Praying for major snow.

[Lowlife]

Hello, and thank you for the resource. I've been bitten. Looking to purchase an 1125R, and wondering if the (Midnite?) blue frame/swing arm is just a color option, or are black frame/swing arms custom work, or were they a 2009 change. (or...) I've read many reviews, and viewed countless pic's, The blue seems to significantly dominate the color scene.

There are three 1125R (2x '08 & 1 '09, one 2003 Firebolt XB9R, and a 1999 Thunderbolt 1200cc available within driving distance. There's some others -- but too pricey for me. The Thunderbolt is priced at $3K, and the other four bikes run around $4,500. All 5 with less than 15K miles.

Watching the mail slot, and waiting until I have cash in hand b4 checking service records etc..

Not enjoying the new HD crowd. Figure the chopper can hang out, and I'll ride the Buell.

I'll be doing lots of reading here. Thanks again.

 

[Internet Annoyance]

interesting picture. Got your mexican Coffee there and doing arts and crafts day inside? welcome to the list [up]

 

[thumpin1203]

Welcome to the world of Buells, man.. good group of guys here ready to help. Diamond blue is a stock 1125r color..

You will be turning heads with any model you choose. Power AND handling.. trademark Buell

Cheers

 

[Lowlife]

Thanks for the welcome.

I let my wife keep furniture in the bike room, and she lets me do the crafts for her Brownie crew.

Going to look at a 2003 Firebolt XB9R tonite. 11.5K miles -- all original parts included -- Hawk, updates, receipts/history. "...Spotless, garage kept..."

 

[Loki]

Ill answer your first question. The blue frames were only on the 1125R in 2008, the black frames are standard on the rest of the 1125 line up.

 

[08herobolt]

Make sure you ride the 9. Depending on what kind of Harley(s) you have been riding, the 1125 maybe what your after. I have a 12 and love it though. The 9 and 12 are close enough but the 1125 is a whole different demon.

 

[Matteson]

Had both xb's and 1125. Also rode 1-4 bikes. 1125!

 

[Enemy Zero]

Rode an 1125CR first and ended up buying an XB9. 1125 power is ridiculous and I really do miss having a 6th gear sometimes but I am more than satisfied and happy with my XB.

 

[Lowlife]

Never rode the XB9R. Liked the sound of the Hawk, and it was it great condition. Guy lives on adjacent street (shared alley) about 8 houses down. I can see his garage from my kitchen. Seems like a square shooter.

There's an 1125R in town as well. I will check it out before a final decision. There's also a pretty cherry Thunderbolt '99, 1200 that interests me. It's a day trip, return. I haven't ridden much (family bs, financial priorities, health) so any sport bike will be a totally (tall & tiny) different than my chop. I'll probably never ride the Softail again. Have some metal fab', polishing, and engraving left to do -- enjoy that. Don't enjoy all the rules new "bikers" have.

I like a little pucker factor, from time to time , and 'knowing it's there' , is always nice. (But) To be perfectly honest; looks, sound, and remaining fiercely independent, is where it's at for me.

I don't foresee anything more than half-day trips in my future. Reliability/repairs are a concern tho. Pretty much blowing the budget on the bike. High maintenance costs will make any bike another cat toy. Tinkering's/maintaining's fun but, paying shop prices sucks. Here? They just take things apart, and offer to buy the 'scrap'.

Currently
Downside: checks are still in the mail.
Upside: it's snowing.

Thanks for all input.

 

[Enemy Zero]

I honestly would love an 1125 but after talking with my local mechanic and finding out how often an engine rotate is necessary for valve adjustments and the electrical horror stories I've heard I am a little scared to own one. The only maintenance I've had to put into my XB so far has been correcting things the previous owner abused or neglected. From what I've read, the valves never need adjustment so rotating the motor out isn't always necessary although its very easy to do. Parts are more available it seems mostly because a lot of them can cross reference to current sportster parts when needed immediately. Compared to most other bikes I've owned, parts have been extremely well priced and its been very easy to work on.

 

[Lowlife]

I found the XB9R seemed, a little surprisingly, tall. My current seat is only 25.5". The Firebolt, & 1125R, are only 5" taller.

Is that something I'll just get used to, or should someone 5'8" be factoring in a pricey lowering kit? [confused]

Easy to drop $2k +, depending on shock choice. Just not in the budget.

