| Author | Message | ||
     Crackership |
Hi Guys, I’m in the market for a new (to me) bike. I’m a year-round-every-day-ride-in-whatever-weather-as-l ong-as-it’s-not-too-much-under-freezing rider and I’ve recently bought a new house that is right about an hour, mostly highway, commute to work. Because of this new commute, my current bike (Honda VTR1000F) is just not going to cut it. I’ve done quite a bit to make the Honda awesome – but awesome for riding hard… not so awesome for sitting on for an hour. Also I get like 32mpg at best. And it only holds about 3.5 gallons. So I’m stopping for gas all the time. Which is annoying. So, my primary experience right now with a really cool bike is that it’s uncomfortable and annoying. Finances will likely dictate that I replace it vs. add another bike. Not my ideal, but probably a necessity. I’ve whittled down my list of possibilities to 4 serious contenders: KLR650 (probably 1st gen), V-Strom 650, V-Strom 1000, and a Buell Ulysses. The current front-runners are the Uly and DL650, but I can't say I've completely ruled out the KLR and the bigger V-Strom. Here are the things that are relevant to know about me and my circumstances: - I work on my own things - I’m not scared of carburetors, but there is something nice about pushing a button and having it start every time - Because I work on my own things, I like things that don’t break a lot - Because I work on my own things, I like things that aren’t a total PITA to work on. - I live in western Washington State. It’s always raining. Always. - There is an OHV park on the street I live on. (I want to explore) - There are a ton of fire roads around me (Again, I want to explore) Here are the criteria I’m using for my search, but my rankings are based mostly on spec sheets, so I’d love to hear from actual owners and how they feel the Ulysses stacks up: - Inexpensiveness to buy - Reliability - Inexpensiveness to own - Availability of parts/support/cool stuff - Fuel economy (both consumption and range) - Comfort (either in stock form or modded) - Wind protection (I don’t need a ton, but when it rains hard it sure would be nice) - Ability to run 70mph and not suck at it - Decent enough handling/braking on pavement to handle commuting and not being killed by cagers – Ideally it would actually be fun on pavement. - Reasonable performance on unpaved places (see above) - Ability to carry luggage. (I need to be able to pick up groceries on the way home) - Ability to 2-up. Neither I nor my lady-friend are small people – think 400lbs between the two of us. - Ability to be dropped and not destroyed - It has to be fun - Coolness (obviously subjective) I'm leaning heavily in the direction of the Ulysses, but I have some concerns - I have read wildly differing reports of fuel economy. some very good and some not so good - Reliability. I've read about the cranks failing... it seems like it might be overplayed though. - Availability of parts (I can't keep up, is Buell in business now?) - Almost every person I've told I'm looking at a Ulysses tells me that I'm a lunatic and that no sane person would touch a Buell with a 10-foot pole. When I ask them to explain their assertions, they seem to struggle for explanation.. they'll grumble about not being able to get parts, or being a tractor, but never anything substantiated... But still, it has me a touch worried. And then for both of them, and I totally get that this could be taken the wrong way but, based solely on the spec sheets, both Stroms seem like... appliances.. like they tick every "Sensible" box, but I don't see the "Fun". I mean, I doubt riding a bike could ever be truly boring, but I like a little character in things. Am I missing something? Is there a quality that just isn't captured in the spec sheets? I hope so. So there it is, yes, I've read a ton of stuff about the Ulysses, watched every review video I can find on the TubeYou, but after reading all the internet, I’m still not sure. So please, people of the Big, Bad & Dirty forum, talk me into (or out of) a Ulysses. Thanks in advance, -Dave | ||
| Tempest766 |
+fun +fast +maneuverable -parts availability -out of business -limited mechanical support -parts and labor not cheap -harder to work on than typical cruiser -air cooled front-back v-twin =good mechanical design but less reliable parts used to keep purchase price down Buell Ulys are a cult following. You either love them or you hate them. Mine will be shelved as a collector bike shortly in favor of a Yamaha FJR1300. Will keep the Uly but will ride the bike that is more maintainable. | ||
| Tootal |
