| Author | Message | ||
     Ray_maines |
What a wonderfully positive write up of the new Ulysses in the September issue of Cycle World. The road test was the first major article in the magazine and they just burbled on and on about how it was the best Buell ever built and one of the all around best bikes on the market. They said it was a good sport bike, a good touring bike, a good bike on paved roads and fire roads as well. It was judged to be good handling, comfortable, dependable and well designed. They liked the bike just as it was, and were enthusiastic about the accessories that were offered (heated hand grips, saddle bags, taller wind screen and lower seat). If the other magazines like the Ulysses as much as Cycle World, it’s a shoe-in for “Bike Of The Year” honors all around. How cool would that be! The only thing CW didn’t care for was they felt the steering swing was less than optimal at 28.5 º in each direction. That’s no big deal and I don’t mean to dwell on the negative but I’m curious about it. If a person did a lot of fire road riding and the lack of steering lock became a problem, would it be possible to change this? Could a guy file or grind the stops to get more swing or would the handlebars hit the air box cover, or the fork tubes make contact with the frame? Is this something B.M.C. could (might) change next year, or is there some advantage to this that CW didn’t recognize? | ||
| Steve_a |
Thanks, Ray. Some more thoughts on the Ulysses: I like it a lot, and it would be at the top of the list if I were buying a motorcycle right now. I love its category, having owned a Cagiva Elefant a long, long time ago, and having ridden Cagiva Gran Canyons, BMW GS's (all the way back to the first), Aprilia Caponords, Honda Transalps, and a whole host of big single-cylinder dual purpose machines. I've also ridden hardcore dirt bikes a fair amount in Baja, and that brings up one point that anyone considering the Ulysses should understand: THIS IS NOT A DIRT BIKE. It's a street bike that will get you where you want to go on any road, paved or not, and on most reasonable goat trails. The thing you have to watch out for on any big "Adventure Tourer" is that they are comfortable on marginal roads at speeds that may not always be wise. I've ridden on jeep roads in Baja that were suddenly crossed by deep washouts six feet across. Given that I was going 75 mph when I saw one of them, all I could do was clutch it, get the front wheel up, and count on the rear travel to save my •••. I think that was on a KDX250, and the only cost was a temporarily elevated heart rate. I also remember crashing fairly hard trying the same trick on an XL600 and bottoming the rear suspension and having the back kick up hard. I wouldn't want to try the same thing on any 450 pound or heavier motorcycle, though at least the Buell wheelies readily, something not nearly so true with the latest GS. Erik described the Ulysses almost perfectly when he described it as replacement for the S3T. It's a sport tourer, just with a broader operating envelope. On pavement, it is as capable as a really good sport bike, and those capabilities don't degrade nearly as quickly when the asphalt breaks up or gets patches of gravel and dust atop it. The longer suspension travel and greater ground clearance have resulted in a motorcycle that's exceptionally roomy, one that puts you eye level with SUV drivers in traffic, but one that will certainly keep some shorter riders away. And not enough has been said about the improved shifting, lighter clutch effort, and refined low speed running. I assume all XB12s for 2006 get the Ulysses ECU map; it's amazing how well the machine pulls from 1200 rpm on part throttle. And you need that off road, because the Ulysses comes with standard XB12 gearing, which makes first a little tall for a woods bike! The shifting, though, is simply what Buell should have always had, and simply takes gearbox operation out of discussion. You won't have to think about it any more than you think about breathing. Steering lock is a function of the fork tubes hitting the steering head casting, and can't be practically modified by anything short of a redesign. It's not an issue on the street, but more lock would be helpful every now and then off road, particularly if you're working up to full broad-slide Chris Carr impersonations. It doesn't effect my esteem for the Ulysses, though a little more lock would make it better. | ||
| Gomo |
The review in C.W. was good to read. Most companies seem to take into consideration what reviewers state and customers want. Just as the article stated that the Ulysses is a replacement for the S3T. Many of us wanted a replacement, but I bet no one guessed it would be like this. Great going Buell! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
great stuff Steve (and Ray!), thanks.  FB | ||
| Jim_sb |
Wow, great stuff is right! Thanks! I've got my DRZ400S for dirt and dual sport rides. If I can fit (or find a way to fit) onto the XB12X it may be time to trade the venerable (and loved) S2... Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Burnmyheartdown |
how is it that I subscribe to cycle world and stilll don't have this article?!! | ||
| Koz5150 |
I got it on Thursday. If you read the ride comparison they do on the following pages you will read how the XB steering is claimed to not have enough radius for dirt. You will also read how the author of the article praises the XB for being sheap to repair after dumping the bike. | ||
| Xring |
Yep, great article. I was a little surprised and disappointed after the introduction of the bike; but the CW article changed my mind. I especially liked the parts about why Buell did what they did with this new model. In general, Cycle World strikes the best balance in reporting real-world motorcycle tests, I think. All the other mags just aggravate me; I've stopped buying them. Good luck, Bill | ||
