| Author | Message | ||
     Bosh |
Funny the disparity of opinions. 106 degrees here the other day. I rode for about 3 hours and no heat issues (from the bike). I wonder if much of the problem is from the 07 and newer (lower) seats? My bike is for the most part stock and I really love the thing. There's nothing on the market I'd trade it for right now. My wife tried to buy me a Ducati Sport 1000 (I freeking love that bike) for my 50th and I asked her not to as I couldn't see riding it over the Buell. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Tginnh: The heat this year is the worst it has ever been in a long time. We've broken records pretty much daily. Since my BMW is still in the shop awaiting some parts from the Fatherland, I've only had the Uly to ride. It has done a magnificent job in the 100+ deg heat (38+ for those metric folks). The oiler cooler runs a LOT, but even in stop and go traffic I haven't had it go into the skip spark mode, which has surprised me to say the least. I do think there is something to the people here in the south/southwest handle the heat better. However, hot is hot... The thing is we know it's going to be hot from May to October, so we just deal with it and ride. There isn't much you can do about it and if you don't deal with it, you're never going to get out and ride the bike(s) you have. Eric - enjoy your new bike. I don't ever see myself giving up the Uly, but I do own two bikes and do switch off. I could have done my trip to the NE in April on the Uly, but chose the BMW RT because I wanted more protection in the cold (and it was... 31 in Hartford, CT one morning). Wayne (Message edited by wbrisett on July 01, 2009) | ||
| Tginnh |
Hey Wayne - I deal with the heat just fine having grown up in the deserts of NV. I also deal with the cold just fine having spent the latter half of my life in the northeast. Dealing with heat and the heat thrown off by the Uly are two different things. Maybe it's so freakin hot in the south this year that it's difficult to discern the heat emanating from the asphalt from that of the Uly? | ||
| Jlnance |
I do think there is something to the people here in the south/southwest handle the heat better. I think so too. My g/f is from Pennsylvania. I complain about the cold when it is below 60, but she is fine. She complains about the heat when it is above 80, but I am fine. | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
Bosh, I have all 3 seats, (standard "high", '06 accessory low and the '07 low to medium), and I get heat issues. I have just got back from a 3.5 hour ride today. It's 30C here and I was fine until I slowed and the heat stared getting through. For the record, I had the '06 low seat with an Alaskan Butt Pad on it. Halfway through the ride, I started wriggling, so I put an Airhawk pad under the Butt Pad and it eased it considerably until the heat got through again. I was wearing lined leather pants and boxer shorts, (too much information?), I hear some people wear cycling shorts or cycling undershorts with some success, any comments here? I never had any issues with my R1150GS or the Yamaha Fazer I had before that for all day riding :-( | ||
| Bosh |
I hear some people wear cycling shorts or cycling undershorts with some success, any comments here? I wear cycling shorts under my leathers on longer rides. Mainly for comfort, I don't think they would make much difference with felt heat though. | ||
| Svh |
I tried a pair of compression shorts and they did nothing for me at all. Actually made it worse as it fealt like I was not able to vent as well | ||
| Supertoon |
Bosh, let me get this straight, you prevented your wife from buying you a Ducati. Your wife said , "hey Honey" I just bought you a Ducati" and you said, "No, no I don't think I will ride it". Where do you get Ducati buying wives...... Does she have a sister??? (oops I'am married, never mind)  | ||
| Bosh |
Bosh, let me get this straight Yup, that's right. Love my Wife! I had a sportbike, and when I bought the 12X I thought I'd have the best of both worlds (sport and all-rounder). I found after awhile I'd only ride my VTR out of sympathy for the thing sitting around in the garage. Sold it about a year later and bought a dirt bike. I'll get a Duck after the economy lines out a little.  | ||
| Crusty |
About heat; My '08 XT is really hot. I get a lot more heat from it than I got from my '06 Uly. My wife's '08 Ss puts out less heat than my '06 did. I don't think the heat is year dependent, I think it varies with individual bikes. However, as hot as my XT is, I have ridden it for hours at a time in temps well over 90° F without heat related discomfort. If the seat on Longdog's Uly is getting that hot, there must be a problem beyond the normal heat output. | ||
| Svh |
My 08 XT was slightly warm before and 3 weeks ago I got the latest "z" update. Thing runs super hot now. Fan comes on while I am riding, which never happened before, even in 60*F weather. My oil temps before were typically around 180-185 now they are in the 210 range. But my fuel mileage went from ~29 mpg to ~41mpg so that is a plus but I really don't care for the extra heat. | ||
| Jphish |
