| Author | Message | ||
     Black_sheep |
First post so want to say Howdy and thanks for letting me lurk for a while now and look at all the nice pics.  I currently ride on of those "other" bikes (CBR954RR) and have never ridden a Buell or a HD as an adult. My dad is an old school HD guy so been around em and on em as a kid. I think I am ready to leave the sportbike behind but don't want to give up all of the fun. I have been looking hard at the supermoto type bikes but am afraid that most of them will feel weak on power. So I come to the Uly. Can some of you who own them give me your opinions on them. Can you also include anything that you don't like or would change if you could. I have also looked at the Lightning Long but am figuring on taking my kids and wife for rides and the Uly looks like it is better suited for that. I know this is the home of the Buell as far as websites go so I have come to the experts for an honest opinion on the bike. | ||
| Etennuly |
You have only to open and read thread after thread of Uly riders to see that most of us love 'em. In spite of the first model year warranty issues that have surfaced, I consider it a small inconvenience to ride one of the best all-around and useful utility motorcycles ever built. If you are fortunate enough to have a good dealer with a good Buell service department the Uly can be the best machine you will experience in its adventure sport class. The Uly isn't your daddys' bike. It will carve corners like a sport bike, wheelie when you ask it to, cruise the Interstate at 100 MPH with ease, ride comfortably on those 14 hour back to back days, ride two up for hours and pack enough gear for two for three to four days, then when the road ends and you rode 150 miles to visit a site you don't have to walk the rest of the way in on the dirt trail. These bikes run and show very well with no chrome at all. Then you gotta ask yourself; "do I really want to deal with the people that always come over to my bike to ask about it?" Whoa...I'm confused...did you ask a question? | ||
| Etennuly |
Oh yeah, get to a dealer and ask for a test drive, or find out when the Buell test drive truck will be in your area. Pick up the Fuell magazine at your Buell dealer for schedules. You don't need to buy one to find out if you want to ride one!! Good luck and welcome to the web!  | ||
| Aussiexbox |
Well black sheep,(your not a Kiwi are you?)lol,welcome to the land of Uly,I too saw the light,and came from a CBR900RR,then to an ST1100 tourer,but took delivery,but a week ago of my brand new 06 Ulysses,and man am I impressed,I live in the land "DownUnder"and had been watching the progress of this bike in Australia,there are not a lot of them here at the moment,but the few of us around this big land of ours are really impressed with em! Take one for a ride,I am sure you will lay down the deposit straight away the same as I did with mine. But you will be converted. And hey I'm a first timer here too! Cheers from this great big land Down Under | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
This bike is THE bike of interest in the Buell line-up. The S and R are great bikes, but the Uly is the prettiest girl at the dance. As such, dealers that want to sell Buell haven't been able to keep them in stock. The main problems are developmental kinks that are being worked out as we speak. The fans weren't meant to go to the places we take the Ulys, so they die early. Buell will correct this. The sidestand bolts were not made to take the stress of the extra long lever and added angle due to height of the bike. This has been addressed. The longer front forks caused the bikes to dive more than usual under braking. The new progressive springs are designed to counteract this. The latches on the hard luggage are weak. New latches are available that address this issue (I believe). The original airbox is a little restrictive. The new airbox has 21 square inches more open area. The oil pump volume has been increased with the new pump, so lubrication and more importantly cooling is assisted. The 06 seat was a little high and had seams that hurt some rider's legs. The new seat addresses this issue. I believe the fuel delivery system (fuel rail or throttle body) has been updated for smoother fuel delivery. These are all issues you find in a first year brand new model untested in the "real" world. If you're concerned, buy an 07. I believe that all but the fuel delivery system are upgradeable on the 06. Mine doesn't seem to notice. I will be upgrading the inner airbox. It's $35. I enjoy every single mile on mine. I ride with a mixed bag of riding buddies. There's a XX, a CBR600, a Bandit 1200, a Fizzy, a Vstrom, and an FJR. Mine is always the one that gets noticed. Always! Things I have changed: I got the race kit immediately. Better overall response from the bike. Better in every way. I upgraded the lighting with a low beam HID conversion. I added Polly grip heaters. I bought hard luggage from a fellow Uly owner. Why? It was there. I've never ridden with them on the bike. One of these days, I'm gonna make a grocery run with them just because I can. I don't really think there is anything else I need to add. | ||
