2009 BUELL 1125R Electrical System Problems

STATOR FAILED IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, HAD TO PUSH BIKE ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC ON HWY 95 FLORIDA.

Mileage: 7,016

RIDING MY 2009 BUELL 1125R, THE OEM STATOR OVERHEATED AND FRIED 1 LEG OF THE 3 LEG STATOR. I HAD THE HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL DONE ON THE BIKE AND THIS MADE IT WORSE, WHEN GOING UNDER 5K RPMS THE BIKE WOULD OVERHEAT; WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO THE STATOR FRYING. THIS CAUSED THE REGULATOR TO BE FRIED AS WELL SINCE THE STATOR GOES DIRECTLY TO THE STATOR. THIS ALSO ALMOST KILLED MY BATTERY. THE HARLEY DAVIDSON FIX DOESN'T WORK AND THEY SHOULD IMPLEMENT A BETTER FIX FOR THE BIKE. *TR

Mileage: 3,450

VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ENGINE DIED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE STATOR HAS WENT OUT. ONE TIME THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WENT OUT. HARLEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE 2 OF THESE MOTORCYCLES & BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 4,500

BIKE HAS HAD MULTIPLE CHARGING ISSUES: STATOR, VOLTAGE REGULATOR, AND OTHER COMPONENTS. CURRENTLY GOING TO REPAIR IN SPRING. *TR

Mileage: 9,000

WHILE RIDING BUELL 1125R 2009 I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WHILE RIDING. LOSING POWER IN TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL YEAR BUELL. IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY THE COMPANY. *TR

Mileage: 5,164

STATOR FAILURE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 8,370

2009 BUELL 1125R - I BOUGHT IT FROM AN HD DEALERSHIP (LIKE NEW) WITH 2,500 MILES ON IT. THE BIKE HAD NO WARRANTY. THEY TRIED TO SELL ME AN 'EXTENDED WARRANTY' WHICH I DID NOT BUY (FOR ABOUT $2K). THIS WAS EITHER STANDARD PROCEDURE, OR SUSPICIOUS - I DON'T KNOW WHICH, BECAUSE THE BIKE'S CHARGING SYSTEM (STATOR) FAILED ON ME AT 3,586 MILES. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NEARLY HOME. LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE ENGINE DIED AMID TRAFFIC (LOW SPEED, THANKFULLY). THE BATTERY & ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON ABOUT A MILE BEFOREHAND. I HAD THE BIKE DIAGNOSED/REPAIRED (STATOR REPLACEMENT) AT AN HD/BUELL CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. COST (PARTS & LABOR) $1,045 !!! I HAVE SINCE READ THAT THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE ESPECIALLY WITH THE 09 1125R BUELL'S. I HAVE HEARD OF OWNERS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF DOING THEIR OWN MECHANIC WORK, PULLING THE (BAD) STATOR AND ROTOR, AND SENDING THEM TO (EBR) ERIC BUELL RACING - FOR A 'RE-WIND' ON THE STATOR FOR AROUND $150 - TO - $175. EBR ALSO SELLS AN 'UPGRADED' ROTOR FOR $450 THAT SUPPOSEDLY DOES A BETTER JOB OF LUBRICATING THE STATOR, THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A TOTAL RECALL ! *TR

