| Author | Message | ||
     Oddsc |
I rode 150 miles today intent on trading the Uly. I had title and cash in hand and $500 deposit down. The dealer made a great offer for trade & I had my mind made up to get a new Concourse 1400. From everything you read the bike is hard to beat. I took it out for a hour long test ride and came back completely unimpressed. Sure it's got loads of power, but it's way up in the stratosphere. Sure it's got a power adjustable windscreen, but it's the same as the Uly when it's down & noisy and turbulent when up. I think it runs even hotter than the Uly. Riding position was no where near as comfortable. It was surprisingly nimble for a nearly 700 lb machine, but again, nothing to make up for it's shortcomings. The dealer did talk me into taking a Triumph Tiger out. That was a whole different story. The Tiger is a sweet machine. Incredible motor. In the end I rode my Uly home with a smile on my face. Chasing down electrical gremlins for the past 2 months almost drove me to trade her. A new ECM & it's running like a top. But if I have to replace one more frayed wire or burnt out plug, I'm bringing a Tiger home for sure. | ||
| Tootal |
The tiger intrigues me also! I have always liked three cylinder engines. I do have a 75 Triumph Trident that I will hopefully finish restoring before I die! Anyway, I feel your pain since I've done a lot of replacing and fixing on my Uly also. When it's right it is so right but when it fails it really bums one out! | ||
| Svh |
A buddy of mine just bought a Triumph Tiger after riding my XT and the Tiger a few days apart. The engine sound is what really did it for him. Aftermarket exhaust those things sound marvelous instead of just plain loud. To each their own but I do hope to ride that bike soon. | ||
| Ulynut |
I rode a Tiger before test riding a Ulysses. Nice bike, but I'm convinced I made the right choice. | ||
| Okc99 |
The 1 reason I'm not trading for a Tiger (yet) is because this stock seat will never be equaled. I KNOW that I'll have to go on blind faith and order a $500 replacement seat on anyother bike if I want to ride more than a few hours and I also know that once I get a new seat, there is NO 2nd shot...whatever I get, I get. Most places don't allow you to test drive a new seat. And it's hard to test the long-term comfort of a bike or seat in the dealer. Even if I brought a picnic and camped out on the bike on the showroom floor for hours, it still wouldn't be real-world sitting. But yea...when the next version of a Tiger comes out, I'll likely trade in. I just don't like the ant's head look of the current model. I would get a Sprint but afraid I might get l*** too often since it is a sexy beast. | ||
| Froggy |
Sometimes you just need to take the risk. I did about 500 miles yesterday including tearing it up with the NEBO guys. I love the 07 seat, best seat ever for my ass. Back when I had my old Uly I ended up selling my low seat after getting the 07 seat because it was too uncomfortable. I have always wanted to try a tiger, but I doubt they will let me demo one. I know KTM wont let me demo their bikes, apparently because I am under 25 I was statistically going to crash their RC8. Then some other moron did! | ||
| Signal4 |
Froggy, Thats strange, I demoed my first brand new bike when I was 19 years old... they just made sure I had a m/c license. Hell, I'm as crazy now at 28 as I was at 18 anyways... your only as old as you feel! On topic... I agree that the look of the Tiger just didn't sell me. I love the look of the Uly. (Message edited by signal4 on June 08, 2009) | ||
| Ronmold |
You want a Tiger because the Uly has a few addressable problems? I've never heard of Triumph having a stellar rep for reliability either. I sat on a Tiger, looks didn't do it for me, The Scrambler was much cooler looking but not as comfy. Sound wise, the V-twin rumble just does something for me. | ||
| Armymedic |
Man that 3 cylinder engine is hard to beat but it's buzzy at hwy speeds, made my hands go numb. I'll take the Uly over a Tiger any day. | ||
| Joesbuell |
Buell zero valve adjustments save $$ + Buell no chain lube or adjustments save $$+ Buell only 2 spark plugs save $$+ Buell only one disc, caliper only one set of front pads save $$ + Buell different in every sense + Buell and mates + Buells do it for me  Don't Triumph's leak oil?  | ||
| Irelage |
At 20k I sold my Uly and got a KTM 990. God I miss my Uly. What I don't like about the KTM is: Very jerky throttle control Rough road ride Seat hurts Buzzy vibration most of the ride 37mpg front end wobbles at 45mph when hands off bars Limited tire selection Chain is messy Power delivery is not smooth, chain lag Valve check $500 Maintenance not for weekend mechanic Uly I wouldn't hesitate to go hundreds of miles on. 990 Adv makes me think twice. I like the 990: Water Cooled, Power, ergonomics, ABS brakes, fit and finish. Feel like less of an outcast. Loved and yearn for the smooth torkie power, vibrationless comfortable ride of the Uly. If Buell gets ABS i will be back in the saddle of one again. (Message edited by irelage on June 09, 2009) | ||
