| Author | Message | ||
     Djz |
I bought a very close to new 2006 ulysses on ebay..I live in Washougal Wasington and found best buy in in Billing MT Beartooth Harley ..It had 1603 miles on it and under waranty until 8/6/2010 so i am guessing the frist owner bought and road a short time took back or lost it ..I rode it home last weekend took three days to go almost 1000 miles ..I love the looks i like the ride i dislike the rear brake ..It sound like a popcorn popper or something not like a motorcycle ....It has ok power once you get it going but slow off line and rev slow and run out fast of rpm ..i came home most of the way over 80 and it got about 35 mile a gallon ok i ran hard ..it hard to get on to tall ...it front fork stop really suck i am going to a demeral to it get some turn out of it ..I drilled holes in air box it helped some on take off i will put crank case breather in a can ..I am thinking of making my own pipes or muffler twin crome car mufflers turning out under it like old 650 tt ..maybe someone can give me some help what they did to make run better sound like motorcycle not really loud but nice sound ..I feel i need higher bars on it it hurt my arms riding long hours ..i thought i wanted a 1200 bmw gs but to much money ..after riding this not sure i like that any better ..Ktm nice bikes.I was in the philippine last 3 riding everyday had a honda African twin 750 it was very nice fast smooth and never any problem ..I think the xb12 has better leggs seem very smooth and stable .I only have a 1000 miles and three days so it is hard to say much good or bad it is good looking ..if any reads this and in area i love to make some riding freinds ..any help or advice will enjoying reading David  | ||
| Hooper |
Um, okay. Nice Uly! Hope you "get it" as you ride it more. Need more speed off the line? Need higher bars? Wow. Perhaps trade it in for a black one. Put some luggage on it and hit the road, don't worry so much about how it sounds right now, and see how it treats you...the tone will improve over time. | ||
| Bosh |
I would hold off on dremmeling the fork stops if I were in your boots. Not much room as you'll start pinching the wire harness on the left side. You'll get used to the limited steering lock after a short period. I don't even think about it anymore. | ||
| Rwven |
Rather than dremelling the fork stops, just change out the triple clamps to the '08 style. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
You should sell it right away. I know I hate popcorn poppers. The turning radius is better in a school bus, as is the gas mileage. Sounds like this bike is not for you, as you have far too many complaints after riding 1,000 miles. | ||
| Notrailerdave |
I got mine pretty much dialed in. If that bike doesn't have enough steam for you, I'd suggest you're not twisting it far enough? A black one would certainly be faster! I do not understand the rear brake thing---not familiar with it at all. I don't get the "higher bars" thing either. Perhaps you need to bend your arms more and loosen you're grip? The XB12X riding position is about on par with a 1200GS or a KTM Adventure or even an Africa Twin I would expect soooooooo? Dig on the forums a while and you'll find plenty of useful info. Cheers. | ||
| Osup |
I came from a sewing machine V-Twin on my SV1000 to the Ulysses. I shared some of the concerns you have for the first few months of ownership. I found I had to relearn when to shift to keep the Uly in its sweet spot. But after a year and a half and 6500 miles, I love this bike! But...Slow off the line? The only way the Uly is slow off the line is because you can't keep the front wheel from 12 o'clocking on launch. Edited for: CONGRATULATIONS on your new ride  (Message edited by osup on June 03, 2009) | ||
| Prowler |
OK, if you're not happy with the sound of the bike, try Special Ops or Drummer for some more sound. A lower version of the OE seat is available. Handlebar risers are available and inexpensive, also. Hard to believe that your bike would be slow off the line as these bikes have mucho torque. You probably should have test rode one prior to buying, based on the obvious complaints you've got. Maybe should have stuck with another Honda if that's the kind of bike you prefer. I find most Honda's to be soul-less appliances, kinda like a toaster or blender. To each his own.....anyway, with a few mods, you may find the Uly to be a good bike for you. | ||
| Armymedic |
I got the Precision engineering 1" bar risers and now the seating is perfect. Their footpegs are the bomb too. Much more comfortable. Here's a link: http://www.preeng.com/xcart/home.php?cat=8 | ||
