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Erik Buell
Chairman and Chief Technical Officer

Erik Buell is Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of Buell Motorcycle Company. As Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Erik is responsible for the long-term strategic vision for the company as well as all technical issues ranging from current product engineering support through future product design.

After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979, he began his career with Harley-Davidson Inc. as a Junior Test Engineer. In 1983 he left Harley to found his own company and build his own motorcycles. The rest is history. If you ask him what his favorite motorcycle is, he'll say it's the one he's working on right now that he can't tell you about.

During his time away from work, Erik enjoys spending family time with his wife Tish and their six children. Aside from a burning passion for motorcycles and all manner of go-fast toys, Erik loves playing his collection of guitars and performs semi-regularly with his rock and blues band, The Thunderbolts.






Dan Hurda
Lead Powertrain Engineer

For the past eight years Dan Hurda has worked for Buell Motorcycle Company. As Lead Powertrain Engineer, Dan and his department are responsible for integrating the powertrain to the chassis. This process includes developing the engine management system (EFI), the intake and exhaust development and thermal management for the engine and chassis.

Dan has been riding dirt bikes since he was five and learned how to ride a motorcycle before he learned how to ride a bicycle. Dan was out on the street with a motorcycle as soon as he was old enough, and admits probably even before that.

Dan hasn't ever stopped riding. On his days off he finds time to race and ride motorcycles. He also finds adventure at the indoor paintball field he owns where he still finds time to play every now and then. With a degree in Astronautical Engineering from MIT, Dan can truly be called a rocket scientist.






Jon Bunne
Test Engineer Manager

Before landing his "dream job" with Buell Motorcycle Company eight and half years ago, Jon always told his wife, "Buell is the one place I would work for free." Now as Test Engineer Manager Jon's enthusiasm for riding and wrenching continues after 30 years of riding motorcycles. At Buell, Jon is involved with the development process from the idea all the way to production. Jon and his team "police the bikes" before they go to production because the job requires them to plan testing on components and full vehicles.

Jon feels he has the perfect job because he gets paid (his wife wouldn't let him work for free) to break things before a given part or motorcycle goes into production so that Buell owners will have a reliable and durable motorcycle.

Before working at Buell Motorcycle Company, Jon attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout to study Product Development and Engineering. Of course he continues to ride motorcycles and his kids like riding motorcycles too. Jon still enjoys wrenching away at cars and working on home improvements. He still enjoys working on bikes once in a while away from the office, but Jon believes riding is always more fun.

Jon has been known to ride his personal XB9R to the racetrack, remove the mirrors and lights, add number plates and go racing. Then at the end of the day, put all the street parts back on and ride home, trophies tucked into his backpack.






Tony Stefanelli
Director XB Platform

Tony Stefanelli joined Buell Motorcycle Company seven years ago as Lead Design Engineer on the Buell Blast. Since then, he has taken the role as Director XB Platform, where he's responsible for the product development of the XB family of motorcycles. He manages the design process and helps invent cool components for the XB family. Tony is actively involved in reviewing the test process, paying attention to rider feedback, researching suppliers who may have innovative technology to share and finding faster and more efficient methods for producing new products.

Tony has been riding motorcycles for over 28 years, taking his bikes on off-road adventures, participating in off-road racing and all-around street riding. One of Tony's favorite riding memories was when he was attending a press launch in the south of France. Tony soared over the crest of a hill in a 100 MPH wheelie. He says he'll never forget that small town where he could see the Mediterranean on his right and a lady standing on the curb to the left, smiling and waving at him as he passed through on one wheel.

Even today, Tony stays on the fast track by riding dirt bikes, driving sport cars and swimming and skiing with his son. Tony has turned his house into a home by building all of his own furniture and constantly being involved in home improvements.





John Fox
Lead Design Engineer

John Fox is Lead Design Engineer and has been working for Buell Motorcycle Company for the past eight years. John's first position with Buell was improving the quality and reducing the warranty on the vehicles in production. As Lead Design Engineer, John oversees motorcycle development, from the concept stage all the way through the production stage. John works with other design engineers to plan and develop the system and component designs for the new vehicles. He works frequently with the assembly personnel to build prototype bikes and also interacts with the analysis and test departments to develop, analyze and test each component of a Buell motorcycle.

One of John's passions away from work is roadracing his Buell Firebolt XB12R in the Championship Cup Series. He's spent the past year working on his bike and hopes to drop a couple seconds per lap at his home track of Blackhawk Farms Raceway this season. One of the greatest thrills he's experienced when racing was winning his first amateur race.





Abraham Askenazi
Director of Analysis, Test and Engineering Process

Ten years ago, after completing his Masters Thesis at UC Berkeley on the Dynamics of Single-Track Vehicles, Abe sent out a single job application. Erik Buell kindly responded with an offer that allowed Abe to become Buell Motorcycle Company's first full-time Analysis Engineer. And so began a wonderful ride that has led Abe to his current position: he directs the Analysis and Test departments and is also responsible for the continued advancement of the company's Engineering Processes. Abe plays a key role in guiding and supporting future product development, as well as ensuring the prompt resolution of current production issues.

Abe grew up in Mexico City and is now married and has a two-year-old son. He's an experienced motorcycle rider and currently owns a 1995 Buell S2 Thunderbolt that he rides as much as possible. Abe hopes to acquire a Ulysses soon and is planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska with other Buell employees.

Abe also spends time wrenching on motorcycles and cars, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, and working on home improvement projects.

What the chat window looked like...

MC: Welcome! The chat with Erik Buell and the Ulysses XB12X engineers will start at 9 PM CDT. While you're waiting, feel free to submit your questions in advance...

MC: Just a reminder that this is a moderated chat. All questions submitted will be reviewed by our chat moderator before being answered. Please send one question at a time. Also, please keep in mind that due to the volume of questions expected, we may not be able to answer all your questions...

MC: If you haven't had the chance to see the new Ulysses XB12X in action, take a look at the Ulysses mini-site http://www.buell.com/ulysses2006/index.asp?language=en_us.

MC: OK, only a few more minutes until we get started. Erik and the engineers are gathering and getting ready to start answering your questions. We're getting your questions now and we'll start the live chat at 9 PM CDT.

MC: We're getting a lot of really great questions! Thanks, and keep 'em coming. We'll start the live chat in about 5 minutes...

MC: OK, we're live at 9 CDT. The next person you'll hear from is Erik Buell himself. Then we'll start answering your questions, keep 'em coming...

Erik: Welcome everybody! We are looking forward to hearing and answering your questions!

Abby23: Is Ulysses a better street bike or off road bike?

Erik: It is definitely more street oriented, just great on paved roads. It is fun on unpaved, but at a slower pace!

360eddy: Is the muffler able to work under water?

Jon: Actually the muffler works even better under water - the bike gets a little quieter! In testing and development we have parked bikes in water completely covering the muffler, started them and ridden out of the water with no problems. Trust me, stream crossing will not be a problem for Ulysses.

petermurphy: Can a helmet fit into one of the bags?

Jon: Yes, each of the three accessory bags is large enough to hold a full face helmet.

trickbikes123: My question is how smooth are the XB's? Above 2500 rpm do they really smooth out or is there a noticeable vibration in the bar?

Dan: As with any big-bore V-Twin there is some vibration at idle, but as soon as you tip in the Ulysses smooths right out. The engineers who worked on the engine isolators spent a lot of time tuning them for each of the XB models to give the smoothest ride possible.

fasterengine: Can you switch out the tail section from the 12X to a regular "S" model like "R" to "S" and vice versa?

John: No, the frame mounts for the tail section on Ulysses are different from the R and S models, so you can't do a direct swap. Depending on the pieces you are looking to change over, you could end up with some clearance issues as well.

firstbuell: Any factory interest in supporting a Ulysses-based effort in the Baja [or similar off-road] races?

Erik: We will not have a direct factory team, but we certainly expect some of our dealers and owners to choose to compete with Ulysses. Hope you are one of them!

Torqueluvr: Were there any particular challenges to the XB12X that kept you up at nights?

Tony: After we built the first prototype, Erik rode it and said "Put it in production now! This bike is perfect!". I was up late that night trying to figure out where to get parts.

KTM_950_Rider: I understand the trilogy of tech and keeping the weight low, but is there any future provision for a muffler/skidplate that’s durable for fire road use and gravel abuse?

