All Reviews – A Cafe Racer with powerful aromas! – Used BUELL

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A Cafe Racer with powerful aromas !

All Reviews - A Cafe Racer with powerful aromas! - Used BUELL

Thanks to its partnership with Rotax, Buell can finally combine its peculiarities with an explosive engine. Unconventional and efficient, the 1125 CR is modeled on the recent 1125 R to bring the Cafe Racer concept up to date.. Test !

Lover of sensations on two-wheelers and creator of the eponymous brand, Erik Buell had already not hidden his joy at seeing this project which was so dear to his heart: creating a sports car with the cycle part "Made in Buell" and the engine capable of competing with the spearheads of the category…

Extremely compact, with a monumental chassis as rigid as it is efficient and distinctive markings – among other things, the frame acts as a fuel tank, the radiator is split in two like a Honda SP2 or of an 800 VFR, the secondary transmission is via a belt and the braking is based on an 8 piston caliper (!) biting a single disc – the 1125 R initially aroused a cautious curiosity, then a real enthusiasm vis- with regard to its general behavior, in particular its ease and engine performance (read our).

Obviously, the 146 hp and 111 Nm of torque available at 8000 rpm (106 hp and 99 Nm in France) spewed out by the super square boiler, mounted rigid and very forward in the chassis, could not fully compete with the 185 hp of a 1000 GSX-R or even the 180 hp of the elitist 1098 R. But the featherweight of the 1125 R (170 kg dry) and its minimalist geometry (wheelbase of 1385 mm and only 21 ° of fork!) give it amazing skills and rare versatility. And it is not Denis Bouan, recent winner of the Dark Dog Tour 2008 for the third time in a row (read), who will say the opposite !

A new engine for a different pleasure

From then on, Erik Buell’s project could go forward: without renouncing the Harley-Davidson engine previously equipping all Buells, the young American brand added the Helicon engine to its catalog to draw a new range from it. of motorcycles, represented by the 1125 R and now its undressed youngest: the 1125 CR !

For its part, the manufacturer from Wisconsin places its new Cafe Racer in the range Street, in the middle of XB12Ss, XB12Scg and XB9SX: "the CR in no way denies the brand’s philosophy: it only offers higher engine performance than the XB series", explains Jean-Charles Geneste, Buell manager for France.

According to Erik Buell – who actively participated in the development of the CR -, "the 1125 CR is my vision of the contemporary Cafe Racer". Appeared in the 1960s in Europe – especially in England – these single-seat machines were stripped of all the fittings deemed unnecessary, then fitted with low handlebars and engine preparation to match. The goal ? To get out of the way between two meeting points, usually bars, hence the expression of … Cafe Racer! A concept moreover not completely abandoned, but singularly complicated by the exponential appearance of flash boxes on the roads !

One of the best power-to-weight ratios in the category !

Nostalgic for this glorious (?) Era, Erik Buell did not give in to half measures with his 1125 CR: assiduous pilot and fervent defender of marginal solutions, the American was content to remove the large head fairing fork of its sports car, add a seat cowl and handlebars Clubman, to shorten its secondary transmission (76/27 on the CR, 70/27 on the R) to offer more lively revivals, to lengthen the swingarm by 5 mm to promote traction and facilitate the work of the Showa rear shock absorber and to dye the imposing brake caliper bright red.

Responsive, the manufacturer has not forgotten to review its copy in terms of injection – perfectible on the 1125 R – and future buyers will learn with pleasure that the DDFI III system consumes "almost 20% less", assures us Erik Buell,"while emitting less harmful gases". Cherry on the cake: Buell changes the power plant almost free of charge – excluding labor – on the 2008 1125 Rs. In addition, the CR offers a curved handlebars – making urban wanderings easier – and optional heated grips, at rates to be determined.

Discovered near Berlin, the machine seems to live up to the wildest wishes of its parent: the 1125 CR is visually successful – some will prefer it to the sporty version – and its threatening look topped with a short gust of wind matches rather well with the large scoops containing the radiators placed on each side of the bike. But above all, without modifying the Helicon engine specifically prepared by Rotax, the 1125 CR proudly exhibits its 146 hp and 170 kg on its technical sheet. !