| 12x_infatuation |
More than happy with the 06 stock seat. More power & torque than ill ever need. Dont even notice the fan anymore until someone says 'whats that noise'?. (turbo winding down i tell 'em). Handles like a dream - not enough corners! Mine hasn't missed a beat in 4000km. Bring on the next 40000! I commute 90km round trip for work on mine & look forward to weekends for riding & when i get back from a ride i go for another ride! (the house sort of needs attention but i think i have my priorities right). Theres nothing else out there like it & you only live once so go & get one, you wont be sorry. GO NOW! | ||
| Dr_greg |
Ditto everybody. Over 20K miles here w/no problems of ANY sort. The most enjoyable bike I've EVER owned (and I've been riding since 1957). | ||
| M2nc |
Ditto everyone also. The best all around motorcycle I have come across so far and I have almost 16K miles on mine. I am looking for something else to share with the daily commuter task but haven't yet and the M2 is too loud for 6:30am departures from the neighborhood, so I ride the Uly just about every day to work. One thing I always warn someone coming from an I-4 Sport Bike to a Uly/Buell/HD product. The power band is totally different. The bike pulls hard with partial throttle but does not have the big top end that you are use to from the I-4. The bike also shakes like a Harley, more like an older Harley at that. If your Dad has been riding them for a while then you will know what I mean. To us it is part of the character of the bike. Sport Bike! I have taken several trips with the Uly to the Appalachian mountains and can say without a doubt, that the Uly handles so well, that a rider better be top notch to get away from me on his sport bike when the road has no straightaways. Every time I go up to the mountains I run into the color matching leather sport bike guys that watch me pull out on the Dragon or the Snake and then see me on the other side but never catch me in between, with the three bags on an all. The bikes is incredible fun on the twisties. Touring Bike! I have toured with my bike too. So far I took a 1500 mile three day weekend trip to Daytona for Bike Week, 1500 mile trip to Georgia for March Badness and 720 mile return day (helped a friend move to Indiana, trailered my bike behind his truck on his trailer and rode it home to north Carolina the next day). I took a weekend with my daughter where we camped out mid-state for a 700 miles weekend. Rode with the wife around the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a weekend for 360 miles and just rode across state to Boone and back for 600 mile three day ride. It has been to ten states in its first year so I can say without doubt that the bike will go distances you would never want to traverse on a CBR. Adventure Bike! Off road the bike has taken everyone by surprise. A dedicated street bike that can run on roads of other surfaces, the Uly has proven to be quite the competent off roader. I see you are from Washington state. One of the guys on this board from out your way just road with a KLR up into the mountains of Washington State and that report and beautiful pictures is enough to show where the Uly can go. For me, I have been down two rut hunting pants and farm fields and Fire Roads and sand dunes with the Uly. The bike has done it all and let me tell you, that can be more fun a 20mph that dragging knees at 100mph. I guess that about covers a Uly. | ||
| Lovehamr |
Right now I'm riding my 91 Yamaha FJ1200 because my Uly and I had an altercation with a Deer, (more on that here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/234070.html?1161099869 ). After putting 5k on my Uly the FJ is indeed a different animal. Though it probably has as much power as the Uly it doesn't feel like it. The FJ also lacks ground clearance and luggage. This limits both play potential and utility, not a good combo. Don't get me wrong, I've owned my FJ since it was new and I still dig it. It's just that the Uly is better in many areas which impact my motorcycle enjoyment on a daily basis. I drag my pegs on the FJ almost every day without even meaning to but when I drag one on the Uly I normally have a nice adrenaline dump going! It's just leaned over that much farther. I tell ya man it's a gas. Now my FJ doesn't have the bells and whistles of your CBR (I'd love to try one out!), but I think that you'd be happy in more areas of riding more often than you are on the CBR just because the Uly is not so tightly focused. This do anything kind of bike has really tripped my trigger. Get a test ride, find a bud that already has one, just go sit on one, what ever, but I think you'll be hooked like most of us. Hope that helps, Steve | ||
| Xbimmer |
