| Author | Message | ||
     Thesmaz |
Is now posted on their website http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=2850&Page=1 I haven't read it yet but I thought I'd give you guys the link ASAP so you could enjoy it too! | ||
| Thesmaz |
I finished reading the comparo, lookin at the pics and vids and overall its a very good read. They pointed out many of the things/grips about the Uly that have already been mentioned here. | ||
| Eor |
Thanks. An interesting read.... The problem with these types of comparisons is that they don't take real world ownership factors into account....bike reliability, availability of service and parts, cost of ownership, etc. These guys just ride the hell out of these bikes for a few days, give them back to the dealer, and and vote on how much fun they had on each one. As long as they were able to complete the test, they don't concern themselves with the issues that normal bike owners must address. For example, they don't care that the KTM would need the water pump gasket replaced and the carburetor worked on, how far it was to the nearest dealership, how much it would cost, or how long they would have to wait for parts, if needed. The GS almost always comes out on top in this category...as it should. BMW practically defined this genre of bike to begin with. With a couple of exceptions, the KTM is usually nipping at its heels. The third place spot is usually up for grabs and I think the main challengers should be the Ulysses, the Tiger [omitted from this for some reason], the V- Strom, and the Multistrada. On any given day, any one of those could hold third place. On this particular day, the Multistrada got it. In the real world, I just can't see the Multistrada beating out the Ulysses or the V-Strom for this type of riding. Of course, I along with most here would have liked to see the Buell score higher. In the real world, it does...you can count on it. The V-Strom [particularly the 650 version] is a far better bike than this article seems to suggest. | ||
| Smoky |
That's a long read, but well worth it. There's a link to their original ride on the Ulysses. Interesting that they aren't the only ones to dyno the bike at 84 RWHP. | ||
| India |
Here in the UK just about every magazine has rated the Uly behind the BMW GS and the KTM 950. When I was looking to change my bike I considered all three. I couldn't find a KTM dealer that had a demo bike and the local BMW dealer made me feel like I had crawled out from under a rock when I told them about the Yamaha XT I wanted to trade. By contrast the Buell dealer said "yes come on down we have a bike you can try and while you're here try some other models in the range so that you can be sure the Ulysses is the right Buell for you" Well I bought the Uly and to me its like owning my own piece of America. Nobody else has that V twin, just give me a good country road and third gear. I know I made the right choice | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I can't imagine a European rag rating an American motorcycle over all the Euro trash. I know, they are fine motorcycles also, but let's not forget that Buell will hopefully change the ULY for the better as time goes by and then watch out BMW and KTM. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi guys, I'm with Eor; I don't think these moto-journalists look at many real-world factors. They also don't look closely at value. My Ulysses is much less expensive than a similarly equipped GS - with the savings you can buy a DRZ400S for real dirt work. Issues like parts availability, ease of maintenance, etc. are not evaluated. If the acquisition price for all the bikes were identical I would probably have picked the GS. But they're not - I picked the Uly and am happy with it. The Uly is quite fun on the street and is reasonably capable off pavement. It's has comfortable accommodations, adequate power and a great suspension. The windscreen issue will be addressed by Buell or the aftermarket or both. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Gamdh |
I have to throw my hat in with Eor and Jim as well. I currently own both the 950 and Uly (and will be selling the 950). The 950 is a great bike to ride, but the issue with the water pump (there have been many water pump shafts fail in less than 10K miles (mine about 6K)), parts availability (seems everything has to be ordered), number/location of dealers are a major issues. I was lucky, I had a great dealer for the 950 otherwise I may have been looking for a new ride much sooner, but now I've seen the light.  I have only just taken delivery on my Uly.. so have only done about 60 miles (and yes I'm breaking it in per the motoman). Don't mean to go on .. but the Uly really seems to fit my riding preferences much better. I currently have the 950 set up with street tires.. I do 95% or better road and my off road is pretty much limited to pretty tame dirt roads and the occassional fire road. NOt that the 950 can't do that.. just seems thats right up the Uly's alley. Sorry.. don't man to ramble...could go on and on. Regards Mike | ||
