Buell 1125R

[RC51DRAG]

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1078606383&channel=711881422

[Fenring]

That's an impressive machine. But if they wish to compete with Ducati and Aprilia, they'll have to do better then 146hp out of a liquid cooled 1125ccm.

[Bob Hancock]

Yeah but liquid cooled.....72 degree V! Big difference between this and the normal Muell. Unless I've been taking too many long naps, I thought they were all 45 degree aircooled sportster engines. This could get real interesting. Sounds great too.

[varmint]

i had a cyclone years back. and i've often dreamed of kicking eric buell in the balls til blood came out his mouth.

but this bike looks good. a competant engine changes everything. maybe they're not quite in ducati's league. but 99% of guys can't really use 140+ horse power on the street anyway. a good rider on a buell will suddenly be in the game.

[signit98]

...I loved my Buell X1... it's fun in the canyons until it gets to warm outside... this engine was a joint-development with KTM, I believe... should be interesting.

[HugoVW]

Buell in WSBK?

Hugo

[HugoVW]

Engine was developed by Rotax and has similarities with the Aprilia Mille engine (also developed by Rotax), For sure more power isn't a problem...the front looks very similar to the 916

Hugo

[BSnyder]

Link doesn't work for me.

[R1100SPORTour]

Looks like a 916 with a austrian engine...
Wonder if it still says "american motorcycles" on the tank...
If you can't beat them let them built a bike for you...
How will they call it?Buellia or Buecati?

[Bob Hancock]

Didn't Porsche have a lot to do with the development of the v-rod?

[signit98]

Porsche basically developed the engine... the frenchies the frame and the fork is Japanese (or vice versa,, I forgot)... on the gold old american V-Rod...

[Towjam]

Originally posted by BSnyder
Link doesn't work for me.

Try this one

Here's a CycleWorld story as well.

I think this is pretty cool (but then I've owned 3 Buells and will always have a soft spot for 'em).

[RC51DRAG]

Originally posted by Fenring
That's an impressive machine. But if they wish to compete with Ducati and Aprilia, they'll have to do better then 146hp out of a liquid cooled 1125ccm.

Um...

The Aprilia makes 118 bhp

The 1098 makes 131 bhp

http://www.moto-one.com.au/performance/1098dptermihomo.html

146 hp is right in the ball park.

[Skippy]

Looking very good, finally something interesting from the Buell department. Can't wait to see a naked version of it. Cool that the engine they are using isn't going to be the same 60 degree engine they are using in the Aprilla as some magazines thought they where going to be.

[Fenring]

Originally posted by RC51DRAG
Um...

The Aprilia makes 118 bhp

The 1098 makes 131 bhp

http://www.moto-one.com.au/performance/1098dptermihomo.html

146 hp is right in the ball park.

I can't see any reason why I should compare power measured at rear wheel with the power 1125R claims to have.

Aprilia lists RSV Mille with 143bhp (997 ccm)
Ducati lists 1098 with 160phb (1098 ccm)

And ofcourse, next year, Ducati is coming out with 1198 ccm engine, and the Aprilia is developing a 1000 ccm V-4 engine that is supposedly going to have more than 200hp.

[Bob Hancock]

Yer missin' the point, Fenring. This thing is new. Something unique for anything associated with Harley. Eric Buell has been doing very interesting and innovative stuff for years but he's been harnessed with that 45 degree lump if $hit for an engine. And now this! Exciting indeed. Criticism about whether the bike is competitive in racing or not is premature I think. Might just be what it takes to get me into a Hardley dealership.

[RC51DRAG]

Originally posted by Fenring
I can't see any reason why I should compare power measured at rear wheel with the power 1125R claims to have.

Aprilia lists RSV Mille with 143bhp (997 ccm)
Ducati lists 1098 with 160phb (1098 ccm)

And ofcourse, next year, Ducati is coming out with 1198 ccm engine, and the Aprilia is developing a 1000 ccm V-4 engine that is supposedly going to have more than 200hp.

You were the one who brought up the requirement to compare the Buell bhp to Ducati and Aprilia. Given that all we have right now is the claimed bhp of the Buell how else would you like to compare them?

These numbers when given a sober second look mean little. I submit that the 1098's claimed 160 isn't all it's cracked up to be when you compare the dyno numbers presented by Moto-One for the 1098 and the 999. Are you really going to notice the difference between the 999 and 1098, other than the price?

Personally I could care less about outright horsepower. That's the braggarts measure. Give me power/weight ratios and quality suspension because on the track that's all that matters to me. When I bought my 12Gs and then HP2 the dyno numbers were nearly on par with the 1150GS. But the power/weight ratio makes a world of difference.

[Fenring]

Actually, first thing that dropped in my mind as I read 1125R was WSBK 2008. So naturally I was going for the comparison with the possible competition in the V2 class.

So, not being completely removed from my senses (yet), I realize, from personal experience as well, that anything beyond 100hp is too much anyway, but since the power of the new Buell was out on the table, I thought I might attack it from that aspect. I didn't really think about it being special because it's Harley related. It is special though, and I recognize that, otherwise I wouldn't have said that it's impressive to begin with.

[Towjam]

I think this is a huge milestone for the American motorcycle industry. A retail customer now has a credible choice if they're looking for an American branded sportbike that appears to have real track cred. I applaud Erik and his crew - although I'm not optimistic that the Harley dealer network is prepared to service this new customer.

[Bob Hancock]

Originally posted by Towjam
I'm not optimistic that the Harley dealer network is prepared to service this new customer.

I hope you're wrong but I think you're right.