Hmmmm - same here. Had ECM reflash on my 08 last month. Fan comes on sooner, but also turns off sooner. Mileage before wasn't bad - about 44mpg - now about 49. Seems to run a bit hotter & fan kicks on when riding in moderate heat (75*F) Never did before unless I got into the 90's. So...does the reset lean up the mixture or change the timing to cause a hotter Uly ?? | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
I would have thought a reflash may well have weakened the mixture and this would have given hotter running............. But it still doesn't solve our problems of roasted nuts and toasted buns! What we need is this..... http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001Fk yzw7-0_5mvf09FQcQ6ZzPW2yHv1zXifXCt1-9ndK62YJe5YN6d ViQe-2Psw4gJv1FYWnS8SBncJ4NToCjraUNCiLTGk70F--BrgL ai5-XzRck2rAsioBpojrWVMpwZOL9O-kl2hvvUBinQn1CsTWRT zHF0euLawkQXOv4iMTwPfE3oBaOs-94imocJKQZUGJwIs4PezX SBB01-Ch01H9OtPCEBf1wWZXFcbySA7pla1LFs3m74CpiSZaqo aRG7izwqc4KduP7yqM2ddLeWmtTLkVsAQh9vumi73tHbrFcwDb ipWPwtfgkBxVfT6DyE1jAsKcr9XsQD3NMvIJmMebB5k6YnS7f_ jtlohr2wAv0%3D | ||
| Svh |
Jphish mine also does kick off sooner when shut off. The fan coming on when riding is annoying at first but I am starting to just tune it out. Last night I filled up and after a tank ran at not much more than 65mph EVER, I got 44mpg. I should try slowing down I guess. | ||
| Bartimus |
Cartman, When you get a chance, post some pictures of your FJR, I would like to see them. Also, I would like to hear what you think of it, after you put some miles on it, and start getting familiar with it on some of the roads you use to take the Uly on. I took my ST1300 out yesterday, and flogged it over some of my favorite roads. It performed so well, I am sure I've made the right decision. The handling was superb, Since it's heavier than my oogly, the steering is slower, but it doesn't feel like a 600 lb bike in the twisties. Honda did a good job of keeping the weight down low, and protecting the rider from engine heat. I was totally comfortable the whole time, no heat, no surging, no strange vibrations, it was a joy to get where I was going and not have to check anything. Here's a pic of it resting after I got home:   OH, it's nice to not have to hold the clutch cable out of the way to look at my mileage! (I see they resolved this on the '09's) Again, good luck with the FJR, and post pics, and give us a ride report! | ||
| Arcticktm |
My Uly may be hot, but at least it's a dry heat... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I have the 06 tall seat and the only time it gives me roasted balls is when the sun has been beating on it while parked. That sun can really heat that mug up. Just glad my procreation days are over. Who needs a vasectomy when all you have to do is sit on the uly seat. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on July 03, 2009) | ||
| M2nc |
TMI Glider, TMI. I looked at a ST1300 that color just before I bought the Uly. Nice bike. I got the opportunity to ride with an guy on a FJR on one of the best stretches of Superslab around. Let's just say it's a good thing it has that much power because he needed it after each corner and I was not pushing it. What I noticed is that the FJR is low. He was draggin enough I could see sparks in the mirror of the Uly and that says a lot. Ferris may be able to shed some light here, but I believe his Road King has better lean angle than the FJR. That to me is the problem with both bikes for me. I like the corners but keep my speed on the street sane. So all that power is useless to me and all that added weight a hindrance. Nope, I'll keep my Uly. I do want a better Superslab tourer though. I am always going against the wind and the Uly is not the greatest going into a 20mph head wind at average Superslab speeds. For that I would love the ST1300 as a stable mate to the Uly so a little envious of the pic above. (Message edited by M2nc on July 03, 2009) | ||
| Jphish |
My ST is silver...thus always has a tailwind. I have 25K trouble free miles and it's pretty good in the wind as long as you put the windscreen all the way down - otherwise significant buffeting. Screen position makes a big difference! I still ride the Uly 80% of the time - with 4" of ground clearance, no dirt roads for the ST. | ||
| Hooper |
Yep M2nc...I think for many it may come down to their desire for weather/wind protection, and that old bugaboo: reliability. We have a feeling that Japanese bikes are bulletproof, therefore we must get one if we plan on doing any major touring. True or not, I feel myself pulled in that direction (but I'll never get rid of my Uly). That's a hell of a stable, Bartimus! (Message edited by hooper on July 04, 2009) | ||
| M2nc |
