| Author | Message | ||
     Yrocyesmar |
I am beginning to shop for a new bike. I have whittled it down to the adventure sportbike category. I like the all around duties of these bikes. I really love the fact that buell is venturing into the adventure/sport/multipurpose/sportouring world. And i would love to buy an american made bike. (or at least an american assembled bike that looks and sounds like the buell). What i would like to see is a more adventure oriented multipurpose bike that is similar to the gs1150 or the ktm 950. The ulysses seems to be more ofthe ktm sm 950 category. I want the new bike to have slightly more wheel base, slightly more relaxed rake, and accomodate 19-21" rims to afford road or offroad tires. Does anyone think that this can happen in the time frame of a year? Does anyone think that the market would support this? Does buell care about the more adventure sport market? thanks. peace out | ||
| Biker_bob |
No, maybe, probably. you're welcome | ||
| Milar |
The Uly is the replacement for the S3T sport touring bike. Not a true dual sport. You have correctly assesed the KTM and BMW are more dirt oriented. FWIW, I believe the KTM/BMW are too large to consider true dual sports. If have a Uly for street riding and a single for dual sporting. It costs about the same as a GS. M | ||
| Jlnance |
Welcome to Badweb Cory. There is no telling what next years Buells will look like, they are very tight lipped about this. But I would be supprised if they came out with another dual sport or made major changes to the Uly. I wouldn't wait around and risk being disapointed. Ride the Uly and see if you like it. If you don't, go for the gs or ktm. But I bet you'll like it.  | ||
| Fubar |
I wouldn't think they would do much to change the general street orientation. I expect a few refinements and a lot more optional doo-dads, but not much else. The current platform will *never* be a GS equivalent. fubar | ||
| Cactusjack578 |
Just my 2 cents but I never thought of the "OilHead" GS on par with the old AirHead GS as far as dirt worthiness. Considering the weight of the OilHead you could put dirt tires and better bars on just about anything and have the same result while out touring. I haven't seen the Uly yet but doubt that it would be as good as the Beemer but neither come close to the KTM 950. I have a Suzuki DL1000 that could use stiffer suspension and a diet but I have gone dirt riding on it and it isn't rated as high on the list of the BMW. Hell, I've even dirt ridden an old Sportster which was easier to handle in the rough than my DL it just needs a bigger tank for long rides. So in my humble opinion unless you are some kind of professional rider, except for the KTM you are just buying style more or less. | ||
| Brat |
"I haven't seen the Uly yet but doubt that it would be as good as the Beemer but neither come close to the KTM 950" Glad to see you fully researched your subject before giving us the benefit of your wisdom, I understand NASAR undertake similar methodologies for their shuttle missions!  | ||
| Lorazepam |
I find that the Uly does for me what the KTM 950 wont do. That is be a comfortable wto up bike for mostly street riding, and some gravel roads thrown in. I am not planning on any hard core off road excursions, and the KTM is just to uncomfortable for long distance riding. The BMW is just too dang expensive, and I am not a fan of their servo assist brakes. I guess the KTM does have great poser potential, but that is not for me. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
What I would change. 1) Gearing. Lower 1st and higher 5th so 70mph at 3K rpm. Maybe an overdrive type 6th gear. 2) Normal degrees of steering. This bike should be redesigned to turn on a dime. 3) Lower the bike but keep clearance. Take it out of the muffler. At least that is my suggestion. 4) Should come with better windscreen. Many of us have clamored for better wind protection and the best they could do is come out with a pathetic fly screen that does little more than the original. 5) More fuel capacity. At least 5 and preferably more than that. 6) Usable front fender that does what a front fender is supposed to do. The beak it has now was ill conceived and more to convey adventure touring than to accomplish it. Buell has the chance to really bite into BMW adventure touring market if they just pay attention to us ULY riders. We don't even charge them for the advice. | ||
| Wasions |
The 13 y/o Triumph Tiger already pretty much fits your description (6" longer, upright position, 19" front wheel), and although it's not as dirt worthy of either the GS or the KTM, it's certainly up for 'adventure'. Steve Gear up! | ||
| Thunderbox |
I think the Tiger would be a good choice if you are not overly happy with the first choice being the Ulysses. The GS and the KTM are both on the fringe of the niche the Uly and Tiger are in. Price keeps the GS out and emphasis on off road keeps the KTM out. Both good bikes mind you. | ||
| Lowflyer |
"Buell has the chance to really bite into BMW adventure touring market..." I would argue that, regardless of their intent, they have already taken market share from BMW. However, I don't think that the Uly was aimed specifically at the GS. I think it is carving its own niche in the Adv-touring market. That is, it is aimed at those of us who like the looks of a GS, but prefer a far simpler, less maintenance intensive, inexpensive to own, fun to ride, do everything bike. I would also argue that they need to weight what some of us current Uly owners are saying with a gi-normous particle of NaCl. I mean, there is very little that I would change keeping the market at-large in mind. There are some things that might enhance the bike's appeal to a larger market, like a lower (read: adjustable) seat height for example. If they do all of EGs suggestions, they might as well make it a Uly-Dakar model and leave the standard Uly for the rest of us. If it were me, I would make the Uly-Dakar a limited edition bike for a qty. of 50 and sell them for $31k.  | ||
| Crusty |
That is, it is aimed at those of us who like the looks of a GS, but prefer a far simpler, less maintenance intensive, inexpensive to own, fun to ride, do everything bike. Not quite all of us. I personally think the GS is as ugly as a bucket full of dog's balls. I bought my Ulysses because it is the closest thing to a Sport - Tourer that Buell is going to make. I won't be traveling down many dirt roads, but I will be riding to Glacier Nat'l Park this summer. I also enjoy riding through the Green Mountains at a brisk pace. I do like the easy maintenance, and I enjoy the Uly's personality (something that the BMW is totally devoid of). | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
