Building a Badass Part III: Buell 1125CR Gets New Wheels

As dope as the fresh graphics are, the new shades of orange hardly worked with the factory red accents. To achieve the perfect match we decided the stock black and red rims just weren't the ticket.

Instead of looking to the aftermarket (options are few for the 1125) Buell makes it easy with a wide array of color options for its lightweight factory wheels. We toyed with some orange hoops, then black ones and finally ended up with a white/polished combo.

The wheels are a direct replacement so they fit perfectly and don't cost a fortune. When it came to wrapping the new rims we went with some sticky street rubber from Avon to guarantee grip when it's stoppie time.

Avon's new VP2 multi-compound tire made perfect sense for the Buell. The Supersport compound is geared for aggressive street or track riding so it's right up our alley. The center compound is hard for extended mileage and the sides are sticky-icky for knee-down action.

Some folks around the office have loved the new look while others hated it. But either way the Buell is one step closer in moving from the dark monster it once was into a badass beast in the spotlight. It still has a ways to go, but we're confident this bike will get your juices flowing when it's finished.