2009 Buell 1125r vs. 2004 Aprilia RSV1000R Factory

[xshanex]

These have popped up locally within $100 of each other and both are very low mileage. I'm looking for character and something fun to ride. I already have a Speed Triple for most of my riding and a cruiser will be the 3rd bike so comfort is not a huge factor......grin factor is all that counts. This will be a 2-3k mile per year bike so maintenance intervals and dealer support are a non-factor for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with these bikes?

[bobw]

Loved my ape and looked seriously at the 1125 as a replacement and then HD flushed Eric and his bikes out the door. They both share the excellent rotax engine and both have their quirks that wouldn't chase me away from riding either. The cost to insure the Buell was a shocker and I am in all the "best" risk factors for cost considerations, it may be better now, but worth checking as a tie breaker (I have the $$, but I can do a lot of riding on an extra $1K+ a year for a piece of paper showing I am street legal).

Bunch of good folks on Badweather for the Buell and AF1 for the ape.

It's win, win. Good Luck and try to test ride both.

http://badweatherbikers.com/

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forum.php

[anotherguy]

The 1125 and the second gen Aprilia Rotax are not the same engine. The Buell Rotax suffers some issues from Harley's incessant penny pinching that eventually was the ruination of the brand. The Aprilia suffers none of those issues. And the Ape's chassis is far better than the Buell. Buy the Ape.

[Wolfgang55]

Take a look at the CR, that will make up your mind......no take a ride

Have the CR & it just maybe the only power scoot that I never sell.

The EBR floks are the very best at helping you to understand from the factory. Their prices are very resonable.

Badweather is TOPS. Talk about a support group, WOW.

[waveydavey]

Originally Posted by anotherguy

The 1125 and the second gen Aprilia Rotax are not the same engine. The Buell Rotax suffers some issues from Harley's incessant penny pinching that eventually was the ruination of the brand. The Aprilia suffers none of those issues. And the Ape's chassis is far better than the Buell. Buy the Ape.

How interesting. What issues were those??

(always nice to have an "insider" speak up)

[ian03xl]

Originally Posted by waveydavey

How interesting. What issues were those??

(always nice to have an "insider" speak up)

Stator failure seems to be the biggest most costly issue around $1500 to fix and no guarantees it won't happen again.

[waveydavey]

Originally Posted by ian03xl

Stator failure seems to be the biggest most costly issue around $1500 to fix and no guarantees it won't happen again.

yes, some stators fail (but not all or so I was told) I see that EBR sells a modifed rotor that is said to solve the problem. I am curious about any other issues as I may buy another Rotax motored Buell someday.

[xshanex]

Originally Posted by bobw

Loved my ape and looked seriously at the 1125 as a replacement and then HD flushed Eric and his bikes out the door. They both share the excellent rotax engine and both have their quirks that wouldn't chase me away from riding either. The cost to insure the Buell was a shocker and I am in all the "best" risk factors for cost considerations, it may be better now, but worth checking as a tie breaker (I have the $$, but I can do a lot of riding on an extra $1K+ a year for a piece of paper showing I am street legal).

Bunch of good folks on Badweather for the Buell and AF1 for the ape.

It's win, win. Good Luck and try to test ride both.

http://badweatherbikers.com/

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/forum.php

wow....thank you! I will definitely be checking insurance rates before buying. My speed triple was $375 for the year with full coverage so I may be a bit spoiled and need to account for the cost

[fast4d]

2nd gen RSVR had stator issues as well but they tend to last 20k before dying.

RSVR Factory has awesome chassis and nice oem ohlins. it's not a comfortable bike though. get the tuono for that....

[xshanex]

thanks for the info on the stator information. The bike has 800 miles on it so most of my worries are about it not being ridden enough

[dmac57]

Originally Posted by waveydavey

yes, some stators fail (but not all or so I was told) I see that EBR sells a modifed rotor that is said to solve the problem. I am curious about any other issues as I may buy another Rotax motored Buell someday.

Both are fun bikes. Performance is probably close; I agree that the chassis of the Aprilia is probably the better starting point. No offense meant to EBR, but they're a tiny operation, and their focus is building new bikes, not necessarily supporting the HD generation bikes.

So, parts are likely to be an issue with both: The Buell because it's out of production and Harley-Davidson could care less, the Aprilia because the Italians send parts when they want to. That fact was enough to run me off of a NOS Shiver recently.

So, not much help I guess, just my 0.02. Good luck!

[AZbiker]

Originally Posted by ian03xl

Stator failure seems to be the biggest most costly issue around $1500 to fix and no guarantees it won't happen again.

$1500 for a STATOR?!?

For that price it better come with a hot nekkid chick to install it while I watch.

[Hughlysses]

Originally Posted by AZbiker

$1500 for a STATOR?!?

For that price it better come with a hot nekkid chick to install it while I watch.

If you take it to a Mothership dealer and pay them to do it, and they have to replace the VR and wiring harness too, probably.

List price for the OEM stator is around $600. Guys on Badweb have been buying re-wound stators (using higher temperature rated wire) for ~$150 or so. The Erik Buell Racing rotor, which includes an oil jet to cool the stator, costs $425 BUT that includes a refundable $250 core charge:

http://www.erikbuellracing.com/store...ification.html

There's a whole sub-forum dedicated to this issue at Badweb:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buel...tml?1351380095

Yes, it's a problem, but you can permanently fix it for <$500.

[dmac57]

Originally Posted by Hughlysses

There's a whole sub-forum dedicated to this issue at Badweb:

OMFG. That might answer the question for me right there.

[Av8rPaul]

I had a 2008 1125R which was an excellent motorcycle. There was an updated flash to the ecu known as the 062 flash which worked exceptionally well, I could get 40mpg on the hwy keeping it under 80. The 2008 model had NO stator issues. There was an update for the clutch cover if it leaked. I put Ullyses pegs on mine for a little more leg room (I'm 6' 3") and some soft luggage for weekend trips. 3rd gear good for 40 to 120mph in the twists (so I've heard ) Mine had a blemish on the instrument cluster glass so I got an updated 09 cluster with gear indicator under warranty.