2008 Buell 1125R recalls and problems

The 2008 Buell 1125R has 2 recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

How the 2008 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

2recalls

6complaints

1crashes

0fires

0injuries

4,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Service Brakes

Apr 2, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V109000 · 3,316 vehicles

Problem: Buell distribution company is recalling 3,316 my 2008 1125R, my 2009 XB12R and XB12SCG motorcycles. The subject motorcycles have a front brake line which May contact the front tire. The condition could cause a hole to develop in the front brake line, allowing brake fluid to leak.

Original NHTSA wording

BUELL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY IS RECALLING 3,316 MY 2008 1125R, MY 2009 XB12R AND XB12SCG MOTORCYCLES. THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES HAVE A FRONT BRAKE LINE WHICH MAY CONTACT THE FRONT TIRE. THE CONDITION COULD CAUSE A HOLE TO DEVELOP IN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE, ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.

Risk: This condition might cause an ineffective front brake, leading to a possible crash and potential injury or death of the rider.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION MIGHT CAUSE AN INEFFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE, LEADING TO A POSSIBLE CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH OF THE RIDER.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will re-route the front brake line. If damage to the brake line has occurred, the brake line will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before April 20, 2009. Owners May contact Buell distribution company at 1-414-343-8400.

Buell recall no. 0838. Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Power Train

Jun 16, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V267000 · 1,579 vehicles

Problem: Buell is recalling 1,579 my 2008 1125R motorcycles. These vehicles can experience 5TH gear galling on the clutch shaft due to lack of lubrication. This condition can allow the gear to seize to the shaft, resulting in rear wheel lock-up.

Original NHTSA wording

BUELL IS RECALLING 1,579 MY 2008 1125R MOTORCYCLES. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE 5TH GEAR GALLING ON THE CLUTCH SHAFT DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE GEAR TO SEIZE TO THE SHAFT, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP.

Risk: This could result in a crash, which could cause injury or death to the rider.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and repair the affected motorcycles free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2008. Owners May contact Buell motorcycles at 1-414-343-8400.

Buell recall no. 0834.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Vehicle Speed Control1

Wheels1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Motorcycle Stalling

PE12035 · opened Nov 16, 2012 · closed Apr 16, 2013

Summary

ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator).As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be areasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down while underway.A memo describing this testing may be found in the public file for this investigation.Given the relative frequency of alleged stator failures involving Buell 1125's, it is apparent that customers may not be satisfied with their motorcycle.An example of a manufacturer responding to this type of dissatisfaction is found in the Harley Davidson December 7, 2009product improvement campaign to address the stalling issue.However, current test data does not establish that this customer satisfaction issue is also a safety defect that results in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.In the absence of a safety defect trend related to Buell 1125 charging system failures, this investigation is closed. The 62 ODI complaints we cite may be found by entering the following ODI investigation numbersat www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID:10373814,10386008,10397985,10406939,10406967,10406969,10407046, 10407318,10407511,10407672,10410524,10411954,10429450,10429467, 10429481,10429488,10429530,10429531,10429964,10429970,10429985, 10429987,10430176,10430736,10432169,10432891,10445118,10452480, 10457062,10457815,10457829,10462420,10462439,10462834,10463008, 104634…

SUDDEN FUEL EXPULSION

PE10004 · opened Jan 25, 2010 · closed May 10, 2010

Summary

We opened this PE based on a single complaint of rapid fuel expulsion while re-fueling from the owner of a Buell 1125CR.After opening this PE, we contacted other owners, Buell dealer service departments and monitored activity of various Buell-related web forums.While Harley Davidson (Buell was a subsidiary) has no owner complaints, it did receive four warranty claims related to this issue.Two involve the fuel line check valve, one a pinched fuel vent hose, and one saturated charcoal cannister due to over-fill.Currently, the data does not indicate a trending safety defect exists.We will continue to monitor this issue and take action as appropriate.

2008 vs. other Buell 1125R years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2008. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2008 Buell 1125R have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Buell 1125R, the latest from Apr 2, 2009 (service brakes). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Buell 1125R?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (3), electrical system (1), engine (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.