| Jlnance |
I love the part of the article where they have pictures of the 6 bikes they tested. They are all being ridden. Only one is doing a wheelie with the rider standing up. Guess which one.  | ||
| Brat |
I had a look on the Buell site, there's no mention of the optional taller screen in the story? My Girlfriends mum rides a multistrada and I ride it at least twice a week, nowhere near the grunt of the Uly, has clearance similar to a street bike but is very light and low compared to the Uly. In a car park or smooth dirt road it may be better, but it's more a girls bike! | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
Yeah! Loved the Wheelieing Uly! They drove right through my little town of St. George, then out on the AZ strip to the Grand Canyon. | ||
| Bosh |
I was crackng up watching them try and drag race the Buell. Needs a wheelie bar for sure, do they make off road wheelie bars? The Ulysses stacked up right where I thought it would in that group of bikes. I was really surprised though on how low they rated it in fit and finish. I've always ridden Hondas [almost always rated tops in that category] and would consider the Buell right in there also. With an aftermarket wind screen and a couple of other tweaks you've got a world class do anything bike. | ||
| Larryboy |
i'm on page 4 and this is reading like a tour of rock krawling mecca's. camp rock road is where lone rider puts on a couple events a year and the same goes on in st. george. good article so far. moto-writers need to take a look at the real world and long term ownership. when i look at a new bike i look at "will fail" parts. bmw has a major flaw in their "will fail" final drive. and the ktm will fail water pump didn't help their cause when i was bike shopping. | ||
| Larryboy |
looks like they forgot to throw out the bimmers 1/4 mile numbers...remember the shorter stickier tire? lower gearing and better traction,i would think it would run in between the ktm and uly. | ||
| Redne_dab |
Is it my imagination or is that rust on the Ulysses muffler? In the larger version of the wheelie picture it seems most obvious.  A little concerned, Brad | ||
| Clayman |
oh yea its rust. it seems that most of them do that. mine was pretty bad when i swapt it for the drummmer. lots of other guys have seen rust also. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Seems like the rusting thing is easy to fix. Remove the muffler, sand the rusty spots, and repaint the entire thing with high temp paint. It shouldn't rust then. Of course, all this should only be done if you're out of warranty. Seems like a rusting muffler should be covered under warranty. | ||
| Brat |
I fitted the race kit before I rode it, the standard muffler is in a box in the garage and it's still managed to start rusting, what the.....? | ||
| Lowflyer |
As far as articles go, I found it to be average. If I were buying a bike for the sole purpose of completing the ride they went on, I would have picked the BMW too. They should come to Kansas and do the whole article over again. I'm sure the Uly would come out on top then. | ||
| Dtx |
Quote by India: Well I bought the Uly and to me its like owning my own piece of America.  That made me smile. (Message edited by dtx on January 19, 2006) | ||
| Guybones |
I agree with Lowflyer, an average article. Seemingly written to reward the "known", and not explore what is truly unique about the the bikes, pretty corporate. But it's quite a bit better than the vanity travelogue put out by Clement in Rider last month. How many pictures of himself posing can he insert in a story anyway? I'll admit, seeing Ted Simon hanging out in a bathrobe next to the Uly was kind of entertaining.  | ||
| Clang |
I wouldn't be surprised if the Uly get lower overall scores from any rider less than 6' tall. It's got to be tough to sit on a bike and find out you are too SMALL for it..... | ||
| Brat |
I've now riden all the bikes in the comparison and for my purposes, that is; two up riding over made/unmade roads/firetrails, carrying 150 litres (125lb) of gear, and being 6' the Uly leads each bike overall! It's bigger/heavier than the duke (girls bike)! Better on bitumen that the KTM, Suzi and Bimmer, more seat area/sounds a heap better/looks better than all of them and pulls like a tractor! | ||
| Thunderbox |
I am sure if the wind protection would have been better on the Uly it may have gotten second place. I think that was a killer for these riders. Only takes one long ride against the wind to make you appreciate wind protection. Had they been running with the wind they may have rated it better. |
