Super Fast, Super Strong Cool Bikes

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.

Less than a year has gone by since the introduction of the 2007 Buell models was held at the blast furnace otherwise known as Buttonwillow Raceway in Bakersfield, California. One of the highlights of that event was an eye-opening ride aboard the fire-breathing Buell XBRR race bike. As the preconceived notions of what the XBRR would feel like were melted out of my mind, it was impossible not to ask the question: Why doesn’t Buell build a bike like this for the street? At the time all I could get were cynical smiles out of Buell’s press people. Obviously they knew something I didn’t, because on the eve of the company’s 25th anniversary, an all-new liquid-cooled sportbike bearing Buell nomenclature has arrived. It’s called the 2008 Buell 1125R. (more…)