| Author | Message | ||
     Baybueller |
I am looking at buying a Uly and would be interested in your take on the difference in the years. I have owned an X1 and XB but am not familiar with the Uly. Thanks, Robert. | ||
| Nillaice |
see the 'New Ulysses Owner Information' link on the BBD main page some basic changes are the XT has a lower seat height, and the +07's ahve progressive fork springs, the 08+ have better cranks, and oiling systems. there was also a change to teh wiring harness/charging system. | ||
| Nillaice |
and the 10 have a 3 bearing rear wheel | ||
| Baybueller |
Thanks for the reference. It appears 2010 models are very rare. I bought a multistrada a while back and love the performance but miss the low maintenance of the Buell. | ||
| Hughlysses |
If you can't find a 2010, you can always buy an 08 or 09 and install a 2010 rear wheel kit from American Sport Bike. That gets you about 99% of the way there. | ||
| Schwara |
I love my 09 and if you can find a good one it would still probably be cheaper than a 2010 even if you did order the new wheel straight off. The 2010 wheel will probably be on my list when it's time for the next tire change. The only real issue I've had is the exhaust valve actuator, but that just gave me an excuse to upgrade the exhaust & go to a Race ECM. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Or you could buy an 06/07, add the wheel, and still have adjustable timing, a higher-output charging system, and a manually adjustable idle speed. | ||
| Uly_man |
Try www.totalmotorcycle.com. Go to the Buell page and pick the year/bike you want to find out about. I had a 06 Uly and have a 2010 one now. Nothing all that much wrong with the 06 bikes, that a little work does not fix but the updates on the latter bikes are worth having. You will need to check what updates the bike has as they vary slightly between production dates. Also due to some of these bikes hanging around in showrooms for a long time it may have a 2009 plate but still be a 06 spec bike. The 2008 plus XB12X bikes have bigger forks and new springs but I could not find much of a difference myself. They also have a "off set" front wheel and a wider steering lock. The 06 bike has a "odd feel" to it at low speed which shows up as a need/feel to use direct steering input rather than counter steering. It also has a very short turning circle which can be a bit of a pain. You do get used to these though and is not a serious issue or fault as such. The 2010 bike has a vast number of little updates over even the 08/09 bikes but the main one (apart from the rear wheel) is the addition of the front O2 sensor. This and a much more powerful DTFI-3 has made for very fast/closer control of the engine management/fuel system. This with the idle control valve (which a 06 bike does no have) and the bigger oil matrix (which does work as it should) makes the engine run great. I also think the low to mid range fueling map has been improved given what I have noted with my new can. This is of course a little subjective on my part as I have no data to prove it. | ||
| Someday |
I might suggest whatever year you buy get an Erik Buell Racing ECM for it. The bike just runs and performs much better with it. | ||
| Baybueller |
Thanks for all the input. I got pissed at HD after they killed Buell and sold the roadglide and xb. Truth told, I love the old lumps and will have another. | ||
| Redtail |
Got a 07 this summer my first Buell and still have a smile when on it, even in the rain. Don't miss what I never had. If I found a 09-10 and could trade up or buy it. I would just to have a newer one for the sake of it being new. I do wish It had a tighter turn but no big tickle. My moto run what you can get till it don't run no more, fix, replace and then do it again. Rear rocker box leak so far 15,000 miles and almost broke in. | ||
| Baybueller |
Turning radius is an issue. When playing I have spun the back to turn, (not pavement usually) and if you hit the steering lock things get ugly. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
Pssst, Redtail.. make sure it is not a pcv grommet that is leaking, and not the rocker box gasket.. happened to me! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
06' is the best year. | ||
| Froggy |
Actually 06 is the worst, I had one. | ||
| Tleighbell |
OK so why is 06 the best or worst, and what to do about it? I am in the market and looking mostly at 06's due to cost. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
Froggy, or anyone.. I'm about to buy a super clean, all stock, low mile 06'(05' build).. what are the other "very first" preventative maintenance things I should do in addition to addressing the wiring protectors recall, freshening-up all grounds, ecm block/spacer, checking and/or replacing 77 connector, re-routing the breather and?.. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My opinion? I think the new oiling system (on the cam cover) and new crank is worth $2000 easy on otherwise similar bikes. Or worth 20,000 miles (a 2010 with 40k is as good as a 2006 with 20k). Otherwise, I'd buy on price, location, and condition. I bought a 2007 with 10k miles for $5000. My VIN is square in the middle of a nasty cluster of crank failures. If I had the chance to do it again, I would buy the bike again in a heartbeat. It was worth $5000 as a "gamble", and will be worth $7000 if I end up spending $2000 on top of the original $5000 on a new motor at some point. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I know the 08/10 bikes have the new oiling system but I have never heard of 06' year bikes having an oil problem. The 08' bikes run hotter, are difficult to check the oil level, are weak off idle compared to the 06', have all kinds of weird ECM problems. I'll keep my 05' build 06'. A rare 2010 ULY would be the only other year I'd think worth having. A beyond 2010 Buell AX I'm beginning to believe is a pipe dream that will probably never happen. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
