Talk Me Out of an 1125CR

[CBi]

Gang,

As much as I love my FireLightning (XB12R with an SCG Lightning tail), I've been lusting after 1125CRs for quite a while. I've never ridden an 1125CR, but I really like the look, especially with the clubmans. The liquid-cooled motor is appealing sometimes, (like when I'm sitting in traffic), but other times I really enjoy the XB's simplicity.

I'm not a track/racer guy, just a rider that enjoys a well-handling bike and some good twisty back roads. I really do love the grunt of my XB, but sometimes highway cruising feels a little labored.

Anyone ever rode an 1125 and returned to an XB? What about 1125ers that bailed on their XB and never looked back?

I know all about the 1125 charging problems, but at the same time, I've been left stranded by the XBs charging problems (which is mainly caused by the shitty connector on the voltage regulator).

I'd love to do more than day riding, but honestly I'm a little afraid of venturing more than 100 miles from home with the XB. Most 1125 riders seem to share my sentiment...anyone care to chime in?

 

[njdevils1990]

I had a 2003 XB9R and crashed it, I miss it because it was my first bike, I put 3,000 miles on it from March-May 2011 then in June 2011 I drove up to Queens, NY to look at an 1125CR and fell in love, It had 4,000 miles on it and i got her for $6,000 I rode 1,500 miles till the first stater went at 5,500 miles and I have 15,5xx miles on her now, not even a year after i bought her. I just took a trip with my father to Florida, we did 3500 miles in 10 days and only issue I had was a relay in the charging system went bad, took it to the dealer they fixed it and i bought a new battery. That was at 14,100 miles, if you do get an 1125 and have another $900 to spare get the EBR stater, its on their site and is a good fix and there are rumors of it being the same as the one in the 1190RS but that doesn't mean anything really other than it works and is reliable. As long as you take care of the bike and do the valves every 10,000 miles (its 12,500 in the manual but i have heard people say they run tight on these motors and its better to do the service early) I change the oil every ~2,000 miles with, now Amsoil and a filter (takes 2.7qts) I have heard of 2008 1125s with 30k+ miles so the drivetrain is pretty reliable its just the 2009 and 2010 1125s with the stater issue that drive people away from riding them allot. Id say do it and get the EBR stater and youll have an awesome bike and there are only 3099 1125CRs out there so its a pretty rare bike id say compared to the some 15,000+ lightnings and 18,000+ firebolts out there.

 

[brumbear]

No I won't talk you out of it!! I could actually ride my xb faster but that's because I was younger then

 

[c818919]

Love mine.....never looked back at my xb12ss....
Not all of the charging systems fail and buy the ebr kit if your that worried.

 

[GAXB9R]

and there are only 3099 1125CRs out there so its a pretty rare bike id say compared to the some 15,000+ lightnings and 18,000+ firebolts out there.

if this is true that makes me want one even more. There is one here at a dealer wish I had the funds. Maybe I will sell my car and truck and buy the 1125. Who needs to stay dry and carry more than one more person anyways.

 

[Loki]

 

[njdevils1990]

^

 

[Thaloc]

I rode a CR twice. Its an amazing machine. It just feels like a little much for street use. The hydrolic clutch takes some getting used to. It shifts almost using esp, at least compared to our XB's where u feel like your kick starting a two smoker to get her into first(exxageration of course). I never got used to the clubmans, compared to the clip ons on my bolt it made my shoulders feel like they were in a wierd position. I still to this day love the CR's and would pick one up if the right deal came along, but i would never get rid of my Bolt for one. I wouldnt drop ur XB for a CR, just my. 02

 

[jlightning]

I have an xb sx , I live up in the inland northwest I don't get to ride as much as I like but during the summer the weekends would be 200 to 300 mile trip even did a thousand mile trip from spokane to Sacramento maybe a little crazy on a buell, but it was a lot of fun. Keep the xb, I think you will miss it especially since you have made it your own.

 

[CBi]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

As I'm sitting here sipping some coffee, I am starting to think I simply need to own more than one motorcycle.

Now, I just need to work out how to pay for it...

[sad]

 

[njdevils1990]

Best case would be have both and you'll have the best of both worlds!

 

[vanson1200r]

I rode a CR and I loved it.

 

[anrkizm95]

you really dont want to buy one they are junk.there is always one member or another getting stranded due to the shitty design and and workman ship.add the fact they are uglier than sin and no longer in production.if thats not enough to stop you from buying remember that mr buell who was stupid enough to let harley take control of his baby only to be dumped in the gutter.has now being given a second chance with ebr only to partner up hero cycles out of india,really WTF.the fact that bike and designer are both flawed beyond repair should be enough to stop you from making a bad purchase.

 

[njdevils1990]

^Ill have to disagree alltho I didn't like te 1125s at first once I saw one and rode one I fell in love an it's been just as reliable as my xb which both have left me stranded once each but the xb was quarkie and had its little issues, not saying its a bad bike, I'd easily buy another firebolt if I had more money but I keep buying stuff for my 1125 lol.

 

[anrkizm95]

^

Talk Me Out of an 1125CR

you guys just dont get it

 

[Loki]

anrkizm ^

 

[Macbuell]

Here you go-

I bought a second motorcycle last year thinking it was a great idea. I wanted a dual sport to mess around on since there are literally hundreds of miles of trails up here in Michigan. The bike was fun- on and off the road. It was my 4th vehicle- which is a little much for one person without any significant other or kids or animals.

Maybe some people can do it- but I know what I like. Getting on that bike never gave me the smile the XB does- and not once did I choose the Yamaha 426 over the buell if I was going to be on the road.

People like me can not own two bikes because the only reason I would ever ride the one I don't like as much would be out of guilt, not because it is truly what I wanted to be riding.

If you are like me, you will have one bike that will either sit- or you will ride but not have as much fun. Test ride the hell out of a CR and if you like it more than the XB- sell the XB.

Having two bikes is like having two girlfriends. Twice as expensive, twice as much drama, and chances are you won't ride both at the same time.

 

[anrkizm95]