| Author | Message | ||
     Dmcutter |
One of the main reasons I decided to buy a Uly is because I got stuck on a gravel road to a job site on my ZX-10R not too long ago, and it was simply agonizing...both feet down, slipping the clutch and riding the brake, 2 mph on an 80 degree day in a leather jacket. I haven't ridden a motorcycle off road since college (my first ride was on a KE 175 in like 1978) and am just curious as to how many people have actually had these things off the pavement, bombing down fire roads and the like...does it take some special dirt bike technique or can you just motor along with an additional modicum of caution? | ||
| Crashm1 |
My X1 is perfectly capable of running down gravel roads at speeds faster than I'm comfortable with. I stick to around 40 or so. Ulys are faster. | ||
| Spoof |
The Ulysses is great on gravel and fire roads, but some confidence/technique are more valuable. The tire tread helps some, the long travel suspension helps more, and the lack of bodywork and stuff to mess up helps quite a bit.  | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi guys, Haven't tried my Uly on gravel/dirt fire roads yet but the things I plan to do to adjust are: 1. Avoid "power steering". Meaning don't whack the throttle going around a corner - if you run out of steering lock in that scenario you can have a close encounter of the not-fun variety. 2. Brake judiciously. That front brake has a lot of power, don't know how much grip the tire will have. Washouts can be a handful on a dirt bike, need to ease into things on the Uly to see how she does. I may use the rear brake more on the dirt/gravel than I do on the street. 3. Keep my speeds modest. It's fun to hit 5th gear on my DRZ on the fire roads, but it's a true dirt bike and it's wearing knobbies. Again, I plan to ease into things with the Uly. It's one thing to dump the DRZ, but I don't want to dump the Uly. I view it as a gravel road cruiser, not a strafer. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Brad1445 |
I think I let my confidence grow faster than my experience. I hop on every unpaved road I see now finding things in Colorado I had never seen before. Two drops. One I attribute to the tall kickstand that makes you choose your parking spots more carefully and the second when I lost the back end in a tight corner that I hit to fast for the loose gravel road. | ||
| Brat |
I've ridden my Ully into the bush, not pretty! I know the manual says it is for made and unmade roads only, but going up unknown roads may mean a small amount of off-road to get out. I've also had the low-seat modification done and have found the gearing too high for slow speed manouvers without holding the rear brake and slipping the clutch! Bottom line Mr Buell, if you make the bike/saddle that high, you have to give it a tractor gear so you can do a bit of Trials work! | ||
| Reepicheep |
I take my 9sx on gravel without a second thought. It does fine, but I am not trying to win any races there. | ||
| Chip |
I rode my Uly about 50 miles yesterday on dirt roads, no problem! It does want to wash out a bit in sand, but I attribute that to the tires more than anything else. All in all, I'm extremely impressed! | ||
| Dmcutter |
I've had mine on hard pack and gravel roads, and was tooling around some rutted up dirt on a job site today, then over a curb to get back on the road. No 50 milers yet, but I'm certain the Uly will get me anywhere I'm likely to venture. I'm thinking this may be the best bike I've ever owned. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I've been all over dirt roads on mine. I have had no problems at all. The gearing is perfect for me. The seat height makes things a bit interesting at times, but like most things, a bit of practice goes a long way. You have to be deliberate with your foot work. IOW, you can't reach for the ground without knowing exactly where your foot will be going. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Interestingly the owners manual for the new Uly says it is to be driven on paved and unpaved roads only. I guess that about sums up the off road capabilities of the bike. Not designed to be a Paris Dakar machine or a serious dirt bike. So lets get on with the riding of the beast | ||
| Homer |
I had the experience on Friday of coming up on a stop sign as I crested the hill on a gravel road in the rain. I was very impressed with how well the front brake modulated and even with a bit of intermittent lock-up the bike never did anything scary. I'll need to learn to use the rear brake more. | ||
