| Author | Message | ||
     Ponti1 |
Greetings all! Haven't posted here before and am not that familiar with the site, so please excuse me if this info is available elsewhere already... I've been drooling over the Uly for some time now, and am REALLY close to opening up the check book. My biggest apprehension is the height...Can anyone tell me the height/inseam range to be able to comfortably fit the Uly? I'm 5'-10", and have a 32" inseam, so the height is potentially an issue for me. How about the comfort range with the lower seat? I'm currently on a Sportster 1200C, so this purchase would be a HUGE difference in ride height for me. I really like that I can currently place both feet on the ground while at a traffic light...How hard is it to transition to a bike so tall? Lastly, I've read on here that some folks have lowered their suspension a bit. Any recommended aftermarket products to do this? Any major disadvantages? Thanks for listening to my NUBE rant | ||
| Aeholton |
I'm 5'10" with a 30" inseam. I have an '06 with standard seat. I haven't touched the suspension. I touch with tiptoes...you get used to it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam, and have an 07 with the standard (lower) 07 seat. The height takes getting used to, but I can't imagine you having any problems with a 32" inseam. I started riding a few years back on an 83 Honda Ascot, which has something like a 29" seat height. I remember thinking "Wow, this feels kind of tall but I can handle it" (even though I could easily flat-foot with both feet). A couple of years later I moved up to a Buell S3 which has about a 31" seat. Felt tall at first, but I soon adjusted. Now I'm up to a ~32" high Uly; I have to be careful about where I place my feet, and occasionally have to hang a cheek off the seat, but it's not a big deal. The benefits of having decent ground clearance and long travel suspension more than make up for the height. | ||
| Teeps |
5'9' 30" inseam here. I went from a Honda VTX1300 cruiser to the ULy with no problem. However, 25+ years of dirt bike riding made it seem more natural. I never did feel comfortable with the cruiser riding position. | ||
| Irelage |
I have an 2007 Uly. I'm 5'10" with 31" inseam. I am lightly flat footed when scooted all the way forward where I like to ride. When I'm cruising I scoot back. My arms are stretched out when I'm back and I may rotate my bars back an inch to get a bend in my elbows. I road a KLR650 previously so I am used to the height. I am very comfortable in the seat but my butt took a little time to get aquainted with it. The bike is killer smooth when cruising and feels like it is floating over the road (I'm comming from a KLR). I wouldn't touch the suspension. (Message edited by irelage on April 11, 2007) | ||
| Dano_12s |
Andy,take a demo ride.07 have the lower seat.This should convince you that there would be no problem.Pass. comfort also excellent. | ||
| Gotj |
I'm 6'1", 32" inseam and have lowered the Uly 1.5". I did it for less than $200 plus my time. I don't plan on going back. I chose the Uly for the cockpit ergonomics, especially the seat-to-footpeg distance. So I didn't want to go to the lower seat. | ||
| Ponti1 |
Thanks everyone for the responses! If you are all able to fit the bike, I imagine I'll be able to as well. I'll be taking a demo ride next time I get to Somerset to visit my father-in-law, since I can get the best deal at that dealership... How about that lowered suspension? Is it a decent option? Pros/Cons? What's involved? (Message edited by ponti1 on April 11, 2007) | ||
| Gotj |
I may get banned but you should at least try a Ducati Multistrada if you can. There was a recent demo day and I did a 20 ride on it. Flat foot and fun. Somewhat short in the handlebar reach. Upright sitting position. Lowered bike: used XB9/12 shock; two upper handlebar clamps; 4-3" bolts; and raising the forks in the triple clamps. You can also go with Trackside Engineering. For $430 plus shipping they redo your forks and shock. Or you can go with Wilber for more money and probably better performance. | ||
| Wildwilly |
I'm 5'10" with a 29" inseam. Have an 06 with the 06 low seat. Can tiptoe and I am now very comfortable with it. (Don't even think about it anymore) Did a 400 mile day on the low seat and had no comfort problems. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Seems to be a ton of folks who have a 30". Count me in also. I did 12500kms 2 up last summer and had no problems at all. You get used to it as soon as that shit eating grin gets permanently installed on that face of yours. For 90% of people the height issue is only a perception you have when first riding the machine. You compensate and it is a non issue very shortly after. | ||
| Jim_sb |
5' 9" with a 29" inseam. I tip toe the bike. No big deal. I can even use "reverse" - although easiest way is to simply walk the bike backwards before mounting up. Biggest concern is off pavement - you just need to think about where you're going to stop. Flat ground is better.  I have the '06 stock and the '06 low seat - I can ride with either. Use the low all the time now. Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Ejbeert |
i kept my 883 sporty along with the ulysses. you will find that not only is the height hugely differant but the motorcycles themselves are hugely different i ride them both and enjoy them both for what they are. having said that on the ulysses the balance is so good that you can stop and balance with out putting a foot down otherwise i usually stop balance and slide off to the left so my left foot is firmly on the ground. | ||
| M2nc |
5'7" with 29" inseam. It is tall, but that has not been too much of a problem for me. Keeping my eyes on the road, now that has been a problem for me, but that is another story. I can put the balls of my feet down at the same time, or flat foot one side. If I had 3" more leg, I would almost flat foot. The trick is the '07 is stepped. If you slide all the way forward on the Uly seat, it narrows and drops an 1" or so. At that point, you should be close to flat footing. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
