| Author | Message | ||
     Terrible1one3 |
Uly has about 16,500 miles on it, 2006 I bought it new. (I know not many miles but I have multiple bikes and have moved 3 times in the last 4 years so not a lot of time to ride) I have the stock front tire which has needed to be replaced since about 12k but I have been putting it off. Had a puncture in the rear throwing off my replacement schedule. Decided it was time to tear it down and build it back up, did one last year to add a bunch of stuff. You can see that here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/559615.html?1272940251 This time I am doing tires, going to paint the wheels black, re-pack and re-paint the Drummer muffler, clean air filter, change Engine and Trans/Primary fluid. Adjust clutch, lube cables. Any other recommendations? What's up with the fork oil and brake fluid on these things? Maintenance interval 20k? The dealership (one I used to work at) did my last rear tire and managed to not put anti-seize on the rear pinch bolt or axle and the damn thing was... well seized. Broke two wrenches on the rear axle before getting a breaker bar with a jack handle over it to break it loose. Upon getting the rear off I realized that the rear bearings wouldn't move by hand... I know of all the bearing issues these things have had so I just did a big ole' American Sport Bike order with new front and rear bearings and spacers to go along with the tires and paint. Also got a service manual so I could stop getting my computer all greasy while working on the bike. Considered the 2010 wheel but couldn't justify the cost. I keep an eye on the bearings so the second they damage the wheel I'll go that route. I decided to get the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires. Had wanted to get the 2's for a while but when I was ready to order the 3's were available. Anyone else running them? I have been running Dunlops on it since new and really like them, not expecting much change other than going from an old tire to new ones. Any other suggestions? Tips? Hints? Thanks for reading.  | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Oh yeah, also did a MUST DO safety install. Horn upgrade... The stock horn is such an embarrassment. Once a Tahoe was swerving into my lane, I'm laying on the horn literally 3 feet from the passenger door and the passenger doesn't even notice me until I smack their mirror closed with my hand. Now I won't have that issue with this easy plug and play upgrade. And it is LOUD!  http://www.amazon.com/Wolo-Model-419-Black-Design/ dp/B000F5DQWY | ||
| Motorbike |
I keep an eye on the bearings so the second they damage the wheel I'll go that route. I looked at the bearing seals EVERY TIME I got home from a ride. Everything always looked fine. Still left me stranded 75 miles from home. (I'm glad it was only that far!) If you run it until the wheel is damaged, you will likely damage the swingarm too, plus I'm sure it doesn't do the belt any good either. Also, serious injury or death may occur. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
I don't want to start a debate on whether to risk or not risk the rear wheel bearing failure, the $300+ dollar wheel upgrade option isn't an option for me at this time. I like the majority of owners (I'm guessing) am going to stick with the stock wheel and replace the bearings as necessary. Perfect world I would be ordering the '10 wheel and doing that. I appreciate your insight and info. It echo's a lot of what I have read on the forums. (Message edited by terrible1one3 on September 19, 2011) | ||
| Pontlee77 |
i made a horn upgrade hooking an old buell horn (X1) to the stock one and it sounds real good and takes a lot less space. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Space wasn't really a concern, the Bad Boy fit in there fine. It isn't solidly mounted so we will see if I have any vibration issues. I also have a ton of GPS wire wrapped in there (didn't want to shorten it in case I move to a different platform and need more wire. All fits well. I'm sure there are smaller applications out there to go to an air horn unit. | ||
| Motorbike |
Terrible1one3, I know exactly what you mean about the $300+ wheel not being an option. It is not easy for some of us to come up with that kind of money with kids in college etc. I was real close to just replacing both bearings and spacer in my stock wheel and running it until I could afford the 2010 setup. Mine was under warranty but since the original wheel was OK, H-D would not give me the new wheel, just a new bearing. What really made me go for the 2010 setup was the fact that I wasted over 5 hours of a perfectly good riding day from the time it failed until the bike was back in my shop. Plus it took about 2 weeks to gather up all the parts and find time to put it all back together. A lot of good riding time was lost, That's worth something to me. Also, unless you have the belt disconnected, you really can't hoist the rear up and spin the wheel on these and tell the condition of the bearings, unless they are REALLY bad. Good luck in whatever you decide! | ||
| Ulynut |
Change the brake fluid. Really should change the brake lines every two years. I did. I don't know if it was nessesary. Might as well check the steering head bearings as well. Good move on the horn upgrade. That was the first thing I did to mine. | ||
| Etennuly |
Yes check the steering head bearings and the ground wires while you are looking at them. I ran mine over 50,000 on the fork oil. I do NOT recommend this. I was waiting for a seal to blow out and got it, twice  . Having run it that far to see how necessary the change interval is(and of course being lazy about it), I would definitely recommend NOT going past 25,000 miles with mostly clean highway conditions. Do it now and it will keep it feeling and handling as if it were new. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Good call on the forks. I'll do that, the brakes... I will see about changing the fluid. Never heard of new lines ever two years.. Seems extremely excessive but if that's the consensus I'll look into it. | ||
| Buellerxt |
EXTREMELY excessive doesn't even come close to describing how excessive that is, IMHO. Forget about it! The brake fluid, maybe, if not every five years, lol, but the lines! Are you kidding me! Hey, do whatever you feel is best. Best of luck. | ||
| Etennuly |
Brake lines/hoses? Only if damaged, rotting, leaking, or plugged up. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I rode my ULY for over 3 years without the rear brake reservoir, just the hose with a plastic plug in it. I only just recently re-installed the reservoir and only because I put in new rear brake pads and when I compressed the brake pistons back to accommodate the new pads, the fluid back pressure blew the plastic plug and fluid out. So I now am back to OEM. Brake works the same though. | ||
| Garrcano |
By the way mentioning the forks, could anybody say me which amount of oil (oz) or air (mm) I need on the 2008 Uly forks. Thanks | ||
| Zac4mac |
IIRC, I use most of 3 pints of Type E when I did my 09 Uly's forks a few months ago. Z | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Get the service manual and it will give you the exact way to fill and measure. | ||
| Brown_e |
Give the belt a good look over. If you have a few cracks, I would think about replacing it as well. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
How hard is it to get a hold of a belt these days? Does Goodyear have an aftermarket belt available for our bikes yet? I thought I heard something about that. (So we can stop going to the HD Dealer). I didn't see one on American Sport Bike though I didn't look hard cause I wasn't thinking about it. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Finished all the stuff and have put a few hundred miles on it on the new treads. Overall really like it, I figured out what my rattling noise (thought it was top end) is which really makes me happy. I have some loose metal in my Drummer muffler. I tried to get it out but not hard and ended up leaving it in there while I wait for my exhaust packing material to come so I can re-pack the drummer. The tires seems good, when brand new they seemed out of round for the first 2 or 3 miles for the first 4 or 5 rides but since the feeling has gone away. Mainly the bike feels stuck to the ground, more than it did in the past, in the corners it feels like it's on rails. Front end is still very light will full bags and wife on the back but I'm used to it now. Will probably do the muffler in the spring and re-coat it with paint (third time) or just get the stainless drummer. | ||
| Bike_pilot |
I just bought a belt from Surdyke. IIRC it was $146. Took about a week to get to me after placing the order with standard shipping so I'm guessing it was in stock or near enough to it. My plan is to install the new one and keep the old one as a spare. Haven't done it yet though (old one looks great so hopefully it has a lot of life). |
