| Author | Message | ||
     Strokizator |
I had the use of an ’07 KTM 990 Adventure for the past couple of weeks and used it as a comparison to the Ulysses. I know a lot of you are waiting for Buell to make a Uly with the 1125 engine. I’m not so sure I’d agree with that. While I’ve never ridden the 1125 Buell I have been on a 990 Super Duke as well as the Adventure and the KTM engine shares some similarities with the Rotax engine in the Buell. The KTM uses a 70º engine layout while the Buell’s is 72º. I haven’t checked to see if one or the other is equipped with balance shafts but here are my impressions. SIZE - The KTM looks big but once on board it feels no larger or more top-heavy than the Uly. Slow speed maneuvering is excellent. The KTM has a fixed faring and I can see where picking you way through technical stuff at slow speeds would be more difficult because you can’t tell where the front wheel is. On the road, it’s fine. ENGINE – The KTM uses a de-tuned (or just tuned differently) Super Duke engine that puts out 100 hp, roughly the same as the Uly. Being a 70º twin and not 90º, there is some apparent imbalance. On the Uly, the engine vibrates at idle but quickly smoothes out as revs build. With the KTM engine, you can feel an engine vibe at idle all the way through the rev range. It’s not huge but it never goes away. The KTM engine redlines near 10,000 rpm while I rarely took my Uly above 5000, so working the engine seemed to take longer than I was used to (kind of a vague statement but I don’t know how else to describe it) The Uly power felt more immediate, with better torque. Gas mileage on the KTM is less than 40 MPG so even though it carries more fuel, the low fuel light comes on sooner. Based on the way I ride, the power delivery, mileage, etc., I much prefer the Uly’s powerplant. SUSPENSION – I have to give it to the KTM here. I never complained about the Uly’s ride but the KTM absorbs bumps better. When hitting a bump or going over R/R tracks the KTM’s suspension seemed to just glide over them. To get the same level of compliance out of the Uly would require more suspension travel. To get less travel would require a harsher ride. Maybe it’s the 21” front wheel or that the WP components are slightly better but you can definitely feel the difference. I noticed I was going down dirt roads faster and easier than I would on the Uly. There’s no need to say which performs better on road although the KTM will handle a lot better than you’d think. MAINTENANCE – Here the Uly not only wins but embarrasses the KTM. The Uly was the most trouble-free bike I ever owned. The air-cooled, hydraulic lifter engine may be seen by some as ancient technology, but it’s also as reliable as an anvil. Just changing oil on the KTM is a 2-hour ordeal. Working on just about anything requires a lot of disassembly of other parts. Get the KTM is you like to spend your nights in the garage working on stuff. I wrenched on my Uly but that was mostly just for fun not necessity. COST – Hands down to the Uly again but you can get good deals on used KTM’s. INTANGIBLES – Well the KTM is just as weird as the Uly so there’s no sense passing judgment on the looks. Both are comfortable on the road with the nod going to the Ulysses for stock seating. Wind protection is just about the same but easily made even better on the Uly. KTM riding gear is cool though. Both feel very similar in some ways. CONCLUSION – The things the KTM did better than the Uly had nothing to do with the engine. My only wish is that it had a bigger front wheel to make it better off road. I’ll take the Thunderstorm engine any day (or for at least as long the EPA will allow production). For the way I ride now with 80/20 road vs. dirt, the total cost of ownership, and the way the bikes speaks to me, I’m still looking to replace my Uly with another Uly. BTW, I did stop to look at a BMW 800 GS but that thing is just too dang ugly! My point is that if you want better off road performance look at things that will make the Uly a better off road bike. The engine is not a problem. If you want better on road performance with an 1125 engine, then buy the 1125R or CR. 140 hp is not going to make the Uly a better Uly. | ||
| Atoms |
I know a lot of you are waiting for Buell to make a Uly with the 1125 engine. I am, but only so I'll have a reason to get a Guzzi or a Triumph or whatever air-cooled sort-of ADV bike is on the market at that time.  | ||
| Froggy |
The rest of your post is irrelevant. I did some dirt trails this morning on my CR. Let me just say, it was quite interesting | ||
| Chadhargis |
I have a Uly and an 1125CR. The things I like about the Uly are the size, comfort, and handling for a 500+lb bike. It's an amazing package, spoiled only by a motor that shakes my vision blurry at idle, and just when you need power, you bang into the rev limiter. Sure, it's easy to work on, and I appreciate that. But doing a valve adjustment every 12,000 miles isn't that big a deal unless you are riding 30,000 miles a year or something. Fuel mileage isn't a big issue either. It might be for someone living out West, but here in the East, we have gas stations all over the place. Even in the boonies, there is at least one in every town, so you're not more than 25 miles or so from gas at any given time. I typically stop every 50 to 100 miles anyway. Bad knees make that a must. Even on the Ulysses, with it's wonderful leg room, I have to stretch. Standing up works, but I find that walking around helps more. The 1125 engine in my CR is WONDERFUL. A beautiful, docile, tractable, torquey engine at low RPM. No lurching, no pinging when hot, no turn signals bouncing up and down at idle like they are going to fall off, no blurred vision and headaches when sitting at a stop light (YEAH!!!). The 1125 engine feels, powerwise, like the air cooled motor up to about 6000 rpm....then Katie bar the door. Where the air