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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:48 pm: | 
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FBRAT, Thursday 9/1/05:
"Preposterous" would be a good word to describe this trip. imagine asking someone to borrow their brand-new $12k+ Buell - before they'd even had a chance to swing a leg over it - and riding it around the country for awhile like it was your own.
Paul "Madduck" Elliott likes to live large, and not long after my request here on BADWEB he become the key piece of this convoluted puzzle.
the weeks leading up to FBRAT were insane, trying to organize a cross-country rolling Buell party while trying (mainly in vain) to earn a living.
this trip had not been planned for (and never should have happened), so there was no money set aside for such an endeavor, which made cramming work prior to the ride imperative, yet extremely difficult given the pre-ride organization necessary for FBRAT to be a success.
still, at the appointed hour i was ready, operating on all of one and a half hours sleep, as Denise and i launched from the ThunderDome at 2 a.m. in her Camaro for Bakersfield and the bus that would take me to Los Angeles International Airport and my flights to Chicago and Appleton.
i started this trip weary, and quickly found it wasn't soon to get any easier.
my first look at Paul "Madduck" Elliott's new 2006 Buell XB12X Ulysses, at Harley-Davidson/Buell of Appleton, WI on Thursday 9/1/05.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:49 pm: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:53 pm: |
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Madduck's Uly was a sight for sore eyes, the first XB12X i'd seen in person. it looked impressive and road-ready, and the saddlebags and top trunk gave his bike an adventurous air.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:55 pm: |
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SOLD! 
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:55 pm: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:57 pm: |
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Dave Stueve (the Wizard!) at work, catching up on chores after having just picked me up at the airport.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 11:58 pm: |
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the Wizard at play.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:00 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:02 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:03 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:04 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:05 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:08 am: |
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a couple more pix of Madduck's Ulysses, before rolling it outside and setting up the suspension.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:09 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:10 am: |
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the Wizard.
Dave Stueve is a man among men, good at everything he puts his mind to, confident and rightly so. in the Buell biz, no one sells more machines and parts than he does, and no one does it with as much enthusiasm and genuine friendship and camaraderie.
we rolled Madduck's bike outside and the Wizard walked me thru setting up the suspension, then busied himself with installing Madduck's Minnesota license plate and the Buell tank-bag.
my job for the moment was trying to figure out where to stow all my gear, made fairly easy by the large and spacious factory hard-luggage on the Ulysses.
while the Wizard took care of some last minute parts orders from BADWEB, i climbed up on Madduck's bike (where's the frikkin' step stool???) and took stock.
i fell in love with the ergos immediately, and admired the fit and finish that surrounded me, but wanted to take a few minutes in the Appleton Buell parking lot and familiarize myself with this new machine.
to say the issues of seat height and steering lock (or lack thereof) had my undivided attention would be an understatement.
based on other reports, i assumed my 30" inseam would be enough with the stock seat, but this was barely the case. after picking the bike off the side stand, and balancing the affair on my right toenail, it was all i could do to REACH the side stand, much less retract it.
still, i managed, and spent about ten minutes trolling around in the parking lot trying to get an initial feel for the bike.
between the seat height and the relatively limited steering lock i was terrified about dropping the bike (what a miserable way to start the trip was all i could think), but managed to get in about a dozen laps before the Wizard appeared with gear in hand, ready to mount his black demo Ulysses.
so, with just a few minutes of seat time we were off into the clear, lush Appleton evening, on our way to "crash" a local BMW rider's meeting and thrust this new machine from East Troy under their collective Bavarian noses.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:18 am: |
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guerilla marketing with Madduck's Uly at the local BMW riders monthly meeting tonight at the Prime Time Bar and Grill in Appleton. lots of interest!
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:19 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:20 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:20 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:21 am: |
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Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:22 am: |
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shine while you can, baby - Madduck's Uly will NOT be this clean for very long!
we were treated warmly and with respect by the BMW club, and invited to attend their meeting. it was with some surprise that Dave and i were asked to introduce ourselves and explain a little bit about the new Ulysses, and about the upcoming FBRAT ride.
altho the "mechanics" of the meeting didn't appeal to me (motions being made, seconded, rules of order, etc.), we were treated like honored guests, and i really enjoyed and appreciated the camaraderie that flowed thru the meeting room.
we all pitched in to the 50/50 drawing, with the resigned consensus of the group being that either Dave or i would win the pot. "Newbies ALWAYS win it!" came the chorus.
i'm happy to report that the Buell Boyz didn't disappoint, as Dave's ticket was called.
the Wizard, true to character, graciously accepted the money, then promptly asked if it would be ok to donate it back to the club.
and for the first time that evening a command decision was made without a motion, as all in attendance agreed that Dave's generosity was not only ok, but greatly appreciated.
i wasn't sure what the Wizard was getting me into when he sprung the idea of attending the BMW meeting and hyping the new Ulysses, but we both had a great time, and i was grateful for the warm welcome given to this displaced California boy.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:26 am: |
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the view from the Wizard's apartment in Kaukauna, overlooking the Fox River.
after the BMW meeting we rode to Dave's apartment and both called it a day. i was impressed to walk in the front door and see BADWEB already up on Dave's laptop.
as weary as i was i stayed up long enough to process some pix and get them hung on BADWEB, then enjoyed the sight and sounds of the Fox River rolling by just outside the window.
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 12:27 am: |
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my notes tonight regarding Madduck's Uly (written with all of about 30 miles of seat time) included the following: "Pleasing power delivery, clutch sweet, tranny still tight, nice groove on the freeway."
tomorrow? my first ever visit to East Troy!
end mileage for the day: 30.9
(Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 15, 2005) |
Dino
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 01:52 am: |
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Ferris, you sure that's the same Uly I saw at the 'dome. It's awfully...well, clean. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 08:41 am: |
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yep, same one. amazing what a few miles will do, eh? |
Jim_sb
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 11:52 am: |
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Hey! I offered up a hose & suds for Madduck's Uly when Ferris got to my humble abode.
Ferris opted for cold beer instead!
[Good choice, BTW].
Dino, a Uly would be a hoot on the roads in your neck o' the woods.
Regards,
Jim in Santa Barbara |
Dino
| | Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 01:05 pm: |
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Jim,
I have already mentioned to Jerry that, had I not already squandered my money (and Char's forebearance) on the three bikes I have, the Uly would be at the very top of my list. |
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