Original Uly's had some teething problems but once fixed it has stayed fixed. Mine has been very reliable since the bugs are gone. AS the years progressed they made improvements and many of those could be put on the older bikes. My 06 has 07 fork springs, 08 triple trees, 09 headlight and 2010 tall seat and rear 3 bearing wheel. I get 45 mpg but I've used ecm spy to smooth out and cool down the engine so mileage has gone down but rideability has gone up. If you don't mind working on your own machines then don't fear the Uly. It's easy to work on and most things only break once. I've ridden from St. Louis to Colorado, rode twisty roads, jeep trails and then slabbed it home in a hurry. Never missed a beat and performed really well. On another Colorado trip I did head home early with a fork leak caused from the really fine and abrasive dust on the jeep trails. I have since put socks on the forks to prevent that from happening again. | ||
| Froggy |
>- Inexpensiveness to buy Buells have terrible resale value, which means it is quite easy to afford 7 of them (don't asks me how I know) >- Reliability Overall I'd say on par with European bikes, but not as "gas and go" as the Japanese. There are a few weakspots on the Uly, but at this point they are all easy to prevent or fix (Except bad crankshafts on 2007) >- Inexpensiveness to own Maintenance is not expensive, tires will be your biggest expense. Insurance isn't bad either. >- Availability of parts/support/cool stuff Aftermarket is not as good as a Japanese bike that 5 million were made of, but you can find whatever you need on various sites. OEM parts are still easy to get at a Buell dealer at the moment. >Fuel economy (both consumption and range) The 06/07 do better in that regard, but all of them will do a minimum of 40mpg even beating the snot out of it. I've gotten 60mpg+ on many occasions. Low Fuel Light comes on at around 3.8 gallons, which will get you around 180-200 miles before illuminating, and you still have about half a gallon to go before you are walking. >- Comfort (either in stock form or molded Every ass is different, so unfortunately nobody can answer that for you. I will say I find mine comfortable in stock form, but some of my other bikes are more comfortable. Adjustable windshield mounts can go a long way. >Wind protection (I don’t need a ton, but when it rains hard it sure would be nice) Ehh. Wind protection isn't great, but it is better than a totally naked bike. A taller windshield will help, I've seen people rig up all kinds of things to deflect wind. >- Ability to run 70mph and not suck at it It is happy to run at 70 all day, >- Decent enough handling/braking on pavement to handle commuting and not being killed by cagers – Ideally it would actually be fun on pavement. Dude, it is one of the best handling motorcycles you can buy. >- Reasonable performance on unpaved places (see above) Tires will be the biggest limiting factor. Not many choices in the stock size that are decent in dirt. You can do fine on dirt roads, but sand, mud, stuff you sink in, etch, would be best to avoid. I've seen some people shoe on odd sized dirt tires (looks odd but works good). Not having a 21" front will also limit you. > Ability to carry luggage. (I need to be able to pick up groceries on the way home) They have plenty of room for luggage, and the factory luggage option is great and roomy (but the Journey sidecase latches suck and are fragile) >- Ability to 2-up. Neither I nor my lady-friend are small people – think 400lbs between the two of us. It is roomy for the driver, but not as much for the passenger. Can't really answer this one for you. >- Ability to be dropped and not destroyed The frame pucks usually will do great to protect the frame/tank from damage if you knock it over or get into a minor spill. The bikes are tough overall, things like the footpegs are designed to break off rather than ruin the mount. >- Coolness (obviously subjective) Sorry, this is one thing we can't fix, take a look at the EBR 1190RX for that. >- I have read wildly differing reports of fuel economy. some very good and some not so good Yep, but I addressed it above, depends on your year and how you ride. Either way it will do better on gas than a Hummer H2 climbing a mountain with the AC on full blast. >- Reliability. I've read about the cranks failing... it seems like it might be overplayed though. Cranks - bad batch of 2007 XB12 motors (Affects the entire XB12 lineup). Only affects 2007 models, and not all of them. There is a thread keeping track of known failures and known good bikes, no real patterns have shown up. >- Availability of parts (I can't keep up, is Buell in business now?) Every part is still available, at the moment it is no different than buying a part for any discontinued model of Harley. Most parts can be obtained in a few days, some take a little longer, and a handful of special order parts have long backorders, mainly older bodywork. I still find it to be easier to get Buell parts than OEM Suzuki parts, everything I've ever needed always needed to come from Japan so it would take a month. Just about everything for the Uly is in some warehouse in the middle of nowhere, USA. Also, Buell has been closed down since 2009. Erik Buell started a new company called Erik Buell Racing, they don't make any OEM type parts for the Uly, but they do offer some race parts like ECMs and brake rotors that work great. >Almost every person I've told I'm looking at a Ulysses tells me that I'm a lunatic Buell has a bad rep from back in the day. The older bikes were more finicky and less reliable. They got significantly better under Harley's umbrella. Most peoples concerns regarding the bike are just due to misinformation (I love the guy who said that a single brake rotor would make the bike pull to the right....) >Is there a quality that just isn't captured in the spec sheets? Indeed there is. The best thing I can recommend is to find one and ride it, see if it calls for you. If not, there are plenty of great bikes out there in the world, something will fit you nice. