| Author | Message | ||
     Firstbatch |
Thinking seriously about adding a Uly to the stable...currently have a couple of beemers, a '04 K1200GT and a '68 R69S....have not had a chance to ride a ULY but sat on one at the dealer and fits me fine, 6'1", and I've owned a Sporster and HD touring rig. Many rider reviews just rave about how much they love riding the ULY. The ULY is calling my name , and there seem to be some good prices on '06 models but I'm concerned about all the endless threads about pinging, fan noise, heat, other recall issues. I know bad news always makes the headlines in these forums. Looking for some advice on buying a used '06 or is the '07 "much improved". Great forum! | ||
| Nutsosane |
Find a quality dealer.Buy an 06 new or used. Spend the $ on an extended warranty. Just try and remove that smile. The dealership in Roanoke has been very good to me. Ask for Seth. NUTS | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
It ain't perfect but then are your BMW's? I love to ride mine and my 97' Electraglide sits most of the time. It's the handling that'll hook ya and not let go. I've never ridden a bike that handles so darn well. I've had the 06' for more than a year and I've no regrets. Go for the 07' if you can get them to give you a deal but the 06' suits me fine. | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
I have had mine for more than a year now. Most have not had any issues with pinging. Many have had the BAS and kick stand problem but those things will have been dealt with on any new bike 06 or 07. I have never owned a bike that did so many things so well. It is not a pure sport bike but it is close, it is not a touring bike but it is close, it is not a dual sport but it's close...... I have not had a moment of regret in my purchase. | ||
| Iugradmark |
This is a great post for me as I am in the same boat as Firstbatch. My original thinking on buying a Buell was that I would get a bike that can do many things well plus have the backing of a dealership network that has been lacking with BMW. The ride and handling are things that can be learned by test rides but longer term ownership is really only something that can be gathered from these boards. Here is my dilema. Looking at posts hear at at the ADVRider site looks like Uly's are not really considered part of the Harly family and receive poor support at many dealers. Most posters talk about contacting Buell directly to get action. Also, the engine seems to be the biggest concern now as many have pinging problems and Buell does not seem to have an answer to the fix. Some riders are recommending only short rides due to reliability concerns. I would love to have long-term owners describe their experience with these bikes. Cheers, Mark | ||
| Stevem123 |
I got the first one in California (I think) back in June of 05. I have over 16K on it and it has never let me down. I now have the race kit and it's a strong runner. There are a couple minor issues that have been worked out by the factory like the side-stand and now the bank angle sensor. I think you will both love the bike as much as I do. BC Steve | ||
| Fubar |
Firstbatch/iugradmark - The trick is to find a good *Buell* dealer - not all HD dealers that carry Buells are. I have had my '06 for over a year and have had only the BS recall issue. No pinging, no oil use, nothing but grins and grins and grins. Fan noise is something you get used to (ear plugs - which are always a good idea - help) and the heat issue is easily addressed by a call to Special O.P.S. I have taken a few long trips without a worry. Just do it! | ||
| Smcnamara |
Mark, I don't know that it's fair to say that "many have pinging problems." With several thousand Ulys on the road now (I think 2006 sales were just over 2000 units) it seems like the number of pinging bikes is still in the single digits. I'm not saying that it's not a real issue for those guys, just that for the vast majority of owners, the problem doesn't exist. I also don't know of many owners saying they won't use it for long trips due to reliability issues, particularly with the engine. A number of owners have made the run up into Alaska, and it's completed a couple iron butt events with people on this board. Internet message boards tend to amplify the volume of problems, since people are usually much more likely to speak loudly when they have issues than when everything is great. Again, there have been issues for some folks, but it's not the majority, and for those who had issues, I think the experience with Buell CS has been overwhelmingly positive. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me. | ||
| Arcticktm |
To own a Buell in general, you need to want to be a little different from the masses. In my opinion, though, the Uly requires the least compromise of any Buell. I picked a used '06 Uly because it was different than the BMW GS, was a few thousand (at least) cheaper, and would have more character than any Japanese bike (V-strom). I sold a Ducati ST2 as part of the deal, and loved the Duc's character, but not the riding position (6' 4" tall). I have put about 3K miles on so far, and am generally happy with my decision. Positives: unique design features that work, handling, braking feel, suspension, riding position comfort, TORQUE that even makes my 2 valve Duc seem weak, smooth drivetrain on the highway, WHEELIES! Negatives: weak dealer network, so investigate your potential dealer, shakes like any Harley at idle, world's noisiest fan (which was on most of the time when I lived in FL), heat on your legs from the fan and the frame heating up (depends on your riding position, but this is not a bike for guys who wear shorts and flip-flops!). I have not had any pinging problems, even in FL summer heat. Moved to NC mountains now, so am anxious to get riding up here. I also have a BMW R1200C that will be mostly parked now that the Uly is in the garage. My wife also loves the passenger comfort and large luggage, though the passenger pegs are very high for climbing on when she is only 5'-2". Overall, I would recommend the Uly to those that appreciate a unique engineering approach and a bike with a lot of character/personality (same reason I bought the Ducati instead of a FJR, RT or VFR, and the BMW R1200C cruiser instead of a H-D Softail Duece). | ||
| Iugradmark |
