| Author | Message | ||
     Creggleton |
Hello all, I am looking for a new long distance bike. I am very interested in the Ulysses but so far have not been able to find one at the dealer. The reviews I have read have been very positive. I do have a question about the service interval of 2400 miles. What does this involve? I have taken trips that are much longer than this so this could be a deal breaker. Any insight would be appreciated. | ||
| Crusty |
I think at 2400, you're supposed to check the oil. (I check mine a bit more often).  Seriously, I think that oil changes are scheduled for 5,000 miles. I don't believe that any service is required at 2400 miles. (I'm not near my owners manual to verify this.) If it helps, I did a 3100 mile trip to Daytona for bike week, and have an 8,000 mile ride planned for this July. I plan only to change the engine oil along the way as I'm mildly anal about oil changes. I strongly urge you to test ride one, if you can find one to demo. I really like mine, and will be putting some serious miles on it. | ||
| Davo |
Creggleton, I bought mine at Colonial HD. I am about 45 minutes from Chesterfield in Blackstone. I have 3900 mi. on mine. If you are in town I would be glad to show you the bike and go over the service manual and the VDSTS software. I love the bike but I have had some minor issues. I do all my own service work. I also have the Buell touring bags on my bike as well. | ||
| Teeps |
There is a 1st service at 1000mi, then at 5k miles and thereafter every 5k. Too bad your in Va., as there are 5 Uly's on 3 different dealer floors here in SoCal. Cheers, Tp | ||
| Daves |
Could I interest you in a trip to Wisconsin to get one? | ||
| Creggleton |
Thanks for the reply's. I am still doing research on what I want.(So many bikes, so little time/money) I had an 04 Triumph Tiger that I foolishly sold last year. It was probably the best bike I ever had. My friendly neighborhood Triumph dealer just got an 06 in and has been tempting me with it. My only reservation is the "been there, done that" issue and I always like to try new toys. Davo, I would like to catch up with you to check out the bike. Thanks for the offer! Daves, a roadtrip to Wisconsin is by no means out of the question. I'll be sending you both PM's | ||
| Daves |
 I'll make you some Kool Aid | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
If you like sticking with the Triumphs which I've never had but secretly lust for then how about the Speed Triple with that single sided swing-arm. Way cool. You could always do like that nut-job Cruise did in MI-2 and miraculously mount knobbies on it just by leaving the pavement. I just saw that flick again the other day and it is pretty good. Love those slow-mo 180 turns while doing a stoppie. | ||
| Garry |
The Triumph Tiger is getting a big makeover for 2007 that has it moving in more of an all-roads/Multistrada direction based on the spy shots MCN has published. That may or may not be desirable from your point of view. I too am *very* interested in a Uly, but am trying really hard to hang onto my wallet to see what the 2007 model year will have in store. The VStrom and Multistrada haven't seen a big makeover in four years either. Not holding my breath, but ya never know... I keep hoping that 2007 is the Year of the Adventure Bike. | ||
| Mb182 |
I made the Trip to Daves for my Uly and it was well worth the 500 mile drive - great dealership, great people - best buying experience I have had yet!!! My next one will be from Daves as well MB | ||
| Daves |
How's your back doing? | ||
| Mb182 |
about 90% back to normal.. Rain here last 2 days and forcasting thru next tuesday!! Uly gets dropped off Sat for 1K service. Should get back just as weather turns nice agian!! MB | ||
| Stevenknapp |
The Tiger is a nice bike. One thing to note, the bags on the Buell are HUGE. No exhaust back there to take up space. I've had more than one friend take a pass on the Tiger because of the sweet looking twin pipe setup eating all their storage space. I can't comment on the riding impressions, but I do know that 955i triple is a sweet motor. But so is the V-twin. As far as the service. The intervals have been mentioned. Also note that there seem to be MANY more Buell dealers than Triumphs, at least in my neck of the woods. And if it's just an oil change, I'd guess that a H-D dealer could even do in a pinch if it came to that. | ||
| Daves |
Hey Steve, time to update your profile? | ||
| Chadhargis |
I've known Steve for a number of years, and we both had an RT for a time, and I owned a GS too (1150 though). Now we both own Ulys. I think he's copying me.  In the BMW world, the "dark side" is when you leave the boxer twin product line and move to the "K" inline 4 line. So, if you leave BMW all together and now ride a Buell, what the heck is that called?? Smart! LOL! (Now...what can I do with the $5000 bucks I saved over buying a GS???? Humm...maybe by half of another Ulysses. ) (Message edited by chadhargis on May 12, 2006) | ||
| 2old2bfast |
