2009 Buell 1125R: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
6,235 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 39 complaints (79.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 59.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 30.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.7% |
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 | 31 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
Electrical System: 31; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Engine: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 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 | 38 |
| 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: 38; 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 (38). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 15; 2012: 14; 2013: 6; 2014: 1; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10324792 · 2010-04-09 (April 9, 2010)
MY 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE USES A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE COVER, EMANATING A DROP OF FLUID FOR EACH TIME THE CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED. THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF CLUTCH FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, AND THE LEAKAGE WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLETE THE RESERVOIR. WITHOUT FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, THE RIDER'S ABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH IS ELIMINATED. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED NEW PARTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE NEW PARTS DID NOT REPAIR THE LEAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10373814 · 2011-01-02 (January 2, 2011)
1. RIDING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS 40-90 DEGREES OUT OF THE BLUE I GET A SYSTEM-VOLTAGE ACROSS MY SPEEDOMETER SCREEN. 2. WHEN THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE COMES ON I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I AM GOING, I HAVE NO GAUGES, AND MOST IMPORTANT I HAVE NO TURN-SIGNALS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 8 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. DARING THESE 8 TIMES MY SPEEDOMETER AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE BEEN RENDERED USELESS. I HAVE ABOUT BEEN HIT 3OF THE 8 TIMES DUE TO SCENARIOS LIKE THIS ONE WHICH I WAS ABOUT KILLED. I PUT MY ARM UP TO TURN RIGHT, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS BEING PASSED AND SOON…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,044 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397985 · 2011-04-27 (April 27, 2011)
COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR THE STATOR & REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES ON THE 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLES CREATE A UNCONTROLLED BUILD UP OF ELECTRICAL HEAT THAT CAN CAUSE THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE STATOR ASSEMBLIES HAVE INSUFFICIENT THERMAL PROTECTION TO HANDLE THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION TO MELT TO A POINT WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT SITUATION IS CREATED AND THE STATOR FAILS. THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER WAS PRODUCED WITH INSUFFIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406939 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
CHARGING SYSTEM STATOR FAILS RESULTING IN LOW SYSTEM VOLTAGE AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE WILL QUIT RUNNING OR STALL. I HAD THREE FAILURES IN THE FIRST 12,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. THE LAST FAILURE I INSTALLED THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR('08) COMPONENTS (ROTOR AND STATOR) THAT HAVE A LOWER ELECTRICAL OUTPUT, AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. DEALER UNDER WARRANTY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE STATOR WITH THE SAME (09) PART THAT KEEPS FAILING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407318 · 2011-06-17 (June 17, 2011)
2009 BUELL 1125R WAS RIDING ON FREEWAY WHEN BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND VOLTAGE STARTED TO DROP. INTENSE HEAT TO FRAME BURNING LEGS THROUGH HEAVY RIDING GEAR, SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. VEHICLE ENGINE CUT OUT SUDDENLY AS I APPROACHED HOME AND LUCKILY I HAD THE CLUTCH PULLED IN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IGNITION IS DEAD.. VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2009 1125'S AND LUCKILY IT FAILED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. VOLTAGE REGULATOR, STATOR FAILED PARTS ON BACKORDER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FAILURES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407511 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)
REF 2009 BUELL 1125R AND CR COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR THE STATOR & REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES ON THE 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 2009 BUELL 1125CR MOTORCYCLES CREATE A UNCONTROLLED BUILD UP OF ELECTRICAL HEAT THAT CAN CAUSE THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE STATOR ASSEMBLIES HAVE INSUFFICIENT THERMAL PROTECTION TO HANDLE THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION TO MELT TO A POINT WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT SITUATION IS CREATED AND THE STATOR FAILS. THE REGULATOR/RECTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10407511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407672 · 2011-06-21 (June 21, 2011)
THE CHARGING SYSTEM ON THE 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 1125CR HAS A DESIGN DEFECT. WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC, THE CHARGING SYSTEM WILL OVERHEAT AND THE STATOR WILL BURN OUT AND FAIL, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL AND CANNOT BE RESTARTED DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED. THIS DEFECT AFFECTS ALL 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. HARLEY DAVIDSON (BUELL'S PARENT COMPANY) IS AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT AND IN MARCH, 2010 RELEASED A 'FIX' IN THE FORM OF A CHARGING HARNESS UPGRADE. THIS 'FIX' WAS INSTALLED ON MY MOTORCYCLE AT 1,456 MILES. MY CHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,706 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410524 · 2011-07-05 (July 5, 2011)
THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM OF THE '09 BUELL 1125R AND 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THE ELECTRICAL STATOR PRODUCES MORE HEAT THAN CAN BE MANAGED AND WILL EVENTUALLY OVER HEAT AND FAIL. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF '09 BUELL 1125R AND 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON (BUELL'S PARENT) HAVE BEEN BACKORDERED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AS SUPPLY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FAILURES. THERE ARE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS, HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS …
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410524 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.