| Author | Message | ||
     Iamike |
I was reading through the log of the German that I met while we were at Glacier Park and I see that while he was in San Francisco they had a get-together where someone on a Uly was there. http://www.ernasreisen.com/ Look about halfway down and it is in the middle of the picture. Just curious if it is anyone that we have here. | ||
| 98s1lightning |
You know, we all know those site from there trip and yet we take them all for granted. America is by far a wonderful place! I love it. I can tell you this, i'm am very happy that someone from another country can take such a wonderful journey and at the same time know how luck they are. Oh and I did see the ULY. | ||
| Shaiss |
Not sure where to post this, but here goes: American Sport Bike is the best shop period, I've said this b4, but in a recent order, I screwed up and only ordered 1 mirror instead of 2 and forgot to order my fork seals. I got the pacage, realized my goof, called American Sport Bike and they promptly took care of my retardedness even sending the items to me next day delivery at no extra charge!!! What can I say, it just doesnt get any better then American Sport Bike!!! (Message edited by shaiss on August 14, 2007) | ||
| Diablobrian |
Al and Joanne are class acts. | ||
| Loucksgl |
Gotta vent! I own a 2008 Uly and am delighted with it. There are some disturbing engineering issues with it et: loud fan, but for the most part it is unique, very different and functions flawlessly. And that is me. Unique, different, and I like to drive something unique and different. The Ulysess is it. I read an article by Glynn Kerr in Motorcycle Conumer News Sep 07 about the new 1125R that really trashed the bike. Statements like "the engine area has all the emotional impact of a washing machine and no effort spent on the under slung silencer." "Styling unfortunately, has gone for the unusual rather than attractive". "Front-on bike looks like a badly distorted Ducati 916". Point is; so what!. Buells are distinctly different than anything on the planet. I have a million miles on two wheels and been there and done that on over 33 European and American bikes. Won't even go to the Japanese bike count. Why do Buells have to travel to the drum beat of the other manufacturers? Sales? Desirability? Thats Buell and Harley's problems. The magazines the public reads should be targeted to engineering and product quality. Harley and Buell and Kawasaki and Ducati's internal thought process are their problems. Feed facts to us; not some writer's opinion. There, I feel better. Love my Uly!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Ulyrider2006 |
loucksgl-I noticed in your profile that you have the new blue color scheme. is that carried onto the seat as the orange was? and I've been told by two dealerships now that they have no way of getting any of the blue body work. It is apparently not available yet and before I showed them that there was going to be a blue for 2008 they didn't even know it existed. can anyone give me a lead to a reputable, educated, buell parts guy in NC? thanks in advance | ||
| Loucksgl |
The blue color scheme is not carried over to the seat on the 08's. The blue body work "should" be available for OEM parts ordering at Harley dealers. Don't see why not. 08 Tech manuals are not available to dealers to date. Will be in October. Thought you might be interested in that. Don't know about NC, but give Smoky Mt Harley & Buell in Maryville, TN a call. Couple key employees are really into Buells there and can be helpful to you I'm sure. They are high mileage guys over there and a good source of info. | ||
| Ulyrider2006 |
thanks for the lead | ||
| Al_lighton |
Important American Sport Bike BBQ info: See http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/293238.html?1188233062 If you're planning on coming but haven't done the RSVP thing, get on the stick and get to it, please. Hope to see you there! Al | ||
| Newtnh |
Hey guys I'm engaging HD/Buell right now on the problem with the paint flaking off the wheels. Can I get some feedback on how many have had similar problems? They seemed like this was news to them. Maybe no one is asking them to fix the wheels. Let me know thanks. | ||
| Buellerandy |
Just to let you know Ulyrider, I just got the 08 factory parts book in and yes it has the info for the thrust blue body work!  | ||
| Loucksgl |
