| Author | Message | ||
     M1combat |
My apologies  ... I didn't mean to imply that I though the tele lever was crap (although it's certainly not Scottish...). Just that the feel through the bars is very important to me  . I'm pretty sure I could tell you whether they used glossy or Matte paint for the road stripes on my XB . Is THAT important? No... but there have been quite a few times (I know, I need more front preload or less rear) that I've begun to lose traction from the front end. In every case the feedback through the bars has told me to add throttle to take weight off the front tire... I can feel how much traction I've got. I couldn't feel that through a tele lever. Incidently, every review I've read (I think two...) that have tested the new beemer have mentioned this as well. They stated that BMW (with their anti-locks and tele lever and ASM) have seemingly been going in the same direction with their bikes as their cars... Try to isolate the driver/rider from any input and just make the vehicle capable of withstanding anything that a ham-fisted rider could throw at it. All that said... I took a test ride in a BMW 7 series the other day and while having a little too much fun I found that at 40MPH I could literally yank the steering wheel ALL THE WAY LOCK TO LOCK as quickly as I could while testing it's panic lane change characteristics (yes, that's my story and I'm sticking to it) and the car just soaked it up and made me look like a professional... All four wheels sliding and everything. TONS of safe, but not really FUN... Those "rave" reviews are the ones I'm talking about... They all seem to say "Yeah... It's got lots of power, it seems lighter than it really is, it handles well... BUT... I can't seem to be confident in the front end and I feel like I've got to drag a foot to get some feedback from the road or something". Maybe I'm just not reading the same rags. I'm sure that the new BMW (like most other bikes of the day) are far more capable than most riders. That's probably exactly why it's a fairly moot point. The bike should be able to eat whatever a person will sanely throw at it and the front end feel shouldn't be much of an issue. Also, maybe it just takes some getting used to . | ||
| Bomber |
Rocket -- ugly? embrace the sprocket, Rocket  it's part and parcel of the machine | ||
| Peter |
Blake, It adds a few pounds and is situated under the tank, in front of the battery. Mass centralization, I believe is the phrase.... | ||
| Wheelsleaning |
Any differences between the new Ss and my 04 12S? I know the 2" longer wheelbase and new trans. | ||
| Xb12rene |
Found this at another board. 260.000 BMW's with integral braking system should have brake problems. The German BKA is investigating the matter because of immense safety issues. One BMW owner sad after running a redlight with no braking power, it is like trying to stop a 400kg bike with bicycle brakes. Rene | ||
| Rocketman |
Bomber, what sprocket? I have a pulley - and they are ugly. Rocket | ||
| Whodom |
Man, (speaking of the subject of this thread), I STILL haven't gotten my September Cycle World in the mail as of today. I'll bet it's been on the shelf here for a week....  | ||
| Vr1203 |
QUOTE.....Found this at another board. 260.000 BMW's with integral braking system should have brake problems. The German BKA is investigating the matter because of immense safety issues. One BMW owner sad after running a redlight with no braking power, it is like trying to stop a 400kg bike with bicycle brakes. Rene Rene, GS's do not have integral brakes and I would not have them. That could be a problem with the 2003+(?)EVO/electric system | ||
| Xb12rene |
Hi VR1203, Just saw it at the other board. Didn't wanted to imply that the GS has it too, sorry for that. After your post I read a little bit more about it. The problem is only by the BMWs with integral brakes, power brakes(I hope you know what I mean), and ABS. The electrical system fails sometimes without warning, and wherefore much less braking power. BMW is under investigation, because there were already some accidents which are related to the loss of braking power and BMW know about this already since Aug. 2004 and didn't do something. Look here %20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20~cm.asp, click here The site is in German, I you interested use one of the translation sites, it should work fairly well. Rene | ||
| Imaposer |
Man, (speaking of the subject of this thread), I STILL haven't gotten my September Cycle World in the mail as of today. I'll bet it's been on the shelf here for a week.... I've been looking everyday this week for it and haven't found it anywhere yet.  And as for ABS, It's one of those things that completely a personal choice. I won't buy another bike with it I had an 1150GS with the gen 2 abs system, and it was ok. I, like so many others, ended up dropping it because when I got to the end of the paved roads and started down the fire road didn't stop to turn it off and the first down hill left hander I couldn't slow down for. And the newer "power" brake systems BMW is using are a joke. How in the heck do they justify needing power brakes on a bike? As of now, my list of possible next bikes includes: Ulysses, non-abs GS12, KTM 950, and the big and little stroms. By just comparing them on paper, the buell is way ahead.  | ||
| Blake |
Yeah, but yeraposer.  I still crack up every time I see your username. | ||