Erik: It's already there. The muffler on the XB was originally designed as a jack point, so it is very sturdy. One part to do two or more jobs is our philosophy!

NadZ: Rumors of a GPS on Ulysses? If true, how will it mount, etc?

Abe: We designed a very well integrated GPS system with Garmin and hope to launch that in our dealerships in January, 2006. It cleanly and conveniently mounts to the handlebar, close to the brake master cylinder.

Dewey: Read about the steering lock...is it going to be ok off road?

Erik: I've ridden the bike around my XR100 track on my farm, which is tight as heck through the trees, and it is slippery and off camber. I never noticed the steering lock. But, when you are in dead stop, turn around situations you can't turn as tightly. And if you are in full lock Chris Carr type power slides, you won't be able to get quite as sideways. However, unless you are Chris Carr, that's probably a good thing! Actually, on bikes aimed at road riding, having less steering lock than a dirt bike is the norm, because of the trouble you can get in if the front end turns too far at speed. Not bad on a 220 lb. dirt bike, but kind of overwhelming on a 500 lb. one!

jazzman: Dan, so you are the rocket scientist on the team... Can you figure out how to get a vrsc engine on a Buell?

Dan: That's easy. You drain the water out of it, take it apart, and it should fit neatly into the saddle bags and top box of a Ulysses. Careful - that will exceed the weight rating of the box and bags though.....

bigdirtbikes: What was the most fun part of developing this new bike?

Erik: That's easy. Riding it!

Berkleygrad: Abe, I'm a grad student at Berkley looking for a job... How bout it?

Abe: We are frequently looking for talented and passionate people. Please contact our job hotline at 262-642-6699. Good luck!

benandcindy: Is the tail section and windscreen is adaptable to the 12S

John: No, they are not directly adaptable to the 12S (or 12Ss either). Due to the long travel suspension on Ulysses, we've moved some of the components in the tail around to give as much trunk space as possible. If you put the Ulysses tail components on a Lightning, the rear tire will end up hitting some of those components on hard bumps. The Ulysses windscreen also will not directly fit a Lightning due to the differences in size of the front fairings between the two bikes.

Revin: I'm 6' 5" and I love Buell, but will this bike really fit me?!

Abe: This bike will fit you great! The seat is taller, the pegs are lower, the handlebars are very comfortably placed, and the knee pockets are more accommodating to long legs. Check it out at your local dealer!

aceshigh1972: How durable will the alloy wheels be, and will they be able to handle off-pavement user?

Jon: We have changed the design by increasing the rim profile for added strength over the standard XB wheels. We did this to add durability for off-pavement use. Our testing (both in the lab and in the real world) shows them to hold up very well. We know how we compare to the competition on strength and we are way lighter too.

anmlhaus: 42 yo female from California.... I ride an 05 xb12scg and want to says THANKS for producing such a great bike!

Tony: You're welcome! It really means a lot to the development team to hear from happy riders. We love to ride and we have a great time inventing the bikes. It's truly satisfying to see others having as much fun as we do.

steve: How well is that radical front rotor going to deal with mud, dirt, water -

Erik: In all our testing it did very well. The leading edge is hidden by the wheel rim, so it is actually less vulnerable to rock damage than conventional.

DAve: The XB12X appears to have been developed to go head to head with the Triumph Tiger, Mutistrada, V-Strom or other similar bike. What was the benchmark with the XB12X and what were the core design goals/parameters of the XB12X?

Abe: We set out to develop a very capable Adventure Sportbike. Hence, we benchmarked more dedicated adventure bikes such as the GS1200 and the KTM Adventure, as well as more sporty types such as the V-Strom and the Multi-strada. We feel that we hit the perfect balance between the two - delivering a bike that's fantastic on the twisties, comfortable on the highway, and extremely capable off pavement!

steve: Are there going to be any cooling issues if the Ulysses is ridden at low speeds for lengths of time, trail riding for example. Thank you!

Dan: None whatsoever. We have done extensive testing on the Ulysses in hot weather. Part of our testing includes extended low speed riding and extended idle in 100+ degree ambients. I saw more 100 degree July days in the desert that I ever hope to again to be sure you'll have no overheating problems.

steve: Does the appearingly short wheelbase make the Ulysses "wheelie prone"? If loaded with rearward bags, this might be more concerning, is it anything to be concerned with?

Tony: The XB platform's inherently low center of gravity combined with the Ulysses longer wheelbase makes it easy to handle - even with the bags loaded to capacity. Ride it with confidence.

NadZ: Not a question, but a compliment- Erik and crew, thanks for upsetting the status quo. Especially BMW!

Tony: Our pleasure Actually, our goal when we walk in each morning is to stay true to the scientific principles. It's like racing, if you execute the basics better than everyone else, you'll be the one taking the victory lap.

VMXMAN: I picked up my new Ulysses on Monday. I noticed the aux fan operates most of the time while riding. Is the fan designed to run that much?

Erik: Yes, the fan is used to keep the engine at an optimum temperature to help with emissions, and also to add extra oil cooling when the bike is moving slowly or shut off. As the bike breaks in it will run a little less, though.

jimbryantx1: what differences are there between say the lightning engine and the Uly engine?

Dan: Other than a few minor things, like the clutch cable length, the Ulysses and the 1203 Lightnings use the same engine.

steve: How do you properly pronounce Buell?

Erik: Like fuel as in top fuel dragster.

gadams1515: Hello to everyone there. My question: During the testing of the Ulysses, did the bike ever get ridden through a stream, and if so, how did the muffler handle the water? I am wanting to buy an adventure bike to ride on the trail from Mexico to Canada, and to do that I first have to be able to ride it from New Hampshire to the border of Mexico. I would love to be able to do that on an American bike. From what I understand, the Ulysses is better off road than the BMW 1200 GS.

Abe: Testing for Ulysses was expanded beyond the already grueling testing we’ve been performing for all XB models to include many miles of gravel, fire roads and water crossings as part of our everyday Ulysses durability testing. In addition to all the high mileage durability testing, there are “special” tests that collect data on the bike's limits on all kinds of surfaces in all kinds of weather. We had fun parking the Ulysses in water deep enough so that the muffler was completely under. We let it sit for a bit, and then started it right back up with no fuss. We had fun testing the Ulysses in places that we had never been before (Colorado River in the bottom of the Grand Canyon for example) - so I think you'd have a great time riding to Mexico!

sspazz: in an effort to reduce unsprung weight, i love the front brake and wheel, but why put oil in the swingarm? isn't this counter-productive

Erik: Actually, it turns out not to be. First of all the oil weight is at the very front of the swingarm, so the amount that counts as unsprung weight is quite small. Secondly, because it is liquid, it acts more as a damping fluid than as weight.

jeff: Are the componets for the 2006 XB models compatible with any of the earlier models?

Abe: Some of them are. For example, the new belt technology that was developed for the grueling demands of Ulysses was implemented across the board, and the new, advanced belts are retrofittable back to 04 XB's. For any other specific component, please check with your dealer.

loveall: I am an adventure touring rider(just completed the Ultimate Coast). My current ride is a 92 bmw r100gspd. I rode the xb12x in St.Louis and loved it. What will it take to install a fuel cell,as I like to go as far. I am also Interested in the mileage you get out of the tires in highway use. I believe you have finally built a bike I will buy. I am a American Motorcycle Institute certified mechanic who owns 3 harleys and 1 bmw. It killed my soul to have to buy a nonamerican bike for my last adventure but I knew the haul road would eat my 81 flt. congradulations Loveall

Dan: I just finished a 1,400 mile ride from Phoenix, AZ to the top of Mt Evans Colorado on a Ulysses. Even in the long stretches through Utah I never had a problem with range out of the stock tank. The EPA test rates the fuel economy as 51 mpg city and 64 mpg highway. This is on a specific drive cycle. Real world numbers will vary depending on how hard you “play” with the bike.

Dave W.: Was the new Dunlop tire REALLY designed just for Buell, and the Ulysses?

John: Yes. Really. We spent a lot of time with the engineers at Dunlop developing the tire construction, tread compound and tread pattern to fit the Ulysses. It really was developed just for this bike (and you can tell by the way it works).

awprior: What software does Buell use for FEA and other analysis?

