At Last, Buell Enters the 21st Century: A Full Review of the DOHC, Water-Cooled 2008 Buell 1125R
Wednesday August 29, 2007
We attended the international press launch of the 2008 Buell 1125R, and scrutinized Buell's first ever water-cooled superbike by lapping Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and riding it up and down the California coast.
How does it compare to bikes like the Suzuki GSXR-1000 and the Ducati 1098?
Read our full review of the 2008 Buell 1125R and find out!
Also, be sure to check out our Buell 1125R photo gallery, which has been updated with shots from the event.
Photo © Brian J. Nelson
Comments
does this mean that the 2012 FLSTC will have dual radiators?
I admire what Buell has achieved with the 1125R. At last, a production American supersport that can play with the Japanese and European iron without any gimmes or apologies or excuses.
From an aesthetic standpoint, I don’t care much for the “breadboxes” on the side. It’s something of a Buell trademark but… yeesh, unique it definitely is but not sure how many converts they’ll win on looks.
Function over form and beauty in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.
Aside from the looks, the one thing that gives me pause is Buell’s track record with quality control- it’s been questionable in the past and the fact these press intro models still have issues doesn’t exactly inspire confidence from the cost of ownership and reliability standpoint.
Buell typically runs a very nice demo ride program. I hope to ride one next Spring. The price is right and the performance is right. Whether or not that can make up for the looks and the questions over reliability is something I look forward to discovering.
If, and that’s a very big ‘IF’, this bike is able to compete with 600’s (let’s not even discuss litre bikes) and stay together long enough to finish a 10 lap race, it still has to pass the consumer test…and the average sport bike afficianado is every bit as hard to get around as a race track.
Notice there doesn’t appear to be anything on the bike made by HD….that alone is the only reason it might be a reasonably competent sport bike.
Look forward to the 1st tests!