What kind of dog we talking about here? | ||
| Lowflyer |
"Not quite all of us..." WTF?!? I was speculating as to what I think the bike might be aimed at market-wise; not why you made your particular purchase. I did not say that anyone has to fit the profile of what I think the bike is aimed at either, so I am not sure what you mean. That is unless your intent was just to argue a meaningless point. If that is the case, then give me back my damn jacket!  P.S. - I'll have to take your word on the dog's balls. I would ask what you do with buckets full of dog testicles, but I am afraid you might have an answer.  | ||
| Brat |
I used to drive Sprint Cars and appreciate that there is minimum crap on them except what makes them run, the Uly strikes me in a similar vein, clean and mean. As a matter of fact I'm rigging at a shutdown in Melbourne, Aussie and parked next to a GS 1200 this morning in the car park and the difference between the look of the two bikes is amazing, the Buell looks like an arse kicker, the GS looks like a barbie doll off to the prom, pipes and crap everywhere (including some bars to protect the motor hanging out the sides), then again I may be biased!  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I hear they (dog t's) taste just like cat. | ||
| Cactusjack578 |
Yes Brat you are biased. Although I wouldn't want a 1200GS, BMW has had years to refine the GS genre where as this is Buells first attempt. Electraglider makes some good points too. BUT I can see everyone here has a different idea of what the Uly should be able to do. And that's great. Because if they come close to many ideas someone here will come up with great ideas to modify it. And that's really cool and will make the Uly more popular because it will be more versatile | ||
| Thunderbox |
I have 2 minor things they can do to improve on an incredible motorcycle. 1) More available colors and 2) Self cancelling turn signals. I would be very happy to only have those things changed. Other than that maybe an optional wind deflector array. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Amen to that. The only thing I can think of to improve it would be a radar-guided particle beam laser for melting the tires of misguided cages. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Thunderbox said: I have 2 minor things they can do to improve on an incredible motorcycle. 1) More available colors and 2) Self canceling turn signals. 1} It is very easy to make the bike any color you want. I bet a paint shop wouldnt charge more than a couple hundred dollars. 2) Look for the kisan signal minder. You self canceling turn signals are just a mouse click away. http://www.kisantech.com/ | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lowflyer, Do you watch Battlestar Galactica? Best show on the tube. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Wait one parsec, I watched the old Starbuck and Apollo version when I was just a youngling. I had a helmet that looked like the ones they wore in their fighters. | ||
| Snub13 |
Just a few random thoughts / comments / questions.... I think there are a handful of small "nits" that Erik and the gang could resolve on the Uly. That being said, they made a fantastic first effort. The Uly is a sort of jumping off point. It's a great platform that the end user can modify at his/her discresion (ie: the bags). Not everyone wants a full on dirt bike or a full on sport bike. And neither of those choices were the aiming point of this bike. Crusty, Glacier is a long way from Mass.!!!! Take lots of pics. Bucket full of dogs balls.........ok, I'll take your word for it. LOL Brat, What is "rigging at a shutdown"? No offense or joke, just a case of regional differences in the English language. Lowflyer, Your dating yourself, is this the reason you hide your date of birth? BSG was a good show, however. OK, you can resume your rants, thank you. | ||
| Lowflyer |
December 1969. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Low, you are just a pup! Capricorn? | ||
| Cactusjack578 |
Snub, that is what I was trying to say. Thank you for putting it so eloquently. | ||
| Lorazepam |
what about the Uly fork and rear shock on the cityx? would that give the clearance for a big tire&wheel? If I hit the lottery, I will give it a try and see what happens. | ||
| Bosh |
"Rigging at a shutdown" Operating a crane or working with the crane operator to set up the lift. Shutdown= oil refinery or chemical plant that is shutdown for repairs / maintenance. | ||
| Windrider |
"I want the new bike to have slightly more wheel base, slightly more relaxed rake, and accomodate 19-21" rims to afford road or offroad tires." Then you should not buy the Buell. "Does anyone think that this can happen in the time frame of a year?" I don't think that Buell will release such a bike since they are having great market success with the Ulysses. There are many bikes on the market now that fit your criteria. "Does anyone think that the market would support this?" The Ulysses is well supported in the market now. Many other adventure bikes are also selling very well. "Does buell care about the more adventure sport market?" What puts "adventure" in your sport? : ) An "adventure" sport bike by definition is a bit of everything. Buell has invested a lot of years into building sport bikes, not dirt bikes. With some careful tweaks to their XB bike they have made their first adventure SPORT bike but it was based on a bike that has the geometry of a road racer. Expect Buells to be more sport than dirt. All adventure sport bikes have to make the following trade offs: Sport ----- Comfort ------- Dirt Ability You have to decide which is most important to you and give up some of the others. The Buell Ulysses is long on Sport and Comfort and has still has some dirt road ability. The mighty KTM is long on Dirt ability and gives up some comfort and sportiness in the twisties. Fortunately, we live in a time when there are fantastic choices available. Personally, as someone who has owned D/S machines for many years, I would not get anything heavier than 350 lbs for serious dirt work and you are going to give up a lot of comfort to trim the bike down to that level. Also, I would not spend a lot on a bike that you want to do a lot of dirt riding on as you will drop it.... more than once. Dirt riding breaks the bits off of bikes.... and sometimes the riders as well! Lighter is better in serious dirt riding. Decide where you want to do the majority of your riding and what tradeoffs you want to give for that type of riding and then find the bike to fit your own brand of adventure. I would not wait for Buell to roll out a model with knobbies. Ride on. |
