A Lighter Frame for a Stronger Bike

Sweet!

Beautiful bike, agresive style. But, a 2006 Yamaha R1 makes it bite de the dust. Have a 180Hp and a top speed more than 180mph.

Very true about the Yamaha, however, he R1 is an entirely different kind of bike. Buell has almost created an entirely new category with the CR. Toss a leg over one and you'll see...

Cast aluminum alloys will never have the strength or fatigue properties to match the allowables that can be achieved with wrought or extruded aluminum, regardless of any "high-tech" foundry processes employed. As for material stiffness (modulus of elasticity), cast or wrought are both similar.

The benefit of casting is that the frame section properties and thicknesses can be exactly tailored to meet the design loads. So the frame weight can theoretically be kept low. The drawback of casting is that cast material alloy composition must be compromised, usually with regards to strength, in order to make it castable. So more material must be used to get a strong enough part.

The approach used by most sport bike manufacturers, employing extruded high-strength alloy perimeter spars welded to cast fittings, is actually a very good design compromise.

1125cc's and it tops out at 154?

I have a ZX6R that's 600cc's and tops out at 164 (speedohealer checked)...

not impressed.

@ jay_1687:

Apples & oranges... I also own an '05 636 6R and again, as with the Yamaha comparison above, the ZX6R is in a different bike category altogether...

Also, you're not topping 160 on a stock 636cc bike without a sprocket gearing change...

who cares if other bikes are faster? it looks cool, and i bet its fun to ride

"I have a ZX6R that's 600cc's and tops out at 164 (speedohealer checked)...

not impressed."

I still fail to grasp why when ANY story comes out about a Buell, the first comment is about how a metric bike is better because it will go faster.

EVERYBODY knows that a metric will beat a Buell on a straight away. These bikes, or any other Buell, is not designed to go fast in a straight line.

If you want to go fast and have the same bike everyone else has... Please, by all means, go get a Jap bike.

We ride Buells because they are fun, and they are far more unique.

watching this video makes one jealous-how thrilling to experience a ride like that with that location!

@ pascoea:

Because the whole point of these sport bikes is agility and speed. Their making an 1125cc bike that's slower and less agile than virtually all of its competition and selling it for what? 13,000? The jap bikes are 9k, Daytona too for that matter.

This thing has the price of a Ducati and the performance of the jap models basic 600 classes (not the supersports or literbikes obviously).

Sure they might be fun, but you're wasting money on an under performing bike that isn't up to facing its competition except maybe with vanity.

*their should be they're. sorry for the grammar

@Cokes2425

It's an 08. 599, no 636 though I definitely like the 05's better.

You'll get over 160 just fine without the sprocket on the 08 if you do the jumper mod--I also have a different exhaust but I haven't touched the sprocket yet though I need to since this things bottom end leaves something to be desired.

"Because the whole point of these sport bikes is agility and speed. Their making an 1125cc bike that's slower and less agile ..."

What? Have you not been reading the specs on the Buells? The CR is geared to have better acceleration, sacrificing top speed. If you look back to older technology, AKA, XB series, even then, despite the lower powered engine, they made up for it by being MORE AGILE than the competition. When tested against other high performance sport bikes, the XB9 always had less power, but in a 6 bike head-to-head with 6 riders, despite the XB9 having less power than all the other bikes, the final times showed the XB9 as the fastest because they did not have to slow down for the curves. That's what makes the Buell motorcycles so much more desireable. They're good for so much more than accelerating in a straight line. Take them into any curves, and you'll always come through faster than the competition.

Ok, so I can only do 140, and not 170. Well, I rarely ride faster than 80 or so because I can't afford the ticket, and I don't want to die. That's just me. If I do a track day, and I get the 1125R/CR, I'll see you on whatever you want to ride, and we'll see who does better in the curves. That's where the fun is!!!

Reuel®

Also, 154mph is from the factory, im sure it has a computer program to limit this speed, much more speed can be milked out of this machine in the hands of some one who has enough money and/or the know-how. For example, im sure modifying the air intake and exhaust will boost the power by somewhere 7-15 hp with the same 1125 cc engine, along with reduced weight. Dont take things at face value jay_1687.

Btw, nice to see you here also Reuel

Rick James.

jay_1687, I really recommend you ride one.

There's a HUGE difference between fun and speed.

I've only owned Japanese bikes, but I'd buy an Italian, British, or American one if I could afford it. The Buells I've ridden have been ridiculous fun, regardless of the fact that they aren't as fast as the Japanese bikes. Same goes for one of the Triumphs I rode. And even a 500cc single cylinder Buell streetbike called the Blast!

Some bikes are just fun to ride. That might not translate into any better numbers on the racetrack or dragstrip, but I think it's worth the higher price.

Interesting comments from people who are biased towards Japanese bikes. Funny how the 1125R is putting a spanking on the 600's in AMA SBK racing this year. I admit it's a little unfair that Buell gets to run a 1125cc bike, Ducati is limited to 848 cc, and the Japanese bikes are 600 cc. But hey, the 600's are supposed to be faster right? Top speed means nothing if your bike can't handle the curves or more importantly doesn't have the torque to pull it through without rowing through your gears. I'm not biased towards any kind of bike, I like 'em all! And the Buell has been on my list for a long time.

I have a 09' 1125CR with all the upgrades you can do to it. My buddy has a 07' R1 that can do 180MPH with ease. The thing is I have my 1125 doing 175MPH right at this time on straight away's and in the turns no bike out there can hang with the 1125 so you want to race on the track any day boy's any day.