| Author | Message | ||
     Cerk26 |
I bought my '08 this summer, a little over a month back. It's completely stock and outside of some warranty work has not had anything done to it at all to the best of my knowledge. I've been running through the various upgrade/modification threads and was wondering what you Uly veterans would recommend as far as checking/modifying/upgrading right away. Bearings, ECM/seat issue, breather re-routes...that sort of thing. I plan on exhaust/ECM, but this is more geared towards preventative maintenance and inspection. Checklist me fellas  | ||
| Cerk26 |
Dammit, I just saw the notice in big red letters for new Uly owners up top...oh well.  | ||
| Ourdee |
Welcome to the madness. Ride it! eBr RACE ECM. You may want to stay with the quiet pipe. Cops don't look at you. First thing to do is to get a service manual. Second is a torque wrench that reads in both directions. Keep reading this site. Good people here. Remember Erik is spelled with a K. ATGATT = All The Gear All The Time. I wear jeans, makes me a heretic. | ||
| Reepicheep |
A nice upgrade is the Fiam Highway Blaster horn (at most auto parts stores). | ||
| Swampy |
I would just start collecting the breakables. Not that anything is impossible to find, but if something breaks, you will have the parts there to make the fix and get back on the road right away. Belt Wheel Bearings Levers Muffler Straps Front Isolator Do the ECM relocation Do the breather re-route The more you ride the Uly and start to push it to it's limits you will really appreciate the genuis that went into the design of the bike. For a production bike it really is spectacular. | ||
| Cerk26 |
Yeah with the riding season getting towards the tail end here I'm starting to put together my garage time to-do list for the off season. Here's what I've got so far: -ECM Relocate -Breather Re-Route -Exhaust Swap (Drummer/Spec-Ops) -Erik Buell Racing Race ECM Upgrade -Rear Wheel Bearing Upgrade (Tell me if I'm being too pro-active here, 11,xxx miles so far) -*Maybe* an air filter upgrade Also, my Buell badges on the tank look like crap. Water got in to the "U" and it bubbled, both of them. The left was like that already when I bought it, the right last time I washed it myself. I'm thinking of buying the Erik Buell Racing badges and having them clear-coated back on a fresh paint job on the air box cover. We've got an in house paint shop here at work. So what else should I put on the list? | ||
| Buewulf |
If you don't mind spending the money, get the 2010 rear wheel instead of replacing the dinky rear wheel bearing. I personally would spend the money on that before an exhaust. | ||
| Cerk26 |
Are most guys swapping over to the 2010? I thought I remembered reading that a more durable bearing was available that fit the stock wheel. Also, what are you guys using to lift the bikes for work? I know you can use a car jack under the stock muffler, but that worries me a little...I'd still want to tie to bike off to the garage ceiling or something. Has anyone bought the Pit Bull stand designed specifically for the Uly? | ||
| Portero72 |
I used a car jack for both ends in the past month-rear for belt replacement, front for disc replacement. Used a 2" block under the sidestand to keep it more level. It was just fine. Do the Erik Buell Racing ECM. Improve your lights. Enjoy. | ||
| Buewulf |
I thought I remembered reading that a more durable bearing was available that fit the stock wheel. The bearing is a common size and is produced by several quality manufacturers. Durability is a function of manufacturing processes, application and (ab)use. This is just my opinion, but I believe the application is the problem: the bearing is too small for the load. So I don't think you can buy a more "durable" bearing for the stock wheel. The 2010 wheel gives you substantially heftier bearings and one more of them to boot, so you are spreading the load over much more area to components much better able to handle it. Many people have changed over, but I don't know if "most" guys have done it. Price would probably be the only holdback. | ||
| Motorbike |
I was 75 miles from home when my rear bearing failed. I was fortunate that I was that close. The day that it failed, I was just out for a joyride by myself and did not have to have others wait for me while I was down. I would have really hated for it to fail when my four brothers and I were on a bike trip last summer. For reasons like that, I upgraded to the 2010 wheel. | ||
| Cerk26 |
Sonofabitch. With the trips I have planned the '10 upgrade may become top priority. Man for a bike with so much reputation for bullet-proof reliability I've been really surprised by the number of issues...though I suppose the '10 wheel should be a one time fix. Hopefully it makes it through the riding season...11,000 and counting. (Message edited by cerk26 on August 25, 2011) | ||
| Cerk26 |
Is everyone else swapping out bearings during each rear tire change? | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
I'd definitely consider the upgrade to the 10 wheel. Any bike is gonna have some issues if you put enough miles on it, or don't take proper care of it to begin with. The cool thing about owning a Buell is generally any problem you encounter is not totally unique so troubleshooting is usually simple. As frustrated as I was this spring with two cranky Ulys with overheating/ECM problems, both issues were resolved quickly, due in part to knowledge from this board. We've put 4-6k happy miles on each of them since those issues were resolved. Had we not stumbled across Badweb, I don't think we would have jumped in and bought the XT during the firesale, or the X after, but I've no regrets buying either bike. They are a hoot! | ||
| Reepicheep |
I still have original bearings and spacers (AFAIK, I bought it used at 10k) on my Uly at 18k. Every time I replace a tire, I check the bearings. Every time I go on a road trip, I carry a small box with replacement bearings, spacers, and a Hepco latch in the side bag, along with a spare belt, and lots of tools. So far so good... | ||
| Etennuly |
In spite of what you may have heard the aluminum used in the manufacture of the Ulysses is not bullet proof!   You do not have too much riding season left. Use up those parts people want you to be concerned about! Ride that thing until it breaks, fix it and do it again! These things are too much fun to ride to worry about what might fail the day you buy it. Heck, you will have all winter to buy parts and put it back together!  | ||
| Cerk26 |
^^That's the damn plan man!!! | ||
| Ourdee |
Welcome to the madness. Ride it!First thing I posted. I meant it. Ride it! |
