| Author | Message | ||
     Mad_dog |
I've been lurking for a while so I figured I would post a question. I've had my Ully for quite a while, acctually it is one of the first ones in Ohio. I love riding the bike for all the reasons everyone else here does, but on longer rides something always breaks. Wheel bearings, fans, fuses, etc. And riding in the rain is hit or miss, mainly miss. I've replaced wires, repacked with lith grease, but to no avail. I want to ride the bike cross country this year but I just dont want to be breaking down or f__king with things every thousand miles. I've ridden my old harley in rain sleet and snow with no problems. Over 100,000 miles and never replaced wheel bearings. I was just wondering what others have done about these issues to fix them or is this just how the bike is? THANKS!! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I've never had my ULY even sputter during a rain and it's seen long distance duty in the rain. Am I just lucky? I doubt that. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
My 06 sputter once in a rain storm. Found that I had a cut in the spark plug wire. ( probably my fault, trying to wrestle the plug boot on the rear cylinder) Replaced the wire and never had another problem. | ||
| Bobbuell1961 |
Somewhere around 25k mine started to miss in wet conditions,started minor and got progressivly worse. Started to check connectors and dielectic grease them, found the front plug wire w/ a rub, replaced it, same symptom. On my way home one night in some heave rain on a limited access hyway it started to one lung real bad, but being on this road i'm not pulling off and being towed while she's running, she throws a code, in a little bit down the road it start to run well again and i make it home with no added drama but at least i have something to work with. the next morning i check the code, it's the exhaust valve,i forget the code and i don't have a manuel here,but to make a long story short i lubed the hell out of the cable (which is part of a service) and i have had no problems since. hope this helps,Bob | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I can tell you what I have done and am doing about it but it's kinda long and complicated. I'll try to be brief. I hope this comes across correctly; I am the only person that works on my bike now that the warranty is gone. Most problems can be discovered before they fail during routine servicing. I have experienced various failures and have learned about potential failures inherent with this model. One by one, over time I have solved every one of them either with knowledge I gained from years of riding other bikes or by trial and error using advice I got right here on this site. (and on a tight budget too). I am to the point now of needing to do some long distance runs just to make it fail in order to expose any remaining weaknesses. I ride the bike nearly every day but my commute is short. It is now rock solid for this duty and does not fail in any way. By the end of this summer I will have my '06 Uly set up just like I want it. Bulletproof as is possible. Currently, I'm looking hard at the newest belt and wheel bearing upgrades that Buell offers. I have zero known issues and would not be afraid to ride it to the other side of the country just the way it sits. An interesting side note- My bike seems to be just as reliable on a hundred miles of dirt roads as it is on the highway. My point is that if you experience a failure fix it so that don't ever happen again. EVER. And if you hear about a potential failure, do a preemtive fix so it don't happen. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I have to say, I've also never had an environmental failure on my Uly. Also an '06, and I've been out in some rain that makes me think I shouldn't be out at all. And I'm not shy about getting wet - but when I can't see my own front tire....it's probably raining too hard for me to be riding. I have yet to experience any misfires, bearing failures (although I do have a set of the updated ones on the shelf, for my next tire change - pre-emptive strike), belt failures, or anything like that. So far the only agony I've had are the horn rattling against the inside of the flyscreen, and a botched TPS reset at the 1k service because I was rushing the tech, and he forgot the AFV portion. Totally my fault, took him eight seconds to fix it. And my bike is all factory stuff - I work at a dealer, so it runs on Syn3, has 616's on it (LOVE em!), and is worked on by factory techs. The only non-factory stuff on it are the Drummer muffler, the 07-up inner airbox mod, and the 2 light highbeam mod. Hell, I don't even wash it. | ||
| Mnrider |
Maddog if your bike is missing in the rain get a spray bottle of soapy water and spray the spark plug wires with the engine running and see if it misses or jumps spark. Good luck | ||
| Jlnance |