| Whodom |
Great article, my only complaint (as usual) was that the new issue was in the stores before I got my subscription copy. I really chuckled when I read this line: "And contrary to what you might read in certain motorcycle magazines given to wild theorizing, the rotor/wheel assembly has substantially less rotary inertia than conventional sportbike setups, even with the larger-diameter disc". I had been lurking at SACborg a week or so ago, and some of those guys (who evidently ride Buells but take great delight in trashing them at every opportunity) seem to have taken this other motorcycle mag's evaluation of the front brake as gospel. Nice to hear that it's complete BS. | ||
| Outrider |
Yep...Steve Anderson did us well! Edwards was even a believer. Too bad Canet is the eternal pessimist. LOL | ||
| Jim_sb |
Outrider, No worries, eh? Let's don't beat on Canet, I for one only subscribe to 2 moto-rags and Cycle World is one. I look forward to it each month. That does not mean I agree with everything they right, but I think they work hard to produce a good product. If I were going to lodge a complaint with their writing it would be that generally the focus is overdone on track speed (and lap times), instead of the real world in which most of us ride. From what I've read Buell got the "real world" aspect right with the new 12X. And so did CW. Enjoy the moment. Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Firemanjim |
Jim,say it ain't so.Sell your soul,but keep the S-2 fer petes sake!!! Too bad the new Buell is probably gonna cost about what I need to spend for next years motor,oh well.I will have to wait for the used ones to hit the market next year. | ||
| Jim_sb |
FMJ, Yeah, I love my S2. It is one sweet bike to ride. Super stable from peg feeler to peg feeler. But I am mightily intrigued by the new XB12X. I think the folks at BMC had me in mind when they designed it. I like to ride all kinds of roads, regardless of pavement condition. I enjoy exploring, so to speak, for me it's part of the fun. My biggest complaint with the S2 is the luggage which just isn't sufficient for my needs. First off I need to see a 12X in person and see if I can fit on it! We'll go from there, but my, uh, Chief Accountant has already approved the purchase if I decide the bike is the one for me. Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Simond |
<<not enough has been said about the improved shifting, lighter clutch effort, and refined low speed running. I assume all XB12s for 2006 get the Ulysses ECU map>> Can anyone confirm precisely what improvements there are to the existing 12 range for 2006? Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Well,Jim.Just remember the used bike market is terrible and Buells don't fair well.For what you get for it,might as well keep it.P.S. if you need a place to store it I am willing to sacrifice space-----  | ||
| Whodom |
Simond, Improvements to all XB's: slightly more fuel capacity, all-new transmission, new swingarm (lighter, easier dipstick access), new belt (no recommended replacement interval), new air intake arrangement, new oil pump drive gear. I think that's pretty much it. | ||
| Bomber |
CW is tge premier mag, IMO -- after reading (and re-reading) the buell bits in this issue, I went back and started form the front, as is my custom -- the three columns up front were, as usual, more than worth my time, well written, thought provoking, and I learned stuff from Mr Cameron, as I usually do then I started scanning the Letters to the Editor -- I normally don't read many, if any, of them as they don't cary much data (again, IMO, but "I'm gonna cancel my sub if you include any more fill in the blank -- women, jap bikes, harleys, choppers, yada yada yada), but this month, there seemed to be a new spirit at work in the worthy that answered many of the letters -- the attitude was far more take-no-prisoners than I remembered, and brooking no fools as well -- is Edwards OK? just fed up with narrow minded readers? did he hire BUrns to reply to the letters? | ||
| Outrider |
Just spoofin' on Canet and his occasional subjective remarks. All-in-All, he has done quite a lot for the industry, especially in the promotion of Supermoto in the USA. Plus, as Bomber says CW is the premier US Cycle Mag. | ||
| Dino |
I don't have the mag in front of my, but as I recall, Canet said not to expect the XB12X to be what it is not...a dirt bike or a full bore super-moto, too heavy for either. That's fair and accurate. I believe he also said something to the effect that it may be as good an all-around bike as you can buy. Not exactly faint praise. | ||
| Firemanjim |
You guys need to check out the write up by Reg Kittrelle over on Sacborg.Really good read on the Uly. http://www.sacborg.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=013152 | ||
| Blake |
That is a good write-up. I wonder what it would take to get Reg to post his great review on a Buell enthusiasts' forum as well. I guess he considers it preaching to the choir. Going for converts is more motivating maybe? | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Not the case, Blake; I'm just lazy. feel free to cut and paste away. I really don't favor one board over another... just a bit more at home on SacBORG as I know more of the contributors. | ||
| Court |
>>>I'm just lazy. That's an inaccurate statement. Someone please consolidate Reg's posts and put them, with his permission, in a separate thread here, with proper credit. I'd do it, but I'm just lazy. | ||
| Court |
I did it...I'm NOT lazy....you can find the ENTIRE Reg Kittrelle review HERE Court | ||
| Blake |
Thanks Reg! | ||
| Blake |
Thanks Court! | ||
| Rick_a |
The steering lock thing is a disappointment, but you've gotta be a bit nutty as well as talented to really be able to swing around a 450 pound dirt bike. |
