| Author | Message | ||
     Beemer |
My XT is a 09 bought it 8/09 have put about 5000 miles on it,enough to know I like riding it much more than my Electra Glide.Just wanting to hear from some folks that use their bikes for touring.I usually take 2 trips a year,about a week long and average about 3000 miles in that time. This past year health problems did not allow this.With all that has happened with Buell I have a lot of friends telling me not to take the Uly cause of parts,dealers, etc.I'd like to take 2 weeks and go to Redmond Ore. for the Nat BMW Rally. Anyway sorry for the long post,snow is driving me nuts! Just looking for opinions | ||
| Froggy |
Just do it. I have toured on 5 different Buell models, never had an issue. I now use my 1125CR for touring as it is my most comfortable mile eater. | ||
| Crusty |
I've done several 3K rides on both my '06 X and my '08 XT. It's a great touring machine, especially if the roads you're touring on are like VT Rt.100, CO Rt.92 or the Dragon. I've done several 800 mile days without trouble. As Froggy said, Just Do It. | ||
| Pherris |
I took my 06 uly to new Orleans from Charlotte in 08 before I sold it. It was awesome. I to take two long ride a year on my road king the wife and I went to Vermont for a week last year. I kept telling her iwould ratherhave the uly. I bought an 09 xt thankgiving weekend. I'll probably take the rk on the he man woman hater ride( boys only) but on the tour w my wife and weekenders I'm taking the buell. | ||
| Buellerxt |
As a new XT owner I've been having the same thoughts Beemer, and as an 'x' Electra Glide rider I agree on the comparison. Glides are nice but Uly's are a lot more fun. Touring on a Buell was a lot more comfortable when parts were available and more dealers would help out in a crunch but the parts situation, hopefully, will get better by Spring. I plan to head out and not worry about it. I hope you do as well. We can deal with whatever confronts us. Best of luck. | ||
| Nobuell |
I have 17,000 miles on my 08XT that purchased in Aug 08. I have done a number of trips. Mostly 2 up and it is the most comfortable bike I have ridden. I plan on doing many trips this summer! | ||
| Trevd |
Go for it... the XT is a wonderful bike for touring! | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
I have a '99 Electra Glide and a 2007 Uly. I rode the Uly to Alaska last year, an 8300 mile trip in 23 days. I rode my longest day on it, 641 miles. I prefer it to the Electra Glide due the foot position and the lack of aches I have after riding it all day. Go for it. Mark | ||
| Etennuly |
I have done many trips of 700+ miles per day. For my fiftieth birthday I broke six ribs, sprained both ankles and rode 765 miles home the next day. I love the longer suspension of the Uly X! | ||
| Buellerxt |
Marks3tbillet, did you use a rider backrest on the Glide? Does your back bother you at all on the Uly. I'm just curious. I had a rider backrest on the Glide and have wondered how long days will effect my back on the Uly. Thanks. | ||
| Etennuly |
B xt I had back surgery nineteen years ago, and I can tell you the Uly is therapeutic as far as riding goes. If I am doing a long trip by myself I try to leave the pillon empty so that I can move around all over the seat. Sometimes I slide as far back as I can go and dangle my feet. It makes for great relief to be able to move around. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Thanks Etennuly, that sounds great. I like the big Uly seat as well. It does allow one to move around. I installed a 'tall' seat for comfort on long trips and to get a little more leg room but I've been wondering if poor posture, unconsciously, would hurt the lower back on long days since there is no back support. I'll have to test out the stock seat now that I put 2" Rox Risers on. I'm 6'2" with a 33/34 inseam and trying to get the right combination of seat, bar angle, etc. How is yours set up? Ths. | ||
| Beemer |
A lot of good info and I thank you all.To be honest the thought of not taking trips on my Uly makes me sick,I can't wait to load up and go! I love it when people have come over and asked,what kind of bike is that? I tell them and the usual answer is you don't see to many of those. I have just smiled and said I know! Ride safe all.  | ||
| Etennuly |
I use the stock '06 tall seat and have my bars rolled back to where they are about an inch and a half from hitting the air box cover. I am 6' 220 lbs and 32" inseam. Bad back, weak mind, old, feeble, and somewhat grumpy.    | ||
| Buellerxt |
You left out HELPFUL, Etennuly! lol I hope that doesn't hurt the profile you outlined!  Do you have risers? If not, don't you have to lean forward quite a bit? I'm encouraged to hear how the Uly works for you. I love the bike and want to take it on long trips. | ||
| Ourdee |
Beemer, Print out the BRAN list for the areas you'll be traveling in and keep it in your bag. It saved me a lot of trouble when I lost my rear bearings going to Home Coming. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Good advice, Ourdee. I'll follow that too. Do you have any idea why your bearings failed at only 4900 miles, and I assume before a wrench was put on the axle? A lot of creek crossings, high pressure washes, etc.? I hope, I hope! lol That bearing problem really bugs me. | ||
| Itileman |
Get yourself a sheepskin seat pad and hit the road. The only things I kept off my Road King were the pad and a heat shield for the upper pipe. On my last trip (summer), I did 14 hours straight from Billings, MT to Buena Vista, CO, mostly 2 lane through the Rockies. No problems with comfort and I'm 64 years old. Great touring bike and I have no regrets about trading my 03 Road King for the 09 Uly XT. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Very cool, Itileman. The sheepskin pad was one of my first purchases! Great to hear your enthusiasm. I'll be out there, and Billings has been on my route several times in the last six years, so I may be in your neck of the woods. Thanks for the input. (Message edited by buellerxt on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Sekalilgai |
+1 on the Nike theme...'Just do it'...yeah I scoot around like Vern as well....have fun! | ||
| Ourdee |
No pressure washing. I didn't wrench on it. I rode in single digit temps if it was dry. I ride in the rain if it is over 32. No creeks yet. My favorite campground has some creek crossings. I question if the rear tire assemblies were leak tested in a tank. I don't know. Hal's fixed it under warranty. | ||