E-glider_97, your an inspiration! thanks for your take on things.. I have 2 pristine 05' lightnings that with 15,000 combined miles have yet to develop one single problem.. not one. I installed Drummers and did the re-routes, all else mechanically stock and maintained impeccably. I guess I find it hard to believe that an 06' Uly would crumble beneath me, or be plagued with insurmountable issues.. & of course it has been said many times over (preventative) maintenance is the key to longevity.. | ||
| Tootal |
Yep, I would have traded my 06 for an 010 but that's not going to happen. Bigger crank and better oil pump means more rpm on top end. The 06/07's seemed to get better mileage, maybe because they weren't being cranked up as high? You can improve an 06 with 07 fork springs, 08 triple trees, 09 headlights, 010 rear wheel etc. With ECM SPY you can do your own tps resets and play with the fueling and timing if you choose to. Oh, and it if your throttle body shaft breaks I know where you can get a better one!  | ||
| Froggy |
The 06 is fine if you don't mind dealing with teething issues and gremlins. There was a lot of little changes to it over the years, and it makes an 08+ well worth the cost difference if you can afford it.
All the 03-07 bikes have oiling issues, hence they did things like upgrading the crummy pump gears, and the older system has a lower capacity to keep the motor cool.
That is wrong, unless you meant to type in 06. The newer bikes run cooler due to the bigger oil cooler and revised fan control pattern, especially with the comfort kit. The 08+ bikes are smoother off idle thanks to the idle air control system, and the only ECM issues are due to damage from the seat, which also affects your 06. Then the 06 still has the crappy throttle body shafts, crappy headlights, crappy tires, crappy forks, crappy everything. Compare a 2006 and 2010 parts book and you will see that at least 2/3 of the bike has had its part numbers changed! Tootal, given proper fueling, both DDFI2 and 3 bikes will get the same fuel economy, in stock trim the 2 does a little bit better due to not needing to meet the newer EPA standards. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think every Uly has the good oil pump gear, and bigger oil pump. That was a change in 06 AFAIK. Another nice change to the oil pump when they switched to the cam cover one. There aren't many out there these days anyway, so we are approaching the point where you will have to buy what you can find regardless. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
"I think every Uly has the good oil pump gear, and bigger oil pump. That was a change in 06 AFAIK" I'm hoping so.. can anyone confirm this? "There aren't many out there these days anyway, so we are approaching the point where you will have to buy what you can find regardless." No kidding, it took me 3 months of scouring the media to find a lower-mileage example that had been treated nicely over here on the left coast! | ||
| Tootal |
The 07 pump is improved over the 06 as it has a bigger scavenger gear. 08 is a different design completely and is an improvement. I have an 07 pump to replace my 06 when I have time. I thought I had a pump problem at one time but it was using a filter for too long that was the real problem. I wouldn't take a filter over 3000 miles with what I have experienced. They won't make 5000, I have figured that out! | ||
| Someday |
Electroglider says "the '08+ are weak off idle" and that's true due to the cam shaped throttle wheel on the throttle body on all '08-'10. It's designed to initially open the butterfly slowly and then progressively faster. I made a new wheel that's almost round and WOW! it's like a new bike. | ||
| Portero72 |
Someday I would love to discuss that throttle with you. Pm me if you do not mind. Hijack over. | ||
| Uly_man |
Froggy said it all. I had an early bike and have the very last version of it now. Both are great bikes but they got better through the upgrades. I would still buy a 06 bike now no problem at all. Problems are a specific bike issue and not a year thing for the most part. Things go bang, screw up or be a general pain but thats bikes. Rubber, bearings and electrics are issues on many bikes and have always be that way. Its a bike and part of the experience. But one now before its to late because it wil be soon. (Message edited by uly_man on February 07, 2012) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Just because froggy croaks doesn't mean he knows what he's talking about. 08' oil runs hotter. 06 bikes didn't have oil issues that ever were reported here. | ||
| Thumper1203 |
You know, I see it from all angles.. "kudos" to Erik and the elves for constantly evolving a great platform. I love Buells for all they are.. A simplistic tinkers delight chock full of charachter for competent "gearhead" riders such as the group here.. worthwhile upgrades on the newer models, for sure.. absolutely neccesary, in question. Ergonomics and rideability didn't change much, "thankfully" |