Mileage: 3,586

IT WAS A FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER AND I WAS LOOKING AT BUYING A 2009 BUELL 1125CR, I HAD DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH ABOUT THE BIKE AND KNEW ABOUT THE STATOR/CHARGING PROBLEM. I KNEW THAT IT DID HAPPEN WHILE SOME PEOPLE WHERE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLES. I WENT INTO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT WAS SELLING ONE AND WAS GRANTED A TEST DRIVE OF THE BIKE. I TOOK IT OUT ON SOME BACK ROADS TO SEE HOW IT WOULD HANDLE AND I ALSO TOOK IT ON THE FREEWAY TO SEE HOW IT WOULD RIDE IN TRAFFIC. SO WHILE I WAS GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY OF I WAS GETTING UP TO SPEED AROUND 50 OR SO TRYING TO GET UP TO 70. THE BIKE STARTED TO HESITATE THEN CHUG AT AROUND 50, I COULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED AS THE BIKE DIED AND I WAS LEFT COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I HAD TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH RUNNING UP MY BACK AND WAS IN A "PANIC MODE" TRYING TO GET THE BIKE OVER WITHOUT GETTING HIT.I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY WHERE I GOT OFF THE BIKE AND LET IT SIT. AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO I TRIED TO START IT UP WITH NO SUCCESS AND THEN REPEATED UNTIL IT STARTED. IT FINALLY STARTED REALLY HEAVILY AND DOGGY. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INEVITABLY NOT BUY THE BIKE. I KNOW THE BIKE HAS PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE IS MULTIPLE COMPLAINS ON BUELL FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. *TR

Mileage: 5,870

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LOW BATTERY WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE STATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 10,000

THIS 2009 BUELL 1125R HAD THE STATOR REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AT ABOUT 8000 MILES. NOW AT 12000 MILES THE STATOR HAS FAILED AGAIN WITH THE BIKE JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE STATOR FAILS THE BATTERY CAN NOT CHARGE AND WHEN THE CHARGE ON THE BATTERY IS DEPLETED THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN LEAVING THE RIDER STRANDED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE DIES SUDDENLY THE RIDER MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT SERIOUS RISK. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE THAT THE 2009 BUELL 1125R HAS A FAULTY STATOR, THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE ON INTERNET CHAT SITES. APPARENTLY HARLEY DAVIDSON REFUSES TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 12,504

****AFFECTED PARTS: VOLTAGE REGULATOR. (WAS UNABLE TO PUT IN SPACE PROVIDED) I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH ON 8/24/2010 WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD GO OUT & IT WOULD READ VOLTAGE SERVICE. DIRECTIONALS WOULD SOMETIME STICK. BATTERY LIGHT WOULD GO ON & OFF. TOOK IT TO TNTACTION SPORT FOR REPAIR AND THIS IS THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION THEY GAVE..:"UOOO1: CAN BUS LINE CONNECTION REMOVED CONNECTORS & DIELECTRIC GREASED: CHECKED CHARGING SYSTEM: INSTALLED NEW REGULATOR & REFLASHED ECM: CHECKED CHARGING SYSTEM: CHARGING AT 14.0 AT IDLE, 14.2 AT 5000RPM." ***AFFECTED PART: BURNED OUT STATOR AND ECM: MILEAGE 6553, I WAS CROSSING THE BRIDGE ON 10/17/2011 WHEN THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE CAME ON AND I SHIFTED DOWN, IT BACKFIRED AND SHUT OFF. I THEN PUSHED IT ACROSS THE 2 LANE BRIDGE APPROXIMATELY 150-200 YDS. TOOK IT TO TNT ACTION SPORTS AGAIN FOR REPAIR AND THIS IS THEIR FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION: STATOR SHORTED TO GROUND 4.5VAC AT 4000 RPM. HARLEY DAVIDSON TOLD ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, WHEN ACTUALLY IT WAS NOT, WAITED UNTIL 3/24/2012 TO FIX IT DUE TO THE COST OF $1300. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TNT ACTION SPORTS FOUND THAT IT WAS NOT OUT OF WARRANTY. ON 3/24/2012 THEY BEGAN WORKING ON IT & FINAL DESCRIPTION (FOR THE 10/17/2011 INCIDENT): REPLACED STATOR: INSTALLED ROTOR DRILLED BY BUELL TO COOL STATOR: REPLACED ECM-CODE P0604-ECM RAM FAILURE REPLACED CLUTCH ACTUATOR PISTONS: BLED CLUTCH SYSTEM. ***AFFECTED PART: STATOR/ROTOR MILEAGE 8830. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD ON 7/26/2012 WHEN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHUT DOWN, DIRECTIONALS WOULDN'T WORK, IT READ 'SYSTEM VOLTAGE'. WHEN I PULLED OVER OFF THE HIGHWAY & PULLED THE CLUTCH IN THE CLUSTER CAME BACK ON AT NORMAL & THE BATTERY LIGHT APPEARED FOR 3-5 SECONDS. I TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK HOME THE SYSTEM VOLTAGE STAYED ON & THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLACKED OUT AGAIN. DEALER INFORMED BURNED STATOR/VOLTAGE REGULATOR. *TR