Ok; Got the results on a long ride from Tennessee to PA on 08 Ulysses. This is all interstate riding 65 and 79mph sustained. Uly ran great and has excellent suspension. Fuel mileage ranged from 46 to 50. 4.4 gallons is not enough for serious range. Almost ran out in West Virginia on Route 79. Found gas with 2/10ths left. Bike consumed half quart oil in 1000 miles. Another 1/2 on the way back. Also bike surges badly 40 mph and under neutral throttle. Can not operate on gravel roads where slow speeds are required. I'm not getting favorable results from dealer techs with this. And that ?$%# fan! If I could get one in my hand with the shroud and attachments I'll bet I could source one like BMW has on the K1200RS. Totally silent. But all in all great bike. Hot little devil on the right frame side though. Fan, fan, fan. Can't believe they allowd them out of the factory with that loud #$%@. } | ||
| Alchemy |
Loucksgl, I changed oil at 300 mi with Dino oil and then to synthetic at 1k. It took until about 3500 miles for the bike to start to really break in. In the winter down into the very low 40's the fan would still run on my 19 mile morning commute. I was annoyed but patient. By 6k miles the fan runs much less and I have gone to and from work on Summer days without the fan running. I still hate the noise of the fan probably because I don't use earplugs much and it is just an annoying noise. As for mileage, it has gone from 45 to the low 50's for my regular use. Today (8.5k) I filled up at 172 miles and the light had not come on yet. Things slowly are getting better as the miles tick up. As for oil consumption I seem to fill with 2.5 qts and then over the next 2-3k miles I add the rest of the .5 qt. I check the oil 5 minutes after kill switch and keep it at the lower 3 x's on the stick. Early on I think I over filled a bit as when I replaced the air cleaner I noted more oil in the area than I would have liked so I keep the oil level a little lower to see if I can minimize this. Whoever comes up with a better sounding fan will sell a few of them<grin>. | ||
| Rrutel |
Hi folks. I'm new to the BWB and have an '07 XB12S Lightning that I just can't get enough of. Anyone know about which performance ECM, exhaust and air filters are best for this bike. I want some more power, but not too much noise if at all possible. Any help would be appreciated. | ||
| Loucksgl |
Anyone have any experience with TFI 1045 Electronic Jet Kit? Allows tuning of EFI like a carb. Remus powerizer Fuel Injection Controller is another gizmo of interest. Trying to control surging in 08 Uly. Concept of the TFI 1045 is interesting. | ||
| Loucksgl |
http://www.britnett-carver.co.uk/trojanhorse/prods /102.html Forgot to put the link to the TFI 1045 gizmo | ||
| Regkittrelle |
I've yet to understand the "loud fan" issue. Why is this such a Big Deal? The only time it's heard is at rest... and who cares? BTW; the '08 Big Unit has revised fan... uh... mapping; the hi-speed (loud) aspect is shorter, followed by a longer lo-speed (quieter) period. | ||
| Jimidan |
Yep, if you are wearing earplugs LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, you can't hear those 'loud' fans anyway. It is like those guys who used to complain about getting black all over their hands from the grips... jimidang | ||
| Alchemy |
Reg, Big Unit? Is that Uly or 12s? So the fan cycle duration has been reworked. Good news I had not heard and it means there is some continued sensitivity to the issue and I am not surprised. The fan noise is irritating and annoying to me. Some folks don't mind it (it seems) but it just grates on me. It is high pitched and squealing almost like an empty tin can being dragged across a chalkboard <ok>. A "better" sound or muffled sound would be a big help. By a better sound I mean a lower, fuller sound. It really is an awful sound in its frequency and quality. I would really rather discuss how to make it better than just how annoying it is. Perhaps if high speed were lowered a little it would help... even if it came on sooner. Or a continuously variable speed would be really nice. Even if there were some way to service or lube the fan periodically it would be helpful if it benefited the sound. I work for a company that sells a 65K device that we recently improved and one of the top 3 issues customers had with the older unit was the noise. We turned on some hot lamps and turned on a single big fan that was loud... loud but far less annoying in it's sound quality. We would forewarn the customers about the fan. The new unit still requires the fans but we use 3 smaller fans and placed them more internally in the unit to soften the exterior noise. It helped and it completely eliminated the