Words: Brad Puetz
Images: Brad Puetz - Static
Images: Michael Pham - Action

Those of you who may have read my last review on the Piaggio MP3 may remember me saying for my next test I may need something a little raw and frightening to restore my manlihood. Well, ask and you shall receive. The Buell 1125R is about as far as one can go from an Italian scooter. Fire up the Buell and car alarms start going off and the neighborhood dogs start barking. If the neighbors were starting to think I've gone a little soft riding scooters around town, the Buell should have gone a long way to displacing that myth.

My only previous experience on a Buell motorcycle was last year at the intro ride of the Buell SuperTT. I really had no idea what to expect of such a vastly different motorcycle than I am accustomed to riding but came away from the intro with a newfound respect for the Buell brand. I was very impressed with the handling but, like so many others, felt the motor let the bike down.

Well, it seems like Buell has finally built the bike we have all been waiting for them to build. For years people have been commenting how great the Buells handle, now if only it had a serious motor. Buell seems to have addressed the motor complaint with the all new 1125R.

The Buell 1125R features an all-new liquid-cooled V-twin developed specifically for the Buell by BRP-Rotax. The Buell puts out 146hp and 82ft/lbs of torque. Keeping this newfound horsepower in check is Buell's new “Intuitive Response Chassis” (IRC) with massive, rigid aluminium spars that double as the fuel reservoir. I was definitely looking forward to putting every ounce of that horsepower down to the rear wheel at the scheduled track day put on by Fastrack Riders at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana . . but first I would get to see how the Buell performed on the street.

The styling of the new Buell will definitely turn some heads. Whether it's the loud rumble of the V-twin or the unique exhaust and fairing design it stands out in the crowd. I think it's a good looking motorcycle but was surprised by just how many compliments I received on the Buell's styling while riding around southern California. Many comments were made about the massive air intakes and how short the bike looks. Styling of the hand controls could be much better however as the switches on the Buell look straight out of 1970 and take away from the overall appeal of the bike.

Sitting on the 1125R and firing up the motor you definitely know you've got something between your legs. A nice rumble is emitted and you can feel the bike pulsating. The Buell felt a little foreign when first sitting on it, or maybe it just felt domestic and I'm used to foreign. Either way I guess that was to be expected considering I just spent the last 2 weeks on a three-wheeled scooter! After a few miles I soon became accustomed to the slightly awkward feeling of the wide motor and fairing. The cockpit on the Buell is huge! I had no problem fitting my body behind the windscreen and, unlike most sportbikes on the freeway, wind protection was not a problem. The gas cap on the Buell is unlike most standard caps on modern sportbikes which flip open on a hinge and stay attached to the tank. The Buell gas cap needs to be removed from the tank which I found could be a bit of a hassle as you were always having to find a clean place to set the gas cap down while refueling.

There will be less unscheduled stops to stretch out the legs and arms while riding the Buell. Unlike most modern sportbike manufacturers, Buell seems to have actually put comfort somewhere near the top of the priority sheet. The Buell is comfortable enough for long rides and won't have you walking like the guy 2nd from the left on the evolutionary chart when you get off the bike.

The best part of the Buell 1125R on the street has to be the motor. The Rotax motor is an absolute riot on public roads. Twins are just plain fun to ride as the gobs of torque prove very addicting. Exiting corners felt almost automatic, grab a handful of throttle and loft the front through the air with a complete lack of effort. Being primarily a racer I don't get a chance to ride on the street too often but motorcycles like the Buell 1125R have me giggling inside my helmet as I fall absolutely back in love with street riding. Launching the Buell from intersections never seemed to lose it's novelty, the linear, manageable power delivery a thing of beauty. The engine emits a fair amount of heat but was definitely bearable.