mad_dog - Just to clarify, are you asking specifically about it stumbling in the rain? | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Rain issue: Mine did it. I replaced my stock plug wires with Magnecor (didn't have to...was bored) and when I installed them, I packed both ends with dielectric grease. Have not had an issue since. | ||
| Froggy |
My first Uly had the rain issue, told the dealer and they took care of it with during a service. Not sure what they fixed as it wasn't marked on the bill, but I assumed it was the plug wires. Either they swapped them and didn't write it down or it was a loose connection that was fixed as they changed the plugs. Uly #2 never had the issue. | ||
| Mad_dog |
Jiance - Well the rain issue is a big one, and thanks to all that have posted so far. But I would like to know what else to expect if I take the Ully out for the haul to Alaska. Like I said, I have been through two sets of wheel bearings, a ton of fuses, fans, etc... Has any body done any 10,000 mile trips on a Ully? | ||
| Greenman44 |
Mr Dog, I have rode my bike for about 8000 miles over the summer, and about the only thing that happened was a blown fuse. Did it once and never again, that and the started button going out I have had nothing but oil and tire changes. I had read a ride report at another web site that may help in other aspects, your going to have to replace a tire or two on your trip and it may be hard to find one that fits unless you plan for it, and have one ordered in advance. I'm not trying to get off subject, if you want to read the article I can give you the link. Sounds like it would be a great trip to go to Alaska. | ||
| Mad_dog |
Thanks Greenman44! That link would be appriciated. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
"Has any body done any 10,000 mile trips on a Ully?" I did the Buttlite IV rally when my '06 was fairly new. 6,868 miles during the rally and 1,700 miles to get to the start and back home. All in about 9 days. All I did was change the fluids. Last summer I did a Sunrise to Sunset event. (east Maine to west Washington st.) 3,560 miles plus 4,000 getting to and back home. All in 6 day timeframe. I changed the belt and rear bearings plus new tires before the event. Both trips and a few others were trouble free. Only exception was a burned out low beam. Original fuses, stator,etc. I'm thinking about doing "The Poker Run from Hell" ride in June. 5 days, 1,000 miles each day. www.mctourer.com I'll probably just change fluids and give the bike a look over before heading out. No fears. (Message edited by bienhoabob on February 09, 2009) (Message edited by bienhoabob on February 09, 2009) (Message edited by bienhoabob on February 09, 2009) | ||
| Greenman44 |
mad dog here is the link to that write up. enjoy if i remember right it was pretty entertaining. http://www.canyonchasers.net/travel/2007/alaska.ph p Shawn | ||
| Froggy |
Don't forget those people that bought a few new Uly's and rode them from Washington DC to back home in Brazil or something. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
They rode them to the southernmost tip of the continent. | ||
| M2nc |
Jlnance did 8000 miles or so from North Carolina to Seattle to San Francisco to New Orleans and back to North Carolina. I have had some issues but overall this is still the most reliable bike I have owned. Look at my profile for details of the last three years, five months and nearly 40k miles. | ||
| Pso |
Had the VR go out due to the #77 connector ( middle of a 4 laner during rush hour0. Someone else had posted that there is a connector kit put out by Buell for the #77 but there was no further discussion. If this is an upgrad efor the chintzy little plug I would get it. | ||
| Gs750t |
I plan to ride our 06 Uly, 2 up to Crater Lake this summer and back to Pennsylvania. Spare belt and spare bearings and somewhere on the trip we will need new sneakers. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Every bike has it's horror stories. My 06 ULY has been pretty darn amazing in the quality department. Some folks have created their own problems by constantly fiddling with their ULY to make it their own. I personally like to keep things pretty stock because I'd rather save money for a rainy day than blow it on every little gizmo that comes along. It's no wonder that so many people in this country are in economic dire straits when you consider that they have absolutely no restraint with their need for "things". Be thankful for what you have. When I get the uncontrollable urge to buy something I just try to equate that "need" with how many hours I'd have to work to pay for it. That is usually negates the desire in quick order. Or I think of what my wife will say and that really puts the kabosh to it even sooner. | ||
| Chadhargis |
The wife is my controller. If I can't convince her that I need it, then I probably don't. |
