Newby here w/ 1125R questions

[highmileage]

Hey all. This is my first post here.

I recently picked up a leftover '08 1125R.

I have a couple of question for everyone.

1) I get a noticeable vibration and noise from the belt right at 26-28 mph and at no other times. Does anyone else and is this acceptable?

2) I don't want a loud bike but the stock pipe is way too quiet. Any suggestions on modifying the stock pipe? Are any of the aftermarket pipes relatively quiet? I don't want to make the bike into a nuisance (and here in Delaware we have to get every vehicle inspected at the DMV every few years).

3) I'm a fairly old guy. I love the looks of the R (and was not crazy about the look of the CR with the scoops and no fairing - to each his own), I am not thrilled with how low the bars are on the R. I have a few ideas on what to do about this. Am I the only one that cares about this? An inch or so would make a huge difference.

Finally, for everyone's entertainment and info, I sent the following message to Erik Buell Racing yesterday:

Dear friends at EBR,

I own the wonderful bike described above and I have a couple of questions about the bike. My bike is still bone stock and only has about 500 miles on it - winter is a bitch.

I don't really plan to race it but I have been known to ride pretty hard on the street, And, as you well know, you never know what the future has in store...

I am only getting gas mileage in the very low thirties even when I ride it very gently. Perhaps this may improve with time and miles, but I doubt that it will change much. I really expected much better mileage out of such a lightweight bike.

I am told that the '09 bikes do better due to a remapped FI, Is this true? Can I remap mine w/o changing the ECU and what would I need to do this? I have seen devices from Jardine and others for sale on fleabay that claim to do this, would you recommend that I acquire one and do you recommend one over the other?

Also, I was a bit surprised that as I idled into a parking spot one recent day, the engine stalled (as none of my previous bikes had) and I did not get my foot down fast enough so the bike fell over. Other than my pride, the only damage was to the plug on the clutch cover.

I went to the dealer where I bought the bike and ordered a new one, but these guys really only know Harleys and they wrongly ordered for me the plastic cover for the ignition side and the decal for it. Now I see that someone is selling aluminum sliders to replace these, and I should probably buy (or make) a pair of these, but I'd like to get the stock part, too. Can you give me the correct part number to give to the stealership so that they can order for me the correct part for the clutch side? Or perhaps you can supply this?

Thanks for your help and for making such a great bike,




Today I received the following response in my inbox:

Dear sir,

At Erik Buell Racing we only deal with Buell race parts and race motorcycles. We do not have the information or the permission to deal with production Buell motorcycle issues. You will need to contact your dealer and/or Harley-Davidson customer service.

Best regards,

Erik Buell Racing



In other words, unless you are racing, don't bother us here at EBR!

 

[dave_xb12r]

I've never heard of that belt problem. You might want to have HD check that and replace the pulley.

There isn't anything you can do with the stock pipe. Many have tried without success.

As far as higher bars go, check out www.convertibars.com


As far as your other questions to EBR, those are pretty basic questions that I'm sure they get tired of answering. There are newer fuel maps available at HD. Your gas mileage is normal, those things suck gass. If you want the part number for your parts, you should take a seat on the bar stools at the parts counter at HD and ask to look at the parts book yourself. Find the part in the book and give them the number. Yes some of them don't care about buells, that's why we have to find the number ourselves.

 

[highmileage]

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Those convertibars are not so dissimilar to one of the designs that I've been playing with, but I gotta believe that I can do this for a lot less money!

I noticed the belt noise when I took delivery of this bike and immediately took it back to the dealer and had a technician come and ride the bike. He noticed it too, but said that it should go away with break-in.

I think I will have to contact H-D customer service about this since the belt is advertised as lasting for the life of the bike and I fear that this vibration will shorten its life.

 

[triple7]

Hello and welcome. I am fairly new here to. I have the same bike. I put a touring windscreen + the lowered XB pegs on mine. Helps alot. I'm looking for the thicker seats now. I also thought about the bars. What if we got some extra r bars but had them bent before we put them on to at least get us to a flat position instead of the negative one we are at now?

