| Author | Message | ||
     Dgunther |
I picked up my new black XB12X on Saturday and am *very* impressed with this bike. I've ridden the Buell Xb models several times in the past, but this is the first one I could honestly live with on a day to day basis since I commute by bike about 95% of the time - the other models were just a little too small and had no real way to get my laptop and lunch to the office  . The first thing I did when I got home was set up the suspension by the table in the manual. Wow! What a difference that made - this is hands-down the best handling bike I've ever ridden and I didn't have to send the forks off to be reworked for my fat butt or send Ohlins a big fat check. I've got a couple of n00b questions that maybe some of you out there can answer: Is there any word on heated grips as an official accessory? I've got a set of Symtec grips sitting in the garage, but a plug and play installation is always nice. Has anyone got pics of their heated grip install? I can't decide where to put the switch and where to run the wires. Is it possible to buy the handlebar mounting hardware for the Buell Quest GPS separate from the GPS itself? I've seen that there are several HD mounts available without the GPS unit - are any of them the same as the Buell part (minus the logo)? There is something on the front of the bike that rattles/buzzes at a very small RPM range 2050 or so to 2100 RPM. Not a big deal, but slightly annoying. And finally - why is it taking so long to get my luggage? It seems to be on a 1 month+ backorder  And, of course, a gratuitous pic of my new baby  | ||
| Lorazepam |
Congratulations on the new ride!! Several of us have done the heated grip thing (mandatory on a bike IMO) Al at american sport bike sells a kit at a very reasonable price. I will get a pic up of the switch install, unless someone beats me to it. Not sure on the quest mounting hardware, I use a gpsV and ram mounts. the luggage is cavernous, and works great in my experience. Some have had problems with the latches, and the seals. Mine live on the bike, and I have no problems with either. I am guessing your horn is vibrating against the flyscreen. It is an easy fix, just move the horn back a bit, and the vibes will go away. Welcome to badweb, great group here, and you will love the Uly more and more. | ||
| Dgunther |
Lorazepam, thanks for the info - I'll check the horn when I get home. I hope it is something that simple! The grip heaters from American Sport Bike look very similar to the ones I've got - I guess I just need to figure out where to mount the switch and where to hide the power cables and connections. I'm excited that the luggage is actually Hepco luggage since I already have a Hepco rack on my MZ motard and my wife has a Hepco topcase on her V-Strom. That'll give us a lot of flexibility with our luggage no matter what bikes we take. I've not had any issues with the latches and seals on her 52L topbox, but will keep an eye out. Any idea of an XL Arai helmet will fit in the side cases? It looks like it should fit, but might be a little close. | ||
| Fubar |
You can (and I have) fit a helmet in all three cases. | ||
| Roadrailer |
My large KBC VR1 Euro fits in the side case with room to spare. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Take the 6 bolts that hold on the colored flyscreen on the front of the bike. You can hide all the wires in there. It is a piece of cake. Most of us drilled a hole on the left side right above the key for the switch. | ||
| Sanchez |
Welcome aboard. Atlanta has one of the most active BRAG chapters (the 3% BRAGging Rights Club) and one of the best sponsoring dealerships (Stone Mountain H-D) in the country. Check out our little corner of the badweb here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/47796.html | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Welcome to the anti-collective! Make sure to break it in by the book!  | ||
| Dave |
Welcome Dgunther... I'm over in Birmingham and there are at least a few Ulysses riders between us. Many can be found at ADVRider as well. DAve | ||
| Dgunther |
I think I've seen a few of you guys on advrider(I'm dgunther there as well). Glad to hear that there is such an active BRAG chapter in the area. I rarely see any Buells over on my side of town (Kennesaw/Marietta area). | ||
| Buelet |
