| Author | Message | ||
     Ryker77 |
We all know how great the Uly is. But BMW is coming out with two great sport tours. One is the r1200st and the other k1200gt. K1200gt http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=k1200gt , heated seats, heated grips, easy adjustable handlebars, easy adjustable seats, easy adjustable windshield, 150hp, saddle bags, HID headlights, cruise control.. now I just need to wait till some rich yuppy buys one then sells it used. Or the R1200st is pretty nice and its a twin. Ajustable: brake lever, clutch lever, windshield, handlebars and seat. power socket, heated grips, ABS, 110hp and 85ft/lbs, 6 speed. Needs HID lights and saddle bag, ohlins shocks to be perfect. So come on Buell. Give us an American v-twin sport tour. | ||
| Court |
I'm pretty well known as a fan of sport touring on Buells but I have to tell you that I'd have some reservations about paying $20,000 for one. I'm wondering what some of the folks here think the "price point" is for a good sport tourer? What would YOU pay? It'd have to be darned persuasive to convince me the Ulysses wasn't, properly equipped, a pretty fair sport tourer. There is something that's also appealing about the older BMW RT. Neat, simple and clean and they could be had for less than a Prince's ransom. Court | ||
| Scooterroid |
So which is it: A sport touring bike or an adventure bike with off-road ability? Is a sport touring bike supposed to be capable of going off-road? | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Generally no. That is usually reserved for the Adventure name. | ||
| Oldog |
the st is not in the same category, a question why compare the "Uly" to a "sport tourer" when it is an "adventure" bike? apples and oranges, for the asking price the Uly is nicely made has numerous innovative features, while I don't know first hand, I understand that it rides nicely, and handles superbly, which fits with it's herritage and is less money, other than some nice features it seems like a lot of money to layout for a blue and white tank badge ... Me I would want a heated pad on the seat not a heated seat, ( I could see my seat catching fire on a deserted road miles from no where ) | ||
| Spike |
While it's clear that the 12X was intended to be an adventure bike, the comparisons are valid because with a 23.5 degree rake, a 54.1" wheelbase, and 103hp the Ulysses offers more "sport" than most "sport-tourers". Basically, our apple has more citrus than their orange. | ||
| Ryker77 |
The Uly offers little to no wind protection and a higher than most seat. Which is why IMO the Uly is compared to the BMW R1200GS and not the "sport tours". The Uly beats the GS. But what does Buell have for a ST? I think a base price for a sport tour should be around 11g. But OFFER lots of factory upgrades. Ie HID lights, taller windshield, heated grips. So that "if" you wanted to spec out the Buell ST it would compair to what BMW offers at around 1-2g less. I mean all I suggest is a XB long with some wind protection and good seats. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Graft the 12X tail and bags to the 12SS, Add a modernized version of the S3T fairing, and Voila' you'd have an excellent sport touring bike IMHO. Come on Buell, give us that for '07 model  | ||
| Oldog |
HD all ready sells "touring bikes". | ||
| Steve_mackay |
No, HD sells rolling couches | ||
| Ryker77 |
I don't want a 800lb bike. Plus I did say Sport Tour. | ||
| Crusty |
I'm wondering what some of the folks here think the "price point" is for a good sport tourer? What would YOU pay? It'd have to be darned persuasive to convince me the Ulysses wasn't, properly equipped, a pretty fair sport tourer. I paid a little over 12 Grand for my XB12X with bags and Low seat.I did a 750 mile day on my way to Daytona. All my discomfort was caused by the sub-freezing temps, and the necessity of dressing to stay warm enough. The beemers have some nice touches, but I'd rather ride my Uly with it's too tall seat and non adjustable handlebars (why would I want to change the bars around?) and feel it sensuous personality than be monotonously stupefied by the bland drone of the BMW. I plan to ride my Ulysses from Massachusetts to Castle Rock, Washington this summer to see the TT races, with stops and side trips to Niagara Falls, Lake Superior, Appleton, WI, Mt. Rushmore, Glacier National Park, and a few other places. Roughly, I figure 8,000-9,000 miles in three weeks. My bike eats miles comfortably, corners with the best, has HUGE storage capacity and delivers pretty fair gas mileage. It IS a Sport-Tourer as well as an Adventure-Tourer. | ||
| Court |
Crusty.....I under stand, but the jingle .... "It's two, two...TWO bikes in one" is already taken. | ||
| Phillyblast |
Crusty, Make sure you stop by and see the Crazy Horse monument. See Rushmore first, even if it means doubling back. if you don't do it that way, prepare to be disappointed with Rushmore. Seriously. Dale and Tami told me to do it that way, I was too damn cold and went to Crazy Horse first. If you get to Crazy Horse early enough in the day, and the weather is good, and of course if they're not blasting, I saw a sign for helicopter rides over the mountain. Friggin' amazing. | ||
| Seanp |
I thought the Ulysses was an "Adventure Sport Bike"? Regardless, mine is going to be used for adventuring off-road, sport riding on road, and just about anything else I can put it through. I might look into an FJR1300 when I'm pushing 50. But for now, I plan on abusing myself by trying every single road I see, be it dirt, superslab, or wicked twisty. The Ulysses is the bike for me. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Define "Adventure". For some, like Alex, it's a ride across America. For others, it's a trip to Deals Gap for the weekend. (just getting up in the morning is an adventure for me) So it's a pretty meaningless label. You buy a bike you like, that does as much as want it to do, as best as possible, for the least money. Am I wrong? | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
FWIW, I think the only thing keeping the ULy out of the "sport-touring" classification" is the lack of weather protection. In my mind a sport-tourer needs a full fairing. I'm not saying the Uly can't be used as a sport-tourer, because there are a bunch here who have already proven me wrong. However there is nothing like hunkering down behind this bar door of a fairing and windscreen when the temps are in the 40's and the rain is pouring.  | ||
