Buell introduced this nameplate for the 2008 model year as part of its all-new liquid-cooled, Rotax-developed 1125-series sportbike family. It marked a major shift for Buell, moving away from the company’s long-running Sportster-based air-cooled engines and into a more conventional liter-class superbike direction, while still keeping the brand’s emphasis on sharp handling and distinctive chassis packaging. For 2008 and 2009, the model was offered in standard form in Buell’s lineup, and a lower-output 105 hp French-market version was also cataloged for those same model years.
The 1125-series arrived near the end of Buell’s first era under Harley-Davidson ownership. Although the motorcycle was technically advanced and positioned as Buell’s flagship performance road bike, the broader Buell brand was discontinued in 2009, ending the original production run shortly after the model’s launch. The nameplate did not continue seamlessly afterward; later Buell-branded motorcycles used different engines and a different corporate structure, so this entry refers specifically to the original 1125R-era machine rather than later revival models.
Among enthusiasts, the model is remembered as one of the most radical departures in Buell history: the company’s first major production superbike with the Helicon engine and one of the clearest expressions of Erik Buell’s attempt to push the brand into full-size sportbike territory.