Abe: We use Hypermesh, Optistruct, Pro/Mechanica, Working Model, and others that are escaping my mind at the moment. We also build our own analytical tools, and have two whiteboards on the wall that are always full of equations and stuff. It's a very exciting and fun environment!

anmlhaus: why arent there any women speakers? 50% of new riders are female I'll volunteer myself to work at Buell... see you monday LOL

Erik: Trust me there are plenty of women working at Buell!

Brian: What has been updated on the "new" 05+ fuel pumps? and do they normally run quieter?

Dan: The difference in the fuel pump is largely layout. All the same components are there we just laid them out a bit differently to allow the regulator to purge trapped air better. The noise from older pumps is not the pump itself, but a little air bubble in the regulator. This doesn't affect performance, just makes a little noise. Another change was to how the pump bypasses excess fuel. Bypassed fuel is now fed back to the filter sock. This prevents the pump from sucking in air and starving for fuel when the fuel level is low and the rider breaks aggressively.

dedsld: For an inseam challenged rider who wants a sport-tourer, would swapping the suspension from a Ulysses with that from a Lightning Long produce any negative handling aspects?

Jon: It's not that easy, the first negative effect would be the rear tire would hit the Ulysses trunk pan. The Ulysses has more ground clearance when the suspension is fully bottomed out than the Lightning Long does. We took advantage of that space on Ulysses to make the trunk bigger, so no the suspension is not swappable between the two.

dedsld: Are the 12 V accessory power outlets on the Ulysses sealed from wet wether?

Jon: They are sealed, and they are very high quality outlets. We do lots of wet testing and in this case even specific corrosion testing on the outlets.

fki2005: How much does a new bike cost?

Erik: The MSRP for Ulysses is $11,495 US.

mailman1175: What kind of jack do the 12V accessory plugs use? SAE, I assume?

Tony: Yes, USA automotive standard. Our European riders will have to use a slip-in adaptor to downsize the opening to fit their standard plug size.

al_lighton: if the Uly muffler can take the bangs of offroad, won't the engine isolators then take the load? Are the mounts and isolators up to the task of taking these kind of hits? Are they updated from the previous mounts to be tough enough?

Abe: The engine isolation system was upgraded for Ulysses to make sure that it could effectively deal with the expanded surface content of its expected duty cycle and higher GVWR.

SV_Rider: I currently own a V-Strom 650 .. .what will the Ulysses offer me that my current ride doesn't ... my riding is varied ... i don't own a car .. like gravel roads .. i also do the occacional track day ....

Abe: Certainly more power, torque, comfort and better abilities both on and off the pavement. This bike will do great on a track day, plus you get to ride it home comfortably at the end of the day.

MC: Great questions everybody, keep 'em coming! I've never seen Erik type so fast!

steve: Is the oil flow disrupted when the bike it wheelied for great distances?

Dan: We sponsor a number of professional stunt riders, such as Craig Jones, that perform extended wheelies with our stock bikes. The oiling system does just fine.

SV_Rider: Will the electrical system support all the farkles needed for long distance riding?

John: Farkle? We aren't quite sure what a farkle is, but I know the Ulysses is very capable for long distance riding. If anyone out there knows what a farkle is, let us know!

Sean45: What was done to the belt to make it handle the extra abuse?

John: We designed the 2006 belt with our supplier, Goodyear, and it features dramatic new technology to enhance its ability to withstand debris. We have tested the belt on gravel and fire roads for lots of miles in addition to some pretty severe lab testing. We have also implemented a new belt guard system to minimize the amount of debris that gets to the belt in the first place.

pete_wksh: Would you ever consider a "built to order" bike business?

Tony: Anything is possible. We like to stay busy and we know that our owners like to be treated special. That could lead to an interesting combination.

rahul1983: How many miles have you gotten on the reserve tank?

Dan: There is .83 gallons in reserve when the light comes on. Exactly how far that will get you depends on how you ride. Personally I've gotten 30-35 miles out of it. I haven't pushed it to the point I was walking.... yet.....

GOMO: Is there a possibilty of a Buell with more of a fairing/body work for more wind protection in the future - Like a Long Firebolt with attachable lowers?

Erik: We don't talk about future products. Anyhow, we like to think of a new model launch like a birthday surprise party!

chrisb: My Ulysses is the first buell I have owned and I love it! question: Should the fan be running at freeway speeds in 65-70 degree weather?

Dan: Glad to hear you are enjoying it. Yes, it is common for the fan to run even on a cool day.

Revin: Dan are you really a rocket scientist?

Dan: You bet. I have a degree in Aeronautical & Astronautical engineering. Using it to make the bikes fly.

bigAl: Tony, done any wheelies lately? is that how you test new bikes?

Tony: Yes, but not as many as Jon Bunne - he's our wheelie king during testing on closed courses. We do include thousands of wheelies per year into our testing.

tommygears999: Is the production line automated or are the bikes hand-made?

Tony: It's a combination of the two. We don't have robots placing and attaching parts, our enthusiastic assemblers do that. But we do have automated torquing equipment. In fact, we capture the torque of every critical fastener for each individual bike and store it for historical purposes.

mailman1175: There has been a LOT of buzz about the Ulysses (you know this). One of the main topics of discussion has been the potential off-road vulnerability of the belt drive. I saw your "torture test" video, and I understand you chucked some kind of objects into the belt to test its durability. Can you tell us a little more about the testing the '06 belts went through?

John: I really wish I could go into all the details of the testing of the belt, but it really is too extensive to give you all of the details here. We did have a lab test where we chucked steel debris into the belt, and the new belt is able to take that debris much better than even last year's belt. We had several other lab tests and lots of miles on all different road surfaces and we are confident that the belt will handle it. But don't just take my word for it, take your Ulysses out there and let us know what you think.

metalhead: Erik, I heard you like Fender guitars what is your favorite and why?

Erik: Well my favorite guitar of all is one I made, but among Fenders I like Stratocasters most of all.

Revin: How much total weight with passenger and gear can this baby hold?

Jon: The gross vehicle weight rating is 950 lbs. The Ulysses weighs 498 lbs. wet with a full tank, with an additional 452 lbs. of rider, passenger and / or luggage that can be added.

mailman1175: Hey guys, thanks for the Ulysses. First question is about the expected availability (dates) for the taller windscreen and shorter seat....

John: You're welcome! The shorter seat will be available in September. We've heard the requests for the taller windscreen, but we don't have any launch plans for that item at this time.

Last Cyclone: What led you to feel it was neccessary to make the changes/modificaitons in the new transmission?

Dan: Like many of the other refinements we make to the bikes, we listened to customer feedback. Enough of you guys asked for it, so we did it.

Dave W.: What area of the frame has increased in size to allow more fuel on the standard XB's?

John: Dave, the standard XB's now have the air intake up near the fuel filler cap, so this allowed us to take the air passage tube out of the frame and gain the fuel capacity there. As you may have heard, the Ulysses and Lightning Long have different side stampings to give those two models a total capacity of 4.4 gallons .

Torqueluvr: The relatively high center of gravity of the XB12X seems to go against the core Buell philosophy. Does this represent a shift in thinking, or would you conider it the exception to the rule?

Jon: The Ulysses needs to be a taller bike than other Buells because it needs ground clearance to get through the nasty washed out gravel & dirt roads. We experimented with even taller versions in development but kept the CG as low as practical for its intended use. Trust me, the Ulysses CG is a lot lower than many of its competitors, so for its class it is still a low CG bike.

jimbryantx1: with the Uly being an on / off road sport bike are there any plans for a "sport tourer"

Erik: We don't talk about future products, but I suggest you try a Ulysses. It fills virtually every capability of a sport tourer, and adds lots more.

dedsld: High mileage durability testing? Please define high mileage.

Abe: Tens and tens of thousands of miles on our accelerated XBU (Ulysses) duty cycle.

orangem2: Were any substantial changes made to the engine to achieve the linear power delivery the Ulysses seems to have?

Dan: Smooth linear power delivery is always one of our goals. So, the XB1203 engine already had a very linear torque curve. That is one of the things that made it a great fit for this bike.

al_lighton: Is there a US Forest Service approved spark arrestor available for it, or will there be? Is it legal on those lands without it?