With a smile as wide as the radiator scoops, the Buell staff certifies that the 1125 CR therefore benefits from one of the best power / weight ratio in the category, outclassing the Aprilia Tuono, KTM Superduke, Triumph Speed ​​Triple and even MV Agusta Brutale 1078 RR and its 155 hp! Designed to be as lively and light as possible, the Buell indeed uses daring and offbeat technical solutions to display only a light 170 kg dry on the scale..

The b (u) proudly exhibits aggressive curves and an ubiquitous engine encased in a chassis that seems oversized. Picked up and stocky, the CR immediately evokes a feeling of contained power, with its swinging arm hiding the rear brake caliper and including two eyebolts to accommodate a stand stand, its exhaust which lovingly surrounds the engine to end in two " guns "ready to fire, its scoops wide open and its huge and unique 375 mm brake disc using the ZLT technology so dear to the brand.

The whole is elegant and polished, even if a few finishing details such as the unsightly necklaces and weld seams on the exhaust and the handlebars, the austere commodos and the absence of hinges on the fuel tank cap would benefit. to be seen again.

Likewise, the rear part is slightly lacking in personality – especially compared to the front! – particularly in terms of the shape of the lighthouse. The Buell makes up for it, however, with a practical and accessible dipstick dipstick, adjustable lever, selector and brake pedal spacing, a respectably sized trunk under its seat cowl – accommodating in the process a fairly well supplied – efficient mirrors and a dashboard worthy of a top-of-the-range GT which accommodates the ignition key on its right !

In addition to the usage, speed and engine speed indicators, this includes the temperature of the air entering the side scoops and that of the engine, the time, the average and instantaneous consumption, the battery amperage , a reserve indicator, a gear indicator engaged, two mileage trips, the mileage before the next service and a five-level adjustment of the intensity of the orange light !

When driving, switching from one function to another is easy thanks to the two large pushbuttons on the left. However, if the reading of the speed and the tachometer is intended to be natural, that of the other information is less obvious on the road, and even less on the German circuit of Spreewald where the bulk of the test of the CR took place. unrolled.

So, it fights ?

Once perched on a saddle culminating at 775 mm from the ground, the feeling of compactness is reinforced: with the handlebars Clubman, the pilot has the impression of directly holding the axis of the front wheel in his hands, while the short geometry generates a substantial width. Thus, the side members of the cast aluminum frame spread the knees somewhat, while the footrests – fitted with rubbers at the front but not at the rear – are placed quite high and behind, in a sporty position that remains reasonable.

Much less reasonable, however, the bite of the eight-piston caliper on the huge perimeter disc is surprising and requires a certain skill: the manufacturer will tell us that they have chosen different pads on the 1125 CR, but they cause a delicate feeling and above all an immediate and sudden slowdown! An annoying factor which is added to the clear sensation of the fork twisting to the right during very hard braking: yet hardened for the track, it correctly performs its tasks of damping bumps and guiding, but the 47 mm Showa element does not perfectly absorb the mass transfers induced by the colossal responsiveness of the brakes !

As the pace picks up, another observation emerges: with its extreme geometry and ultra-tight fork angle, the Buell requires a period of adaptation to understand how the front works, less incisive with the handlebars. Clubman than with the curved element. The bike does not jump instinctively and you have to accompany the movement with the handlebars, footrests and body so that the instructions for use of the bike appear. In addition to a too frank attack, the front brake socket on the angle must be banned: the bike locks instantly and straightens up if you insist !

The American assumes its peculiarities and completely breaks with the habits taken on Japanese or European sports roadsters: the 1125 CR is lively, but without being ultra responsive and its driving requires a commitment first surprising, then – very quickly – exhilarating ! Well supported by a belt transmission – lighter, more practical and cleaner than a chain – and by Pirelli Diablo Corsa III with the heating time and the astounding grip, the traction of the Cafe Racer Buell is almost impossible to fault..

The exits of full throttle curves are becoming commonplace, especially as the injection precision and the reactivity of the accelerator are of a high level. But above all, the breath of the Helicon engine is prodigious and provides an exciting thrust from 4000 to 9000 rev / min, before strengthening one last time to break at 10,500 rev / min, or 180 km / h in third !