We have a feeling that Japanese bikes are bulletproof, therefore we must get one if we plan on doing any major touring. To date, my Uly has been more reliable than my CB750. By 32,000 miles when I sold it, the Honda was on its third battery, left me stranded more than once, had to replace the sprockets and chain, the valve covers were leaking and the clutch was shot. At 42,000 miles, the only time the Uly has not got me home was due to operator error. All machines break, no matter who makes it. I have two co-workers with new Toyotas that have had major engine failures this year. One was bought back under NC's lemon law after the engine block was found to be cracked. During one Buellotoberfest, four of us on Ulys pulled into the stop at the top of the Blood Mountain. A guy on a Vstrom was under his bike with an oil leak. At work my buddy has worked on his Concours way more than I have worked on my Uly. He had a scary front wheel bearing failure that his advance riding skills helped him survive. So I do not subscribe to the belief that just because it's Japanese, it will be more reliable. Hondas are usually good products, no doubt, but they all break. I like the ST1300, and the Goldwing for that matter, for what they are. Also out of the UJM's, I like Hondas. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Those of us who have multiple bikes really are fortunate. Depending on how you have chosen your arsenal of bikes, you can one bike for one task and another for something completely different. With my RT in shop for repairs after an accident, I've been riding my Ulysses for everything. It makes me appreciate the RT a bit more on the longer trips, but certainly is no slouch. As one person I know told me after explaining that I would have to ride my Ulysses 100% of the time, "to have such problems". He's right. The Uly is a fantastic bike, but there are times when other bikes would fit a situation better (comfort, control, etc.). By the way Bartimus, one of the local towns has decided to get rid of their police STs and move back to the RT because of the engine heat. A coworker of mine has an ST and when I asked if he had read the story of them getting rid of STs, he said "no", but he also mentioned that he wasn't surprised based on why they claimed they were getting rid of them. He said he could certainly see how they had issues with the engine heat. Wayne | ||
| Danger_dave |
What I like best about the Uly is that I only 'need' one bike. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Just been pondering it. If I was buying another bike in the class I'd have a hard time deciding. The FJR and the ST are both good units. The Connie is probably more 'me'.    | ||
| Khelton |
My ST1300 had a great motor, throttle wheelies fine in he turns ..for a big bike..and ..it was absolutely the most unbearably hot motorcycle I have ever owned ....for the last two years of ownership, it was not ridden once....My Uly has it's quirks but it is twice the riding fun of an ST1300...I'm telling you, that thing was unridable in temps above 88 degrees... | ||
| Thunderbox |
I have no doubt the FJR and the ST1300 are wonderful machines. Reliable, powerful, smooth, decent mileage and so on. But in all the posts I have read, not once have I heard or seen the word fun when relating to either of these bikes. Take away the word fun and you may as well take away the bike too. I am not dissing these bikes but I have to wonder why we don't see that fun word anywhere we read about these machines. | ||
| Jphish |
T box - Ur right. My ST is ok, good touring machine - but like the KLR it sits in the garage. The Uly & ST both put out some heat, but as someone said "the Uly is a DRY heat". The Uly simply fits my riding interests better. And... there is no Uglier / cooler bike out there. My wife calls it the 'Mutant Mantis'. It does posses certain insect like qualities - particularly the orange ones. j | ||
| Bartimus |
Thunder, Unfortunately, I can't use the word "fun" when I describe my Uly. It has never ran right since I bought it, it surges, and the right side of the gas tank cooks my leg. It may have been fun once or twice, but I am do fed up with it, and my local stealerships. I've parked it, and am thinking Lemon Law... I have other Buells that don't torment me every time I ride them, mostly tubers, they will have to keep my passion for Buells going until I can find another "used" XB that can keep me happy. I will never buy a brand new Buell. The ST does what it's supposed to do very well, and is fun while doing it. My Uly could never carry the weight this thing does, or handle the way this does in the twisties. When loaded, all my Uly wanted to do was wheelie. I don't plan on chasing sport riders around curves with the ST, that's what the S1W or the S2 is for, at least until I find a used XB9SX or a 12SS. I think everyone should have more than one bike. How else would you keep riding while your bike sits in the shop waiting for parts? | ||
| Froggy |
I love the extra wheelie factor when loaded up, it just adds insult to injury when passing a Yamazukiwhatever. But I still can keep it down when needed. Having two bikes is great, I can now plan the downtime better for when I need to do something that takes more than a few minutes like changing a tire, or perhaps some kind of mod that would take more than a day. Also it is nice having a second vehicle, should something go horribly wrong and I need a part, I can put to my local dealers who usually have what I need in stock. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Bartimus that is too bad that your experience has been less than good. Doesn't matter what you get if it is a problem child it is no FUN to say the least. I have to say mine has been really trouble free since I got it and it was the 241st one of the line. It has had a few things replaced but all were during the warranty period and have remained repaired. I just bought an 04 Moto Guzzi V11 Sport with 1000 miles on it and I am aquainting myself with her right now. It is also a fun bike with a ton of character. Like the man said everybody should have 2 bikes. |