Welcome to BadWeB Black_sheep! I haven't had near the number of bikes as many riders but I tend to keep them a long time and ride them a lot. My Uly is just now 5 months mine and I'll hit 11k miles tomorrow, so I guess I like it!  Now that my kids are grown and/or self-mobile and/or gone I don't have to drive unless I want to. When I bought last May there was a broad spectrum of bikes I was interested in. Since I am a big BMW fan at least three were Bimmers, always wanted a Ducati or Guzzi, '06 Triumph Tiger had a definite chance. Even considered buying two Kawasakis, a KLR and that street 650 twin they had, if I could find one (don't remember the model...). The Uly had everything I really wanted, two cylinders, lotsa power, Buell handling, belt drive, touring capability (except for the fuel capacity), and crappy paved road capability which is why I didn't just dump a lot of money into restoring my R100S. A short test ride and I wasn't only sold, I was hooked! And I still don't see them anywhere but the Rock Store, so add exclusivity to the list! You'll find lots of "concerns" voiced here (me included) but that's why Forums rock so we all can work the bugs out. And when I pull into a bike hangout and shut it down and that fan kicks on, I can actually say I feel proud! I love this bike!  | ||
| Teeps |
I've had my Ulysses since May/06, have just under 4k miles. Ditto the sentiments above; but there are 2 things that I don't like about the bike. 1. The snatchieness of the power delivery at speeds less than 35mph. 2. The fan is loud and runs when (my logic, says) it should not. Even with a couple of warts "The Great" still puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. | ||
| Asdf |
Teeps, I didn't like the On-Off low speed throttle response either. To cure it, I had a Race ECM installed, and had the Exhaust Servo wired open. Now, the throttle is SMOOTH. I have not heard if the new '07 air box cover and '07 Stock ECM Map cures the snatchy throttle on an '06 bike. If it does, then I will probably go with that. I am still waiting to find out how the '07 mods on an '06 bike work out. The early reports are not unanimous. I would think that by Spring 07, we will know. In the meantime, the Race ECM with a wired open Servo is a viable way to go for me. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
asdf, Didn't you also do the XB9 primary gear reduction as well or was that someone else? | ||
| Asdf |
Hi, FB! Yes, I also have the lower XB-9 Primary Ratio. Can you imagine the tractability problems that I would have if a notchy throttle was combined with lower gearing? That would just be plain scary! Anyway, I like my set up, for how I use my bike. I certainly would not expect everyone, or even most folks, to cotton to lower gearing. On the other hand, I suspect that everyone would prefer a smooth throttle response, regardless of their riding style. Keep up the good work FB, I love reading your stuff! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Asdf, You are truly a sick man! I already have plenty of torque. I'd be worried about the lower gearing. Besides, I am having a hard time getting tires to last more than 3-4,000 miles. I'm running Azaros. With about 2,000 miles on them I'm afraid they won't last another two. I don't know if it's me (being a Fat Bastard), my throttle usage, the roads here, the suspension set up, or what, but they just ain't lasting. It would be nice to have a little more hole shot for no good reason. Where I ride, you really can't do more than 75-80 mph anyway. | ||
| Asdf |
Ahhh, FB, Tire wear is just part of the cost of having fun. It sounds like you are just having too darn much fun. You are correct sir, you do not need more torque in first gear... or second or third... certainly not fourth or fifth! That would be way too much fun! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I have a tendency to break the rear loose on corner exit if I get too ham fisted with the throttle. If I have even lower gearing, I'm afraid I will need to attend a SuperMoto school:  I just always assume that I'm doing something wrong. My tires aren't "boogery" they're just gone. | ||
| Teeps |
Asdf Posted on Saturday, October 21 Teeps, I didn't like the On-Off low speed throttle response either. To cure it, I had a Race ECM installed, and had the Exhaust Servo wired open. Now, the throttle is SMOOTH. Asdf Posted on Saturday, October 21 Hi, FB! Yes, I also have the lower XB-9 Primary Ratio. The lower XB-9 Primary is probably why the snatchieness is gone from your bike. At 25 to 35 mph, the engine on your bike is probably above 3k. My problem is trying to go legal (residential 25mph and town 35mph) speeds in 3rd gear. I have been trying to ride the Ulysses like my VTX1300 in local conditions... I believe, now, it's just the nature of the beast. Because every other condition the bike runs smooth and steady. | ||
| Asdf |
