RoadVitals

2009 Buell 1125R Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
32
Latest Oct 25, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
82%
of 39 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Buell 1125R submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10785876
Incident
Oct 6, 2015
Mileage
7,016 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 30, 2015

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

NHTSA ID
10702678
Incident
Mar 30, 2015
Mileage
3,450 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 6, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10577764
Incident
Apr 30, 2013
Mileage
4,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 1, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10500994
Incident
Jul 11, 2012
Mileage
9,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 12, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10497949
Incident
Jan 18, 2013
Mileage
5,164 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 10, 2013

STATOR FAILURE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10497643
Incident
Oct 5, 2011
Mileage
8,370 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10496957
Incident
Dec 22, 2012
Mileage
3,586 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 6, 2013

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

NHTSA ID
10496557
Incident
Sep 7, 2012
Mileage
5,870 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2012
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10479428
Incident
Aug 15, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10474363
Incident
Jul 27, 2012
Mileage
12,504 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10470428
Incident
Aug 10, 2012
Mileage
8,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2012

****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

NHTSA ID
10470386
Incident
Aug 4, 2010
Mileage
3,065 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 18, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10466505
Incident
Jun 20, 2012
Mileage
8,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10465226
Incident
May 26, 2012
Mileage
10,008 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2012

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO BAD STATOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10465225
Incident
Jul 8, 2011
Mileage
5,080 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10462834
Incident
Jun 16, 2012
Mileage
13,572 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 20, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10462439
Incident
Jun 5, 2012
Mileage
8,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2012

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!

NHTSA ID
10462420
Incident
Jun 23, 2011
Mileage
4,800 mi
Electrical
Filed May 8, 2012

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.

NHTSA ID
10457815
Incident
May 5, 2012
Mileage
4,051 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10445118
Incident
Aug 18, 2010
Mileage
5,660 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10432891
Incident
Jun 27, 2011
Mileage
4,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2011

HAVE HAD TWO STATORS FAIL WITHIN TWO MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10432169
Incident
Jul 12, 2011
Mileage
4,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 13, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10429985
Incident
Feb 18, 2010
Mileage
3,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 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 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

NHTSA ID
10429964
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Mileage
9,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10429488
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
15,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .