The 2009 Buell 1125cr has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 140 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING08V5540002008-10-20140 affected
Defect
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.
Complaints by component
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
Total complaints64
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“As I was riding at 40-45 mph I noticed a battery light come on. Short time later my display read (system voltage) within minutes everything on my bike shut off including engine abruptly neatly tossing me off the bike. Thankfully, I managed to stay on and safely (only because drivers were paying…”
“On february 21, 2013 at 10:40pm, I was travelling north on interstate highway to work when my instrument cluster which reads my speed and vehicle gauges turned off and my low-beam headlight bulb flashed and burned out, causing me to lose sight of the roadway temporarily. I switched my high-beam…”
“On february 21, 2013 at 10:40pm, I was travelling north on interstate highway to work when my instrument cluster which reads my speed and vehicle gauges turned off and my low-beam headlight bulb flashed and burned out, causing me to lose sight of the roadway temporarily. I switched my high-beam…”
“I was exiting interstate highway when my 2009 buell 1125cr electrical system shutdown, causing motorcycle to turn off, all electrical lights turned off, and was unable to warn a vehicle behind me that was also exiting. Driver in vehicle behind me almost struck me and shortly stopped and warned me…”
“I was exiting interstate highway when my 2009 buell 1125cr electrical system shutdown, causing motorcycle to turn off, all electrical lights turned off, and was unable to warn a vehicle behind me that was also exiting. Driver in vehicle behind me almost struck me and shortly stopped and warned me…”
“I was exiting interstate highway when my 2009 buell 1125cr electrical system shutdown, causing motorcycle to turn off, all electrical lights turned off, and was unable to warn a vehicle behind me that was also exiting. Driver in vehicle behind me almost struck me and shortly stopped and warned me…”
“Prior to the first incident the motorcycle had been running for about an hour traveling at a conservative speed behind a leader of a pack of riders. The vehicle was parked at a location where the air temperature was roughly 45 degrees f for about 30-45 minutes. Upon attempting to start the…”
“As I was making a left handed turn across traffic when the bike suddenly died and was totally unresponsive. It was later determined it was the voltage regulator/stator had failed. It is extremely dangerous to have an otherwise perfectly maintained machine that will suddenly unexpectedly quit.…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE10004 Opened 2010-01-25 · closed 2010-05-10
SUDDEN FUEL EXPULSION
We opened this PE based on a single complaint of rapid fuel expulsion while re-fueling from the owner of a Buell 1125CR.After opening this PE, we contacted other owners, Buell dealer service departments and monitored activity of various Buell-related web forums.While Harley Davidson (Buell was a subsidiary) has no…
InvestigationPE12035 Opened 2012-11-16 · closed 2013-04-16
Motorcycle Stalling
ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator).As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be areasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down…
InvestigationPE12035 Opened 2012-11-16 · closed 2013-04-16
Motorcycle Stalling
ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator).As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be areasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2009 Buell 1125cr as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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