Mileage: 3,065

THE CHARGING SYSTEM DID NOT KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED, I BOUGHT THE BIKE BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2010. AT 5660 MILES ON AUGUST 26TH 2011 THE STATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AT 6786 MILES ON JANUARY 28TH 2012 THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT ALL AT ONCE WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 5:00 AM ROTOR, VOLT REGULATOR, AND LIGHT BULBS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED IN MARCH OF 2012. BIKE NOW HAS 8600 MILES AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM IS NOT KEEPING BATTERY CHARGED. I SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER EACH TIME WHEN THE BIKE WAS BEING REPAIRED AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE STATOR ON MORE THAN ONE OF THE SAME BIKE AS I HAVE MULTIPLE TIMES. WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS BIKE ARE NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT ALSO APPEAR TO BE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I FILED COMPLAINTS EACH TIME I HAD THE BIKE IN FOR THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND CAN'T FIND MY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE, THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER OWNERS ON BLOGS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FILLED WITH OTHER 2009 BUELL 1125R AND 1125CR'S DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS I AM HAVING. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON ON THIS ISSUE OR NOT? YOUR HELP IN PURSUING A SAFE AND FAIR SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 8,300

BEEN HAVING A SYSTEM VOLTAGE ERROR FOR A WHILE. IT WOULD COME AND GO. SO IN JUNE I HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOW. THE DAY AFTER I CHANGED THE BATTERY THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON SO I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET HOME FROM WORK. THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WHEN I DOWN SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS. FOUND OUT THE STATOR FRIED WHICH THESE BIKES ARE KNOWN FOR. THE REASON IT LOCKED UP I'M ASSUMING IS THAT SINCE THE STATOR DRAINED THE NEW BATTERY ALL THE WAY DOWN THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM SHUT OFF THEN WHEN I PULLED THE CLUTCH IN TO DOWN SHIFT THE MOTOR SHUT OFF THEN IT DIDN'T ALLOW THE REAR WHEEL TO SPIN. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BAD STATOR. *TR

Mileage: 5,080

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO FAILED STATOR (SECOND TIME). *TR

Mileage: 10,008

THE CHARGING SYSTEM STATOR FAILED AND STOPPED CHARGING THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE STALL IN TRAFFIC. *TT

Mileage: 13,572

I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY VIA AN ON RAMP AND STARTED ACCELERATING WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE THEN IT JUST LOST ALL POWER AND ROLLED TO A STOP. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWED VOLTAGE ERROR AND ABOUT 9 VOLTS. GOT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK AND IT DIED ABOUT FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD WITH SAME PROBLEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAD MY BIKE FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER!

Mileage: 4,800

I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE IN A 70 MPH ZONE. THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER STARTED TO 'FLAKE OUT'. THEN THE BIKE STARTED TO MISS AND RUN ROUGH ALL OF THE SUDDEN. I WAS 'BOXED' INTO TRAFFIC SO I TRIED TO SPEED UP TO GET A QUICK GAP TO BE ABLE TO STOP BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A SUITABLE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS TO SAFELY GET ASIDE. UPON TRYING TO SPEED UP, THE BIKE STOPPED RUNNING ALTOGETHER. I TRIED TO RESTART THE BIKE BY PULLING IN THE CLUTCH AND THEN 'DROPPING' THE CLUTCH TO BUMP THE ENGINE OVER. IT DID NOT. THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BIKE SKIDDED UNTIL I PULLED THE CLUTCH BACK IN. BY THAT TIME I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED AND WHEN THE CARS BEHIND ME SWERVED AWAY, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE ENOUGH TO SAFELY STOP. *JS

Mileage: 8,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUELL 1125R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STATOR AND REGULATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,051.

Mileage: 4,051

I HAVE HAD THREE EXPERIENCES WITH THE STATOR FAILING. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST OF 2011 THE BIKE HAD 5660 MILES, AND I HAD OWNED IT FOR ABOUT 16 MOS. IT STARTED WITH A SYSTEM VOLTAGE READING AND THE BATTERY WAS LOSING ITS CHARGE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START WITHOUT JUMPING OR PUTTING A CHARGER ON THE BATTERY. THE NEXT EPISODES WERE TWICE IN JANUARY OF 2012 AT 6786 MILES, WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLICKERING AND THE TURN SIGNALS ALSO QUIT WORKING. I CHECKED ALL FUSES AND NOW I HAVE TURN SIGNALS AND SPEEDO LIGHTS BUT NO HEADLIGHTS WHETHER ON HI OR LOW BEAM, AND I AM AGAIN GETTING A SYSTEM VOLTAGE READING ON THE SPEEDO. HOW MANY TIMES WILL THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS FORCED TO COME UP WITH A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? MUST SOMEONE DIE FIRST? I HAVE READ ONLINE OF PEOPLE USING A 2008 STATOR AND HAVING NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 5,660

THE STATOR FAILED, SO THE ENGINE CUT-OUT AS I WAS RIDING WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN THE CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS ALSO AFFECTED, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY. WHEN THE ENGINE CUT-OUT, THE REAR WHEEL SKIDDED (JUST SHORT OF LOCKING UP) UNTIL I PULLED THE CLUTCH TO TAKE THE ENGINE OUT OF GEAR. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, PRESUMABLY WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS. *TT

Mileage: 4,400

HAVE HAD TWO STATORS FAIL WITHIN TWO MONTHS. *TR

Mileage: 4,000

DURING LIGHT TRAFFIC (STOP-AND-GO) AND LOW-RPM OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE (HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN HIGH-GEAR), THE STATOR WINDINGS OVER HEAT AND SHORT. THIS CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO DRAIN THE BATTERY UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS FAIL COMPLETELY. THE STATOR WAS REPLACED WITH A BRAND NEW OEM PART BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN AT THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP, BUT THE SAME MODE OF FAILURE AND RESULTS HAPPENED AGAIN LATER IN THE SAME YEAR (AUGUST 2010) AT 7000 MI ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

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 INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DISCHARGE OF THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO STALLING OR A NON-START CONDITION; IF THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLS, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *KB

Mileage: 9,500

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT ABOUT 30-35MPH, LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD HARLEY DAVIDSON DIAG AND REPAIR BURNT STATOR. WAS RETURNED VEHICLE AND CHARGING SYSTEM WORKED. HAD CHARGING SYSTEM OVERLAY HARNESS INSTALLED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. SINCE THEN, HAVE HAD 2 FAILED VOLTAGE REGULATORS, 1 FAILED BATTERY AND HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO DISCHARGED BATTERY. VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT VERY LOW SPEEDS(1-5 MPH) WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I-26 IN THE MIDDLE LANE. BATT WAS SO DISCHARGED WITH NO CURRENT PROBLEMS(OTHER THAN 1 LEG OF CHARGING BEING DISABLED DUE TO HARNESS OVERLAY). HAD TO PUSH BIKE BY HAND ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET TO SAFETY. VEHICLE NOW HAS 20,000 MILES AND WILL HAVE SECOND NEW REGULATOR INSTALLED ON 10-14-11. *KB

Mileage: 15,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE WITH THE STATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATORS OVERHEATING. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A REDUCTION OF ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR WERE REPLACED. THE COMPONENTS HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AS A RESULT OF THE STATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR OVERHEATING. THE FAILURE DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS UPGRADED BY A PREVIOUS DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,777.