WTF, where are people measuring inseam from? I wear a levis 29 inseam, and that Uly is too DamN Tall. I can tiptoe it,(even with the low seat) throw bags on it, and put it in a rough country setting and I know I would have footing issues! On the CityX but riding it like a Uly! Take it for a demo. That should tell you all you need to know. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I have to agree with Cityxslicker. I am 6' and wear 32" inseam and with both feet on the ground I am not quite flat footed with the '07 seat. I only put my left leg down so it is flat no problem though. Depending on my boots, I do have backing issues while on the bike. With the '06 seat I was on my tippy toes with both feet and the ball of my left. Do I mind it one bit? Nope, I like tall bikes and don't care if I am flat footed at all. You have to try the bike and know what you are comfortable with to make that decision though. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
5'11.5" 32" inseam. I like long walks, quiet dinners, and poetry! I have the low seat. I could see how the 07 seat would allow someone to put their feet down, but there is no support in the front of the seat. I'm on the balls of my feet, but the height is completely not an issue. | ||
| L_je |
Ponti1, 32" inseam? What are you worried about? Ok, you won't flat foot, but who needs to? I'm 5'6", weigh <150# with full gear, like short hikes, places that serve breakfast all day, and think poetry sucks. My Uly and I have minimized our gravitation potential energy a couple of times, but not once would a lower seat height have made a difference. Take one out for a spin, and you'll be surprised at how well balanced it is. Could I be more aggressive off pavement if I had a CityX? Sure. But, the Uly has some stuff going for it that the CityX just can't match. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
L_je's suspension doesn't even compress. So if he can ride one, anyone can! He does have a darling back seat passenger though! Unfortunately, mine compresses so that I am riding a Uly rigid.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Regarding inseam measurements- it seems that shoe size would also figure into your "effective" leg length. A longer foot makes it easier to get your toes down. That said, I'm 5'9", 30" inseam, size 11 shoes. I can handle the height of my 07 Uly without significant problems. | ||
| Crusty |
I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam. You'll have to adjust to the Ulysses after a Sportster. It won't be comfortable at first at low speeds or when you're stopped. The ride is worth it, though. | ||
| Ponti1 |
L_je: I guess I am mostly concerned with things like getting feet down in emergency stop situations. I used to ride a bunch on dirt bikes where I could barely touch the ground (2-stroke 250s mostly), but they weigh MUCH less. So, the height coupled with the additional weight is just unchartered territory for me. Call it "fear of the unknown". I'll take you folks up on the suggestion to demo a Uly, and I'm sure at that point my worries will be replaced with empty pockets :-) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
though the TT will offer you similiar length, comparable travel (better than the CityX) and can be 1 &1/2 lower than the low seat on the ULY. Dont let height keep you from getting dirty on the trails on a Buell ! Mud, its whats for Dinner.  | ||
| Lorazepam |
my uly looks like that just getting to the paved road. | ||
| L_je |
Only Fred Flintstone should put his feet down before coming to a complete stop. What Ft_B said is right...I really don't compress the suspension! If I go by the owner's manual, I should back off my pre-load so far that the spring should pop out! Nothing is listed below 170#. I wouldn't feel too good riding 2 up with the stock '06 seat, but with the '07 seat, I've logged hundreds of miles on FS roads. I've stopped my bike on stuff so sloped that one foot was dangling 6" off the ground. Yeah, the bike is tall enough that I've never tried to do a stoppie on it, but for your average panic stop, it just isn't a problem. I do 2 u-turns a day about 2ft off the bumper of a VP's BMW. After that, I sometimes get to thread the needle through about $50,000 worth of motorcycles parked in the "bike lot." Sometimes, these maneuvers don't work out as planned, and I'll have to put a foot down...if I can put my foot down and keep the bike up, so can you! If I didn't usually have my 8 year old in tow, I'd consider "butching" a bike like CityXslicker's. Aside from all of those ominous warning stickers, he's got one awesome looking bike. I guess the stickers give it that "keep away, I'm dangerous" look. Maybe I should put those stickers back on my bike to remind me that I am not superman. | ||
| Smcnamara |
L_je, Any reason you don't respring to get the correct sag? Seem like it would be the right thing to do... | ||
| L_je |
The bike does 95% of what I ask it to do. Now that my wife has a Duc, I'm going to have to go after that last 5%, and then some. I now have Syncs on the front and back, so this helps. Also, it's tough [time consuming] to get up to the roads that really compress, and tax my suspension set-up. Furthermore, when I'm up there, the last thing I feel like doing is stopping to fine-tune the suspension. But, "good enough" is no longer good enough. Previously, to get my weight to show up on the table in the service manual, I had to put 12 bottles of beer in the topcase. From now on, I resolve to do things the right way, and put the beer where it belongs, and properly dial in my suspension! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
L_je, Come up for Buelltoberfest the 5-7! Bring you and your bad Syncs! It'll be great to ride with you, your wife, and your daughter again! Tell you wife she'll need to back off. I don't like seeing so much of her in my rear view mirrors! | ||
| L_je |
What, where and when is Buelltoberfest? And, can Ponti1 bring his Uly? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Suches October 5-7th. C3 and 3% are getting together for sure. I think a bunch of folks are camping. Others are getting cabins. Since you guys are just 90 miles or so away, you could just ride up and back. No test rides. Just rides. |