Thanks for the insights. As I said above, people that have owned them and put some miles on them are the best way for those considering a purchase to get valuable info. I'm probably going to slow down a bit and take a look at a couple of additional options based on what I'm hearing. Dealer network is a concern. I fear that it may not get better any time soon. I asked for recommended dealers in Northern CA and received two suggestions. The one dealer most people recommended is not ordering any 2007 models and that is a sign that sales are not justifying their commitment to the brand. Most bikes have their share of issues but good dealer network can really make the difference. Thanks again, Mark | ||
| Jlnance |
Iugradmark wrote:
I just took my Uly in for it's 20,000 mile service, so I guess I qualify as long term.  Or at least as long term as you can have for a bike thats only been out 18 months. The dealer issue is real. It would pay to do a little investigating to see if the dealers you might want to use can meet your expectations. If you're mechanically inclined, the service manual is $50 and the software to talk to the computer is $100. As to the pinging, it has been a problem for some bikes. As far as I know, Buell has fixed every case reported on this board. Most of the time the issue was miss set timing. I am aware of two cases where that was not the issue. In one case Buell replaced the engine. In the other, they replaced the top end. In short, Buell will take care of you. Having a customer service department that will get your problems fixed isn't bad thing. As to reliability, the main concern I see voiced is that people don't trust the belt not to break. It does happen on occasion, so it isn't a baseless concern. You're more likely to ruin a tire than break a belt, but there are more places to buy tire than a belt. You can carry a spare belt if this is a concern. I'm thinking about doing that myself, just for the piece of mind. | ||
| Ejc |
My Uly is a Sept.'05 bike. The only odd thing I've experienced is the voltage regulator crapping out during break in. Since then, no problems at,(I'm embarrassed to say),5K. Many more miles are planned for this year. | ||
| Madduck |
I carry a spare belt and the tools to replace it with me at all times. It is a straightforward process and I believe in being prepared. The flat kit and pump also travel with me. I have used the flat kit on numerous times for other peoples bikes so I guess you could call me paranoid. I prefer the word "prepared". The ULY is so good that I sold my perfectly good R1200RT, the ULY just travels better and the BMW was rated the worlds best tourer by many magazines. The only problems I have left to deal with are fuel capacity and the fan. In Minnesota the fan isn't much of an issue at the moment. | ||
| Iugradmark |
The fan noise issue comes up from everyone. So far the only suggestion is hearing protection. Has anyone opened up a dialogue with Buell. This seems like a solvable issue. | ||
| Etennuly |
Ten months and 13,000 miles on mine and I'd head out any where on it. I've had five issues with mine all fixed under warranty, no hassles, little down time. The best riding bike I've owned, and the only one that I feel like riding anywhere all of the time.  | ||
| Stevem123 |
The fan is not really a problem. Is it noisy? Well when you park and shut the motor off the fan runs a little till the temp drops below a specific amount. This is to help keep the latent heat from the engine boiling the oil left in the heads etc. Noisy for that time but otherwise it doesn't really bother me. I know it's working when I hear it. A Drummer or race muffler helps to mask the fan noise while riding but even with the stock muffler I didn't find it to be as bad as some may make it sound like. Maybe they could find a quieter fan but to get the same CFM in such a small package I doubt it. If that's a deal breaker for you then go ahead and spend thousands more for a beemer. I won't! BC Steve | ||
| Madduck |
When stopping at a particularly scenic spot with strangers present I've taken to just hitting the kill switch without turning off the key. No fan at all, Thanks Ferris for the tip. I generally get going again so I do not believe I am harming the engine. If I'm going to stop for a longer while I always let the fand do its thing. | ||
| Firstbatch |
Thanks guys good to here the comments...think I will just have to pull the trigger and give the Uly a try! | ||
| Indianafirefighter1972 |
I am a long time harley rider, picking up my first Uly at the end of the week. I loved it during the test ride and actually read some of the posts here thanks to a friend who owned a buell. There has been a lot of good info here and it helped me cement my decision to buy. I am picking up an 06 and its been done up in a desert camo paint scheme (being a former Marine I couldn't resist the color) so I just wanted to say thanks to everyone here for the indirect advice. hopefully I will see you out on the road when I am traveling with the Uly. Have a good weekend | ||
| Iugradmark |
Paul was kind enough to point me to the FBRAT posts in the Tale Section. As someone new to the board, I would not have thought I would find such a complete write-up from an amazing adventure. Lots of things to chew on and some very frank posts about pros and cons of the Uly. For anyone that is new to the board and considering purchasing, I suggest you invest some time in reading the posts. Great story but probably left me with more questions than when I began my investigation. Cheers, Mark | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Indiana, Semper Fi. Crotch 75 to 79. Last couple of years (77 to 79) were with 2nd Force Recon down at Swamp Lagoon, NC. I sure could have used my ULY back in the Corps but had to settle for a CB750F that was my ride back in those days. Anyways, you'll love the ULY. I too have a Harley as you can tell by the username. The ULY just grows on you more and more as the miles wrack up. Good to have another Marine enjoying the Buell experience. | ||
| Indianafirefighter1972 |
Electraglider_1997 Thanks. I am really looking forward to it, riding my friends lightning and then taking my test ride really gave me the itch. I'm getting ready for next month, already have plans for a long distance ride. Going to VA to visit one of my friends from the Corps. It's going to be a great ride. I do love my harley but I can see where the Uly is probably going to take over as the primary bike. Semper FI. | ||
| Captain_nartman |
Does Everyone Run the 98 Octane Fuel?? Never ONCE had a Ping Problem with Mine.. but then again, NEVER Ran Crappy Cheap Low Oc Either. N x | ||
| Ihavemanyfleas |
if it's between 6 & 7, go with the 7. | ||
| Howdyusmc |
I need to find some desert handguards and a desert camo flyscreen / windscreen. Short of finding one, anyone know the paint codes or a way to mimic the paint colors or have any suggestions? Thanks in advance Brian |
