| Author | Message | ||
     Advoutlander |
Lately I've been thinking about downsizing to a cheaper to maintain bike. I've done 5000 miles on my ulysses, during my ownership, i've had to: replace exhaust servo $150 have transmission overhaul $1850 replace primary cover $190 Also I dont want to be filling up with premium gas, lately it seems my mpg has gone down, im getting around 35-40 mpg. I used to get better mpg before I fitted my tkc80 tires. I also don't like spending $190 on a rear tire every 4000 miles. However I love riding the ulysses and every time I get off it I look back thinking it is one sexy bike. It is fully paid for and is fully farkled to my wishes. After having to get the trans rebuilt for an unknown issue and the primary casing breaking it has knocked my confidence in the bike. So i'm now looking at the klr650,dr650, drz400 and the wr250r. I don't know whether to keep the buell or sell it for a cheaper reliable bike, what do you think? | ||
| Britchri10 |
You've got $2K+ invested in it over the purchase price. You enjoy riding it. Ride it for a year or two & amortize your investment. Now they are no longer in production the resale values are not great. As you like it, get your money's worth from it, then sell it on. Hopefully, the repairs you have made will mean that nothing else will need fixing for quite a while. Whatever you decide, good luck! Chris C | ||
| Etennuly |
The thing I have found about my Uly is that once a problem is fixed it stays fixed. I doubt you would see better mileage out of that same tire on a 650 given equal road driving. Everytime I have had a dual sport bike over 500cc, with semi knob type tires, I never got 2,000 miles on a rear tire  . Most of the bikes you mention would likely not make it much more than 25,000 miles without a rebuild. I am shooting for 100,000 miles on my Uly. | ||
| Turf_moor |
I can understand why you feel like you do. I really went off my BMW R1100GS at 53,000 miles when the gearbox bearings went. It cost about 1,500 GBP to get fixed but never went wrong after this until I sold it at 95,000 miles. It could be your Ulysses could match that level of longevity. I had been thinking of selling my Uly, not because of anything that's gone wrong, nothing has in 19,100 miles other than a belt snapping at 11,900 miles, but because I keep reading about problems on here and www.ukbeg.com (the Brit equivalent) but I've decided to keep it. If you sold yours and bought a 650 single, I bet you'd very quickly regret it, especially if you saw a Uly some place, when you were riding your inferior replacement. No other bike if its type delivers such low-down grunt. Ask yourself this question. Wouldn't you miss that? | ||
| Turf_moor |
FOOTNOTE: I'd almost convinced myself to sell the Buell and buy a Husqvarna Nuda 900. Quite aside from the spares problems 900 owners are even now beginning to experience, I rationalized things. I am content to gun it around the local countryside between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, with quick bursts higher up the rev range. Try 2,000 to 4,000 on a 900. No thanks. The Uly would leave it for dead. | ||
| Timberwolf |
Ettenuly, have to disagree about the rebuild issues on the KLR and dr. I've personally seen several klrs over 80k and drs over 50k without major work. Dualsport tire life does definitely suck though. | ||
| Timberwolf |
Both very fun bikes, but the power loss will be disappointing | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm riding a TW200. Put 32,000 on the 08XB12XT prior to selling. You have to ask yourself what you need out of the machine. On the TW; I need 45 mph, it has hit 75 mph indicated. I need 70+ mpg, it did 96.6 mpg I need to carry a 250 pound load, It is a couple pounds shy of 400 pounds capable. I need a 100+ mile range on the tank, gets 126 miles at 70 mpg. (worst mileage it has gotten) I want a sub 300 pound bike, 279 pounds. I want three hundred horse power, We all dream, 12+ hp. White bike, check. Have to remember it is not the Uly. | ||
| Uly_man |
It is unfortunate to have had expensive issues with a bike but that can come with anything used and as such is always a risk. People do "stuff" with bikes that are near dangerous and/or are just plain stupid. It is why you should NEVER EVER trust that a dealer/other has got it right. If you run one of these on tarmac you will get less MPG and less life out of it. A "duel sport" tyre is 80% on road and 20% off road. This is more the other way around.  The key issue is peoples expectations of what they are, in this case a motorcycle, buying. What that may be from "person to person" is something else though. At the end of the day there are NO bikes that can do what any XB does for the money. I know because I have been looking for something else to "play" with and everything is 10 years old/2500 bucks plus in the UK. So I figure it is best to run the Uly and spend the money if needed. The only thing wrong with a Uly is it does not have an adjustable clutch lever or has a built in beer dispenser. All of which, like any other problem, is an easy fix if you make an effort. | ||
| Advoutlander |
I hope the repairs will mean nothing will be fixed for a while but my confidence is severly damaged. My dr200 dual sport tires lasted 5000 miles but it was only a 200cc, shinko tires only cost me $35. I'll check out ukbeg, im originally from Manchester. I know part of me would regret selling the uly, but I want to do more serious off road riding. The tkc80s have took the ulysses to a new level off road but I miss having the agility of my old dr200. I have no doubt the power loss will be dissapointing. I really like the tw200 but there rare and overpriced. I agree for the money the ulysses cannot be beat. Uly_man, you are spoilt for choice for adventure bikes in the UK, theres just not many places to ride them. When I lived in the UK I was not into motorcycles, when I left I realized the huge selection back home. If I still lived there I'd have a tenere 660 in a heart beat. | ||
| Uly_man |