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Ride one. It will become clear why people love them. My 06 has over 35k on it now (I own 7 Buells, none get a ton of miles because I split my seat time). It is my go-to, swiss-army bike. And I ride it like I stole it, every time I thumb the starter. Maintenance? Not worried. It's a harley motor as far as maintenance parts are concerned. Oddities? Couple. Had a voltage regulator fail; went aftermarket, now I have a simple replacement if it fails again. Belt failed on me (I broke it actually, snapping an over-aggressive 1-2 shift); I carry a spare on board now. Like Froggy said - most expensive maintenance so far is tires. Find one to ride. SET THE SUSPENSION FOR YOUR BODY WEIGHT. Ride. Grin. Repeat. Then go find your own. Oh, and riding it like I stole it? Being 6'4" tall and a fairly lanky sail in the wind...with all 3 bags on mine...I routinely log 42mpg. With the XB9 gear conversion (think 4.10's in a musclecar, compared to 3.23's). | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I have an '08. It has not been totally trouble-free, but it has required less maintenance than any motorcycle I've previously owned. Fuel economy has been in the mid-upper 40s and is highly altitude sensitive. At 7k plus feet, economy is in the 50s. Lots of engine heat in the summer. Lowering the fan trigger temps helped a lot. Handling is excellent; predictable and controllable. Is it as fast as my R6? No, and I don't care. Can I ride it ALL day? Yes! Can it carry enough for a two week trip? Easily. I'm just over 70k miles on the Uly. My previous four bikes were all ridden over 100k (one nearly twice that), so you know that I don't like things that break or are not reliable. | ||
| Fargojeff |
I've had a lot of different bikes, and the Uly truly stands out. It offers character and flexibility that sets it apart from others. The bike it replaced for me was a Yamaha FZ1. A great bike, but after some hard curves and few speed runs it was so boring at any speed that would let me keep my license, I had to let it go. I also still have a Harley Bagger, that now gets left in the garage whenever I can, it is so damn big and heavy. It is great on gravel roads! Put a TKC80 up front and any of the dual sports on back, and go explore. And those same tires will surprise you with how good the bike is on asphalt. It shakes at idle, and buzzes at speed sometimes. The engine lets you know it's there, but is controlled. No one will confuse its motor for a Jap bike. 14000 miles and I have $25 in repairs. A broken weld on a heat shield and I lost a muffler mount bolt. Blue threadlocker everything! Basic 5/10k service is easy. No valves to adjust, ever. I'd suggest keeping a spare belt on hand, like all sportster motored bikes, the belts are on borrowed time after about 30k. Easy to replace, other than waiting for a part to ship. 43 mpg averaging about 70mph. I have several 1000 mile days, stock seat is only ok. Not a perfect bike, but I love mine. Find one to ride to see if you likey. I would look for an 09-10, to take advantage of all the upgrades over the years.  | ||
| Bud |
go test ride one... if the grin says after the first mile the rest will sort out.. hate it after the first mile.. walk away.. Ulys are not the best off everything.. but if the Buell bugs gets you.. | ||
| Falloutnl |
Is there a quality that just isn't captured in the spec sheets? Probably the most important question you asked  . I was bitten by the Buell bug 3 or 4 years ago and have since bought one every year (now own 4 of them, and have managed to convince my dad to buy one). Thanks to the terrible resale value Froggy mentioned. Also bought a Uly. Hands down the most fun bike I've ever owned. Immensely comfortable and it handles like you wouldn't believe. Though the engine is what I love most. Perfection. It's just built for fun at semi legal speeds, that's all it does, but it does it better than any other bike. I guarantee it. (Message edited by falloutnl on April 15, 2016) | ||
| Tribe29 |
