| Author | Message | ||
     Cdallen |
So I got "the question" today... "What is THAT noise? I heard you coming a mile away..." To those that have a few thousand miles on your Uly... does the fan run time start lessening? It is really loud.  Also, maybe my time in the cager for the past three months has softened me up, but the seat seams pretty hard. With all the raving about it I guess I expected it to be a little more comfortable. Does it soften up any after a few hundred miles or have I just lost my conditioning?  thanks -chris | ||
| Lowflyer |
I love the fan noise and my seat is not a feather pillow, but I can't see a reason to change it just yet. I am thinking about ducting some of the heated air from the fan up into my jacket.  | ||
| Thunderbox |
Have you ever driven in a luxury German automobile. Firm is better by a long shot. I had a Cadilac that had very plush soft seats and after a couple of hundred miles I wanted the Mercedes firm seats back. You get a sore bum from setting down into the foam too far and then your butt touches the seat frame. You won't get that with the Uly seat which is a good thing. It will soften up a wee bit but not much. Do some long distance driving and see how you like it first. | ||
| Daves |
You are a wuss!  Put your "man pants" on and ride! | ||
| Cdallen |
 That's what I needed to know...  | ||
| Blackmojo |
During my cross country trip my fan broke. By broken I mean it does not sound the way it should. It sounds as though it will fail with a raspy rattling. My shop is ordering a replacement. The noise from the fan should be smooth and sound like wind being pushed. I do not notice it while riding. But I really hear it when I turn off the engine. | ||
| Cdallen |
It hasn't really been a problem (the fan) but it does seem to be running quite a bit and I believe I read on the XB board that it will not run quite as much after the bike is broken in. Just wanted to see if y'all have experienced that. I do kinda like it (not the noise) but the feeling that there is just that little bit of extra care being given to the engine. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Are those fans like the ones used in computers? Like one of these? Jack | ||
| Daves |
The fan will run a little less after the bike is broke in. Run Syn oil in it and it will run less too. | ||
| Goo |
Hi, I've just finished my first test ride. The bike is great, good suspension. Much more comfort than my current bike (Multistrada). But I hate that fan! This could turn out to be a show stopper for me. At high speed this is no problem, but at low speed (50-70 kmh), the noise is irritating. Could some one please convince me that this will be no problem after the break in period??? The bike had done 240 km when I started the ride. But I loved the bike off pavement. I found some roads with rough surface and the bike did really well, much better than I will expect from the Multistrada. GO | ||
| Sargent |
I like the "it's the charging unit for my flux capacitor" comment I've read around here.  | ||
| Lowflyer |
Goo, If the fan is that irritating to you, buy a Kawahondaha and start wearing a dress. You aren't man enough for a Uly.  kidding of course...  | ||
| Goo |
Hmmm, maybe its only here in Norway that its unusual to be qualified as a man by listening to a hair drier..... But, as I said, I loved the bike! | ||
| Reepicheep |
 Once my 9sx got past breakin, the fan ran far less frequently. To be honest, unless you plan on letting the thing idle in death valley, once you are past break in, you could probably disconnect the fan and just run full synthetic oil and change it more often. Or maybe put a disable switch on the thing so you only enable it when you see a temperature problem. I only notice mine when I pull it in the garage and take off my gear. It starts up when the bike shuts down to cool the oil sitting in the heads, and is pretty loud. Shuts down in about a minute though. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I just told somebody who asked me when I rode in from lunch today that it is actually not a fan, it's a high-velocity vortex generator.  | ||
| Branebanger |
blackmojo - i'm having the same problem with the fan, after having done just under 8k. when you stop, it sounds like the fans not seated correctly on its bearings and is rubbing something. Its a loud rattling kind of sound. anyone else with this problem? | ||
| Eor |
I was riding behind a guy on a cruiser with straight pipes. At a stop he told me that the fan on my Uly was louder than the engine. I may have to address that.... | ||
| Doncasto |
. . .a guy on a cruiser with straight pipes.a guy on a cruiser with straight pipes. Brad: This sounds like a classic case in point for a critical information filter in the motorcycle world - Always consider the source, YMMV (your mileage may vary)  I have been reading your Uly reports with great interest. Thanks for all the information. Keep up the good work. Don Casto Boulder, Colorado}} | ||
| Javadog |
Eor- You should have said "Loud fans save lives". | ||
| Chadhargis |
Back when I had my BMW RT, people were trying to find ways to retrofit the police service bikes oil cooler fans to the civilian RT. Funny, you guys are trying to find ways to shut them off. I think the fan is absolutely BRILLIANT. Too bad other manufacturers haven't thought of it (except BMW on their police bikes). Let it run! I wear earplugs when I ride anyway. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi Chad, I agree, the fan is a good idea and a non-issue. I too wear earplugs and honestly don't notice the fan over the wind noise. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Cdallen |
OK... so I'll admit that the fan doesn't bother me at all while riding and I too wear earplugs anytime I am on for more than 10-15 miles, so this is purely an image thing... I know, I bought a Buell and screw the haters but still I really went against the grain in my little circle of riders and am just taking some flack for it.  While typing I just thought... well if that is the worst thing that they can find to make fun off the we are doing pretty darn good here! But... it is really loud while in parking lots and such... | ||
| Thunderbox |
Hey when they say anything just answer by saying "hey imagine how well your oil is boiling in your bike considering it probably uses more fuel and produces more HP and therefor more heat" That should keep them quiet. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi, As for your buddies teasing you... they wouldn't bother if they didn't enjoy your company. Just laugh and carry on with 'em. "Loud fans save lives" is my mantra for anyone that squawks! I have many friends at my local hangout who are "old school". Been riding forever, all have big HD's, some even have the vest, pony-tail and beard (the full uniform ). And understand that all of these guys can flat out ride. Most grew up on dirt bikes, raced dirt bikes, some still flat track race, etc. Don't be fooled by how they look or what they're riding. They're great guys and we get along well. One of 'em surprised me the other day by saying he's looking at a new XB12Ss. He said Buell is finally making a bike "big enough" for him (he is a big ol' boy) and now he'll be able to "keep up with his kid" when they ride together. These are going to be interesting times for Buell Motorcycle Company. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Chadhargis |
My Ducati has a dry clutch that rattles like the bike is falling apart. People make fun of it and I tell them a similar statement, "Loud clutches save lives".  As for the fan, just explain to those too uninformed to understand, that they are breathing your "coolant" and instead of having a big heavy radiator, a series of hoses, and a water pump (which could fail), your cooling system is simply air moving over your engine. If the bike is going slowly or not moving at all, a fan kicks in to cool the motor. Pretty smart in my book. | ||
| Dtx |
What is that sound!? Its the Flux Capacitator. When this thing hits 88 mph your going see some serious sh*t. |
