| Author | Message | ||
     Luvinit |
I wanted to test the lightning long, but they don't have a demo. I'm also testing the yamaha fazer on sunday. I don't really like the looks of the Uly, but the difference between the Yap and the Buell should be interesting... | ||
| Daves |
Have fun and let us know what you think | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I tried a Uly, it didn't have the punch of the M2, but I felt I could ride it all day with no problem. Answer would probably be a race ecm. | ||
| Luvinit |
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts…. some serious testing was required to find out which bike would best fit all my needs. We all know that one bike is just not enough, however, it is all a man like me in a country where insurance companies are charging illogical prices (I can’t ride two motorcycles at once, can I?) can afford. So I’ll have to pick one. Subject of testing Saturday and Sunday was respectively the Buell Ulysses and the Yamaha FZ-1 Fazer. I wanted to test the Buell Lightning Long, but it was unavailable. Instead of writing two reviews, I’ll compare them to one another highlighting points of intrest to me. Ergonomics: B: On the Buell, once riding, I sat rather comfortably. No sliding forwards and thereby crushing the ‘family package’. A rather unpleasant, and after a while frankly annoying, phenomenon I experienced with my previous bike, the BMW R1100S. I could hold the frame between my legs, the footpegs were set very comfy, and the arm were set wide, but it was no nuisance. Wind protection at highway speeds was good enough and no buffeting around the helmet was noticeable. However, for really fast riding, you best hang on! But where’s the fun if you can just kick back and relax! Just one remark, my knees were just against the bend in the frame, so it didn’t really fit like a glove… but this will probably have to do with me being skinny and long legged. However, my long legs could not help me when standing still. I had to stand on the tips of my feet! And the dealer told me the saddle was already lowered! Not at all reassuring when having to stop unexpectedly when some cager didn’t watch out! The other Buells do not have this problem of course…. F: The fazer was just…..perfect. I felt right at home and very safe and confident. I just rode for one hour, but it was perfect, even the so-called slim saddle. Maybe some buffeting around the helmet at high speeds, but not as bad as on my previous bikes (Bandit 600S and the R1100s, which was hell in this regard). Engine: B: My God!! I don’t understand people who’d rather see the V-rods engine in there, because there was plenty of power on tap! INCREDIBLE. How they manage to wring so much of it out of an engine which basic design is regarded as being outdated years ago. More than enough for me! Sometimes even to much. Limiting yourself to 50km/h seems impossible for me. So a bit dangerous if you don’t want a picture of your back on every local police station! F: Indeed, a bit underpowered under the 5000 rpm range. Something you have to live with, I guess. Maybe another exhaust can cure this. But it also makes it more manageable, yes, even docile for urban use! And I plan to use my bike for that also. Above 7000 rpm, it transforms into a warp drive and I was about to phone the moon to see if they had a refueling station there set up yet! Throttle response: B: very responsive. Althoug I experience two or three times (in a half an hour testride) a bit of stalling. Like the bike was asthmatic. But otherwise very good F: yes, there is definitely a snatch! But I think I can live with it, and through experience, compensate for it. Brakes: B: The ZTL brake on the front wheel disappointed a bit. One reads so much good things about it, but in the end, it just brake like a normal bike. And the front dives really a lot. F: Incredible stopping power, right from the beginning. And I managed to block the rear wheel twice while riding 40 odd km/h. It went straigt and I didn’t feel like I lost control, which has probably a lot to do with the perfect ergonomics. Suspension: B: As I don’t have much riding experience yet (only 2.5 years) I really don’t know a lot about suspension and setting it up. But I did not feel safe on the Ulysses. I think it was to soft. I did not feel in control and it seemed to be dancing on the road. F: Unlike the Fazer, who was glued to the road and made me feel like it could learn me a thing or two. The bike was actually speaking to me through its suspension. So, It seems that, being the better bike for me and my needs, I’ll go for the Fazer instead of a Buell. I liked the concept of a belt drive instead of a chain (especially for longevity and cleaning) but I guess greasing your chain every week is not that bad, seeing as the Fazer has a centerstand). It looks stunning also. Fuell consumption I think is better on the Buell, but….. whatever…  All of this is my personal opinion of course…. Which might be a result of limited experience and not enough guts to go scratching any footpegs or other bike parts on the ground due to lean angle…. | ||
| Fdl3 |
Sounds like you have determined the bike for you...and that is what matters. Thanks for the review!  |
