The Rare Buell 1125R: A Technological Masterpiece in the Road and Sport Showroom
6th June 2021
Here at Road and Sport, the Significant Motorcycles Collection to which Barry the Boss is constantly adding is obviously based on Harley-Davidson models, but includes a couple of irresistibly brilliant associated bikes from H-D's side-hustle, Buell American Motorcycles.
Pictured here is an 1125R, an innovative engineering masterpiece, and a butt-kicker on the backroads! Introduced for the 2008 model year, it sadly fell into the GFC crater, as production of all Buell models ceased in October 2009. But what a combination of brilliant concepts it was.
Firstly, the 1125R took Erik Buell's "Trilogy of Technology"...mass centralization, low un-sprung weight, and frame rigidity...to the zenith of development. It featured fuel stored low in the frame, ZTL brake, the exhaust and muffler centralised under the bike, belt drive with permanent tensioner, six-speed transmission, and vacuum assist slipper clutch to give predictable drive performance in hard cornering and deceleration. The somewhat criticised (at the time) design of the fairing and radiators-shrouds was, in fact, the creator of an incredibly quiet and un-buffeted "pocket" or zone in which the rider could really concentrate.
But best of all about the 1125R was the stunning V-Twin engine. Moving away from the Sportster-based Buell engines of the XB series, the 1125R uses a 72-degree V-Twin developed by BRP-Rotax in Austria and called the Helicon, but (significantly) using largely Buell input, and funded entirely through Buell's cashflow. The Buell/Rotax Helicon powertrain uses four valves per cylinder, dual over-head cams, is a liquid-cooled 72 degree V-Twin displacing 1,125 cc, and produces 146 hp (109 kW). It produces 83 ft⋅lbf (113 N⋅m) of peak torque, but - incredibly - varies less than 6 ft⋅lbf (8.1 N⋅m) from 3,000 to 10,500 rpm across the rev range. The 1125R, out-of-the-crate-stock, ran dragstrip times in the 10.30 second area at 134mph (216km/h).
So, while the GFC in 2009/2010 caused all kinds of problems, for those of us in the broad world of Harley-Davidson Motor Co Enthusiasts, the GFC took from us a magnificent motorcycle.