Tony: We do not have a Forest Service approved spark arrestor available. There are many un-paved roads in National Forests that it is legal to ride without the spark arrestor. But certainly, there are trails and places where one is required. Generally, these are areas where we didn't intend the Ulysses to go - they are beyond the spirit of the bike. If you're not sure about an area you intend to travel through, please call the local Forest Ranger and ask. They are very good about putting the requirements on their maps as well as posting the requirements at the park entrances. Some of the maps are available on-line if you surf around.

Ilikedirtroads: Are the brackets for the saddle bags easily remountable/removable?

Abe: The bags themselves can be removed and replaced very easily. The brackets are fastened to the bike with just a few fasteners, but these have lock-patch on them. Hence, I wouldn't recommend that they be removed and replaced.

mikerider: Are there any current plans for uprated springs/suspension for the 12X?

Jon: We spent considerable time on picking the "right" springs and suspension settings for Ulysses. It has to work over a wide range of surfaces and a wide range of rider and passenger weights. Based on the feedback from journalists and others who have ridden the bike, I think we did a good job of balancing comfort and performance.

Chad: I'm 6'5" tall with a 36" inseam. I've been looking for a "big sportbike" that handles well, yet is still comfortable. How does the XB12X compare to the V-Strom and Multistrada in terms of performance and comfort?

Erik: I definitely think you would be delighted with the XB12X. It is a great handling motorcycle, very sporty, with light weight and top of the line suspension and brakes. I think a comparison test between all of the above would send you away with a Ulysses.

X1 Mike: Do you forsee future emissions requirements necessitating a catalytic converter? How about the ability of the current powerplant meeting stricter standards?

Erik: Currently we meet 2008 California standards and Euro II standards, so we are well ahead of most powertrains. However, we are always trying to be ahead of the game, so we are seeing what we can do to make it cleaner yet.

MC: OK, 5 minutes left in the session! This has been great! Sorry we haven't been able to answer all your questions, but we're really excited you've all joined us...

SteveB: Why doesn't the Proseries muffler for the XB work on the XB12X?

Dan: It might come a bit close to the belt guard at full suspension compression.

Chad: Farkle=accessories/gadgets/gizmos/etc.

John: Ah, thanks Chad for the clarification. Our accessory outlets have a 10 amp capacity, so you should be able to power quite a few farkles.

Sir Chadley S1 Texas: What is the wildest story from the Ulysses testing?

Abe: We got a report that one of our Ulysses test vehicles had had an "incident" that required our attention. We were very concerned and quickly contacted the test facility to learn that it had collided with a wild pig. It turned out that the bike and rider were fine, but unfortunately I can't say that about the pig...

crashcourse411: I was able to test ride the Uly a week ago and loved it. During the ride I noticed the nose dived while stopping. Now I realize this was a demo bike, can this be compensated for with some suspension adjustments? Also what is the lowest the seat height will go with the preload adjustment, it was a little tall for two up riding.

Jon: I'm glad you liked the bike. Yes the suspension is very adjustable. Our "baseline" settings on Ulysses are a bit more on the comfort side rather than the sport side. The Ulysses has more suspension travel then a typical sport bike. It has a softer spring rate to take advantage of this extra travel so it will dive a bit more than say a Firebolt. Backing off the preload may lower the seat slightly, but then the bottoming resistance may be compromised with a passenger. We do have a lower P&A seat.

MC: Correction on the race kit muffler clearance issue. It could be an issue at full suspension extension.

Tim: When will a tank bag be available for the Ulysses?

John: There is a tank bag available now that fits all '06MY XB's. Check it out on website - www.buell.com

Hulio: Hulio: Wouldn't the Ulysses benefit with heavier flywheels for lower RPM use?

Dan: Selecting a flywheel inertia is always a matter of trade offs, smooth low speed vs snappy acceleration. We've spent a lot of time on this topic and put a lot of different riders on identical bikes with different flywheels to get their feedback and this is what we ended up with for the best overall performance.

romiti: How would you compare it to the BMW R1200GS?

Erik: Well, I know that bike pretty well, and the biggest difference you will notice on a Ulysses is on paved roads, and whenever the weight comes into play.

anmlhaus: Will the ulysses ever be available in a lower seat height like the cg is?

Tony: We can't comment on future product plans. But, we will have a low seat available in September. It's 1.5 inches lower than the stock seat. At the demo last weekend at Copper Mountain it satisfied a lot of riders who thought the stock seat height was too high for them.

topgun: Jon, is this still your dream job?

Jon: Most days yes. I get paid to try to break things, and I even get to ride a little.

steve: I do not think I have been this excited about a VTwin since I saw the XR1000.

Erik: Thanks very much. Glad you like our work, Steve! The XR1000 was cool wasn't it! I bought one way back then.

jconquest: From everthing I've read on the net from magazine and owners reviews the bike seems to be a hit and could possibly be the best selling model...any plans to follow up with a XB9 version?

Erik: Again, we don't talk about future products, but inherently, the 12 motor is better suited for hauling loads and lugging down at lower speeds in a Ulysses, just as a 9 motor is better in a CityX.

XB12burner: To Abraham, what sort of Quality Control/Assurance department exists at Buell?

Abe: Our Quality Engineering department is extremely integrated across the entire company. Every part gets assigned a Quality Engineer that lives with the part from cradle to grave. They get very involved up front in the design to make sure that quality is built right into the product and answer any questions that the assembly line or the field could have after the part has made it into production.

jeff: Has there been any thought to using a dual rotor ZTL braking system (ie: one on each side)?

Erik: No, there is no need. The extra weight and inertia would hurt street performance, and the single ZTL has been proven to work really well even on 170mph Formula Extreme bikes.

SV_Rider: Do you need a test rider to travel the globe with this new bike?

Abe: That's the same question I asked at the beginning of the project!

T9r: Do you continue to test current models for reliability or do you move on with new designs once the current one has come out?

Abe: Every year we improve the design of all of our vehicles based on what we learn through testing and very in-depth warranty reviews.

X1 Mike: Will you have plenty of Ulysses's on hand to test ride at Biketoberfest?

John: We will have Ulysses available to ride at Biketoberfest, make sure you get out there and take one for a demo ride.

VMXMAN: Great Bike. Thanks for the Ulysses!!!

Erik: Thanks, VMX, I really love them. Now the only question is how many guitars my wife will make me sell before I can get one!

Blake: For Abe A.: Do you perform full scale testing to verify the results of FEA analysis and if so, how closely do your results correlate to actual stiffnesses and catastrophic failure modes/loads.

Abe: Our Analysis department operates as part of the A&T group. Yes, "T" is for test, and our team is extremely integrated. The test guys ensure that we use the most accurate boundary conditions on our models, that these models are well correlated and that the parts are validated both in-lab and on-road. I love my job!

steve: Does the Ulysses name connected with the civil war relationship between Don Carlos Buell and Ulysses S Grant?

Erik: Not at all, actually. I never thought about that!

Last Cyclone: John/Tony ? How long did it take to come to the finalized product from the initial design stages? Were many major changes made from the first prototype and what were they if any?

Tony: It took us two years to develop the Ulysses. Naturally, this overlapped the development of the CityX and the Lightning Long. There were many detail changes between the original concept and the final product. The core idea remained the same, but we added features, like two outlets (test riders needed to charge their cell phones as well as power their GPS), the easy access pre-load adjustor, and the easy to remove windscreen (for cleaning or a quick swap to the P&A taller windscreen). We also made styling improvements along the way.

al_lighton: The saddle bags and tail bags are not currently keyed the same as the bike..will this change in the future?

Abe: There are no current plans but thanks for the suggestion.

fki2005: Erik, what got you into motorcycles?

Erik: The desire to run away from home and become really cool! Still working on it.

Indy_Bueller: From a marketing standpoint, does Buell see itself competing in existing markets, or carving out new ones?

Erik: We are just devoted to trying to make great motorcycles, and often find ourselves making bikes that don't fit in normal categories. Hopefully that attracts a lot of folks, and hopefully quite a few who have not purchased before or not for many years.

steinhauser: when will the ulysses be in the showroom?

Dan: They are there already. Go get one!

Revin: What's the warranty?

Erik: 24 months unlimited mileage. Check on the web site for all the specifics.

Indy_Bueller: What prompted the lengthening of the wheelbase on the Lightning and Ulysses models, and can we expect to see the same thing happen with the Firebolt?