| Chainsaw |
I still crack up every time I see your username When I saw it I had wrongly assumed he was just here to cause trouble (that and the near empty profile)! Then I saw he has 5000+ posts under that name on ADVRider. Welcome! | ||
| Blake |
Yeah, that would be "Mr. Poser" to us then. | ||
| Imaposer |
When I saw it I had wrongly assumed he was just here to cause trouble (that and the near empty profile)! Then I saw he has 5000+ posts under that name on ADVRider. I've had this name for longer than just Advrider too. It's the same on the wera site, thumpertalk, and some others out there I don't even remember. I'll get around to filling out the profile once I see how long I stay interested in the uly. Just FYI for ya'll, I'm currently riding a cagiva gran canyon. I love the bike, but just want something else. I came really close to buying a multistrada last year, but it's just too similar to the bike I've already got with basically the same drivetrain. My first impression of the buell was it's not off-road enough for me, but doing a quick reality check of my riding shows it would be fine for 99 44/100% of my riding. But it's all about image ya know.  | ||
| Whodom |
Woohoo! Daughter just called- found September Cycle World at Barnes & Noble and is on the way home! Of course, this means my subscription copy will show up tomorrow....  (Message edited by whodom on July 28, 2005) (Message edited by whodom on July 28, 2005) | ||
| Blake |
Something just struck me wrt the possibilities for different versions of the Uly. That kind of incremental model updating seems to be one of HD's core marketing strategies. Improve/upgrade over time and sell more parts. It is pretty obvious though that a larger front wheel is out of the question for the current Uly. The supermotard racers have to ride through dirt don't they? Is a larger wheel really that big of a deal? | ||
| Jlnance |
I'll get around to filling out the profile once I see how long I stay interested in the uly. You're more than welcome to hang around here even if the uly doesn't work out. Lots of great people here, and not all of them actually have a Buell. | ||
| Whodom |
OK, got the Cycle World last night and read the article. Most impressive. I was very interested to see photos of Peter Egan riding one. If any of the rest of you regularly read his columns (he also writes for Road and Track) I remember him saying that a friend has crashed and totaled his nearly-new KTM 950 a few months ago. I don't think he replaced it. I wonder if he's got a new Uly on order yet?  | ||
| Jprovo |
I got my Cycle World in the mail yesterday - great article. Thanks Steve. James | ||
| Bomber |
sorry rocket -- I was using my poetic license (suspended years ago) | ||
| Whodom |
As predicted, my subscription copy of Cycle World showed up in the mail today. I suspect I'll be wearing one out, so the spare should come in handy...  | ||
| Broodwich |
noob Warning! This is my fist post on this forum, please be gentle. I'm still trying to figure out this archive thing on your boards but I think I have looked at all the posts in this thread. I wanted to go back to a post that Court made and add some feedback and ask some questions. It may just be that I'm new here and I don't know the background but Court you said you didn't want to waste time explaining the Ulysses personalized tag on your F650. I took that to mean your personalized plate had that on it, is that right? Does that have something to do with the Ulysses from Buell or nothing at all to do with that. I don't know that I agree 100% about BMW being wounded prey for a company like Buell to go after. I think of Buell as more obscure or more niche than BMW in the marketplace, but that could just be because I don't know enough about Buell (yet). You also asked which bikes were BMWs sport touring, cruiser, etc. I assume that was a rhetorical question however there are some bike that fit into those categories if categorization is necessary. The only bike BMW has at the moment that I would really consider a true sport touring bike is the R1200ST. The RT is more of a standard touring bike if there is such a thing and the LT well that's just an RV. If your looking to outfit a refrigerator, that's the bike you want. The 2004 K1200RS and K1200GT would also fit into the sport touring group but at this point it remains to be seen if BMW will create a new 4 cyl. sport touring machine based on the 2005 K1200S/R. For cruisers BMW has three of those in the form of the R1200C. I don't know about BMW also having a waning dealer network. Sure there are not as many BMW dealers as there are Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki/Suzuki but there still 10 BMW dealers within 100 miles of my house. As far as my fellow BMW'ers liking the Ulysses. I will have to agree with you I think there will be a number of BMW riders that will take a look at the Ulysses. That's exactly why I'm here now. On the other hand I think there is a strong contingent of BMW riders that won't give it a second look. I really can't see too many GS'ers dumping their R1150GS, R1200GS or their Adventure for the Ulysses. There does seem to be a number of people that want to make that GS to Ulysses comparison though. Which I think is kinda silly. I really don't think Buell designed the Ulysses to be in direct competition with the GS. The GS is an Adventure