| Okc99 |
Irelage, Obviously we want to know why!?!?!?!?! Tell us the FULL story. | ||
| Oddsc |
I was wondering about the buzz. It did seem a little fuzzy runnin around 80. | ||
| Signal4 |
Okc, After reading this over at Advrider, not sure I'd ever buy a KTM LOL. I feel for this guy, I really do... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46 2142&highlight=cross+rockies | ||
| Michael1 |
After your Uly leaves you stranded for 3 times on long trips, you REALLY start to question the ability to take it. The problem is they were all somewhat simple problems. 1. Rear Wheel Bearings 2. Broken Clutch Cable and Belt 3. Blown 77 Connector Also, it's had plenty of electrical stuff/gremlins, more bearing failures (but close to home), piss poor gas mileage (under 40 mpg, and ECMSpy doesn't show anything out of the ordinary) and a blown rear shock. I REALLY love my Uly, but the wife and everyone else around me is pushing me to sell. It's just hasn't been reliable for me. I would not take my Uly on a trip to Alaska (which is my short term goal). And now, I am scared to take it on anything over a hour from home. On 10 long trips (over 500 miles) I've had 3 failures, but able to fix and ride home and then being stranded 3 times. I bought the bike for the long two-up camping trips and both we've tried haven't worked out. The Tiger, is high on my list as well, just as the Multistrada is. I know both bikes have their issues, but anything has to be better than my current track record. My SV650 has well over 45k miles and I have never had an issue. The real sad part is that my buddy has a GS and it has never let him down. Which it doesn't have the best track record either. It handles fine, can do everything the Uly does except stir the soul. Hence why I am looking at the Multi or Tiger. Well, off to the garage to fix my 77 connector and see about rebuilding the rear shock. YEA... | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I've got over 18,000 miles on my Oct 05' build Uly and other than a rear plug foul because of blipping the throttle it hasn't had any problems at all. The plug fouled out 4 blocks from home and I was able to ride it home. That happened at about 5,000 miles and never since because I gave up blipping. My bike has been on quite a few trips without a hitch. I ride with a large windshield and it gets right at 50 mpg on the highway and I'm 6' and 215 pounds. I've even got the original fan. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just trying to provide another viewpoint in case someone looking to buy a Buell Ulysses reads of your disappointment. I've never had a bearing failure either but then again, I give my bearings grease maintenance each year. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on June 09, 2009) | ||
| Michael1 |
I hear you Electraglider. I still tell people I love the bike. And I do. I love the concept, the ride, the motor, the body positioning...everything, but stranding me. Once, was okay. Twice...well..maybe. Three times. Yeah, not so much. It's a great bike and I am not sure why mine is so much trouble. It's a May 06 build, bought in July of 2006. Quite honestly, in the beginning it was amazing. Great gas mileage, fun ride. But something is amiss now and I cannot shake it. The dealer by me is not Buell friendly any more and it's out of warranty, so I am on my own. Which is fine. The dealer only has screwed things up in the past. I still recommend the bike, but have come to the realization, that maybe, for me, it is just not the right bike for my riding style. The BMW GS is more of the sort, but I'm not a fan of that ride. But I do feel dirty cheating on my Uly. Too bad she's sitting the garage waiting for a new 77. I just hope I didn't fry the battery or stator. | ||
| Tootal |
It's not that hard to test the stator so you might as well do it, your right there anyway. It might keep you from frying a voltage regulator. I agree with you about the problems, mine still runs like crap when it's cold and it's still not right below 3000 rpm when warm. I have ECM SPY and have tried to install the 07 ecm but then the bike is hard to start although the top end goes crazy! It flies but runs like crap everywhere else. I've tried it three times and I always have to reinstall the stock ecm. Anyway, I understand your frustration. | ||
| Oddsc |