Jon: The wheelbase change is only part of the overall package. The Ulysses and Lightning Long are going after a slightly different customer than the Firebolt or standard Lightning. The main driving factor was rider and passenger room.

gadams1515: How stable is the bike at speed on unpaved roads?

Abe: Very stable - riding the bike at reasonable speeds on unpaved roads was part of the duty cycle that the vehicle went through for thousands of miles.

charlieboy6649: Thank you for your hard work. I'm enjoying my obsession. The Uly WILL be mine!

Erik: OK, we're in a race. I need one too!

bucho65: What is the purpose of the plastic cover on the right side of the engine? I heard it is to aid cooling but I can't see how since it blocks air to the rear cylinder.

Dan: What you've heard is correct. The scoop on the left side put a large volume of air over the rear cylinder. Enough for our spark plug base temperatures to fall line-on-line when we measure them. At speed cooling the rear cylinder is easy. When a bike is moving slowly we need to draw the air over the engine using the fan. The right side panel along with the other body panels direct the way the air flows around the engine, resulting in great airflow across the fuel rail so the bike can idle indefinitely even in 100 degree weather without causing vapor lock.

Tim: I was told the bag on the website would not fit the new XBs because of the air box opening, and someone on the customer care line said something was in the "works" for this reason, but did not know when it would be available. My dealer had the website bag when I bought my Ulysses, but also determined it would block the airbox.

Abe: The new tank-bag that was just introduced works fantastic on Ulysses and will not cover the air intake.

jimbryantx1: what were some of the biggest challenges for the chassis in the change from street only to on / off road use

Tony: In order to get the bike to handle the way we wanted in soft conditions we had to add trail. But, being true to our trillogy, we didn't want to move the front tire forward and move it away from the center of gravity. I believe we came up with a unique solution: We "flattened" the steering stem while keeping the fork angle steep. This provides more trail while keeping the relationship of the front axle and CG, and the aggressive fork angle, the same as the other XBs. This solution requires a more complex triple clamp arrangement, but you're worth it.

Dewey: How does Ulysses differ in power from the other new models?

Dan: The Ulysses uses the same efficient V-twin power plant as the other XB 1203 models. This engine is perfect for the application with the highest torque of any bike in its class. High horsepower combined with low weight makes the power to weight ratio perfect for both on and off pavement riding.

sporty: I'm a sportster rider, which I really like. The bike is stable and has a great power band. I would liike a bike with more advanced tech features but I don't want a crotch rocket. My question is how stable is the Ulysses? I know Buells are responsive but I am not looking for a bike that twitches every which way.

Jon: You need to find a dealer and go on a demo ride to see for yourself. The Ulysses is both responsive and stable. One cool thing is that on the Ulysses has no speed restrictions with loaded bags like some of our competition. Both the Ulysses and the Lightning Long have a different "feel" than other XB's.

Sir Chadley S1 Texas: How come the Buell Motorcycle Company seems so much cooler than the competition?

Erik: Because everyone working here is cool! Well, except for...ouch, oof, punch...

tschoepe: It looks like the bags are side opening, is that true?

Abe: Yes. The bags open from the side.

whodom: Earlier tonight you said there are no plans for a taller windscreen. Tony just responded to a question implying that there will be a taller P&A windscreen. Which is it?

Erik: There are plans, but no release date yet.

Griff: Given religious maintenance and conservative riding practices, could I reasonable expect 100,000 miles out of this bike (the Ulysses)?

Erik: Well, lots of folks have gone over 100,000 miles on earlier Buells, and they keep getting better. Life will depend on how you ride and how you take care of your bike. It certainly would be fun!!!

Brian: The xb series has been very good to me and has the least expensive factory repair parts of any bike I've owned (dollar for dollar of course) Thanks guys.

Tony: You're welcome. Please spread the word!

DanK: Is the backrest able to come off?

John: You mean the triple tail, right? Are you aware that it is able to be moved to one of three positions? Check out the animation at www.buell.com/UlyssesChat to see it move through the positions. If you already knew that, technically, you could remove the triple tail, but it really was designed to remain on the bike.

SV_Rider: The rake of the forks is superbike spec .. how does the bike handle on the rough fire roads?

Jon: It rails on the bumps and broken up pavement or any road for that matter. The low unsprung weight of the wheels and the spring rates keep the tires planted. Ride one and see!

steve: Any estimated 1/4 times and MPH? :-D

Dan: Not sure. I know a number of magazines have reviews of the Ulysses this month, and most will have the times they ran.

roadrash1: I saw a ulysses at my local dealer this week, and even took a minute to sit on it. It seems cool, but I am too busy riding my new City-X to stop for a test ride!

Erik: I understand. I have a CityX too, and it sure isn't going to go if I get a Ulysses!

xb9fog: Is there more power loss with the helical cut transmission gears?

Dan: They are very similar, within 2%.

anmlhaus: is it possible to get a tour of the buell manufacturing plant?

Erik: We don't have regularly scheduled tours, but do have them for special events or groups.

jimbryantx1: would the greatly improved final drive belt fit the older bikes?

Tony: The new belt does fit 2004 and newer bikes. You may have already noticed that we do not have a recommended replacement interval on the new belt - it's that good. We recommend periodic inspections and then replacement in the unlikely event that the belt was damaged by FOD (foreign object damage - a NASA term)

pmbassman: I have read some VERY positive comments about the Ulysses and being a S2 owner I am quite interested in the testing and reliability of this bike. Can you comment further on the testing that was done during developement?

Abe: I'm also an S2 owner and I'm trading mine in for a Ulysses! We submitted the bike to a very grueling test duty cycle that included all manner of paved and unpaved road and surface types. We are extremely confident with its long-term quality and reliability.

wswilson34: When are you shipping the bike to Germany?

Erik: The bikes for Germany are on the water, and should be in the dealers in October. OCTOBERFEST!!!

Bart: You guys ever get in fights with the Harley guys?

Abe: Of course! How could we have a healthy engineering team that worked well with Harley engineering if we didn't slug it out like bothers every once and again.

whodom: Erik what motorcycles and guitars do you have in your own personal collection?

Erik: More than I am willing to admit. My wife Tish is probably logged in!

mailman1175: Can the bike be equipped only with the topcase (without the sidebags)?

Tony: We don't sell a separate kit just for a top box. But if you buy the luggage kit which includes the saddlebags and the top box, you can ride the bike with only the top box in place. You'll have to have all the brackets in place to make the bike functional.

Blake: For Dan H. : What benefit did the "silver plated" bottom end bearing cages bring to the Buell models this year.

Dan: The silver acts as a solid lubricant and gives the bearing longer life. Due to the nature of the Ulysses we expect these bike to see more miles than our previous bikes so we wanted to be sure it would have a bearing to match.

jimbryantx1: looked at it the machine is amazing I wonder what kind of punishment it can take

Abe: All kinds of punishment - we rode thousands and thousands of miles off the pavement. We water-crossed it, we stopped it, we muddied it, etc. and it just kept coming back for more!

Ducman540: Heard you were in Colorado where did you guys get to riide ?

Erik: All over the place! Man those are great roads; paved and unpaved! My first day there I put on ten xhours on the Ulysses. Then more on a CityX. Pikes Peak, Mount Evans, Copper Mountain, Leadville, Evergreen, etc., etc.

supermoto7: Why does only one headlight come on at one time?

Tony: We wanted to keep the housing small and light. Therefore, if both lights are on, the heat from the bulbs will melt the chromed reflector. Additionally, there are actually government regulations on how bright the lights can be (as well as how dim). With only one bulb lit, we are at the limit of brightness.

al_lighton: Have you run the Ulysses on the regular XB tires? Noticable handling improvement on the street?

Jon: On a racetrack, sure there is a little difference, but not a lot. I have ground off quite a bit of the Ulysses foot pegs even with the stock tires (and enjoyed every second of it). Personally, I wouldn't give up the added traction in gravel and on sandy paved roads though.

XB12burner: Erik, what role did you play in the design and completion of the new Ulysses? Rumors abound that you were working on other top secret projects!

Erik: Believe me, I spent a lot of time on Ulysses! Probably more than the team would have liked!!!

al_lighton: The triple tail has a weight rating stamped into it that says "11 lb". This seems low considering the likelihood of a passenger sliding backwards. How conservative is that rating?

