| Author | Message | ||
     Chadhargis |
I simply want a "big sportbike". American's are the biggest, fattest people on Earth. An American motorcycle company should make an "American Sportbike" for guys like me. 6'5", 198lbs, 36" inseam, long arms, long torso. The Ulysses ergos (once I put on lower bars so I wasn't sitting so bolt upright in the wind) are perfect. The chassis is great. The suspension fantastic. Just put in a sportbike motor and turn the world on it's ear. No bags needed. If I want to tour, I can easily do a weekend out of my tank bag. If I need to bring camping gear, I strap on my dry bag. Keep it light, nimble, sharp handling, add the upgraded ZTL2 brake, and the 1125 motor....then get out of my way!  | ||
| Atoms |
ChadH, I think it would be a lot easier for everyone else (including Buell!) if you were to just move out west. Changing our beloved Uly just for one guy who is too tall to fit on the rest of the sportbikes in the world does not seem fair to the rest of us. I mean, it would be easier for everyone except you of course. Take one for the team already. Thanks for your help.  | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
... what about the RR motor? :-) Why won't Buell add that to list of bikes we can buy? | ||
| Froggy |
Because the RR is about as reliable as a Yugo? Although it sure would be nice to have | ||
| Blake |
"I want both in my stable. Buell needs a fighter for this: [Kawasaki Concours photo] If a Kawi Concours is the type of bike you are looking for, you likely needn't look to Buell for such a motorcycle, ever. That is about as anti-Buell (behemoth bike) as you can get. Good grief. (Message edited by Blake on July 24, 2008) | ||
| Froggy |
Blake, to be honest i almost pulled the trigger on one to replace my Uly, but the bike was just missing something that i couldn't put my finger on. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Believe me...there are LOTS of guys like me out there who want a sportbike for "real" people. People who are either too big, or too broken down to ride around in a sportbike crouch for 500 miles. If Buell builds it, people will buy it. There are plenty of dual sport bikes. Plenty of sport tourers. But not a single BIG sportbike. Sure the Multistrada is close, and if Ducati would shoehorn a 1098 motor in it (or even an old Testaretta), they'd beat everyone to the punch. | ||
| Sanchez |
> Give it an engine that will put it on par with the V-Strom and Tiger. Even the air-cooled mill in the Ducati Multistrada will out run the Ulysses. Actually, the 1203 has a bit more power than the v-strom and the multistrada, and it's lighter too. The Tiger does have ~10 more hp, but it's all up top. It has 30 fewer ft-lbs of torque. > my 500lb bike with 85hp can't keep up. You mean your 425 lb bike with 103 hp?  I'd like to see more power, less vibration, and less heat too. My Uly feels slow after riding my GSX-R 750, and I hate idling through traffic in the summer. Honestly, though, Buell positioned it right with its competitors, and I doubt they're motivated to change it. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Nope...I mean a 500lb bike (actually 507lbs as measured by MCN) with 85hp (at the rear wheel, not at the crank). | ||
| Sanchez |
Did MCN measure dry or wet? And if 500 lbs wet isn't acceptable, then what is? 425 dry puts it on par with many sport bikes. | ||
| Uly1080 |
I think it's obvious that most of us here like Buells. That said, this thread is trailing off in weird directions. Some of us say that it would be swell to have an 1125 engine in the Uly...so why is everyone trying to rationalize that this is such a ridiculous thing to wish for. No one is claiming that it would be a good investment for the company,or WILL actually happen, or that Buell WILL build a "behemoth bike" like the Concourse, but rather simply making the statement that such things might appeal to some people. Good Grief is right. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I like the ULY motor...very low maintenance... its not perfect but it is overall a good package. The August 2008 issue of MCN has an article on the 1125r... the last sentence is chilling if true...it says to change the front plug..the engine must be dropped...now that would add excitement on your trip down the "haul road" in Alaska...Grizzly bears as spectators, maybe dinner guests...you. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'd like to know if that is true about having to drop the engine to change a plug. That would be on par with the V-Rod design where the engine must be dropped to do a valve adjustment. The engineers (in both cases) should be tarred and feathered. Question would be this, for those that don't like to do their own maintenance, what does a shop charge to change a plug? That would be a pure HorseShiite charge since no way should a person have to go to that effort for a plug change. If Buell is in fact designing a water-cooled ULY type bike for next year, if I need to drop the engine to change the plug then I will not be inclined to buy one. Forewarned. | ||
