Engine cover sight glass for convenient oil-level checks
New Pre-wired battery tender harness
New Designer Black wheels with red pinstripe
New LED taillight
New Clear-lens rear turn signals
New Bodywork graphics and fly cut brake logos
New Arctic White/Midnight Black color combination
New Battery tender plug

• Buell® ZTL2™ four-pad, eight-piston front brake
• Two-piston rear brake caliper mounted directly to inner swingarm
• Brushed stainless steel exhaust outlets
• LED front turn signals integrated with mirrors
• Digital lap timer and gear indicator
• Minimalist flyscreen with integrated head lights
• Removable tail cowl over passenger seat
• Versatile riding position with relaxed footpegs and a short reach to the bars

Key Features

As Erik Buell’s vision of a modern day café racer, the Buell® 1125CR blends class-leading performance with sinister styling and a wicked attitude to push the boundaries of the streetfighter category.

Buell Lightning models and the new 1125CR™ are at the core of what Buell is all about – pure performance with a broad, seamless power delivery in a stripped down, raw and aggressive package.

Each Buell model is designed utilizing the Buell Trilogy of Technology™ – chassis rigidity, centralized mass, and low unsprung weight – to produce a motorcycle which responds instantly to rider input.

• Buell Helicon® 1125cc liquid-cooled fourstroke, 72-degree V-Twin engine with DDFI 3 Electronic Fuel Injection ECM
• Compact oblique stacked six-speed transmission configuration
• Ram-air pressurized air box
• Goodyear® Hibrex® final drive belt with Flexten Plus technology with a constant-tension pulley for smoother on/off throttle transitions
• Underslung muffler with Helmholtz chamber
• Twin side-mount radiators with outer covers designed to absorb impact
• HVA (Hydraulic Vacuum Assist) clutch with slipper action
• 6-spoke, cast aluminum wheels
• Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tires
• Steel braided brake lines
• Fully adjustable 47 mm Showa inverted fork
• Fully adjustable Showa rear shock absorber
• Fuel-in Frame Intuitive Response Chassis
• Rigid cast-aluminum swingarm
• Adjustable hand and foot controls

Buell 1125CR  vs BMW K 1300R

The technology that’s gone into these two bikes is as unconventional as their styling. The 176bhp K1300R uses shaft drive, the 146bhp 1125CR uses belt drive. The BMW uses Duolever front suspension, which you won’t find on any other bike, while the Buell’s perimeter disc braking system at the front wheel entails the use of a single disc – unlike all other large-displacement sportsbikes, which use twin disc set-ups at the front.
The BMW is the better bike for riding in the city, thanks to its anti-lock brakes (ABS) and optional traction control – things which provide a lot of reassurance during hard braking and acceleration. The riding position is pretty comfortable too, though your shin will often hit the BMW’s engine casing on the right hand side, when you put your feet down while coming to a complete stop.

Riding the Buell in the city gets tiring within a few kilometres – the high footpegs, and the shape and the positioning of the handlebar sees to that. But while it affects low speed comfort, the 1125CR’s sports-oriented riding position is perfect for high speed cornering.

Another thing that goes against the Buell is its brakes, which work in a rather abrupt fashion. Initially, the brakes don’t seem powerful enough at all and then, when they suddenly bite, they can upset the bike somewhat.
Developed by Rotax, the Buell’s v-twin is one of the most pleasant twin-cylinder engines current available in the market. Low-rpm torque delivery makes the bike very rideable at low speeds and the linear power delivery means the bike picks up speed smoothly and consistently.

The BMW’s four-cylinder engine is also much improved over its predecessor – it feels significantly more powerful, the roughness has disappeared and power delivery has been smoothened out very well. On the highway, the K1300R offers better wind protection than the 1125CR and feels more planted, more stable, while the Buell feels more nimble and responsive.
When it comes to high speed cornering, the Buell outshines the BMW. The K1300R isn’t bad – in fact it’s quite good considering it’s size and weight – but the Buell is in a different league. The Buell’s braking characteristics and suspension set-up are just more conducive to letting the rider push harder in the corners, and the bike is more supple and responsive in the bends than the BMW.

So there you are – most of the important questions regarding the two bikes’ behaviour have been answered. But, somehow, we doubt if too many BMW or Buell buyers were actually waiting for this shoot-out in order to decide which bike they want. No, they've made up their minds already...

Source Motociclismo