| Etennuly |
The bars are in the stock mounts. I just loosened them and rolled the back towards me to where the clearance is about 1 1/2" at full turn to the air box cover. When I scoot back it relieves my legs and back, but causes me to lean forward on my hands. When I start to feel uncomfortable about that I move around some more. I have an Air Hawk seat pad also. I ride without it for about the first 400 miles or so, because once it is in place it is difficult to move around. I ride with that for a while and will take it out and move around some more after the next stop. For me the trick is being able to differ my positions between fuel stops. And when I do stop I get off and walk around for a while. Sometimes I even jog a bit to get blood flowing in the legs again. I have never had trouble sleeping or doing anything that I normally do after riding a 700 mile day. I can get up in the morning and do it again also. Many times I have ridden 400+ miles to an event and someone says lets go ride.....and I do, no problem.  | ||
| Highlander51 |
I have a 06 with the tall seat, and I put 1" spacers under the bars. For me made a big difference in neck and shoulder pain not leaning forward. Also big help while standing on the pegs offroad. I'm 6' and feel that the ergo's are just right for me. | ||
| Ourdee |
I used to ride an XL250S in the dessert. On some long rides at night on pavement, I used to lay down on top of it and ride. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
I have done two 4K miles+ trips on the Ulysses, one 1000/24 event, and numerous jaunts of around 750-1000 miles. I also own an '08 Road Glide, which I really enjoy. However, for the longer stuff I find the Ulysses much more entertaining and practical. The only thing I really miss with the XB is the XM radio (I've tried, and am not happy with, the in-helmet stuff). The only down-side of note with the Ulysses ... I can't bring myself to call it a "Uly"... is/was the heat issue on the right side on 07-09 models. On one trip across Nevada it got so bad that I stopped at an auto parts store, bought a reflective windshield "sun shade," cut it up and taped one piece around my right leg, and one to the frame; it worked. The only addition I've made is auxiliary lighting. On the test bikes I slap on a pair of MotoLights. For my personal XB I just received a set of PIAAs I'll add as soon as I find a mount I like. I camp out on most of my trips, and I've found the Ulysses to be a great companion. It will carry more than I'll ever need, and the occasional dirt road is welcomed. I never considered owning the original '06 XB12X as the narrow steering lock is ridiculous. Ownership for me didn't become a reality until the XT model. I'm barely 5'8" on a good day and swagger around on a minuscule 30" inseam. Even with the XT I wear a serious set of boots, and very carefully watch my foot placement. I've very comfortable on the motorcycle (an XT) and the bars and seat are stock. The only comfort issue I've had involves what I wear. If I ride wearing Levis I get a monkey butt attack at around 100 miles. In my leathers I can ride all day without an itch. I have no reservations whatsoever recommending touring on the Ulysses. ...and just because I find it difficult to write anything that's not controversial ("contentious bastard" is how a close friend describes me) let me state that I think the Ulysses is the best motorcycle that Buell ever made. | ||
| Buewulf |
I wouldn't hesitate to make the trip. The mileage on your bike is pretty low. The mechanicals and electrics on the bike probably aren't any more likely to fail than on any other brand of bike, and I bet few dealers of any manufacturer stock most of those types of parts anyway. So the guy on the BMW next to you is in the same boat whether he thinks so or not. (You can laugh at him as his final drive fails on the trip!) Some people here have reported wheel bearings and belt failures at low miles, but I'll wager that is relatively rare, too. Check and service your bearings before you leave for good measure. If they do fail on the trip, you can source them almost anywhere. If your belt looks good, I think you are good to go. There has been a backorder on them apparently, but a lot of Buellers keep spares and would probably be happy to hook you up in a pinch. Print off the BRAN list and enjoy your trip. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Very enjoyable post Reg_kittrelle. I enjoyed that. Good info. Ths. Buewulf, I appreciate the post and thoughts. Just curious, why do you feel belt and bearing failures at low miles are relatively rare? What mileage? I keep reading about failures though granted, those without failures aren't as inclined to get on here and tell us, though I wish they would. Ths. | ||
| Buewulf |
Buellerxt, I can't say one way or the other whether or not low-mileage belt and bearing failures are rare, frequent or somewhere in between. I do believe from what I've read that the bearings on our bikes tend to fail early and at a higher than acceptable rate, but I doubt the problem is so chronic that one should give second thoughts to taking a cross-country trek. Same with the belt. I have no factual statistics to back that up. It's just my "feeling" on the matter. The bearings are easy enough to inspect. Do so before the trip, replace if they show signs of wear, perhaps regrease and seal them if they don't, and be on your way! They are small, so it would not hurt to bring spares if you are that worried. I'd bring a spare belt before such a trip if I could get one before the departure date; but it wouldn't stop me from going if I couldn't get one. In my opinion, it just isn't worth worrying about to the point that one would pass on a ride. Sure sh*t happens sometimes: it's just part of the adventure. | ||
| Etennuly |
Reg, I highly recommend the "comfort kit" Buell put out. That right leg heat will be a thing of the past, and the seat itself stays much cooler. I believe if it had been in them from the first XB these things would still have us bitching at dealers for setting them in the back by the restrooms. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
This is an '08 XT. I was on a 10-day camping trip. Note the reflective "sun shield" on the frame.  |