Welcome, Dgunther! Enjoy your new Ulysses! I'm enjoying mine too. (Wife surprised me w/ one for my birthday earlier this month!)  Here is the solution I came up with for my '03 XB9S. Your mileage may vary! I took a small piece of .030" - .040" alloy sheet (Hast-X I believe... aero-space scrap) cut it to fit using a template I made from cardboard or card-stock. Cut it out w/ some tin snips and paint it. (flat black worked for me) Carefully locate and mark for the switch hole. Vertical & Horizontal placement is critical. If it's not *just right* the switch body (back side) won't fit and / or the switch hole will partially miss the webbing. If done "right", the hole in the plastic webbing in the wind deflector will be 1/8" to a 1/4" from the edge (if I remember right...). I think I used a drift-type hole punch to progressively move the hole in my template 'till it was "just right"! This included mounting my switch in the template to test it's clearance too. Once it fits the template, you are ready to transfer, cut, drill switch plate, drill webbing, and paint. I drilled the switch plate first and then held it in place to drill through the plastic webbing in the deflector. Once installed, the switch holds it all together! I like this solution because it hides the big-arse, unGodly looking chrome switch, but keeps it within a quick flick of a *chilly* finger! Oh yeah, I'm using the heated grip kit from American Sportbike. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!! Now I'm going to have to dig out my old template and make another one for my Uly too!  | ||
| Buelet |
Here is another angle of the picture above...  | ||
| Buelltoys |
Welcome to the fun of the ULY. I am in Montgomery and love the bike. I ride 100% of the time unless I have to pick up something that I have to use my truck for. No major mods here, got my ULY with the luggage but know of the time it takes to get it. You can fit anything in them. I fit all my gear in my bags. Helmet, pants and rain gear. Still have room for my lunch and laptop. Welcome, Brian | ||
| Dave |
I ride nearly 100% of the time as well. When I go grocery shopping, I take my SUV - the Ulysses. I need to take my camera next time I go. People always kinda pause when they walk by and see the Ulysses consuming a shopping cart of groceries. The new microwave was a bit larger outside than it seemed in the store.... The collective Ulysses experience on the board is amazing. I'm thunder1200 over on AdvRider. I haven't posted in a while but I did have a Uly vs Tiger thread last fall/winter. DAve | ||
| Daves |
Congrats on the new bike! Who did you buy it from? The reason I ask is that they are supposed to set up the suspension with you when you pick the bike up. I'll bet Stone Mountain has bags in stock? If not, I do and of course you would get the Badweb 10% discount on them from either of us. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Congrats and welcome to BadWeB! | ||
| Dgunther |
The one thing I'm really nervous about is my dealer - I bought the bike from Earl Small's. There are a few younger guys there that know Buells, and two of the guys in service ride them, but I just get the feeling that as a whole, they're not real real big on the Buell line. I really hope I won't end up regretting it... I didn't know they were supposed to set up the suspension, but I probably would have re-done it when I got home anyways, just so *I* know it was done right. Unfortunately Stone Mountain HD is way across town from my house and with Atlanta traffic, that can be a big deal. If they closer, I would certainly have gone there. I ended up just ordering the bags online before reading up here on BadWeb and finding out I should have called DaveS to order any parts! I ended up ordering the 3pc. bags from Surdyke HD for $800 (any words good or bad about them?). | ||
| Daves |
They sell stuff cheaper than me but I have the parts in stock. Other than that I have no comments I can post here about them.  | ||
| Dgunther |
Dave, I would have ordered from you if I'd known better at the time, if for no other reason than your name is Dave (like me) and you're in Appleton (my old hometown), so you *must* be a good guy!  I've heard one of my great uncles used to own a HD dealership back in the 50's or 60's around Appleton. | ||
| Daves |
cool, what is his name? maybe some one I work with knows him? | ||
| Dgunther |
I'd have to ask my parents, I think he passed away a long while ago. Rumor is, he got to name the street the dealership was on at the time since he was the only business on it, so he named it Chain Drive. | ||
| Retired_cop |
Welcome to the other ( dark) side with your new stealthly black beauty. OK, I couldn't resist the color hijack. The only other thing you will need are muscle relaxers for the ear to ear 24/7 grin you will get or are getting now. | ||
