2009 Buell 1125CR: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10406967 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED. FIRST TIME AT 5500 MILES, HARLEY INSTALLED CHARGING HARNESS, AND A NEW STATOR. SECOND TIME CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED AT 8900 MILES. HARLEY INSTALLED NEW STATOR, ROTOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406969 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED AT 8900 MILES, SECOND TIME. HARLEY REPLACED A ROTOR, STATOR AND A VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407046 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
2009 BUELL 1125 STATOR (ALTERNATOR) FAILURE. ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAVE BEEN OPERATING MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN IT HAS SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, DIED OF STATOR FAILURE. 2 OF THESE INSTANCES MAY HAVE CAUSED A LESS EXPERIENCED RIDER GREAT DANGER AS THEY HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS 'BURNT' OR 'OVERHEATED' STATORS. EACH TIME THE PART HAS FAILED, IT WAS REPLACED WITH AN IDENTICAL PART. THE EXPLANATION HARLEY DAVIDSON (OWNER OF SUBSIDIARY BUELL) HAS GIVEN ON WHY THE PART HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED OR RETROFIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429450 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
THE CHARGING SYSTEM ON MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CEASED TO RUN. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429450 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V554000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2008-10-20 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