The "adv" thing is just BS and in most cases it is just a "marketing" thing for the "fashion" of the time. Those who have known the advantages of this type of bike were using them long before the Uly "came to town". Like the XTs, Doms, Africa Twins, etc but unlike most of these the Uly IS mainly a road bike. Does a fair job "off road" though it seems. Not quite the same bike is it? http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki _dr200%2086.htm | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"I also don't like spending $190 on a rear tire every 4000 miles." We didn't either, so we replaced the pirelli angels with PR2's. We have been averaging between 9 and 10K per set with those. I've had my momentary lapses of confidence with each of our ulys, but the confidence returned after each issue was sorted thru. When they are running properly, there is no other bike I've ridden that is as much fun. One driving factor for us to purchase two ulys was the capability for two 2-up bikes. When our son is endorsed to operate his own bike, two up capability will be a non-issue and depending on what I am doing work-wise, we may consider changing up the fleet. Good luck to you whatever you decide. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I never use high priced premium gas. Only use 10% ethanol blend always. Way cheaper and I get 40 to 50 mpg. | ||
| Advoutlander |
I had pr2's on when I bought the bike. They were fine on the road but scary as hell on dirt as there a road tire. I wonder how the d616 are on the dirt. Electra how long have you used regular gas? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I've had my bike since buying it new in November of 2005. 40,000 miles worth on the 06 ULY. I've always used gasohol in all my vehicles and never had any problems. I think even Froggy will agree on that. 89 octane gasohol here in Nebraska. Anybody tells you it is bad for the ULY is just full of wind or buying into oil company propaganda horse shiite. I finally had to change out the 02 sensor a few weeks back but it was the original and Al from American Sportbike wrote that 02 sensors start to degrade after about 15,000 miles so mine was due. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on October 12, 2013) | ||
| Teeps |
Advoutlander, Sounds to me like you're done... Move on to something else and never look back. | ||
| Arry |
Sounds like you do quite a bit of off road riding? If you could afford a smaller dual sport, and keep the Uly, after a while you would see which one had more value for you. | ||
| Griffmeister |
Uly man, a beer dispenser, really? Well I guess the tail bag is spacious enough and could hold ice, too. As far as replacement bikes go, it's a very personal choice and would be really helpful to get an extended test ride before choosing. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
I sold my 6th KLR (a 2008) to get a Uly. I'll never need a KLR again, ULY torq is intoxicating..   | ||
| Advoutlander |
Here in Colorado the regular is 8 octane. Teeps somedays I feel like I'm done. When it's running fine I'm not. Fotoguzzi what mpg did you get on your klr? Today I test rode a bmw sertao. It felt much lighter than the uly though its not much lighter on paper. it was a pleasant ride but was seriously down on torque and power. The pegs were far too high but the clutch and shift lever with light and smooth. For the money I dont think the sertao is worth it, id rather have a 2nd gen klr. It felt a very similar bike. Then I jumped back on the uly and I loved it. The soft seat, the tallness of the bike, my legs were comfortable, the torque, the sound, now I want to keep it, but theres the "what if".  | ||
| Sagehawk |
I've been looking at dr 650's of late. Wife n I been thinking bout dirt bikes again. She says she's due for the next one. Hah! Cant bring myself to get rid of the road king or the buell yet. For the road, the yamaha fz09 is looking good. All the big bikes run 17 " hoops and I've never seen that work too well for offroad. Commuting in houston just makes the heat factor 10x worse on the 12x. What kind of teneres are offered in uk and rest of europe? Something in 800cc or so sounds appealing. | ||
| Advoutlander |
I believe there is a 250. 660 and the 1200 super tenere which is the only one in the US. The 660 looks awesome. You can buy them in mexico and drive them stateside but you have to mess with title work. I've seen a few 660s on advrider in the US. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Going to do more shopping then. Was thinking of the husky 650 but 5 dealers in all of texas and I haven't heard a lot of husky streetable bikes future here in us. Am batting a thousand with buell off the table . | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
My XT get about the same mileage as the KLR did, 45 +/- 5 I had a 16t sprocket on the KLR to lower the revs on hwy.. be aware the 2008 KLR (1st year of 2nd gen) has a known oil burning issue.. It's the only bike I ever had where you had to keep adding oil, that bothered me. Kawasaki fixed it in 09 with a new oil ring. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I wonder how the d616 are on the dirt. Have you searched/read any of my posts? They're the only tire that's ever been on my Uly, and the only tire I'll use on it. I can dig rooster tails on dirt, run 50+ mph on gravel roads, and drag footpegs on pavement. Treadlife is still in the 5000 range on the rears (I get 10-12k out of a front) but anything not-dual-compound will be like that. | ||
| Turf_moor |
If you just want to use the Uly for the road, I suggest Bridgestone Battlax. I think the rear is an 023 or something. Whatever, it's triple compound and after 6K there's very little wear. I tend to agree with an earlier poster, Arry, if you can afford a second bike, say a cheap off-roader, DR350 perhaps, you could run both, with the Uly as a pure road bike. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I like smaller bikes, but a 250 with it's neck wrung is leading a hard life (as evidenced by the spun cam journals and trail of smoke and oil I left on my old one on the way back to the hotel after a loop around Deals Gap and the Cherohola). Great commuters though. | ||
| Advoutlander |
I've read the wr250r feels more like a 400. Would be good if there are an owners on here can comment? | ||
| Reepicheep |
The one I was referring too was a KLR-250, which is a very dated design. So a WR250R would for sure have a bit more umph, and probably more reliability. FWIW. | ||
| Dr_greg |
In my 85,000 miles on two '06 Ulys, I found them to be BY FAR the easiest/least expensive bikes to maintain I've ever owned. Would still be riding the first one except for several unfortunate experiences. --Doc |