Teeps, I had a snatchy throttle right off from idle and at low engine speeds. The problem was present in all gears, at low engine speeds. The problem was most noticeable in low gear, as the bike is more responsive to throttle in low gear. With the Race ECM, that problem is gone. Lower gearing will only reduce the vehicle speeds at which the snatchy throttle is a problem. Lower gearing will make a snatchy throttle more noticeable and more difficult to manage. Lower gearing will not eliminate a problem with a snatchy on-off throttle. My snatchy throttle problem is GONE at ALL engine and/or vehicle speeds. It is not simply relocated to slower vehicle speeds, it is GONE. Give it a try! EDIT: I should mention for accuracy that I also have the Buell Race Air Filter. I still run the stock muffler, with the Servo wired open. I now have a smooth throttle response at all engine speeds, throttle openings and throttle transitions. (Message edited by Asdf on October 22, 2006) | ||
| Dmcutter |
Okay, back on Blacksheep's topic... I swapped a Kawi ZX10R for my Uly, after riding I-4s for 20 years. I do miss the big top end hit of an open class I-4 and actually had almost talked myself into buying another one to go along with the Uly. But yesterday I got out for a nice long afternoon ride with some good twisties, 100mph straightaways, and even a dirt road thrown in for good measure. Talked myself out of the new CBR1000RR. I do have the 07 airbox cover and K&N filter on order, and I'm waffling about a new pipe just because I don't like the sound of a very loud v twin, but the handling is at least on par with and the comfort is head and shoulders above the crotch rockets. Do it, Blacksheep, just do it. | ||
| Lovehamr |
To everyone writing about snatchy throttles and uneven running; stop thinking about it and get the race ECM. I had some of those issues as well and the race kit just made them disappear. As for the exhaust; DM, if you like the sound of a Duck or a good V8 you'll like the sound of a Buell through a good exhaust. It's not like the straight pipes that so many D/As run on their Hogs. It's deep and resonating without pissing of the neighbors. If you're already springing for the 07 airbox and K&N it only makes sense, what goes in must come out. Just my 12 cents, Steve  | ||
| Dmcutter |
Well, who can't like the sound of a good V8? As long as it's not as obnoxious as the straight pipes on a Hog, reckon I can live with it. All I can usually hear is wind noise in my fancy schmancy racer replica Shoei X11, anyway. | ||
| Red_chili |
I've ridden a lot of bikes, from sport to dirt. I love thumpers and big twins, multis just do NOT put a smile on my face. The Uly combines all the best features of my favorite bikes of my past. I just don't know how they managed that... It's a jack of all trades and master of all but serious dirt. | ||
| Jim_sb |
I too am very happy with my Ulysses. It's my 5th bike (started with a Suzuki GS500E, then a Sportster, then a Buell S2, then a DRZ400S which I still own and now the Ulysses). I use the DRZ400S for true dirt riding (gnarly single track, desert, mountains, rocks as well as organized dual sport rides). I use the Ulysses for everything else. I did a 600 mile street ride on Saturday and got mileage between 47 and 52mpg (depending upon riding style between fill-ups). I can't add anything to what the guys have already told you except to say that IMHO the "problems" are insignificant. I love the D616's, the luggage, the range, the ergos, the ease of maintenance, the handling, the brakes. The bike is great FUN to ride. I have ridden nearly 6,000 miles and about 500 of those have been off pavement and the Uly has done very well except for a tendency to head shake in sand that is 4" deep or so - I will solve that eventually with a steering damper. The suspension is a little harsh on embedded rocks and I'm going to see if I can tune that out. I've had it to 80+ mph off pavement and the bike does very well. Good luck, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Black_sheep |
Thanks for all the replys. Exactly what I was looking for and you guys are very helpful. That is the main reason I came her to ask. I had a guy come into where I work on a Multistrada. Ok looking bike but not as eye-appealing as the Uly. I told him I was looking and he offered me a ride, I might take him up on it and then see if I can get a ride on a Uly so I can compare. He was trying to sell me on the Ducati over the Buell saying that it didn't require as much maintenance as everyone said and that it handled better on the road. I guess since he bought it he has ta like it right? Well now to sell the wife on the idea of the Uly. Wish me luck. | ||
| Ulywife |
Well now to sell the wife on the idea of the Uly. Wish me luck. Take her on the test ride on the Uly! Sold several of us wives/girlfriends! | ||
| Jlnance |
Take her on the test ride She isn't kidding. Passengers love this bike. I took my g/f with me and the first thing she asked when we got done was when I was going to get the bike. Here is my standard, "it's great for passengers" picture, featuring M2nc & Ulywife:  See how much room she has back there. | ||
| Windrider |
Black Sheep, To Uly or not to Uly? You must Uly! Arrange a test ride and then decide. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Jlnance, So much room it's almost as though she doesn't want to have to touch him?  | ||
| Ulywife |
Ft_bstrd - I do have to hold the hand rails when he brakes or I will slide into him   |
