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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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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

Engine complaints

10 reports
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1,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER AND STALLED AT INTERSECTION UPON ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504118

10,060 miles · Feb 22, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

THE STATOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED GIVING ME ISSUES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE BIKE. I FIRST HAD MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR GO OUT ON ME. I THEN HAD THE WARRANTY HARNESS UPGRADE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED FIX THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT IT DIDN'T. PRIOR TO MY STATOR FAILING, THE VOLTAGE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 11.9 WHICH IS TOO LOW. THE S…

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THE STATOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED GIVING ME ISSUES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE BIKE. I FIRST HAD MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR GO OUT ON ME. I THEN HAD THE WARRANTY HARNESS UPGRADE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED FIX THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT IT DIDN'T. PRIOR TO MY STATOR FAILING, THE VOLTAGE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 11.9 WHICH IS TOO LOW. THE STATOR EVENTUALLY OVER WORKED ITSELF AND MELTED INTERNALLY. THE BIKE STARTED BACKFIRING LOUDLY, LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS GOT VERY DIM AND THE BIKE WAS EXTREMELY HOT AS IT WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I STOPPED THE BIKE FOR A MINUTE FOR IT TO COOL DOWN. AFTER I DID THAT THE BIKE WOULD NOT START AND STRANDED ME ON THE ROAD 20 MILES FROM HOME. THIS IS A KNOWN ELECTRICAL ISSUE FOR 2009 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THE FIX AND LABOR COST FOR THIS WAS WELL OVER $1500 AND QUITE THE PAIN AND HASSLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499715

4,480 miles · Feb 5, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO TURN OFF, ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME THAT WAS ALSO EXITING. DRIVER IN VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST STRUCK ME AND SHORTLY STOPPED AND WARNED ME THAT MY TAIL-LIGHT AND BRAKE LIG…

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I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO TURN OFF, ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME THAT WAS ALSO EXITING. DRIVER IN VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST STRUCK ME AND SHORTLY STOPPED AND WARNED ME THAT MY TAIL-LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. MOTORCYCLE SKIDDED TO A STOP AT END OF EXIT RAMP AND I HAD TO TURN IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND TRY TO RE-START MOTORCYCLE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISPLAYED 'SYSTEM VOLTAGE' AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TRIED TO RE-START ENGINE AND THE LCD SCREEN WOULD TURN OFF AND THEN READ 'COMM ERROR', THEN IT WOULD START AND THE ENGINE WOULD RUN OK, BUT LCD SCREEN WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. DURING DRIVE HOME, MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND ON REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT FLASHED ITSELF OFF COMPLETELY. NOW WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE, IT HAS NO TAIL-LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, OR LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT AND ONLY ABLE TO OPERATE WITH HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHT. I HAVE MOTORCYCLE PARKED AT MY RESIDENCE AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496446

8,600 miles · Jan 31, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HANDED TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC WHEN THE BIKE SUDDENLY DIED AND WAS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED IT WAS THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR/STATOR HAD FAILED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY MAINTAINED MACHINE THAT WILL SUDDENLY UNEXPECTEDLY QUIT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496022

5,900 miles · Jan 31, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

I RECENTLY MOVED TO A NEW CITY AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY FIRST RIDE THERE (30 MILES). I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE HOUSE. BATTERY VOLTAGE HAD DROPPED FROM THE NORMAL 13.5-14.3 RANGE TO 11.1 AND WAS DROPPING FAST. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WOUL…

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I RECENTLY MOVED TO A NEW CITY AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY FIRST RIDE THERE (30 MILES). I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE HOUSE. BATTERY VOLTAGE HAD DROPPED FROM THE NORMAL 13.5-14.3 RANGE TO 11.1 AND WAS DROPPING FAST. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REMOVE THE HEADLIGHT FUSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE HOUSE. REMOVAL OF THE FUSE GREATLY DECREASED THE RATE AT WHICH THE BATTERY DISCHARGED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT 9.5 OF THE 10 MILES BACK BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED AND HAD TO PUSH THE MOTORCYCLE THE REMAINING DISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495355