Mileage: 11,777

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 FAIL TO WORK. THE MOTORCYCLE MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. HARLEY HAS ISSUED A 'FIX' IN THE FORM OF A RELAY THAT SHUTS OFF 1/3 OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM. IRONICALLY THE 'FIX' SEEMS TO HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURES. WITH THE 'FIX' IN PLACE THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARVED FOR ELECTRICAL POWER. THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT POWER TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. BRIGHT HEADLIGHT CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT FURTHER DRAINING OF MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, ETC. MANY, MANY CASES OF STATOR FAILURES CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/BUELL/MESSAGES/290431/290431.HTML?1309888179 PLEASE LAUNCH A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE SAFETY CONCERNS. *KB

Mileage: 11,000

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 CHARGING SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AT 3,706 MILES. THE 'FIX' ISSUED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON SHUTS OFF 1/3 OF THE STATOR LEAVING THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY 2/3 OF THE POWER LISTED IN THE SPECIFICATION. THIS IS ULTIMATELY NOT ENOUGH POWER TO OPERATE ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT CAUSING THE BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND ULTIMATELY DRAINING THE BATTERY. AT IDLE, THE CHARGING SYSTEM CANNOT PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED. SEVERAL MINUTES OF IDLING WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, THEN A 'SYSTEM VOLTAGE ERROR' WILL APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, THEN THE HEADLIGHTS & TURN SIGNALS WILL STOP WORKING, FINALLY THE MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL. MY ENTIRE CHARGING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED (STATOR, VOLTAGE REGULATOR, BATTERY), AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BY A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER AND BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON CORPORATE. THE SITUATION HAS NOT IMPROVED. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS EITHER INCAPABLE OR UNWILLING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 3,706

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/RECTIFIER WAS PRODUCED WITH INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DISCHARGE OF THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO STALLING OR A NON-START CONDITION; IF THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLS, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TT

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

Mileage: 9,000

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 INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DISCHARGE OF THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO STALLING OR A NON-START CONDITION; IF THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLS, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 3,500

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 INSUFFICIENT ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT GENERATED BY THE CHARGING SYSTEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DISCHARGE OF THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE'S BATTERY, WHICH CAN LEAD TO STALLING OR A NON-START CONDITION; IF THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLS, IT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 3,500

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 AS HE GOT AN OPENING, THE CAR BEHIND ME MADE A FAST SWERVE AROUND ME LEAVING THE CAR RIDDING HIS BUMPER WITH LITTLE TO NO REACTION TIME WHILE HE WAS LOCKING UP HIS BREAKS MADE ME ALTER MY PLAN. AFTER I ALTERED MY PLAN THE DRIVER WHO ABOUT HIT ME BECAUSE OF NO TURN SIGNAL SWERVES AT ME WHILE YELLING USE YOUR TURN-SIGNAL AND FLIPPING ME OFF. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO AVOID A POT-HOLE, AND SAND MAKING ME TAKE MY LEFT ARM DOWN FOR A SECOND. "SEC. 2.5. A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 1, 1956, OR AFTER THIS DATE IS REQUIRED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DEVICES: (1) A REAR VIEW MIRROR. (2) A SPEEDOMETER.(3) MECHANICAL OR ELECTRIC TURN SIGNALS."(INDIANA MOTORCYCLE LAW) 3.ALL WORK DONE BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. SYSTEM VOLTAGE CAME ON IN THE BEGGING OF FEB. 2010 NEW CHARGING SUB-HARNESS WAS PUT ON FEB 2010 TO FIX THE CHARGING SYSTEM PROBLEM RECALL BY NHTSA(WHICH CAUSES SYSTEM VOLTAGE). SYSTEM VOLTAGE CAME ON IN JUNE 2010, JULY 2010 I TOOK THE BIKE IN AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. MORE TIME?S UNTIL AUG. 2010 THE CHARGING SYSTEM BURNT SOME WIRE AND THE STATOR WENT BAD. AUG. 2010 REPLACED; STATOR, SUB-HARNESS, VOLTAGE REGULATOR. SYSTEM VOLTAGE OCT 2010, JAN. 2011 SYSTEM VOLTAGE DO I HAVE TO LOSE MY LIFE BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON BUELL FIXES A KNOWN PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 8,044