John: The 11 lb weight rating of the triple tail is for the forward and rearward cargo carrying positions. We hope that passengers are using it as a backrest in the upright position.

tishinwis: Erik, the kids want to know if you can stop and get a gallon of ice cream on your way home tonight. Thanks honey.

Erik: Geez, in a minute!

DanK: Where's the next big demo tour going to be?

John: Biketoberfest, Daytona.

Torqueluvr: Erik, would you consider running for President of the US if we asked you really, really nicely?

Erik: And with a really, really big bag of money?

Brian: Is the new stule swingarm backwards compatible with the previous models or are the frame dimensions different?

Tony: No, we don't recommend it. There are many detailed changes, more than I can list here, that don't make this possible.

houstonmike: I'm a current owner of a '04 12S that I look forward to riding everyday for my commute. The longer distance potential of the Uly has my interest. The seat height of the 12S hits me perfect at a 32" inseam. On the Uly am I going to be "tip-toeing" at stoplights?

John: With the standard seat, you probably won't be flat footed with both feet. I suggest you try out the lower seat and see how comfortable you are with it.

gadams1515: Do you recommend the use of synthetic oil?

Dan: We did extensive testing on the Ulysses in miserably hot weather (115 degrees in a set of full leather sucks!). The oil cooler manages the temperature very well even in extreme temps and aggressive riding, so the stock HD 20W50 should hold up nicely.

Dave W.: Rake and trail numbers are different on the Ulysses. Is this due to the triple clamp, a new stearing head angle, or the longer fork?

John: Mainly it's due to the change we made to the steering stem. The stem is rotated out 1.5 degrees on both the Ulysses and Lightning Long as compared to the other XB's, while we kept the fork tubes at the same angle. The triple clamps had to change to accept the new angle, but they did not force the different rake and trail numbers.

Torqueluvr: Recent Buell fairings have been very minimalist - even on the XB12X which will likely log some extended highway miles. Is there a functional or aesthetic reasoning for the small fairings? Care to comment in more detail?

Erik: Well, there are plenty of heavily-faired full touring bikes out there. We've just chosen a different route. Actually the wind protection on a Ulysses is not bad, unless you want cocoon-like protection. And in a downpour, I've never found a fairing that kept me dry. Part of the experience of motorcycling!

XB12burner: Are there similar training requirements for Quality personnel at Buell as there are at other manufacuturers, such as ASQ certification, CMI?

Abe: We are very passionate about growing the skills of our employees. Our Quality Engineering department is a very talented group that has enabled us to produce vehicles with some of the lowest warranty numbers in the industry. We are ISO 9000/2000 certified.

crashcourse411: During testing was the "life" of the chassis diminished once the bike was taken off road? i.e. fatigue issues of the Aluminum engine mounts, swingarm, upper rear shock mount etc.

Jon: Before we ever built one, we knew the Ulysses was going to have a different "duty cycle" than our existing bikes. We planned for it, tested for it and did not back off any of our requirements. Many Ulysses parts are unique for its intended use, and some of the Ulysses parts and technology we used "across the board" on other Buell's for 06.

spudboy: I just left my local dealer from a trip to check out the bike. Its bBeatiful, especially the cast parts. Kudos to the design team. I ride about 1200mi/mo in commute traffic while lane splitting. What are your thoughts on how the Ulysses will do in this application? Tire wear?

Jon: Thanks for the props. Dan Hurda sees to it that these things will run just fine in traffic, and the lower clutch effort helps too. The tires last longer than 208's since they have are a "sport touring" compound and have more tread depth.

Blake: I heard a rumor on some Buell enthusiasts site that one could stop and restart a Ulysses even in water up to cylinder head depth. Which one of you had the honor of experiencing that? LOL!

Jon: I'll never tell, from the video all you can see are from the riders hips and down.

Blake: Besides the relatively small intake opening atop the airbox cover at the fuel filler area, do the new XBs also pull in intake air via other areas?

Dan: Yes, it also draws air from the gap all the way around the airbox cover. It looks like a thin, but the area really adds up.

dedsld: How many different 12 powerplants are there? What are the major differences?

Dan: Other than little cosmetic things there is just one.

HDHogBob: Erik - Even without a Uly of your own. It HAS to be cool to see such a cool looking bike siting there with your name on it? I'll buy you one if you start calling them Bob!

Erik: Hey, buy one, and you can put whatever name you want on it, I guess!

spudboy: Have you performed any Highly Accelerated Life Tests on various components? If so, which ones?

Jon: Yes, many of them. We test too many to list ... swingarms, triple clamps, tail sections, saddle bags & brackets, etc. etc. Even our day-to-day full vehicle durability testing is "accelerated" compared to the real world.

wasilla_kev: It looks like you built the bike I didn't know I wanted. How does the comfort of the lower seat compare to the stocker?.

John: Hey, that's great. Of course, we didn't know we were designing the bike you didn't know you wanted. The low seat is very comfortable and most everyone that has ridden it gives it very high marks for comfort.

Max: Erik, what was your first motorcycle? How old were you?

Erik: The first bike I rode was a Honda step thru. The first I owned was a Parilla Slughi (Ramjet!) 90 moped. The next was a panhead chopper!!!

benjy: How are the handling characteristics compared to a Lightning or a Firebolt?

Jon: It's a little hard to describe with a few words. The bikes are different in some ways, but still very much a Buell. Handling is still a huge thing to us at Buell, the Ulysses can corner with the best of them, but it's also is very relaxing and comfortable on the highway.

Blake: "Geez, in a minute!"? The correct answer would be... "Yes of course my love. What flavor would you like?"

Erik: Blake, quit making me look bad! I do that well enough as it is!!! BTW, Tish, what do you want, dear????

m2kimmy: Correction on the tours. Anyone can tour the plant between 8 am - 1 pm daily. Interested parties can call the reception desk for more information.

Erik: Ooops, sorry!

Randy Umbs: Dan, how many miles have you personally logged on the XB platform(s)? -Rumbs

Dan: Uhhhh I tried counting but ran out of fingers. 1000s and 1000s and that was just last week.

dedsld: Are there any plans for offering the Ulysses as law enforcement vehicles?

Erik: Not at the moment.

blueglide88: have you looked into a larger discplacement engine?.........large bore and/ or stroke?

Erik: Yes, I just looked into the bore of one of those Buell drag bikes, and you could practically put your head in!

wswilson34: When you need test riders in Germany I'm your man!

Abe: Thanks for the offer, we'll keep you in mind!

dedsld: Abe, trading an S2 in is blasphemy!

Abe: Yes, I know... but there's no more room left in the garage! Are you interested in providing a nice new home for it?

Sir Chadley S1 Texas: Is the electrical charging system of the Ulysses enhanced in any way to provide the extra juice needed for the accessory outlets?

John: We've got a 10 amp capacity on the accessory outlets so there should be plenty of juice for all the farkles (wow, I got to use that word again) you need.

X1 Mike: Did you guys get a kick out of the various forums on the internet buzzing with rumours of your new bike?

Erik: Yes. It's always fun watching people speculate. We were surprised how well it stayed a secret.

Tim: Can one get the side bags without the top box, and still use the triple tail in all three positions, or will the bracketing, which is also for the top box, prevent this?

Abe: Yes. If you get the saddlebag kit, you'll be able to use the triple-tail in all three positions.

Unpaved313: I'm impressed with how linear and smooth the fuel injection feels on the new Ulysses, but I haven't seen any info telling about internal differences between the '05 engines and EFI systems and the '06 setup on the XB12X. Can you tell me why the bike seems so crisp this year?

Dan: Glad to hear you like it. The EFI system has no functional changes from '05 to '06, so if you like the feel of the '06s the '05s should feel just as crisp.

Sir Chadley S1 Texas: The tire design on the Ulysses is awesome! What exactly did y'all have in mind when creating these tires? How should I expect them to handle in gravel, mud, snow, sand...etc?

John: We were thinking Adventure Sportbike when we designed the tires with Dunlop. Primarily they are designed to work well on the street. As long as the gravel, mud, snow, sand, etc doesn't get too crazy, you should be fine.

XB12burner: Has Craig Jones done any torture testing on the Ulysses?(hint, hint)

Abe: He did the photo shoots for Europe!

blueglide88: I read the Ulysses has less lean angle than other Buells.......how can that be with a longer suspension?