dumb question, you put on the 07 airbox too right? I swore as soon as soon as my Buell was running right, which it is for the moment, I was going to trade it. If the Concourse was right for me I would've done it ( it wasn't by a long shot). Of course the Uly ran perfect all the way down and back on a 2 1/2 hour ride to the dealer. When it's running well, it really is the perfect bike. I've been stranded once. It took two summers to get the crappy running issues ironed out. This spring I worked two months chasing down 3 frayed wires in my wiring harness, a bad 77 and a shot ECM. I can't trust my dealer to do these things.. they're the ones who stripped my drain plug(!) and took a month to replace the swingarm. I do feel like I'm at the point where I can identify and fix any potential problems, I've had the damn thing torn down so many times now. I have this feeling if I traded it some guy would buy it and I'd see him 5 years later after he put 50000 trouble free miles on it. But, I'm crunching numbers and frequenting tiger1050.com $5500 trade on the Buell towards a new Tiger is very tempting (anyone seen the 2010 Tiger special edition?) | ||
| Snowscum |
"Just another goofy looking euro metric for moto-posers. Geesh....how about Triumph bringing a street legal ATV to market? Makes about the same amount of sense." Not knocking the bike but I agree with this statement from one of the comments. | ||
| Bmwdavid |
I'm sorry to hear that you are having such problems with your Uly. My '06 with an '05 build is doing fine. The only issue is a broken wire somewhere in the harness behind the headlight assembly. I don't have a right blinker indication on the dash while the right blinker is on. I put an '07 air box cover on but have never had the ECM reflashed or had the TPS reset. Bike starts and idles fine cold and pulls without any issues from as low as 1500 rpm. The '07 air box really woke the bike up all through the rpm range and sure sounds great also. Just passed 8,000 miles and still get 48-53 mpg ridden hard and oil use is nil...maybe 1/4 quart or less of M1 20W-50 every 2,000 miles. Only real complaint is the wiggle from the 606 tires. David | ||
| Michael1 |
I have the 07 inner air box cover, K&N and the 07 map. TPS has been reset by me a few times now. Everything is clean and working good. My current AFV is at 105%. I reset to 100%, but after my long trip it reset back to 105%. So I left it. I'm looking at the Tiger 1050 SE as well. Though I would like a set of TraX boxes instead of the tiny OEM Triumph luggage. I'm spoiled with my H&B stuff (42L each side). | ||
| Glenn |
BMWDavid, Chances are the right turn signal issue is where the ground wires are spliced in the wiring harness bundle located behind the plastic harness guard. Mine has broken twice. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/442795.html?1240259310 | ||
| Bmwdavid |
Glen, I still have the small harness guide. Need to upgrade to the large style. Hope my wiring does not look like that in the link you gave! As to being unfaithful...well I also did look at the Tiger 1050 last summer and was close to getting one. But I went across the street to the KTM dealer and looked at the SuperDuke 990. One test ride and I was sold. So now I have my '06 Uly as well as an '08 KTM SD 990. David | ||
| Chas1969 |
1st off I have never ridden a KTM, mostly because the dealership network for the larger and road bikes is even less than BMW. But form all the board traffic of major component failers that "Ready to Race" is great for KTM but never "Ready to Tour" or hell no "Ready to be Realiable". My 2 cents Chas | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Bmwdavid, Check that ground on the steering head right behind the head lights. One of the ground wires broke free and was just hanging in mid air on my bike. Stripped the wire and touched it to ground and my blinkers started working correctly again so I reattached it and all is well. Quite a few wires are grounded together there. Check that first. | ||
| Tootal |
I do have the air box ventilated well with a hole saw so it should work well with the 07 ecm flash but it doesn't work. The exhaust is stock and the muffler valve actuator is the latest incarnation with the steel gears and seems to be working well. I input the whole ecm and fuel maps, did a tps reset and rode it for a while but it was crap! I don't understand but it's back to stock for now. If I get some time I might hook up the laptop and take a ride and change things on the stock fuel map and see if I can do any good. | ||
| Kimberley |
After 30 years of riding lots of m/c's.....Triumph, Yamahas, Hondas, and HD's (from the Sportys to the Touring models), I finally bought an '09 Uly. I was ready to quit riding but now I'm back to finding excuses to ride and playing hooky from work!! This will be my last m/c!! | ||
| Elfrippo |
Hmm, you say the power was way up there? Actually the Kawasaki makes more power everywhere in the rev band compared to the Ulysses. | ||
| Prowler |
Yup, the Kawasaki makes a bunch of power, but it also weighs about 200 pounds more than a Uly, kinda like having your 200 pound mother-in-law riding along with you.... |