| Ryker77 |
Right now the market is selling "sport tour" Bikes. Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Triupmh, and BMW. They are all over priced and heavy. A XB with some wind protection using the uly seat. Simple, effective, cheap, lightweight. Yes the Uly is nice bike. But I don't like a tall bike. Nor do I have much of a need for off-roading. And little wind protection. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Mr grumpy, I think you hit the nail on the head. I have never liked the "category thing". To me it was better when motorcycles were just motorcycles instead of projects. Hell, I even thought my 68 Sportster was all of the above mentioned bikes, nobody told me I wasn't supposed to ride it from Ft. Lauderdale to Long Island or ride it on dirt roads or blast through Deals Gap. If I only knew then what I know now I wouldn't have been able to do those things without a bunch of different bikes. Oh well...................  BTW how did the ULY beat a BMW GS? | ||
| Ryker77 |
"BTW how did the ULY beat a BMW GS?" Better bike for less money. Plus how many Uly were sold to otherwise GS buyers? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
A famous quotation applies here methinks. "There are three kinds of lies; Lies, Damned lies, and Statistics." Attributed to either Benjamin Disraeli, or Mark Twain, depending on your source. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Mr grumpy, another direct hit (you weren't by chance an Artillery Officer?). As a long time Harley-Davidson/Buell owner (my garage has more Buell factory banners than most dealerships and about the same number of Buell motorcycles) and one who has actually ridden a Uly and a GS it is my opinion that one who buys a Uly over a GS can't afford to spend the extra money for the BMW. They are both outstanding motorcycles, just not in the same class. The BMW is the benchmark for all others in this class. Still not sure, read the road tests in all the magazines, especially "BIKE" from our brothers across the pond. | ||
| Bomber |
Grumpster -- of COURSE you're wrong -- silly question on this particular topic, however, you do have a point Al -- please, the very concept of Grumpy with High Explosives at his disposal is off-putting -- combined with the means to send them hither and yon at will, the thought is positivly chilling! In concert with the idea that one might be forced to salute him, the mind reels! | ||
| Henrik |
Bomber; *very* funny ... not to be taken as a shot at Innes of course (pun intended) Henrik | ||
| Bomber |
H -- the redlegs I knew, other than bein deef, were upright fellas ;-} But I'm pretty open minded -- I even had a couple of conversations with MPs from time to time (bigger ;-} ) remind me to tell you this Autumn at the Gap -- I'll buy the first round | ||
| M2nc |
it is my opinion that one who buys a Uly over a GS can't afford to spend the extra money for the BMW. AlDaytona, I have talked to too many riders that presently own BMW that are looking at the Uly as their next bike. If you look at the past bikes of many Uly riders, GS are in the once had. The GS is a fantastic bike and if I was going on a Global tour, I would probably prefer one to a Uly because it is a better off road bike. But the Uly is a better road bike. I just got back from an 1100 mile road trip to Suches via Deals Gap. I caught up with several other sport tourers, a couple of BMWs, ST1100, FJR1300 and several other adventure bikes. I can tell you that every time I passed a sport tourer, they sped up to look at the Uly in action. It amazed me how many people wanted to talk to me about the bike. From guys on dirt bikes with head lights, to sport tourers and even guys on full dressed baggers were talking to me saying the Uly was on their short list for their next bike. In the tight stuff, I just flat out ran away from them. The FJR I caught on I-40 at Black mtn. Here you would think the Yamaha would have the advantage because of its extra horsepower, but he needed it to keep up. I kept a stead 80mph all the way up the mountain and was not pushing the Uly. If I caught a car in the left lane in a curve, I would just pull to the inside lane and go around without letting off, but the FJR was dragging and had to back off on the tightest curves and during lane changes in curves. He then powered up the lesser curves to catch back up. His headlight kept bobbing up and down as he would back off and then get back on it. I let a BMW go by on GA-60 that was riding with a sport bike and getting it done down the technical section. I let him get a good lead, then ran him down fast. We stopped at the bottom of the hill and he looked the Uly over. Buells advertising is no joke, "Own the Corners" Last guy I talked to that traded a GS1150 for a Uly told me that the BMW was not comfortable and broke down several times. He could afford a GS1200, but said he preferred the Uly to the BMW. I guess sales will tell the tale. I do not mean overall sales, but how many former BMW riders that are now riding Buells because they are better street bikes. (Message edited by M2nc on April 04, 2006) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
If I was an artillery officer, I'd fire me!  | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
Why pay thousands more for a BMW? At 40,000 miles my M2L has needed about $1000 in repairs. My R65LS has needed about the same $1000 in repairs in 100,000 miles, my R80ST at least $1500 worth in 78,000 miles, and my lemon R100GS has sucked up around $4000 for repairs in 60,000 miles. So my Buell is averaging about the same cost per mile for repairs as the BMWs despite costing a couple thousand dollars less to purchase in the first place. | ||
| Bomber |
BG -- yikes! a Gee in repairs in 40K miles! not doubting you, yunnerstan, but you're right, that IS pretty high doing my own maintenance and repairs, I have no idea if that's a common figure or not -- that R100GS Does sound like a citrus fruit ;-} | ||
| Lornce |
Crusty, On your trip west consider following the north shore of Lake Superior between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, Ontario. It's one of North America's truly great coastal routes. Seriously. The scenery is staggering and there's some fantastic camping areas along the route, too. BG, What did you do to that poor R100GS? $4k in 60k miles?!?  You've had some cool bikes. Good on you! Lornce (gs/pd 133k) |