If you want to blend your adventure with a dose of hooligan, or some really twisted up paved roads, you owe yourself a ride on the Uly prior to any decision making! Just got back from some awesome riding in NC and TN this week, and I think that the description someone used when they called the Uly a "touring motard", might have been about perfect. No hesitation riding it down the dirt and gravel forest service type roads, but it loves the twisty stuff like nothing else I have ridden, and it happens to be the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden when faced with slab in between great stretches of either gravel of twisties... Add a little exhaust sound if you choose via KDFab or a race kit if you can find one, and then the whole hooligan, motard thing makes sense all of a sudden. It is really hard not to want to hear it rev just a bit, but while listening you will become addicted in all likelihood to the front wheel hovering more than the average ride! I realize you are more looking at long distance attributes as your inquiry suggests, but I have never seen a bike that can do it all as well as this one. It's got long distance covered, but it has a ton of personality as well! Great bikes, and in my opinion you probably can't go wrong! | ||
| Creggleton |
This is a tough one for me. I have ridden two XB's in the past, an XB9R, and XB12S. Didn't like the 9 at all, but the 12S was kinda neat. I have had three Triumph's and I liked them all. If I go with the Buell over the Tiger, I will probably have to give up my Moto Guzzi V11 Sport, which despite my love/hate relationship, I will have a hard time letting it go. I guess these are good problems to have! Thanks again for everyone's input. I will now commence with the agonizing. | ||
| Daves |
or you can end it all now, call me, have me start getting a bike ready for you. Come out the first weekend of June and pick it up and take in the Homecoming Rally and racing at Road America! | ||
| Chadhargis |
And tour the factory too! Maybe even meet Erik and some of the folks responsible for building such a great bike. | ||
| Mb182 |
Remember Tigers need valve adjustments - just getting the tank and plastic off to get to the heads was enough to make me pass! They are kind of top heavy with a full tank too MB | ||
| Daves |
I'd make sure you meet Erik. That, in my and lots of other people minds is worth the trip in itself. Plus getting to meet a large number of Buell riders and Badweb members. Whatcha say? Like Court said, "who in their right mind would buy a Buell from THIS man???"  | ||
| Stevenknapp |
I've known Steve for a number of years, and we both had an RT for a time, and I owned a GS too (1150 though). Now we both own Ulys....I think he's copying me. No Chad, I didn't crash my RT, I traded it in.  The 12GS was a really good bike. But the Uly and I connect better. Not sure why, the Uly seems more "raw" but isn't unrefined. The price gap isn't quite 5k. Esp if you leave the ABS off the 12GS. But still there is a savings. Oh, BTW, Erik thought your switch location for the heated grips looked very "factory". Dave, I'll update that profile right now. | ||
| Madduck |
I would look around the areas you plan to ride in for gas stops. Range is really important in a long distance bike out west. In smaller towns the fuel may not be available after dark. there were several times on my trip where I had to find gas at the next town or I was sleeping in the ditch. I got about 145 miles to reserve light. When your next town is 37 miles away life gets more interesting. Serious distance riding for me means not worrying about where you can find fuel. In that the new R1200RT is just about perfect, hit reserve at about 240 miles and my butt hurts so I stop. Have comfortably gone 300 miles on a tank. Back in "civilization" range won't matter as much. On I-70 there is a stretch of 170 miles without gas at all. The ULY does fine from a comfort level and performance other than weather protection. Heated seats and grips with a "real" fairing can easily add four hours to a riding day. 500 mile days weren't a problem with the ULY and 300 mile days seemed way too short. Best of luck with your decision. I do like a bike with cruise control. | ||
| Chadhargis |
"No Chad, I didn't crash my RT, I traded it in." Ouch! "Oh, BTW, Erik thought your switch location for the heated grips looked very 'factory'." Can I get a license fee or something?? | ||
| Stevenknapp |
500 mile days weren't a problem with the ULY An ~850mi day wasn't a problem with the Uly. It was a day of mixed weather, from warm to cold and raining. Did it in ~13hrs, so not a lot of stopping. Heated gear and grips were a bonus. Fuel range could be an issue. My range has been a bit longer than yours, heck, one tank I got 197mi til the light came on. Speed and throttle really impact that. Also weird, my RT and GS never pulled the range I expected. The Uly goes further than expected. Go figure. Can I get a license fee or something?? I send along 90% of what they send me. |