| Fadboy |
I rode mine across wet grass yesterday and it was like it was on ICE! Very scary | ||
| Phil_r |
 Click on thumbnail for large pic... Thursday 27 October, mid-afternoon ride on abandoned railroad bed. | ||
| Dmcutter |
I almost had my first off pavement mishap last night in a gravel parking lot...let out the clutch at a little too high rpm (about 3 grand) and spun the back up a storm; steering lock too limited to turn around, and ground too uneven to get much purchase on tiptoe. Oh yeah, also so cold I could barely feel my hands and toes, which probably had a lot to do with it. Stalled once, cussed, and sweated, but never dropped it. Looking forward to a lower seat. | ||
| Spoof |
Hey man, I probably would have ate it sliding around in gravel against the steering lock, so I'm not bagging on you... But I do think there's a lot of technique to understand before worrying about the Ulysses off-road--standing on the pegs and keeping the throttle steady (or even gassing it), for example, probably works a lot better than trying to dab a tip toe. I'm trying to learn, and so far the Ulysses has been fantastic offroad for me.  I think the real question is who's going to be the first one with the stones to take a Ulysses to Jimmy Lewis? http://www.jimmylewisoffroad.com/ It'll be a bit scary (and frustrating) in the sand with that 17 inch wheel, but if 600 pound bikes don't stop Lewis, why should a wheel slow him up? I bet he'd come up with some good pointers. | ||
| Bison |
List I am new to this list having lurked for the past month or so since I acquired a new Ulysses. Thought I should introduce myself and wade in on some subjects that I have some experience with. If you wish to use your Ulysses at Jimmy's school the requirements used to be that you must have full knobby tires. I have exhausted my sources and can't find any. Anyone have any ideas? I have also taken to defining my riding as "pavement" "off pavement" and "off road". I believe this helps when having a discussion on the merits of a motorcycle. In my opinion my Ulysses is a great pavement and off pavement mc but is not an off road Motorcycle. I have some 3000 km of use on this bike of which approx 600 is off pavement (some good, some poor) and about a mile of really poor large rock strewn washed out stream bed such as Jimmy takes you on on day 2. It was not near as much fun as either my KLR650 or DRZ 400. This is not intended as a knock on the Ulysses because I am totally in love with it. The best bike in my stable for what I think it's intended purpose. It is not an off road bike in my opinion. regards ref} | ||
| Lowflyer |
Welcome. I ride mine without worrying about the semantics and find that it goes wherever I point it. 1800 miles so far with several hundred of those on everything but pavement to include off-road. Relax, spring will be here before you know it.  | ||
| Opto |
The Uly is what it is, a 200 kg 1200cc bike with semi-long travel suspension. It needs to be used within it's abilities. For those who feel it needs a lower 1st gear, I think they are using it outside its intended purpose. | ||
| Spoof |
Bison, I believe your definitions are appropriate. Or, in other words, one might be able to struggle and sweat and heave through some singletrack, but why? And, assuming the tire market ever made, say, a TKC 80 for 17s, I reckon it'd have to be a freebie class for me to take the Ulysses to Jimmy Lewis' course. If I ponied up the dough, I figure I'd just take my KLR. | ||
| Waorgany |
Spoof? Who makes the aux lighting you have mounted on your Uly, were did you get them and how do they work? They look great!! Thanks | ||
| Anonymouss |
The Ulysses is a joy to ride on road, and off. This was last Sunday's ride. Short at only 160 miles but it was packed with fun, including roughly 40 miles of rough/gravel/dirt roads and three, yes three fun creek crossings. each about 18-23 inches deep and 25-40 feet across. Once again, I "acquired" the shop Ulysses demo(hey, its advertising). every time I throw a leg over this bike, I am more and more hooked... one of these days, I will actually buy it.. A big thanks to Walter Barlow who organized and led the ride. Buy the way, the Ulysses was very well recieve'd, especially among the other "loyal owners." Seth Buchbinder (founding member of UA, Ulyssaholics Anonymous) http://www.advrider.com/forums/shothread.thp?t=102158 |
