First Ride: 2008 Buell 1125R

[Kenneth_Moore]

Originally Posted by longride

The Wrecking Crew here doesn't sound too convinced that this new Buell is the shyt. That is bad news, because he is marketing this bike directly at most of the guys here. It looks nice enough, but I still don't think this will sell any better than the old one. I think the Euros might go for this one in a big way.

TEEEENNNNN-HUT! Face front, you maggots! You’re not back home in Squirrelcrap Junction kick starting Honda 50's with Bobbie Jo Miniskirt! When you got on that Buell, you stepped into hell – ERIC's hell! And if you disgrace that bike, so help me I’ll disgrace your behind with my steel-cap boot! Stop crying for mommy! I’m your mommy now, and your daddy, and KAVENGER and Satan and the furious fist of God himself! And I’ll tell you a little secret: you twinkle-toed turds make me sick to my stomach! You’re about as useless as a diabetic at a pie-eating contest! I haven’t seen such a sorry pile of boobs since the last Madonna tour!

You think you’re ready for the Buell 1125R? You think a pack of booger-eating genetic defectives like you could handle the Helicore engine, ODIS electronics package, 82 foot pounds of torque, Buell's stiffest chassis yet, fully adjustable Showa front and rear suspension, ZTL 8 Piston Braking System? Don’t make me laugh! Wasting this fine upstanding Superbike on you chimpanzees would be like hanging the Mona Lisa in a septic tank! You expect Eric to put this Pirelli tired wheelie monster in your slimy paws? You wouldn’t know what to do with it! You sniveling snotballs can’t even take a dump without an instruction manual, a mirror, and a prayer! What’s the matter? Does the truth hurt your precious widdle feelings? If you can’t handle a few nasty words, how on Earth would you handle the Buell 1125R? Now drop and give Eric $11995!

[The_AirHawk]

That was Great! I could hear the ghost of R. Lee Ermey the whole time (and he's not even DEAD yet!).

[pdad13]

From what I understand, the XB frame was designed in house and outsourced for production. Of course, it's entirely possible that some of the design work could have come from Italy, too.

[Pete_Brissette]

Eh. Who remembers such things. I ride so many... Let them eat cake!

But thanks. If in fact that was the case, when I make such comments they have little escape hatches: "... are POSSIBLY the beefiest forks..."

Contrary to that, when I say something like, "This motorcycle has round wheels," then I'm unabashed about my opinion.

[Pete_Brissette]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

Pete, did they give you any idea why the engine is called "Helicon?" Is it just marketing or is there something behind it?

From Wikipedia:
Helicon (crater), a lunar impact crater
Helicon (physics), low frequency electromagnetic waves
Helicon (planet), a fictional planet in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series
Helicon Filter, a raster graphics editor
Helicon Records, an Israeli music label
Hélicon, a brass musical instrument
Mount Helicon, a mountain in Boeotia, Greece
"Helicon 1" and "Helicon 2", songs by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai

The winner: Mount Helicon, a mountain in Boeotia, Greece

It's actually some neat insight that I should have mentioned in the story. It goes a little something like this:

Erik Buell and some other people at Buell are really interested in Greek mythology. Helicon is the mountain that Pegasus kicked and "the stream of knowledge" flowed down from Helicon. Or so it goes, I guess. I don't really know Greek mythology so, without researching it, I'll take their word for it. As Tony Stefanelli, Platform Engineering Director for Buell, told us, they code name all of their projects after various Greek mythology figures, etc. The engine was named as such, but after over three years of development the name simply stuck.

(note the logo used by Buell in the early years )

Thanks for bringing that up.

[Buzglyd]

Originally Posted by Pete_Brissette

The winner: Mount Helicon, a mountain in Boeotia, Greece

It's actually some neat insight that I should have mentioned in the story. It goes a little something like this:

Erik Buell and some other people at Buell are really interested in Greek mythology. Helicon is the mountain that Pegasus kicked and "the stream of knowledge" flowed down from Helicon. Or so it goes, I guess. I don't really know Greek mythology so, without researching it, I'll take their word for it. As Tony Stefanelli, Platform Engineering Director for Buell, told us, they code name all of their projects after various Greek mythology figures, etc. The engine was named as such, but after over three years of development the name simply stuck.

(note the logo used by Buell in the early years )

Thanks for bringing that up.

I challenged a guy riding a Buell Narcissus to a race and right before we took off I threw a little mirror on the ground. It was game over. He never left the starting line.

[Kenneth_Moore]

That is interesting! Thanks for the info. Let the Greek mythology jokes begin!

[gbrummett]

All you guys shooting down Buell saying it's so slow it's this it's that.

Where in the HELL are you???

What do you have to say now?

Are you going to go try one?

Are you going to go buy one?

Are you going to be embarssed when one passes you down a twisty road?

Well are you?

And where are all the posts?

[longride]

Originally Posted by gbrummett

All you guys shooting down Buell saying it's so slow it's this it's that.

Where in the HELL are you???

What do you have to say now?

Are you going to go try one?

Are you going to go buy one?

Are you going to be embarssed when one passes you down a twisty road?

Well are you?

And where are all the posts?

First, 'they' ain't going to buy one. 'They' were all full of crap in the first place. Let's face it, this bike is marketed to a very limited audience. It's for the mature sportbike rider that happens to like V-Twins, and doesn't want a Ducati or Aprilia. Kind of like finding a Unicorn. It will sell OK, but after reading what people have been writing here, and on other sites, I would say that Buell didn't hit the bullseye with this one. Most people are pretty lukewarm with their response. I really think the Euros will go for this bike in a much bigger way than the 'Burger Barn' attendees will.

[nweaver]

Also, don't trust motojournalist launch mileage:

A: These are new bikes and tight motors, which drops 5 MPG right there.

B: They ride like loons which burns the gas.

EG, the Concours mileage in the launch was 25-30 MPG. On mine, now that its broken in, I'm getting 40 MPG on my commute.

So if the press launch psychos are getting 30 MPG, this thing should be at 40 MPG in real world cruising which, combined with the large tank, equals a nice range.