The flawless stability, supported by a chassis as rigid as it is efficient and by a high ground clearance, allows a surprising shifting speed, while the smoothness of the six-speed gearbox, mixed with the hydraulic clutch, does not no other criticism than a too important guard of the latter. The three balancing balances perfectly absorb the vibrations and the rumble of the Rotax twin are in perfect harmony with the US origins of the 1125 CR !

Road racing temperament roadster

Moreover, only the too excessive bite of the front brake ends up boring, while the rear element plays the timid. After having acclimatized to the specific behavior of the front end of the motorcycle, the way to get around the problem quickly appears: taking advantage of the excellent torque damping device, it is possible to return very hard in a curve, while keeping a light pressure on the brakes. The 1125 CR then reacts perfectly to the rider’s requests and the stress exerted on the fork further improves its reactivity, while allowing the trajectory to be tended to the rope..

Likewise, a few jerks on re-acceleration – only noticeable when this occurs after fully releasing the throttle and attributable, according to Buell engineers, to the anti-dribble clutch and automatic belt tensioning system. – require to always keep a light stream of gas to emerge in finesse. Once assimilated, these manipulations quickly tend to become reflexes and then make it possible to benefit from the real sporting skills of the machine..

A connection with the Racing genre that the Cafe Racer Buell never denies on the road! The machine is at ease there as long as the asphalt is to match, but the dry reactions of its suspension elements force you to give up when the road crumbles: the fork directly sends the slightest roughness of the road into the pilot’s gums, while the shock quickly loses the thread on a bumpy coating. A rather surprising finding in view of the excellent compromise between sportiness and comfort seen on the 1125 R, which Buell explains by suspension settings that are firmer than on the original model and a priori unsuitable for driving on the road.. .

A firmness also perceived at the level of the hydraulic clutch which ends up wearing down the left wrist: a phenomenon much less noticeable on the track! Especially since it is easy to make it skate, as the attachment point is located far enough away when the lever is released. Anecdotally, it should be noted that when the motorcycle is cold, the on-board computer signals the message cold to the driver and that – only in this situation – the gradual release of the clutch is accompanied by an automatic acceleration of the motorcycle up to 3500 rpm, thus preventing stalling !

Homogeneous and well built, the 1125 CR offers a decent turning radius and its engine accepts to start again from 2500 rpm on all gears – with a certain smoothness on the throttle all the same -, then climbs gently to 4000 revolutions before d ” send the cavalry to its pilot to the bottom of the tachometer !

The exploitability of its mechanics and its relative docility – for a twin of 1125 cc developing 146 hp! – make it an engaging and never boring traveling companion, even if the version with the curved handlebars has a side that is easier to understand and less tiring on the wrists. Oddly, with this handlebar, the motorcycle is also less subject to very, very high speed handlebars: from 235 km / h, the CR equipped with Clubman indeed begins to move and it is necessary to do violence to go hang the 260 km / h maximum on the odometer on a German highway with questionable coating.

However, on road courses, the Buell suffers from its still violent braking and for once bordering on dangerous for the neophyte or on wet fat … Hiccups below 2500 rev / min generously shake the pilot and mount during low-speed maneuvers and the fans come on as soon as the engine reaches 87 ° C, ie almost permanently when the motorcycle is stopped! This noticeable defect is easily explained by the lateral placement of the radiators, and therefore the delicate cooling of the end of the beam. But it leaves you wondering about possible crossings of congested towns during hot weather…

Drive – fast – differently

In direct competition with sacred monsters, the Buell 1125 CR offers a philosophy far removed from standards and sensations to match. The Helicon engine is a real treat on the road as on the track and when first making contact with the 1125 R, the version limited to 106 hp was not too frustrating..

In addition, the possibility of adapting a handlebar Street can convince the refractory to Cafe Racer fashion and 100% urban users. At 11,795 € (900 euros less than the 1125 R), the Buell is ideally placed to go hunting on the land of certain roadsters with the instructions certainly simpler and less marginal look, but ultimately these characteristics elitists are not the very essence of the Buell philosophy ?

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