 

[03Firebolt9R]

Welcome Highmileage.

There isn't anything you can do with the stock pipe. Many have tried without success.

I am not sure but I think Tank modified his (he hasnt been specific at all with what he did) stock exhaust and I think it is the best sounding out there. IMHO.

Check this Tankenstein exhaust link

Or, if you have the cash, you can try this one. I think it is the best looking exhaust out there for the 1125. Thay also have a slip-on for a little cheaper.

Free Spirits exhaust

 

[dave_xb12r]

I am not sure but I think Tank modified his (he hasnt been specific at all with what he did) stock exhaust and I think it is the best sounding out there. IMHO.

From what I understood, even Voodoo couldn't come up with a modded pipe. Tank's may sound good, but before I call it an improvement, I'd like to see dyno number because I'm skeptical.

As for dream pipes, I'd go with the FMF race pipes. The Free Spirits have been severely discoloring.

Here is a FMF on a 1125RR

 

[03Firebolt9R]

Yeah, the FMF race pipe is nice. And you want some serious HP/TQ gains then this one is the best I have seen. The stage 1 kit includes the K&N filter, pipe and tune. I just dont like the look of the pipe, but the gains are pretty impressive.

TH stage 1 kit

Dyno graphs

 

[dave_xb12r]

Oh yeah I saw one of those Torque Hammers at the ASB customer appreciation ride. It's ugly, doesn't sounds good at all, but puts down some serious numbers

 

[xtreme6669]

I love my FMF slip on! its priced well and sounds GREAT! it's not quiet thou!

 

[highmileage]

Hey, thanks to all.

How ironic that so many cool bits for this American bike (w/ an engine from Austria) come from the Brits!

Love this site. Hope y'all don't mind if I stick around for a while...

 

[RT Performance]

the permission to deal with production Buell motorcycle issues

there is the key word they don't have the rights to.
our form sponsor www.buellparts.net or

Surbrban harely in wisconsin
Those are the good helpfull buell dealers

The D
&d pipe is sexy but loud the jardine looks ok and sounds great

 

[roadrocker]

Welcome! I love my 1125r and I am thinking of buying another one just to put it away. I had mine remapped from HD and it didn't help the gas mileage any, but it did help the idle problem. The remapping should be free from HD it was a recall. I would got back to the dealer and make sure all the recalls done on your bike. I think there were 5 in all. Make sure they do the clutch cover seal before you have start leaking, that was also a recall for the seals in the clutch cover. Other than that just ride it fast!!

 

[highmileage]

Well, I went to another dealer - Annapolis (MD) H-D. These guys seem to know and like Buells, unlike the a**holes from whom I bought the bike.

They called H-D for me and got the skinny on my clutch plug problem - apparently there was a mid-year change. And they got for me the part number of the right part.

And they ran my VIN at Annapolis and yep, although I did ask and the a**holes had repeatedly assured me that all service bulletins had been done to the bike before I ever saw it, the only one that had actually been done was the fifth gear oil jet installation.

They were supposed to have also 1) replaced the ECU and 2) remapped it, but neither of these important service bulletins had been done on my bike. I am pissed cuz I believe that this is why it stalled and I dropped it in the first place. I think they are extremely lucky that I was not hurt and did not have a passenger on the bike when this happened or I'd be talking to a lawyer already. But since the only damage was to a little plug...

I think H-D customer service owes me at the very least 1) the plug, 2) a replacement belt and pulleys because that noise and vibration have not gone away and 3) these services to be done. And, of course, I'll have all of this done at Annapolis where they seem to know and like Buells (one of the techs has one and I think he races it).

By all means, avoid Harley-Davidson of Seaford, Delaware (and H-D of Ocean City, MD - same owners).

And yes, other than these relatively minor hassles, I love my 1125R.

 

[Kidder]

I MUST HAVE THIS. I'm not sure how much it costs ($1200ish?) but I must have it. Time to save my pennies.

Oh, and that's an interesting way to adjust the brake lever. I never thought of turning the toe piece vertically. Great idea!