cooled mill runs out of breath...the 1125 motor is hitting stride. I'm talking about arm straightening, eye ball flattening, blistering acceleration that goes, and goes, and goes, and goes....the rev limiter never really coming into play. Either you're rolling out to keep the front wheel down, or you're WELL into triple digits before you hit the limiter. The air cooler has a useable RPM range of 3500-6800rpm (lower than that, it it shakes like a dog crapping peach seeds). The 1125 has a useable RPM range of 3000-10,500rpm. Anywhere in between that range is power and TORQUE. Beautiful loads of it. Less than 3000rpm on the 1125 and you can feel it lugging a bit. Keep it above 3000 and it's just bliss. Need to make a quick pass, no problem. The 1125 mill will dispatch a group of cars quicker than a can can lick it's hind end. We have lots of hills here in Tennessee, so passing zones are short or non-existent. With the 1125, you can pass a gaggle of cars and still have room to duck back in long before a car coming over the hill would be a threat to you....not so with the air cooler. Better to have power and not need it, than need it and not have it. The 1125 motor in the Ulysses would very well make it the best light sport touring rig made today. I've not sampled the new 1098 Multistrada, but I'm sure it's quite a machine. I can see the many advantages of the air cooled motor. I've spoken with several people who think it has more than enough power. I think the success of the Ulysses shows that most people like it the way it is. I'm most likely in the minority who would like to see the Uly with the 1125 motor. Perhaps the market, already supporting the Tiger, new Multistrada, and V-Strom, can't handle another liquid cooled adventure touring bike. Maybe Buell has the edge with it's simplicity and lack of maintenance. I finally gave up, and pulled the trigger on the CR. With high bars, Uly pegs, comfort seat, and it's 5.5 gallon tank....it's 80% as comfortable as the Uly, and my range is exactly the same. I've still got the Uly, and I still love her. I am probably going to end up selling it because I can't see a time where I'd pick the Uly over the CR other than going on a LONG tour, which my schedule won't allow any time in the near future. | ||
| Strokizator |
And maybe that's the difference. I often ride off the beaten track and avoid interstates like the plague. If I'm going down a road and a see a sign that says "Moon Crater 15 miles" and it's nothing but a wagon trail, I'm heading down it. Some guys want to go 500 miles a day on blacktop. The Uly can do both but right now does better on road than off. I want a better off road machine, some want a better pavement burner. c'est la vie | ||
| Svh |
I think if Buell ever wanted to make a tourer and lose all off-roading pretense then a 1125XT would be wonderful. I do not think the engine in current tune would be good off road but one that was slightly tuned for less hp and more low end grunt could. My XT really does it for me but like Chad has complained of in the past, I am on the rev limiter a lot. Maybe I need a CR for my hooligan bike instead of the XT and use the XT for more relaxed riding. Or be a hooligan on both...  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'd like an 800cc Shiver/Hypermotard variant. | ||
| Froggy |
Strokizator, saw your post before you deleted it. I was kinda vague intentionally, I am not ready to post details. Also, I think its hard for you to dismiss a bike that doesn't exist based on a ride on a bike thats not even related. Similar to how most people dismiss Buell's because their uncles neighbors cousins grandson had an unspecific model that ran like crap. Once I have a little more fun I will post some good tidbits and pics  | ||
| Cyclonedon |
rather than putting the 1125 engine in the Uly chassis, how about a true sport touring model with fairings and a adjustable windshield? the Japanese market sure seems to be doing well selling them! | ||
| Treysmagna |
I have been riding bikes a long time and I learned a long time ago that one bike just will not do every thing well. That is why I have a Uly, FLHT and a DR650. I have been looking hard at the KTM 990, but just cant see spending the money right now. If I know I am going to be doing some pretty serious off roading a will always opt for the DR. The Uly is my every day rider and I have taken a few two up trips on it and it did great. I really wish that Buell would build a sport touring bike with a frame mounted fairing and all of the bells and whistles. I would buy one. I think that both HD and Buell will eventually have to convert to water cooled motors in the future, just not sure how soon. In a way I dont really care that much which motor they use as long as I can ride it all day long, it gets good MPG, is dependable and I can dress it out to my tastes for touring on it and two up. I would give the 1125 motor a look if it were in the right bike for my purposes | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
Strokizator, great review..I really like my Uly just the way it is..Thanks,Tim | ||
| Hooper |
Chad, the Uly pegs on your CR gives you a little bit more legroom? I test rode the CR and loved everything but the fit, and I'm tall like you. 80% as comfy as the Uly sounds like something I could deal with to be on such a gnarly sportbike like that. And hey, it's a sportbike... | ||
| Chadhargis |
Between the Uly pegs and the comfort seat, you end up with nearly 2" extra leg room. The high bars help as well. Now, that being said....it's NOT a Uly. But it's not uncomfortable. I get the same fuel range on my CR that I get on the Uly and on both bikes I typically find the need to stop and stretch long before the tank runs dry. | ||
| Cycletlh |
"rather than putting the 1125 engine in the Uly chassis, how about a true sport touring model with fairings and a adjustable windshield?" +1 |