Abe: We lowered the footpegs to provide more rider comfort, so that the lean angle is slightly less than a Lightning.

blueglide88: I see Bike magazine voted the Firebolt the BEST cornering bike of all time.....congrats!

Erik: Yeah, that really felt good, especially coming from a test team that included incredible racers like Chris Walker and Matt Oxley.

DigitalGT: Erik I heard a Web rumor that you carry around a paint pen all the time to sign bikes. Any stake to that claim?

Erik: Well, sometimes. Sometimes I forget.

sparky: how much of an improvement is the new gear box

Dan: That is a hard thing to put a number on, but subjectively, its huge! Its crisper, easier to shift and the reduced clutch effort is awesome.

Max: My wife and I are looking to buy a new bike to go across the country. How do I sell her on being a passenger on the Uly?

Erik: Put her on and take it for a ride! The passenger accommodations are absolutely great!!!

MooseGruve: When was the last time BMW, KTM, or Ducati offerd an oline chat with its customers?

Erik: Heck, I don't know.

Torqueluvr: I have seen references that seem to indicate the "fuel in frame" was being considered long before the first XB was introduced. Why did it take so long to become a reality, and can you discuss any of the special considerations required to make such a unique design reality.

Tony: This is a good question that deserves a long answer. But I type too slowly to give you the long answer. The short one is that the company has to be willing to plow new ground in terms of doing things different than everyone else (rare in this industry), investing in the technology development and a proper test plan. We are always willing to do both if there is a benefit to the rider.

Dave W: what is the major difference between 9 engine and the 12 engine?

Dan: Stroke. The rod and piston are different. This allows the 984 to spin higher. The throttle body is also 4mm smaller in diameter on the 984. This gives it a really crisp off idle response

dedsld: Would the Ulysses tires provide any benefit (higher mileage maybe) on other Buell models?

Jon: That depends on how and where you ride.

steve: Will the Ulysses cruise comfortably at 80?

Dan: All day.

Max_Umbs: So, are all of crammed in front of one terminal?

Tony: Yes, each guy has two keys.

Unpaved313: Do you try to evaluate some of the upcoming technologies that are evolving in other industries and figure out ways to integrate them into the latest Buell motorcycles?

Abe: Absolutely - we're always looking at new and exciting technologies as well as developing plenty of our own!

billfromcleveland: If the long was designed for more rider room why didn’t you lower the foot pegs like you did on the Uly?

Tony: We still wanted the bike to have the same lean angle as the other Lightnings.

pw50: How comfortable will this bike be for me as a passenger?

Jon: Let's just say that the Ulysses in very comfortable for both the rider and passenger, I've spent time in both seats.

dedsld: Who puts on the most miles in a year (riding of course) and how many miles typically in a year?

Jon: I know it's not me, I barely have time to ride my 03 Firebolt, but I do get to ride for work once in a while

tishinwis: we want the ice cream NOW!

Erik: Oh boy, I'd better get moving!

jconquest: The Ulysses is really turning heads, congratulations to the whole team at Buell!

Erik: Thanks, jcon. We've really worked hard on it, and now it's all worth it!

mailman1175: Thanks for doing this guys! It's really a great resource for those of us who've been speculating in various discussion groups.

Erik: Thanks for coming!

HDHogBob: Thanks to everyone for taking our questions. Keep up the great work!

Tony: All nighter tonight.

Thomas: Will the Ulyssess have a "more" off road tire as an option? For example, a more knobby front tire.

Erik: There are no plans for this at the moment. The focus of the bike is to be a great sport bike with good unpaved road capabilities. A knobby front tire has significant negative impact on traction on paved roads.

Erik: Thanks for meeting the team. It was very fun for all of us. Now, step away from the computer, and go ride. And wave at me as you pass the ice cream shop!

SOURCE

Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post WOW Something really interesting happened during the chat. Please r... Indy_bueller 35  1  09-03-05  07:42 am Archive through August 25, 2005 M2me 30  1  08-25-05  11:08 pm