| Froggy |
EG, the plug interval is the same as the valve adjustment, so its killing 2 birds with 1 stone ( or engine drop :P ). From what i have read, it is easier than dropping the XB engine. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've done an engine swap in my Gixxer before, it's not that hard to get a motor out, and it's WAY easier to adjust the valves when the motor is out than when it's in. MCN measured the Ulysses wet, which is how ALL bikes should be measured. Full tank of gas, oil, battery, brake fluid, etc. And no...425lbs dry is not a sportbike weight. Maybe 425lbs WET. My Gixxer 600 weights in about 420 wet. That's 80lbs lighter than the Ulysses and it puts down more horsepower. Which is why it will rocket to over 150mph. I can tell you that it will because I've done it. The back straight at Road Atlanta is LONG!! Speedo was actually reading 172mph thanks to my shorter gearing and already inaccurate speedo. LOL! For what it is, the Ulysses is very light. I really have no problem with the weight. 500lbs wet is substantially better than my old FJR1300 which weighted in at 635lbs wet, and the Concours is a pig too. That's why I love the Ulysses. Weight wise, chassis wise, comfort wise, it's perfect. Now...add in that smokin' 1125 motor and you'd have an absolute perfect bike. Couldn't think of another bike on the planet that would be in the same league. Maybe the KTM Super Duke 990, but I'm betting it's not anywhere near as comfortable. | ||
| Bertotti |
There are also a lot of guys out there who would love to tweak it a bit more and make it more off road oriented yet we are continually told we are wrong to want it. The Uly is all of our chosen platform for the desires we have. I'll am all for your changes as long as the rest of us can have ours also. 19 inch front wheel, a bit more rake, both wheels narrowed down to take the big dual sport tires, more fuel capacity etc... the list of dreams for the Uly goes on for all of us. Good luck with yours Chad! | ||
| Reedracers |
Chad , What about installing a big-bore kit with some hot cams a rippin exhaust then you will have a 100+ hp 500 lb rocket.  I know do it one step at a time and post your improvements at each stage. just my 02 cents Dwayne | ||
| Chadhargis |
Eh...that's akin to trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I'd rather have the very much understressed 1125R motor versus a highly stressed 1203. I don't want any other changes to the bike other than the engine. Buell has the engine and frame. Shouldn't take much to put a longer travel suspension on it, and some lower pegs. | ||
| Crusty |
At Homecoming, I took an 1125R out for a Demo ride. I prefer the lump in my XT to the Helicon engine. That's just my personal preference. | ||
| Dynasport |
Chad, since you are dissatisfied with your Uly, have you looked at the Yamaha FZ1. It might be more to your liking. | ||
| Seanp |
I tested the 1125 at Homecoming too. To me, the 1125 engine and everything else seemed a lot tighter than the Uly. Like a sports car instead of a truck, but really that's what the two bikes are - the 1125 is a sports car and the Uly is a truck. I don't want a screaming, high-revving sports car engine in my truck. But I sure wouldn't mind having a sports car in addition to my truck...  | ||
| Chadhargis |
I never said I was dissatisified with my Ulysses. In fact, I've said many times that it's the best motorcycle I've ever owned. I've ridden it longer than any other bike I've owned. But...it's not perfect. If the Ulysses is a "truck", then I want it to be one of these http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2007/163_0 704_worlds_fastest_truck/index.html | ||
| Chadhargis |
I could deal with this slower truck....as it seems to have adequate power  | ||
| Seanp |