Touring bike where the Ulysses is an Adventure Sportbike. I think the GS is probably better suited for more dirt exploration than the Ulysses. The BMW riders that are going to look a little harder are the guys like me. I'm thinking about about the R1200GS as an upgrade bike from my F650CS. I bet those chain gang F650 guys will look at the Ulysses as well. I am looking to move up to something a little bit bigger with better luggage options than my CS and better for a little bit longer rides. The seat on the CS is garbage. The Ulysses could be perfect for me. It's got room for two up. It's got bags which look like Hepco and Becker bags to me. It still looks pretty cool without the bags. It has some cool innovations. Parts could be a little easier to acquire although I have not had too much of a problem with that. Most importantly it's got a standard riding position which I want and it's still pretty well suited for the pavement. I know if I do end up getting a GS, it won't see much dirt, that's not what I want in a bike. As for dealer nightmares I have never had any of those at the few dealers I have used. I have always been treated very well at the BMW dealer always being offered free food, drink, service loaner bikes, free internet access at the shop, demo rides, great open house which I happen to know BMW corporate helps sponsor with the dealer network. If anything I think other dealers need to look toward BMW in terms of the services they offer at the dealership. I think this is one thing that I will miss if I decide to get a Buell. It seems to me that the Buell dealerships just seem to be the red headed step children sitting in the back corner of the local HD dealer. | ||
| Whodom |
Broodwich: Welcome aboard! Man, we are picking up a LOT of new members as a result of the Ulysses. I think BMW and Buell do share some significant similarities. We've had many discussions here about poor sales/service at some dealers, but a lot of the bad apples have dropped out (or been dropped depending on who you ask) so that the dealers that are left are more likely to be Buell friendly. From all indications this will continue to get better in the future. | ||
| Blake |
Many have been pruned. Welcome Brood man! I've always liked the big GS, especially with the spoked wheels. I'm more jazzed about the Uly. Wish I could test ride them both. | ||
| Broodwich |
Thanks for the welcome! I called my local Buell dealers, there are two that are not to far away. One dealer said they would have the bike to look at tomorrow. I'm going to be working tomorrow morning and I don't know if I'll make it over there. They are open on Sunday as well, the guy told me to call first to make sure they had not sold it already. I hope to at least get a look at it and throw a leg over and maybe even get some pictures. I hope they will still have it on Sunday so I can check it out. I called the other dealer too and they told me to call the first dealer, because they sent the bike over to them and it would be on the showroom tomorrow. I wonder why one dealer gave theirs away to another dealer. Regardless the guy I talked to on the phone at the first dealer seemed more helpful anyway. | ||
| Imaposer |
The BMW riders that are going to look a little harder are the guys like me. I'm thinking about about the R1200GS as an upgrade bike from my XXXXXX. I bet those XXXXXXX guys will look at the Ulysses as well. I am looking to move up to something a little bit bigger with better luggage options than my I don't think it's limited to just BMW. If you look at the players in the ADV bike world thru the last five years or so, there's some oddballs out there. My Cagiva Gran Canyon being one of them, along with Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, and KTM. BMW is actually the big old company involved. Other than Suzuki, the major manufacturers have stayed out of the market completely. While the Uly isn't coming in to the deep end of the adv pool, they followed the lead set by Ducati in realizing how 99% of the bikes are actually used, and aimed to make it the best at that point. Add the fact that Buell has a comparable dealer network to BMW, the price is a couple thousand under the 12GS I'm wanting, and service/reliability issues already favor the buell, it's looking pretty good right now. Now to figure out if the local dealer is going to tell me they have one in already, or it will be October, that is the question. I've read both of those extremes so far. | ||
| Vr1203 |
As a BMW 1150GS rider,its good at the day to day rainy or whatever kind of riding.Down to 20 degrees and more than 100.Riding 10 months a year in the Midwest takes a special machine.I haven't washed mine more than three times in three years. It doesn't need it. I would still like to see a better bike down the pike. | ||
| Blake |
Try an R1200GS Adventure? Poser, You ever take note of the Yammer TDM 850? Pretty cool parallel twin adventure sport before that was a phrase du jour.  More info at... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=21&post=241755#POST24 1755 It's still for sale I believe. In Europe they can now get a TDM 900. Not here though.  Only problen are those darn alloy wheels and underslung exhaust. | ||
| Peter |
We're all waiting for it, but it hasn't been made yet  Pete2 Dakar | ||
| Blake |
Heck, I never noticed the Adventure was still the 1150 model. What the heck is up with that? |