Author Message   Firstbuell Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:09 pm:        that belt IS usable on the ol tubers, I believe. Not factory authorized, but it does fit - right guys?   1313 Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:15 pm:        Oldog, Last week Carlos and I spent a handful of hours replacing his 'redneck' (i.e. missing teeth) belt with the new for '06 belt. It fits, but the only question for a tuber is exactly how long it will last. I know there have been others that have done this as well. In fact, I'm almost looking forward to the next time I have to replace a belt on the S2 as I want to give the new belt a try. Of course on an S2 (or an X1 with the removable sideplate) the belt replacement is a LOT easier and less time consuming to do. 1313   Al_lighton Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:16 pm:        I posted about 25 or so questions, got a few answered. Glad to hear the 11 lb limit doesn't apply to the triple tail in the backrest position. I think it was darn cool. Oldog, It (not the Uly belt, but the new 06 XB-R and XB-S belt) is usable on the tube frame models. Buell won't go on record as saying so because they haven't fully tested it that way (right answer for them), but we have several customers are already running the new belt on tubers "successfully". What does "successfully" mean? Well, no failures have been reported yet, and there are no fitment issue. The front pulley is the same 27 tooth pulley as on the old tube frame Buells. I'm careful to point out that using it is an "experimental" thing. But so far, I'd rate it as a successful experiment that isn't finished yet. I would put one on my own tuber in a heartbeat. YMMV. Al   1313 Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:16 pm:        BTW, In case you forgot, Carlos rides an M2 (when he is not on his flying suitcase Nighthawk). 1313   Oldog Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:16 pm:        yes the vrod thing was too funny! what about Blakes the correct answer to Erik   Daves Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:17 pm:        Been known to happen   Buellistic Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:18 pm:        Why did the committee name the XB12X after a GREEK HERO that had a mid-life crisis ???   Oldog Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:22 pm:        thanks Al, & Brankin the super belt is going on the sled when the time comes, I wonder about the gps too I asked if that was some kind of hand held, I have a terrible time with glasses( i need them to read ) a clamp arrangement if used on the uly may be a great refit Carlos is one awesom rider! he can definately fly the hawk   T9r Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:34 pm:        before closing down my Java window I did a Print Screen, saving the whole Q&A in a Doc format. IT's one large file with photos. If anyone wants it I'll work on breaking it up and making it smaller for posting someplace.   Daves Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:36 pm:        I can just see Erik right now, loading ice cream into the saddlebags of a Uly!   Oldog Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:40 pm:        but now the decisive question, did he have to take the vrod parts out first and what flavour?   Diablobrian Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 11:47 pm:        Erik has been on record saying the vrod engine is too large and too heavy, emissions equipment would also add weight. In the end he said (I believe) the there was no real advantage by the time you add up all the negatives. or words to that effect. My memory isn't what it once was. Feel free to correct me if you know the proper answer and I got it wrong   Blake Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:03 am:        Now I want ice cream too!   1313 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:15 am:        Buellistic, The Ulysses is the first Buell to carry its development name into production. Fortunately the rest haven't. Otherwise all the Blast's would be Thor's and the XB9R's would be Aries's. 1313   Blake Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:21 am:        Unfortunately, I missed the first ten minutes or so due to a beligerent computer, darn it! But for those who missed the whole thing, here's what I was able to enjoy. Great stuff! First, the distinguished speakers... Erik Buell Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell is Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of Buell Motorcycle Company. As Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Erik is responsible for the long-term strategic vision for the company as well as all technical issues ranging from current product engineering support through future product design. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979, he began his career with Harley-Davidson Inc. as a Junior Test Engineer. In 1983 he left Harley to found his own company and build his own motorcycles. The rest is history. If you ask him what his favorite motorcycle is, he'll say it's the one he's working on right now that he can't tell you about. During his time away from work, Erik enjoys spending family time with his wife Tish and their six children. Aside from a burning passion for motorcycles and all manner of go-fast toys, Erik loves playing his collection of guitars and performs semi-regularly with his rock and blues band, The Thunderbolts. Dan Hurda Lead Powertrain Engineer For the past eight years Dan Hurda has worked for Buell Motorcycle Company. As Lead Powertrain Engineer, Dan and his department are responsible for integrating the powertrain to the chassis. This process includes developing the engine management system (EFI), the intake and exhaust development and thermal management for the engine and chassis. Dan has been riding dirt bikes since he was five and learned how to ride a motorcycle before he learned how to ride a bicycle. Dan was out on the street with a motorcycle as soon as he was old enough, and admits probably even before that. Dan hasn't ever stopped riding. On his days off he finds time to race and ride motorcycles. He also finds adventure at the indoor paintball field he owns where he still finds time to play every now and then. With a degree in Astronautical Engineering from MIT, Dan can truly be called a rocket scientist. Jon Bunne Test Engineer Manager Before landing his "dream job" with Buell Motorcycle Company eight and half years ago, Jon always told his wife, "Buell is the one place I would work for free." Now as Test Engineer Manager Jon's enthusiasm for riding and wrenching continues after 30 years of riding motorcycles. At Buell, Jon is involved with the development process from the idea all the way to production. Jon and his team "police the bikes" before they go to production because the job requires them to plan testing on components and full vehicles. Jon feels he has the perfect job because he gets paid (his wife wouldn't let him work for free) to break things before a given part or motorcycle goes into production so that Buell owners will have a reliable and durable motorcycle. Before working at Buell Motorcycle Company, Jon attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout to study Product Development and Engineering. Of course he continues to ride motorcycles and his kids like riding motorcycles too. Jon still enjoys wrenching away at cars and working on home improvements. He still enjoys working on bikes once in a while away from the office, but Jon believes riding is always more fun. Jon has been known to ride his personal XB9R to the racetrack, remove the mirrors and lights, add number plates and go racing. Then at the end of the day, put all the street parts back on and ride home, trophies tucked into his backpack. Tony Stefanelli Director XB Platform Tony Stefanelli joined Buell Motorcycle Company seven years ago as Lead Design Engineer on the Buell Blast. Since then, he has taken the role as Director XB Platform, where he's responsible for the product development of the XB family of motorcycles. He manages the design process and helps invent cool components for the XB family. Tony is actively involved in reviewing the test process, paying attention to rider feedback, researching suppliers who may have innovative technology to share and finding faster and more efficient methods for producing new products. Tony has been riding motorcycles for over 28 years, taking his bikes on off-road adventures, participating in off-road racing and all-around street riding. One of Tony's favorite riding memories was when he was attending a press launch in the south of France. Tony soared over the crest of a hill in a 100 MPH wheelie. He says he'll never forget that small town where he could see the Mediterranean on his right and a lady standing on the curb to the left, smiling and waving at him as he passed through on one wheel. Even today, Tony stays on the fast track by riding dirt bikes, driving sport cars and swimming and skiing with his son. Tony has turned his house into a home by building all of his own furniture and constantly being involved in home improvements. John Fox Lead Design Engineer John Fox is Lead Design Engineer and has been working for Buell Motorcycle Company for the past eight years. John's first position with Buell was improving the quality and reducing the warranty on the vehicles in production. As Lead Design Engineer, John oversees motorcycle development, from the concept stage all the way through the production stage. John works with other design engineers to plan and develop the system and component designs for the new vehicles. He works frequently with the assembly personnel to build prototype bikes and also interacts with the analysis and test departments to develop, analyze and test each component of a Buell motorcycle. One of John's passions away from work is roadracing his Buell Firebolt XB12R in the Championship Cup Series. He's spent the past year working on his bike and hopes to drop a couple seconds per lap at his home track of Blackhawk Farms Raceway this season. One of the greatest thrills he's experienced when racing was winning his first amateur race. Abraham Askenazi Director of Analysis, Test and Engineering Process Ten years ago, after completing his Masters Thesis at UC Berkeley on the Dynamics of Single-Track Vehicles, Abe sent out a single job application. Erik Buell kindly responded with an offer that allowed Abe to become Buell Motorcycle Company's first full-time Analysis Engineer. And so began a wonderful ride that has led Abe to his current position: he directs the Analysis and Test departments and is also responsible for the continued advancement of the company's Engineering Processes. Abe plays a key role in guiding and supporting future product development, as well as ensuring the prompt resolution of current production issues. Abe grew up in Mexico City and is now married and has a two-year-old son. He's an experienced motorcycle rider and currently owns a 1995 Buell S2 Thunderbolt that he rides as much as possible. Abe hopes to acquire a Ulysses soon and is planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska with other Buell employees. Abe also spends time wrenching on motorcycles and cars, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, and working on home improvement projects. And the actual dialogue... Really great stuff! Thanks Erik, Dan, Jon, Tony, John, and Abe! And Tish too! Hope the ice cream was worth the wait! (Message edited by blake on August 26, 2005)   Blake Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:31 am:        LOL! Hadn't noticed Dan's answer to the "Do you recommend synthetic oil?" question. Nice non-answer there Dan. The man is obviously missing his calling as a politician.   Drfuyutsuki Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:38 am:        T9r, Send the Doc to DRfuyutsuki@earthlink.net it should allow 10 mb's to be recieved, and I'll post it out on my homepage (on my profile) for all to see.   Jon Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 01:24 am:        Wow. Awesome. I gotta tell you.. I am so impressed with Erik and company's dedication to their customers. I can't say enough good. I'm very pleased to be a part of this community. We are truly more and more developing a very intimate relationship with Buell and his people. ENjoy it folks, nobody else has such a connection.   Drfuyutsuki Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 01:26 am:        It is really great to know these guys have a great sense of humour and love for the bikes they build.   Rex Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 02:25 am:        very nice. nice to have a company, motorcycle or other, do a chat like this with enthusiasts. Kind of cool for buell to do this. REX   Whodom Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 06:29 am:        Unfortunately, I missed the first ten minutes or so due to a beligerent computer, darn it! Oh man! That means you missed the discussion about the upcoming 2007 XB13.5RRXT limited edition fully faired sport racing touring moto cruiser!   Tripper Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 08:23 am:        A really cool url was setup for the chat that did not get referenced in the conversation. Check this out. ULYSSES DETAILS Blake, Think Buell would mind if we archived this info here?   Mike748 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 08:55 am:        That was pretty cool of them. I have a few more screen shots on my home laptop. I'll post up later.   CJXB Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 09:29 am:        Cool posting the chat for those of us who didn't participate good reading, thanks Blake !! CJ   Broodwich Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 11:33 am:        Tripper, thanks for that link.   Blake Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 03:18 pm:        Trip, I dunno. Would hate to lose it though. Have you saved it to your HD?   Spike Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 03:58 pm:        Tripper- Great link!! It would be great if Buell would offer up more of that type of information about the other Buell models.   Tripper Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 04:21 pm:        Blake; have now saved all pages on my local disk.   Midknyte Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 04:29 pm:        A really cool url was setup for the chat that did not get referenced in the conversation I want the link to that development video someone talked about where there were shooting slag into the new Uly belt drive.   Whodom Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 04:50 pm:        I noticed the post last night about the Uly belt video too (someone said they had seen it). The video was mentioned in the Cycle World article. Buell would reassure a lot of prospective buyers about the belt drive if they'd make that video available. Of course, the lawyers have probably told them that they'll be liable if some moron watches the video, tries to do the test himself, and impregnates a few steel slugs in his forehead as a result....   Mike748 Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 05:08 pm:        Here's another screenshot from last night   Steve_a Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 05:17 pm:        I've seen the video. It's impressive to see the jerk in the system with the old belt when a steel slug was injested. There appeared to be substantial elastic bending of the swingarm or pivot shaft, which tells you something about the loads involved. On the old belt, a single slug could sometimes do belt damage. In this slow-motion video, the new belt seems to just flow around a slug as it passes between the belt and the front sprocket, with much less jerk. It's slightly stronger than the old belt as well, according to Buell's numbers. So maybe it's stronger but less stiff, or at least less stiff in local bending. In any case, the new belt would eat multiple steel slugs with minimal damage.   Blake Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 08:46 pm:        Steve, Who you calling a "jerk", Dan? Whodom, Darnitagain! I'm always missing out on that kind of cool info. Mike748, Pretty sure that dialogue is included in one of the 24 panels I posted above, see the 14 or 15th one down from the top. Good question BTW.   Dave Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 09:07 pm:        The chat transcript is available at the Buell site. http://buell.com/en_us/home.asp DAve   Blake Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 04:17 am:        I don't see it. Can you provide a direct link?   Blake Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2005 - 06:28 am:        Found it!   Blake Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 10:40 am:        Darn. Nothing concerning the break-in limitations here. Next time.

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