complaint. The fan issue is really about heat management and there is an opportunity to correct or mitigate this noise complaint through some engineering solution. We can't eliminate heat but... Maybe there is some way to circulate the oil after ignition shutoff. Maybe there is a way to move heat to a safe part of the frame. What about a heat exchanger in the muffler system or use the muffler in a novel way to move cooling air to supplement the fan and mitigate the noise. Secondly, the issue is about frequency and sound quality. The shape of the fan blades might be changed. The fan could be pulsed or tuned so that at idle or slow speeds (when the fan noise comes to dominate the sound of the engine) it is more pleasant. There are ideas and opportunities that might help and I think it would improve the appeal of the air cooled bikes. | ||
| Loucksgl |
Need to get this out. I did put it somewhere else on the web. The 08 Buell riders manual is incorrect on the oil drain bolt torque. It has to be. It says tighten to 26 -29 ft-lbs (35 - 39 Nm). I knew thats a lot. I follow instructions to the letter. Don't follow those. Thought there must be a quarter inch thick boss or something for that torque. There wasn't. Back to the shop. 16 ft lbs sounds about right. This ought to be an interesting dealer experience. Dropped bike off at dealer and called Buell about the bad torque specs in the owner manual. They authorized replacement of the swing arm. Very impressive! Very!}} (Message edited by loucksgl on September 12, 2007) | ||
| Loucksgl |
ONE MORE TIME. I am just compelled to write this mushy stuff but. I'm new to Buell. I have my problems with a 08 Uly. But I gotta say I have never, ever, in my life, under any circumstances (accept Vietnam), ever, ever had such a wonderful experience with such a tight knit group of people. Someone or everyone is always there with a suggestion or a solution to a problem or question. Believe it or not; you guys are the "only" reason I still have this bike. Thanks | ||
| Court |
>>>They authorized replacement of the swing arm. Very impressive! Neat, huh? These are the same folks who replaced 9 year old bodywork that "didn't look right" and 2 weeks ago went to extraordinary lengths to help a Buell owner stranded in Barcelona while all the Italian dealers were closed for holiday. Try that . . . ANYWHERE else in the world! I thought Buell was amazing in 1988, glad to see you guys do in 2007. Court | ||
| Technomad |
Has anyone found hard luggage that fits the Lightning Long? | ||
| Rex |
October 1st 2007. ASBN agenda. Italian Bike Night 5 pm. Meet and hang banners. 5:30 Hand out tickets/ kick tires with ASBN members. 6:00 Welcome everyone. Recognize new attendees. Recognize dealers, suppliers, magazine reps. Tonights agenda. Italian Bike Night. Various Dealers from the Bay Area. Laguna Seca AMA Report. Bonneville Report. Americansportbikenight.net. Use this site for getting details on meetings and also for our forum discussions. Very useful. Our own Bay Area Buell/ Motorcycle Enthusiasts Forum. Future Events. November. BMW night. December-Anniversary night. Motorcycle Publications, After Market companies, Dealers discussion time. From the Floor discussion Time. Door Prize drawing. Kick tires, look at bikes. http://www.americansportbikenight.net American Sport Bike Night. ASBN . The largest, most consistently meeting group of Buell Motorcycle Enthusiasts in the world. Now working on 10 years. The first Monday of each month in San Leandro California. Directions are at: http://www.americansportbikenight.net | ||
| Loucksgl |
Got back from 3 days on Blue Ridge PKWN with 08 XB12X. Finally connected with this bike. After stripped drain plug due to incorrect torque specs, and surging problem (which still exhists), I love the bike. It handles any road situation fantastic! Input from the road is spectacular and its solid feel in the corners is amazing. I even got a hair cut upon return and the fan was still running after I came back out of the barber. Ya know: what the heck!!!!! | ||
| Etennuly |
About time!  Are you gonna make Buelltoberfest with us??? | ||
| Loucksgl |
Etennuly No , don't look like I can make it. Work thing. Eaten my heart out though. Brad's going to go with you guys I think. I'll get there sometime. I wish, I wish......... | ||
| Etennuly |
Awwwww crap! NEXT time! | ||
| Iamike |
Hey Court- Recognize any pics from Andreas? http://www.ernasreisen.com/ I met him at Glacier Park. He just finished up a pretty big ride. | ||
| Court |
Cool pics. . . .he took the COMPLETE tour! |