I think the XB9R will have adequate power. I'm not demanding, and I'm not accomplished. I can actually get an '08 1125R cheaper than the '03 XB9R. The 1999 Thunderbolt is cheaper yet -- and tallest.

 

[stensg]

when looking at 1125's keep in mind the 09+ are known for electrical charging problems ( can get spendy) the 08 is known for clutch weep ($100 fix) just a FYI. Do your research on known problems.

 

[Enemy Zero]

I'm 5'7" with about a 28" inseam. I'm short and built like a chimp. All torso. My bike is a 9SX so I think the seat is a little bit lower than the 9R. If you can find a 12R for a decent price, I'd go that route to get you a bit more power so your kind of meeting in the middle. I've noticed the trend of the 1125's seem to be taking a steep decline in value while the XB's have been gaining value. Especially Uly's. I don't have any experience with Tubers so I can't give you a fair assessment of how they ride/handling or any type of reliability.

 

[gtp3800]

wouldn't be costly at all to throw an scg short suspension in there or a low seat. maybe a couple hundred bucks at most.

 

[Lowlife]

Already decided the Diamond Blue was something I could live with. My early reading has indicated the stator/error/harness issues of the 1125R. Are there other electrical problems I need to research? Thanks.

Weeping (petcock cozy) problems are something I've dealt with before.

Stevenc150 pointed me this way: Thread 1, Thread 2, from this thread.

Been working my way thru BuellPartsGuy's lowering thread.

$200's no problem -- $2k's a deal breaker. Hard not to get sidetracked on Youtube. Lots of interesting Buell vid's. I'll check out twoguns lowering vid soon.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

$nowing again!

 

[Lowlife]

Sun broke out. Thunderbolt & Firebolt both sold. Leaves '08 & '09 1125R(s) available provincially. Had really settled on the XB9R.

Snail mail sucks.

Oh well, the search/wait continues.

 

[Lowlife]

Not seeing a $200 lowering fix. Am I missing something? Not much seat to remove either. (butt's 57 years old)

XB9 '03 came back on market. The check, I was waiting on arrived. Waiting to hear from seller on v. reasonable offer -- death b4 lowball.

Checked seat height on CBR600 f3, etc., and all came back higher than 30.5". Figured if others could make it work...

Anniversary Dyna on CL $4,500 Went with XB9 anyways.

 

[go cytocis]

I found the XB9R seemed, a little surprisingly, tall. My current seat is only 25.5". The Firebolt, & 1125R, are only 5" taller....Is that something I'll just get used to, or should someone 5'8" be factoring in a pricey lowering kit?

The seat height of sport bikes seems to be something that cruiser riders are uncomfortable with at first, but I'd strongly avoid the temptation to lower it right away. Give it some practice and think of it like riding a horse; you just need to get comfortable with the reality that you won't be able to straddle the thing flat-footed.

The advantage of having a higher seat height is that you've got more leverage over the bike so you can flick it easier. If you lower it, you risk creating a bike that turns-in like a pig....

 

[heagachongoose]

Currently I own an 1125r but I use to own an xb9r and loved it. I honestly miss the xb sometimes. It has a certain grunt to it that the 1125 doesnt have. Don't get me wrong though the 1125 still has oodles of oomph and is a world ahead of the xb. But the xb has a certain soul to it that no other bike i've experienced can replace. The 1125 comes damn close though. Close enough for me not to worry about it lol I absolutely love my 1125r though. If you get an 1125 I would reccomend the 08. The clutch weep really isnt a big deal to take care of. Unless you can get an 09 thats already had the stator fixed because it WILL fail. Other than that theres really not much to worry about. Some early run 08 1125's had a parasatic power draw from the gauge cluster software but as long as you flip the killswitch off before you shut your key off it shouldnt be an issue. The 1125 is definately more of a sportbike than the xb. If I had to compare it to other bikes its like a cross between the xb and my old '01 R1. Its a very feral bike and i love it.

EDIT: Just saw that you had went with the xb. Congrats! hopefully you will enjoy yours as much as i loved mine.Pics or it didn't happen

 

[Lowlife]

We made a deal. I pick up the bike, bags, stand, all original parts, and cover next week.

I have to buy some roses ASAP tho. (Not for the seller.)

Thanks for the info. Lowering will wait.