Nah, leave that high-speed stuff to the sports cars.  My truck is 4WD, with dings from rocks and stuff, a fender that's crumpled from a tree, and muddy water in one of the fog lights. It's got a rhino-lined bed that's all dented up, a trailer hitch, and the paint looks like it has some kind of automotive mange. It doesn't go fast, but it's comfortable, it can haul a lot of crap, and it goes anywhere I want to go. Just like my Uly. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
There are FEW bikes with the ergos of the Uly. There should be more. Sport bikes Sport Standards Sport Touring Dual Sport There is little reason the new SuperUlysses couldn't be comfortable AND potent. I love my Uly and will have a hard time parting with it. Unless there is a new Uly that is everything I love plus more. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I can understand Chad's and others' enthusiasm for a Helicon-based Uly with a heck of a lot more RPM range to work with and I'm sure that if BMC were to produce one they'd drop the R/CR HP curve and boost the torque. That would be enticing to me too, maybe. But if I'd have to drop the engine to change a spark plug, well that's ridiculous, period. OK I guess for the rider who does week ends only occasionally but for people who seriously ride and may foul a plug or a plug fails in BFE that's a real concern. The rear XB plug is bad enough, but manageable. Add to that the Helicon's complexity and parts count, fuel consumption, Rotax (?) water pumps which our KTM brothers have been dealing with, vulnerable radiators on a bike that can be expected to topple in its proposed environment... IMMHO, the Helicon is a street bike motor. Since most of my riding these days is two-up and in the mountains and often climbing in altitude yes I'd like some more RPM range and ponies. But ridden within the zone my '06 is still impressive with 48+K on the clock, especially above 6K feet where I don't have to row the shifter. And get 50+mpg. I'm perfectly happy with my Uly right now knowing I will eventually with BMC's help get through the various niggling early production problems. The bike as a platform is the best I've owned. | ||
| Zack3g |
i love my uly. ...i also love my 1125R. i have to say though, if one of them had to go, it would be the uly. the only thing really stopping me is the lack of hard bags for the 1125R, which hopefully will be coming down the pipeline eventually. | ||
| Crusty |
Zack; Here's an 1125R that was at Homecoming  (Message edited by Crusty on July 27, 2008) | ||
| Zack3g |
yeah...that's kinda the idea i'm going for. unfortunately, the guy who owns that bike built all that himself and i'm not nearly equipped to do such a thing. i'll wait for a production version. | ||
| M2nc |
There are many things I like about the 1125R. I dig the new '09 White/Blue one and can see me owning one. I do not see it as a replacement for my Uly though, but a stable mate. I bought the Uly to go sport riding, travel, commute and ride two up. Though sport riding is important, I needed a flexible bike that can offset the cost of ownership with usability. So to me an 1125R would be a kick in the pants to own. It is still on my short list when ever I have the funds for a pure play bike. The 1125R would not be a good replacement for my Uly though. It does not have the fuel mileage, easy of maintenance, and two up comfort that I need from a stand alone bike. My problem with an 1125X is where the Helicon motor is weak, is where the Thunder Storm is strong. It would totally piss me off to have a larger gas tank and a shorter range at the same time. It would totally piss me off to deal with heat and engine coolant at the same time. It would totally piss me off to have a multi-surface road bike that bucks and complains at under 3000 rpms where you need technical throttle response on loose surfaces. No, as the Helicon is now I do not see it as a decent replacement for the Thunder Storm. I see it more suited for a Super Moto bike that would tap all the strengths the Helicon motor has. As BMW has found with the Boxer engine in the GS, still their most popular model, the powerful I-4 motor is better suited for pure sport bikes, and the oil-cooled boxer is better as a road bike motor. I would like to see Buell / HD to continue to develop the Thunder Storm motor. Where is the streetable XBRR 1340 short-stroke motor. Now that may be a good replacement for the present Uly motor. (Message edited by M2nc on July 27, 2008) (Message edited by M2nc on July 27, 2008) |