I Currently own 2 Ulys. I have ridden mine RT from Homer to Prudhoe Bay Alaska, just about every road I could find on the Big Island of Hawaii and From Los Angeles to South Carolina with some 700 mile days. All with a stock tall windshield. I have been double up with more than 500lbs of bodies and gear. I have had and ridden 7 or 8 other bikes and nothing has been as fun or comfortable or dependable for me. The fixes that have been mentioned have all been fairly painless and inexpensive in comparison to my other bikes. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Well thought out. I've been down the road you are going down, and I'll warn you about the conclusion I have come too. The Uly is the right choice. Get a 2008 or later. If you get a 2007 or earlier, budget $2000 to $3000 for a crank up rebuild and put it in a drawer (there is a very good chance you won't need it). You will find it really isn't the right bike for anything but a spur of the moment fire road. But boy is it the right choice for the roads. Your next best choice is the KLR-650. Not a bad choice, but you will probably find out that isn't the best choice for the fire road or the trail, and isn't the best choice for the roads either, and you will never be completely happy with it. Your real path to happiness is two bikes, accept it. One barely useful for the road, but lovely in the woods. One barely useful on a fire road, but lovely on the road. Otherwise you pick one that basically sucks at both. It will be fun for a year or two, but then you will either stop doing one or the other, or go to two bikes anyway. The other dirty little secret of big power singles (and by big power, I mean half of what a Uly makes) is that they wear out pretty fast. Expect to be rebuilding every 30k miles for the good ones, and 15k miles for many. It's easy to rebuild a single... new piston, replace cam chains, maybe valve seals, etc. But it's still a rebuild. Not an issue on the dirt, it would take decades to put 30k dirt miles. But you could do that in a year or two on a street bike. Same with tires. Tires that are good for dirt (and they make ***all*** the difference) will last for years in the dirt. But you will literally ruin them in 500 miles on pavement. So you will run street tires (like 80/20). At which point you won't enjoy the dirt much anymore... you can make it work, but you will forever be working around the tires. So my advice? Get the Uly, and get a 1995 or later KDX-200 or KDX-220 (off road only) for the woods. That's what I did. There is no reason you can't have both in the garage for under $7k. Your road bike will be a lovely road bike, and your dirt bike will be a lovely dirt bike. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Buy a 2006 model year for real cheap and then ride it until it drops. I've had mine since the last month of 2005 and it now has nearly 52,000 miles on it. All my other bikes never made it that far and all felt loose as a goose by 40K miles like they were ready to fall apart. The ULY still feels tight, like it was made to last. Not a perfect bike but closer than all the rest. For the price you won't find a better put together bike that sports a fully adjustable suspension that is rare except that found on expensive sport bikes. Buells have a pretty dedicated following, especially these Ulysses bikes and I think it is because how they handle. Best handling bike I've ever owned by a country mile. By the way, the 2006 and 2007 years feel more powerful off the line than the 2008 on up years and that is because of the ramp change on the throttle body. It is noticeable and I was not impressed by this anemic change. Terrible supposed update. I suppose if you never rode a 2006/7 model you would not know what you are missing. | ||
| Reepicheep |
2007's have crank problems as well, and pre 2008 are less solid than 2008 and later. 2008 had pretty comprehensive reliability and durability updates (like the oiling system). I wouldn't be suprised to see 2008 and later bikes go 100k miles, maybe just with a $200 head refresh (clean and valve seals) at 50k miles or so. | ||
| Etennuly |
I bought my '06 new and still love it. 63,000 miles. Many 700 mile days. 49.5 MPG average over it's life time. '06's did not have the crank problem that the '07's do. I will address your two up question since all of the other things are pretty well covered. "We" are north of 550 pounds, including gear, for our two up riding. The Uly handles it well. 70+ mph all day, about 300 miles per day is our "team" limit. Through dips you might occasionally feel a vibration from engine pulses through the mounts bottoming out. You might have to go easy taking off at intersections that are up hill at more than a few degrees. We have wheelied across a few intersections with the front tire about six inches up(as long as you don't tell her she will not know). The bike is high enough mounting up has a trick. I put the bike on it's side stand sitting no hard level ground(not letting it sit left side low). I keep a hand on the bars, she climbs on from the left peg sitting on the front seat. She then slides back and I cross my right leg over and we are off and riding. Getting off the bike we reverse the procedure. Permagrin is the word to cover how the Uly makes you feel on a twisty road. Several folks have had to consume adult beverages for hours to get the cheek muscles to relax from a full day of grinning inside one's full face helmet. Given all of that, it is a tough decision buying a minimum six year old machine for your only transportation to work. I would recommend having or keeping a backup of some sort for those "special" days. | ||
