2009 Buell 1125CR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
4,705 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 44 complaints (93.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 52.3% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 15.9% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 |
Electrical System: 41; Engine: 10; Exterior Lighting: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 12; 2012: 11; 2013: 18; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10386008 · 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)
MY MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF WHILE RIDING AT CITY SPEEDS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH AND RECOVER WITHOUT CRASHING IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHILE THIS HAPPENED SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER HARLEY DAVIDSON ATTRIBUTED THE ISSUE TO BE A STATOR FAILURE IN WHICH WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE MOTORCYCLE WILL LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE MOTOR AND THE BIKE WILL SHUT DOWN. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN NOT A RECALL TO FIX THE ISSUE EVEN WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN FIX LOTS OF RIDERS HAVE EXPERIENCED STATOR F…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449588 · 2012-02-28 (February 28, 2012)
AT 50 MPH THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND BIKE WAS RUNNING JUST ON THE BATTERY. WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO MAKE IT BACK. TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR REPAIR AFTER A COMPLETE BATTERY CHARGE. DIAGNOSTICS WAS COMPLETE STATOR FAILURE. HARLEY DAVIDSON WON'T REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING ME ABOUT AN UPGRADE BUT WOULD NEVER SAY WHAT IT WAS. NOW I FIND OUT MANY OF THESE 1125CR MODEL BIKES, IN THE 2009 YEAR, HAVE THIS PROBLEM. BUELL IS OUT OF BUSINESS SO I GET STUCK WITH A $1500 REPAIR BILL! SHOULD SUE HARLEY DAVID…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457062 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)
WHILE ON THE BRIDGE FROM TAMPA TO ST PETERSBURG FLORIDA, I275, MY MOTORCYCLE HESITATED AND STALLED WHILE STILL ON THE LONG BRIDGE, LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE SINCE NEW, FROM TAMPA HARLEY DAVIDSON. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS A FAILED CHARGING STATOR, WHICH RESULTED IN DRAINING OF THE BATTERY WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463008 · 2012-06-25 (June 25, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 4,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307481 · 2010-02-08 (February 8, 2010)
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 CONNECTOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429481 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
I WAS RIDING ON HWY17 IN KENTUCKY ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE BIKE JUST DIED. I HAD NO TURN SIGNALS OR BRAKE LIGHTS.THE GOOD THING WAS MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS BEHIND ME TO CONTROL TRAFFIC. THIS ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN A FURTHER ISSUE IF I HAD LOST POWER 4 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SHARP TURNS. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294655 · 2009-12-06 (December 6, 2009)
BUELL 2009 1125 CR: AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE GAS IN THE MOTORCYCLE GETS SO HOT YOU CAN HEAR IT BOILING. THE MOTORCYCLE PUTS OUT RAW GAS THROUGH THE OVERFLOW TUBE WHEN PARKING IT AFTER RIDING. I HAVE PERSONALLY NOTICED THIS ON MY BIKE, AND MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED THAT UPON OPENING THE GAS TANK, GAS HAS SPRAYED OUT ON THE THEM AND THE BIKE. THE FUEL BOILING IN THE TANK WILL HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE BIKE IS RIDDEN. THE BIKE LEAKING RAW GAS OUT THE VENT TUBE AND ONTO THE FLOOR WILL HAPPEN EVER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10294655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10391408 · 2011-03-11 (March 11, 2011)
RIDING DURING WARM OR HOT WEATHER CAUSES GASOLINE TO BOIL INSIDE FUEL TANK. GASOLINE LEAKS FROM VENT TUBE WHILE STOPPED OR PARKED RESULTING IN VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL, ESPECIALLY IF PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED AREA (GARAGE, ETC.). SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE OF US WITH GAS WATER HEATERS IN THE GARAGE, LIKELY AN INCONVENIENCE OTHERWISE. HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, HOWEVER MOST PREVALENT DURING WARMER WEATHER.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10391408 at NHTSA ↗