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2009 Buell 1125CR

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
44Owner complaints

Model-year median: 22

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
44
20090
2010
Compare all 1125CR years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
41Engine
10Exterior Lighting
7Engine And Engine Cooling
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

43 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

41 reports
Clear category filter
20 miles · Feb 8, 2010
Electrical System

FRONT BRAKE LEVER SWITCH WIRES COME LOOSE WITH THE OPTIONAL "HIGH BAR" HANDLEBARS INSTALLED. I GOT MY FROM THE DEALER WITH THE HIGH BARS AND DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I GOT HOME THAT ONE OF THE CONNECTORS WAS MISSING ALTOGETHER. IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN PULLED OFF RATHER THAN NOT INSTALLED. I BROUGHT THE BIKE BACK FOR SOME O…

Read full complaint

FRONT BRAKE LEVER SWITCH WIRES COME LOOSE WITH THE OPTIONAL "HIGH BAR" HANDLEBARS INSTALLED. I GOT MY FROM THE DEALER WITH THE HIGH BARS AND DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL I GOT HOME THAT ONE OF THE CONNECTORS WAS MISSING ALTOGETHER. IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN PULLED OFF RATHER THAN NOT INSTALLED. I BROUGHT THE BIKE BACK FOR SOME OTHER STUFF AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE CONNECTOR. I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL A WHILE LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTORS HAD BOTH COME LOOSE. I RE-ATTACHED THEM AND ROTATED THE FRONT END WHICH PULLED THE CONNECTORS LOOSE AGAIN.. AN CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT WHILE THE WIRES HAD PLENTY OF SLACK, THEY WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE REST OF THE WIRES IN ANY WAY WHICH MEANT THAT WHEN THE BARS WERE TURNED, THE WIRES HAD NOTHING TO FORCE THEM TO MOVE WITH THE BARS. A SIMPLE WIRE-TIE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10307481

Official recalls

1

08V554000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 20, 2008

BUELL IS RECALLING 140 MY 2009 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES CAN EXPERIENCE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE REAR CYLINDER CAM CHAIN TENSION GUIDE (PART NUMBER F0020.1AM). THIS CAN CAUSE PLASTIC DEBRIS TO BLOCK THE OIL PUMP SCREEN, POSSIBLY LEADING TO OIL STARVATION AND ENGINE SEIZURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO SEIZE, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4680.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE12035 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Nov 16, 2012 · Closed Apr 16, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

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, 10463483,10463664,10465165,10465225,10465226,10466505,10470386, 10470415,10470428,10473664,10474136,10474363,10479428,10484793, 10494949,10495197,10496446,10496804,10497643,10496127,10496088, 10496048,10496022,10496018,10495355,10495331,10495307

PE10004 · Sudden Fuel Expulsion

Opened Jan 25, 2010 · Closed May 10, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

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.