4,202 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineEquipment Adaptive/mobility

WHILE RIDING MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR, I NOTICED MY VOLTAGE DROPPING RATHER FAST (14V DOWN TO 9V). THE BUELL HAS JUST OVER 4,000 MILES ON IT AND I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE ISSUES THIS EARLY. UPON RESEARCH, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL. AFTER HOURS OF MECHANICAL WORK, IT TURNS OUT THE …

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WHILE RIDING MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR, I NOTICED MY VOLTAGE DROPPING RATHER FAST (14V DOWN TO 9V). THE BUELL HAS JUST OVER 4,000 MILES ON IT AND I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE ISSUES THIS EARLY. UPON RESEARCH, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL. AFTER HOURS OF MECHANICAL WORK, IT TURNS OUT THE STATOR OVER HEATED AND FRIED ITSELF, DUE TO THE LACK OF LUBRICATION. ITS A DESIGN FLAW. NOW I HAVE TO REWRAP MY STATOR AND PURCHASE ANOTHER PART THE COVERS THE STATOR THAT PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SHOULDN'T/DOESN'T THIS QUALIFY AS A DEFECT/RECALL ITEM?... AND WHY NOT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484793

15,010 miles · Aug 13, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

STATOR BURNED UP AND FORCED COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF BIKE, INCLUDING LIGHTS AND ENGINE. LEFT ME STRANDED ON A LONG STRETCH OF KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY WITH NO SAFE SHOULDER TO PARK THE BIKE ON-JUST TOO MUCH JUNGLE ON ONE SIDE AND THE OCEAN ON THE OTHER. HAD TO PUSH THE BIKE A LONG, LONG, WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND STATOR FAILURE ON THIS BI…

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STATOR BURNED UP AND FORCED COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF BIKE, INCLUDING LIGHTS AND ENGINE. LEFT ME STRANDED ON A LONG STRETCH OF KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY WITH NO SAFE SHOULDER TO PARK THE BIKE ON-JUST TOO MUCH JUNGLE ON ONE SIDE AND THE OCEAN ON THE OTHER. HAD TO PUSH THE BIKE A LONG, LONG, WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND STATOR FAILURE ON THIS BIKE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470415

14,650 miles · Jul 11, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

VOLTAGE STARTED JUMPING AROUND ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING. MY VOLTAGE DROPPED TO 10.9, THEN MY LIGHTS DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AS THE BIKE WAS BUCKING AND SPUTTERING TO A STOP. IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465165

5,120 miles · Jun 30, 2012
Engine

WHILE RIDING MY BUELL 1125CR, THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE ERROR CAME UP ON THE DISPLAY. IT WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE STATOR BURNING UP BECAUSE OF THE HEAT THAT IS PRODUCED IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED I LOST THE ABILITY TO CHARGE MY BATTERY THUS EVENTUALLY MY MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS IS S…

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WHILE RIDING MY BUELL 1125CR, THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE ERROR CAME UP ON THE DISPLAY. IT WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS THE STATOR BURNING UP BECAUSE OF THE HEAT THAT IS PRODUCED IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED I LOST THE ABILITY TO CHARGE MY BATTERY THUS EVENTUALLY MY MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS IS SPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING OF THIS HAPPENING AND THIS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON ON THIS YEAR MODEL AROUND THIS MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463664

4,650 miles · Jun 25, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

THE STATOR OR ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A CURVY ROAD. THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN THE BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH ENOUGH TO RUN ESSENTIAL ENGINE COMPONENTS SUCH AS IGNITION COILS AND FUEL INJECTORS. THE STALLING RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE EXITING THE TURN VERY…

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THE STATOR OR ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A CURVY ROAD. THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN THE BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH ENOUGH TO RUN ESSENTIAL ENGINE COMPONENTS SUCH AS IGNITION COILS AND FUEL INJECTORS. THE STALLING RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE EXITING THE TURN VERY WIDE AND RUNNING OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INOPERABLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE TRAFFIC WAS PASSING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463008

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.