| Etennuly |
Oh yeah. I agree with what was said about the Uly feeling tight and new even at my Uly's 63,000 miles. Normal maintenance will keep it riding like new. If something feels loose or sloppy adjust it or replace the bearings or mounts. Simple stuff. | ||
| Teeps |
Over the last 5 or so years, off & on, I've threatened to replace my '06 Ulysses. The problem with that, is finding another bike that can match the Buell's performance, without busting the bank. The closest you can get to the Buell Ulysses today is the Moto Guzzi Stelvio. Except, for the price, the weight and the wheelbase, I'd be a player. | ||
| Woodnbow |
It seems like many people don't like the vibrations from the 45 degree twin. I've never found them objectionable but then I think rigid mounted Sportsters are comfortable too... My wife and I ride our Uly nearly every weekend from 2-500 miles all summer long and I occasionally commute 40 miles one way with it as well. I love the bike, handles great, very powerful at any speed you really want to ride. I switched from the Journey style luggage to the Juniors, both made by Hepco Becker and parts are readily available for them, mounting kits for the Juniors are available thru New Castle Harley Davidson. As noted, the suspension and chassis on the Ulysses is special, setting up the average Japanese road bike with these parts would set you back thousands and there's no guarantee it would work as well as the Ulysses, at a cost of less than $6000, in most cases substantially less than that. As far as the Stelvio is concerned, I'm nearly positive it won't handle like the Ulysses, the forks aren't as good and certainly the rear suspension has two times the unsprung weight of the Ulysses wheel and swingarm. And it's expensive. Frankly, I'd bet Uly parts availability is on a par with Stelvio parts availability too... | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Almost everything I would say has been said already. I would only add a few things to the discussion. I have a few other bikes, Harleys, so my Uly is my "hit the twistys" bike. I consider it a sit up sportbike. Same performance with a great rider position. I am 6' 165# with a 36" inseam. It fits me like a glove after a few minor modifications. The wifey rides her own so no 2-up unless my 100# daughter goes with us. I have had a few pesky problems but nothing I could not deal with yet. Final drive belts life is an issue, I replaced mine at 20K miles. I consistently get 47 mpg. | ||
| Nillaice |
you'll likely be spending more time in the saddle than on the dumb end of a box end wrench with any which bike you choose. it sounds like you've done every bit of research possible but one thing... so go find a uly local to you and take it for a test ride. then check out another and see which way your thoughts lean. if after the test ride you don't like how the Uly effortlessly handles or picks up the front wheel, then you should pursue other options. I'm pretty happy with my uly, but I can't make the call for you on it over the internet. | ||
| Crackership |
Thanks to everyone for the responses.. and you're right. I need to ride one. That will be the deciding factor. Your insight is very helpful though. I suppose it is worth noting that I do have other ways to get to work.. If I pick up a Uly though, it will be the youngest thing I own I've got a '95 4Runner with 240k miles on it. It just keeps going. also an '86 944 Turbo with 170k miles (and a Holeset HY35) on it. Runs like a top, pulls like a train. Of course, I baby it a little. So I have options if the bike needs a day off. I just really prefer riding. I also have an '85 GTV6. It doesn't really count though. It doesn't work. It might work better if I put the engine back in it, but who knows Given the cars I have, I've been hesitant to add another super niche thing to my collection, it is very nice that Autozone has every part my 4Runner could ever need on the shelf in town. But, that's not a realistic expectation for any bike, regardless of how common it is. Thanks again, guys. I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to take one for a spin | ||
| Steveford |
I bought my 06 in the Winter of 05 and it currently has around 95,000 miles on it. The ECM tends to get broken by the seat contacting it (idiots!), the wheel bearings are marginal for the machine (idiots!), and the exhaust canister is prone to rusting through because they used regular old steel (idiots!). I keep saying idiots because they knew enough to avoid these issues on my 2002 X1W. Parts availability is about the same as my 06 Triumph Tiger - nobody stocks anything so it's order and wait. This site does have a really good cross reference thread. Handling on these machines is very good as are the brakes, reliability on mine was 100% until around 35,000 miles and then it's been one item screwing up every 5,000 miles. Motor comes apart soon to see where the oil is getting off to, that didn't really start until around 70,000 miles. They run hot and are kind of old to no tech but that's not a bad thing when you're putting on a ton of miles. Fuel consumption is just about 50 MPG in my case. I bought the Tiger as the Useless' Evil Twin to have something a bit more modern with the water cooled triple engine but Buell isn't going anywhere, either. It's a pain in the ass but so is the owner. | ||
