| Author | Message | ||
     Whosyodaddy |
Just picked up the September issue of Cycle World A lot of XB12X stuff - including a shoot out with the 1200GS and Multistrada. So far, I'm still taking it all in but here's the ending quote from the shootout... WARNING: SPOILER / / / / / / / / The BMW is a more capable adventure-tourer, the Ducati a sportier sportbike, while the Buell specializes in not specializing, and therefore offers the broadest appeal. It's a jack of all trails, master of some. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Additional factoids & specs (from the Cycle World review) List price = $11,495 Fuel capacity = 4.4 gallons Seat height = 35" (yikes! Count me out.) Ground clearance = 7.0 " Wet weight = 496lb Average range (including reserve = 176 miles) Cool stuff: (2) accessory outlets - one on the dash, one under the seat A very trick rear rack that folds up. I would LOVE this bike. However, with a 35" seat height, I don't think I'm a buyer. My CBR seat is at around 32" and even at that, I'm on the balls of my feet at a stop. <sigh> So close...... | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Quotes from Cycle World review The Ulysses is likely to be Buell's breakthrough - the bike that moves it toward eventual BMW-level sales volume.It's the best thing Buell has ever made. .... "...the Ulysses is posed to become one of the great utility machines of our time. | ||
| Lonexb |
could you post a pick.... maybe??? | ||
| Doughnut |
Fuel capacity = 4.4 gallons Average range (including reserve = 176 miles) Ouch, what happened to the great gas mileage? Thats "only" 40 miles to the gallon. | ||
| Eor |
Tall seat height is standard on the adventure touring bikes. The BMW R1200GS, with its adjustable seat has the lowest possible seat height in the category at 33". The Multistrada is 33.5". The KTM 950 is about 34". 35" is in dirt bike territory and will shut allot of people out [probably me]. That style bike needs the suspension travel and taller seat height is a necessary by product. The BMW Dakar is about 34" and it really is a bit taller than I am comfortable with given my 30" inseam. I just can't go any taller, especially with 50-60 additional pounds. It may not work for me, but we'll have to see.... | ||
| Blake |
Okay, I'm off to see if Brookshire's has the new CW. Dang. There goes the balance in my checking account. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Another cool factoid - the new drive belt (which will be standard on all '06 XBs), no longer as a 25k service interval. In fact, it's been extended to the life of the bike! And you'll love this if you ever ride pillion...Only Honda Gold Wings and their like offer better passenger accommodations than the Ulysses. Holy crap! The more I read the review, the more clear it becomes that this is an entirely new bike. Just about EVERYTHING from soup to nuts has been redesigned and upgraded. Oh yeah, VERY cool hard luggage option will also be available. I've been trying to scan a pic but I'm having problems resizing it so that it will upload. | ||
| Xring |
Wheelbase? I wonder if any cosmetic parts will interchange with the current XB's? (Taller flyscreen for the Lightning) Sounds cool. The bike magazines always get crappy gas mileage. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Final quote from the review: But the most important thing about the Ulysses isn't its potential reliability, or its almost-unparalleled versatility, or its touring capability, or even its butch supermotard looks. Instead, it's the fun it provides when you ride it. Cycle World Online Editor Calvin Kim said it best as he hopped off the Ulysses after a fast blast up 10 miles of twisty mountain road. With a face lit by a big grin, Calvin declared, "This thing is the best, the very best, American motorcycle ever."Ain't too shabby compared to the rest of the world, either. (Message edited by WhosYoDaddy on July 22, 2005) (Message edited by WhosYoDaddy on July 22, 2005) | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Wheelbase = 54.3" Rake/Trail = 22.0 degree/4.8' | ||
| Xb12burner |
Cycle world usually does have a lot of good to say about Buell's. Look at their review of the new Xb12 a couple years back. They loved it too... | ||
| Eor |
Thanks Whosyodaddy.... we appreciate your efforts. I hope you don't mind that I am cutting and pasting this to ADVRider...allot of interested and eager folks over there. | ||
| Davegess |
Grand Slam. Way to go ladies and gentlemen in East Troy and elsewhere. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Eor, Glad to do it. It's been awhile since I've been a Buell owner. Since selling my 12R, I've had a few Hondas (including my current 600RR) and a BMW K1200RS so I have a pretty good idea what to look for in a bike as far as quality and features. I think Buell has nailed it. To echo Davegess, "Grand Slam"! | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Scans available at http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/129251.html?1122091874 | ||
| 45_degrees |
Wheels?... is it still a 17" front? Or 19"? | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
yes = still 17" front/rear (Metzelers Sportec - specially developed for the 12X) 120/70ZR17 190/50ZR17 Yes. A 190 rear!!!!! | ||
| Blake |
Looks like 17". Better for pavement. Not better for Dakar. Can you get 17" knobbies? | ||
| Eor |
Would you want to ride on 17" knobbies?  BTW...doesn't the Honda Ruckus have 17" knobbies?  (Message edited by eor on July 23, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
Why not? I'm missing the humor. | ||
| 45_degrees |
You can get 17" knobbies for the front wheel in 120/70. Continental has one. Probably others too. I was hoping for a 150/70 rear tire and a 19" front wheel, which is what most of these style bikes have. Then there would be a big selection of meatier tires. Even a 160/60 rear tire would have been good. Avon's Distanzia SuperMoto tires are really cool looking and they have a 120/70 for the front, but the biggest they make for the rear is a 160/60. And they are made for high speed too. Oh well, it's still an awesome bike, and I still want one. I'm already imagining the places I would take it! | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
According to the CW review, "Because the Ulysses was intended as an adventure-sportbike, little consideration was given to running a 19 or 21 inch front tire. While larger tires work for motocrossers and pure off-road bikes, sportbike tire sizes make for better pavement handling, and can work reasonably well on dirt, as proven in supermotard racing." Something else I missed - an all new transmission with shift quality is positively Japanese. The article doesn't say if it's a 6 speed or not but I'm keeping my fingers crossed because HD's '06 Dyna line is now 6 speed and uses the same new helical gears as Buell's '06 line. | ||
| Blake |
A six speed would be huge. I may actually have to work this Summer. What does it say about engine specs? Any new stuff for the big firebreathing twin? | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
corrected rear wheel HP = 83.70 @ 6800 rpm Torque = 68.90 ft/lbs @ 5k 1/4 mile = 12.18 (110.24 mph) Measured top speed = 131 Engine speed @ 60 mph = 2955 | ||
| Steve_a |
A quick correction, because if this is in the magazine, it needs it: The rear tire is not a 190/50. It's an all new Buell-exclusive Dunlop, not a Metzeler. I think it's a 170/60-17. | ||
| Whosyodaddy |
Steve, Good catch. The review does say the tires are custom developed Dunlops - not Metzelers like the spec sheet lists. However, I don't see a reference to the tire size in the review - only on the spec sheet (which shows the 190 rear). | ||
| Jima4media |
Thanks for the correction Steve. A 190 seemed pretty wide for this type of bike. The Aprilia Caponord has a 150/70 ZR17 on a wire wheel. The BMW R1200GS has a 150/70-17 Metzeler Tourance on a 4.0" cast alloy or cross spoke wheel. The Ducati Multistrada 1000S DS has a 180/55ZR17 Pirelli Scorpion Synch on a 5.5" wheel. The KTM 950 Adventure has a 150/70-18 Pirelli Scorpion A/T on a 4.0" wheel. I feel like a kid at Christmas doing some early competitive analysis between this bike and others on the market. (Message edited by jima4media on July 23, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
That makes a lot more sense. Thanks Steve. | ||
| 45_degrees |
Whew! Thats better! |
