Buell 1125R (2009)
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For an avid motorcyclist, one of the biggest question marks surrounding AMA Pro Road Racing’s Daytona SportBike class is what it’s like to ride one of these “SportBikes” in full factory race trim. Recently, Motorcycle-USA received just such an opportunity, piloting the Geico Powersports Richie Morris Racing Buell 1125R racebike around Road America’s 4-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
In our Daytona SportBike street bike comparison we determined that, indeed, a production 2009 Buell 1125R has a performance advantage when compared to its class rivals - including the 2009 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R and Aprilia RSV1000R. But how does it compare to the stock motorcycle which it’s based off of? To our surprise, it isn’t all that different.
In order to create better parity within the class, the DSB series rules don’t allow a whole lot of engine modifications. Instead the rules package gives more leeway for chassis modifications. Thus many of the team’s modifications are focused in that area.
Most apparent is the bare finish on the racebike’s aluminum frame and braced swingarm, which also allows for a conventional chain/sprocket final drive as opposed to the stock belt drive. It’s also surprising how much different the bike looks with race plastics. The lower fairing and tail sections make the 1125R racebike look closer to a Japanese or European sportbike, until your eye catches those two huge air scoops on either side as well as its oversized upper fairing, which remind you it’s all Buell.
Hop aboard the machine and notice its hard, slightly shorter seat. Designed to not only lower the rider’s center of gravity, the racing perch enhances feel between the rider and the back end of the motorcycle. Reaching forward to the handlebars, the rider feels more tucked in with the torso angled more closely to the bike. Placing feet on the footpegs, knees will tuck up into the bike's pseudo fuel tank much tighter than in the stock position. While the ergonomic changes aren’t exactly radical, they do enable the rider to direct more of his or her weight towards the front of the motorcycle. (Adam Waheed)
Model: Buell 1125R
Year: 2009
Category: Sport
Rating: 71.1 out of 100.
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 1125.86 ccm (68.70 cubic inches)
Engine type: V2
Stroke: 4
Power: 146.00 HP (106.6 kW)) @ 9800 RPM
Torque: 111.19 Nm (11.3 kgf-m or 82.0 ft.lbs) @ 8000 RPM
Compression: 12.3:1
Bore x stroke: 103.0 x 67.5 mm (4.1 x 2.7 inches)
Fuel system: Injection. Dual 61 mm down draft throttle bodies, DDFI III fuel injection
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel control: DOHC
Starter: Electric
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Belt
Clutch: Wet, multi-plate, Hydraulic Vacuum Assist (HVA) slipper – action clutch, hydraulic clutch lever effort
Physical measures
Overall length: 1,996 mm (78.6 inches)
Overall width: 716 mm (28.2 inches)
Ground clearance: 114 mm (4.5 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,387 mm (54.6 inches)
Chassis and dimensions
Frame type: Black aluminium frame, fuel in frame
Rake (fork angle): 21.0°
Front suspension: 47 mm Showa inverted forks with adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload
Front suspension travel: 120 mm (4.7 inches)
Rear suspension: Showa coil-over monoshock with external piggyback reservoir and adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload
Rear suspension travel: 127 mm (5.0 inches)
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-ZR17
Rear tyre dimensions: 180/55-ZR17
Front brakes: Single disc. ZTL2-type brake, 8-piston, 4 pads, fixed caliper, single-sided, inside out, stainless steel, floating rotor
Front brakes diameter: 375 mm (14.8 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc. Two-piston, direct mount caliper; stainless steel, fixed rotor
Rear brakes diameter: 240 mm (9.4 inches)
Exhaust system: Tuned, tri-pass resonance chamber with integral helmholtz tuning and mass-centralised mounting
Other specifications
Fuel capacity: 20.06 litres (5.30 gallons)
Color options: Racing Red, Arctic White, Midnight Black.