| Steveford |
Cross reference thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/723134.html?1380802845 | ||
| Reepicheep |
Many parts cross over to sportsters or fords, of which there are bazillions of. Almost all the rest cross over to other XB's, and there are tons of those kicking around and being parted out as well. I think there will always be a solid surplus of most parts. And once my bikes get 10+ years old anyway, its amazing how many parts I find aren't actually necessary in the first place. These days, pretty much any bike is going to need parts searched for and shipped in. The days of good dealers (of any brand) stocking very many parts are long gone. I rebuilt a KLR-250 from parts in a bucket, and I don't think any local Kawasaki dealers had *anything* in stock. Not even stupid easy and cheap stuff, like a $3 water pump gasket. | ||
| Crackership |
That cross reference thread is awesome. That might have just sold me on the Uly | ||
| Crackership |
So there's an '07 nearby with 18k miles. Ad says it needs a battery and rear wheel bearings. Neither of those sound like too big of a deal, but the '07 crank thing has me worried. What do you guys think? Is being a 2007 a deal breaker? | ||
| Steveford |
They made a ton of these bikes so you can afford to be choosy. If the price is low enough and you're handy enough to install a replacement motor, well... I think it was around 20-35,000 miles that the 07s were acting up? Somewhere on here there's a spreadsheet with the data points. I'd want to hear it run before paying anything at all for it, though. Get a battery made in the US, it's worth spending the extra $20 or whatever it is. | ||
| 96s2t |
I just bought a 06 Ulysses a month ago. Been riding and restoring bikes since I could reach the handlebars. I now own a 96 Buell S2T 78 Z1R 2006 VRSCR and the Uly. I fix my own shit too. I looked at the 650 Vstrom and 650 Versys. The 1200 cc Uly is ALOT lighter than the two 650's plus a lot more power. Sure the Uly has some quirks, but they are all issues that can be overcome with a little preparation. This bike is really good for travelling on the pavement and then travelling on gravel and dirt roads. Just buy the bike, you will enjoy it like no other bike you have owned. The only other bike I can say this about is my S2 Buell, and you can't take that off road. Buy a Uly with low miles. Lows mileage is the life of the bike. | ||
| Slacker83 |
So I have had my uly for 1 year now and absolutely love it. I have a zx14 that sits most of the time now because with older age I realize the 14 is just to insane for everyday riding. The uly is comfortable, has been very reliable for the 3k miles I've put on it. I had a 2013 tiger I bought after the uly because I got a deal on it and wanted something newer. After 3k miles on the tiger I realized I still enjoyed the uly more and sold the tiger a few months ago. The tiger was refined in many ways but the suspension just wasn't there. My plan right now is someday replacing my 06 with 40k miles to a 08 or newer with lower miles. But mine is completely sorted right now. Steve | ||
| Reepicheep |
Here is the 2007 data. It's not a deal breaker, but it is definitely a deal influencer. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/648773.html?1374261251 Mines making noises now that could be crank, but they don't seem to be getting bad enough fast enough. Took just about everything other than the cases apart chasing it though. To me the pre 2008 vs 2008 or later is the big split. That's when they got the new oiling system and crank upgrade. I think there was a bad batch of cranks in 2007, but all the older XB12 cranks are smaller. They got bigger for a reason. Statistically, too many 2007's are failing. But statistically, most aren't. So go 2008 or newer if you can, but pre 2008 isn't stupid, particularly given the current prices. A $4000 2007 that has a crank failure 10 minutes after you buy it would suck, but after a few weeks you would then have a $7000 totally rebuilt 2007 with a new bigger crank journal good for another 50,000 to 100,000 miles. That's still a really good value in this kind of bike, which really is a remarkable machine in what it does and how it does it. | ||
| Falloutnl |
True. I'm not too worried about anything failing. It's so ••••••• good that it's worth pretty much whatever kind of money you're willing to throw at it. <3 (Message edited by falloutnl on April 16, 2016) |