| Babired |
i dislike the rear brake I have been told by 2 different riders that the rear brake sucks on the Buells because of the Harley riders going to Buells. I don't know if this is 100% true or not, but I have been in some HOG rides where I have seen Harley riders slam their rear brake and slide across intersections. I've coached some in ERC's too they over use the rear brake and not enough of the front. K | ||
| Froggy |
I could lock up the rear no problem, but switching to lyndal gold pads in the rear really made it grab more. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I doubt Buell considered HD riders in the rear brake feel. Weak rear brakes is not uncommon in non-Japanese bikes meant for agressive riding, where little rear use is expected, and no lock up is wanted. My Uly brakes feel pretty much like most rear Ducati brakes I have ridden/owned. | ||
| David_e |
David ...you're not serious.... you can't be. | ||
| Djz |
It about my 40th bike some have been great some have been just ok .I started with honda 55 in the early 60s then the 305 scrambler then the big twins 650tt flat tracked local much fun then came jawa cz and macio motorcross did high desert ride off road much fun .went in service usmc nam came home kawasaki 750 tripple love it at the time ..try 850 norton comando ok but kept breaking the frame ..i had a few bikes seem i had to change all to what i liked so i guess xb is the same ..the more i ride the xb the more like it .. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
I love my rear brake. It's the perfect amount of grab for scrubbing off a little speed before the turns. On the street, in traffic situations, when you need the stopping power, applying both front and rear is plenty sufficient. I have 12k plus on my original rear pads and they have a ways to go. | ||
| Ishai |
+1 on that. Don't think of it a s "brake" but rather as a front(main) brake assist... | ||
| Itileman |
I noticed it missing from BTHD when I went to switch out my tires. Have an 09 XT. Gas mileage went from the mid 30's to the low 50's at just over 2,500 miles. Sounds better now. Came off a Road King, not too excited about the rear brakes either, but then I'm not trying to stop 800# of chrome. +1 on the Precision riser. No way that thing is slow. The suspension is set up for a 180# rider. I weigh in at a little under 165, and it couldn't be better. No bounce and it's like riding a rail on the corners/twisties. You might want to play with that a bit because the adjustments are very sensitive and make all the difference in the world. | ||
| Djz |
Well now 2000 miles i like the bike that 3600 miles on the bike ..it handles nice fast never going to happen ..it just getting into a good wheelie hit the governer ..it is quick . still sound like a popcorn popper there more intake nose than exaust .I just know that motor should have a nice rumble not loud .what i think fast is you grab a handful of gas and you can not even see the front of the bike it shaking and moving forward so fast you hit the goveren at 1150 and grab second flip a foot to the other side with back well grab third go into big wheele back out 110 miles hour my last bike was a gsxr 1100 with head work pipes .I also had the honda 750 african twin both fast ..the buell grab handful lot of intake start to whellie hit gov hit second run hard grab thrid just goes no great surge but then again lot less horsepower year ago had a vmax it was fast handle No fun to ride yes ..i had a hm2 750 kawie 3 piston 2 cycle fast very i put port job pipes crabs fun really did it handle No but who cared i was young then ..lot of old 650 triumps fun fast no broke lots best you could get at time ..i think i know stock fast spent 45 years chaseing it ..buell a great bike but need crome tt pipes that have nice sound more power or more rpm . some factory help with making it run better ..Well wish to piss off no one just my 2 cents worth | ||
| Xbimmer |
...grab third go into big wheele back out 110 miles hour... 110 MPH wheelies, not a Uly specialty I suspect... Maybe you need something more like this:  Probably no 110 MPH wheelies either but 1000 MPH and who cares about the rear brake anyway. (Message edited by xbimmer on June 10, 2009) | ||
| Bosh |
Obviously the 12X isn't made to be a "fast" bike compared to a GSXR or any other repli-racer for that matter. Enjoy it for what it is.. It's a do anything kinda bike that's a friggin blast to ride [almost anywhere].  PS... I bet your 12X will eat your old H2 for lunch on a canyon road if not on the drag strip.  (Message edited by bosh on June 10, 2009) |