| Gtmg |
Hey DG been lurking on here considering buying a Ulysses. I have some of the same concerns about dealers on the west side of Atlanta. Earls is very close to me as well. I have sat on that bike. 1. Can anybody tell me anything about the future of buell with harley dealers? I went to visit my son at school in Alabama and the two dealers I stopped at had dropped the Buell line. One of the reason I was looking was that I thought with Harley dealers almost everywhere that there would be great support. Any comments, knowledge or thoughts on this? 2. Still considering other bikes in the Buell line like City X and XB12ss. I would never take it off the street honestly but like the feel and look of the XB12x. Most riding on weekends and few long runs (200 to 300 miles). Any thoughts or ideas on this? By the way congrats DG on your purchase. Great bike. | ||
| Sanchez |
Earl Small's is pretty decent. I took my Rider's Edge course there last year, and I met some good people. Mike aka Buellish on this site is a salesman there and a 3%er. I bought my first Buell (an 02 Cyclone) on eBay. When it came time to pick up my Uly, I didn't even have to stop to think about buying it from Stone Mountain HD because they've been such a huge supporter of Buell in general and our BRAG chapter in particular. As for the other Buells, I suggest you test ride them and see what feels best. Earl's won't let you test ride a bike, but SMHD will. You should also consider what you want to do with the bike. I bought a Uly because I wanted a comfortable bike with huge luggage so I could do some distance riding and eliminate my dependency on cars. I still have my M2, though, because I love dragging knees at the track, and the Uly isn't cut out for that. | ||
| Gtmg |
Sanchez, Went by Stone Mountain after reading on here. Salesman did not know a whole lot about Buells. Saw my wife looking at a Streetglide and said come back when she wants to buy that. My wife rides as well. He was a nice guy but definitely did not make me think you guys were Buell friendly. | ||
| Dgunther |
Sanchez, I bought the Uly because I don't tour enough to justify my BMW RT, and am not a big fan of BMW's attitude lately regarding "zee technikal superiority" of their machines (servo brakes, final drives that never fail (but often do)). I wanted something that was sporty enough to handle the roads in N. GA, but comfortable enough (and with enough luggage capacity) for me to ride a thousand or more miles in a weekend. I also wanted a simpler machine with relatively simple maintenance. I think I've found it! My RT and VFR are up for sale. | ||
| Dave |
You have the right bike then. I've never regretted parting with the Tiger and it always feels so good to get back on the Uly after being on the S3. I hope to see the day where Earl Smalls will turn into a dealership that supports the line. With Mike there now...I look for good things. Many changes should take place. (My nuke blue wheels were chipped to hell by them after a botched tire change and the management did nada to resolve) DAve | ||
| Buellish |
"I hope to see the day where Earl Smalls will turn into a dealership that supports the line" Were working on it! "Earl's won't let you test ride a bike" Not true,we give test rides all the time. Dgunther test rode his before the purchase. | ||
| Dave |
Excellent Mike! I really do hope to see good things. They got the right man on the staff for certain. DAve | ||
| Dgunther |
Hi Mike! Was great to meet you today - I'm sure I'll see you up around Suches on the weekends. I hope that Buell does become a more important part of the line at Earl Small's, but I know that it won't happen overnight. Is anybody doing the Queensryche ride thing next week? I'm not big on organized rides or Queensryche, but it would be cool to meet some other area Buell riders. One thing I can say about Earl Small's is that I went in for the kickstand recall, and everybody in the service department was very professional and courteous. The service manager showed me lots of classic and rare bikes stashed in the garage, including an early Buell race bike. They completed the work while I waited, and even cleaned my bike for me before returning it (it was pretty nasty from a thunderstorm on the way to the office this morning). In fact, no one there in sales or service has been anything less than dedicated to making sure that I was happy and I was never made to feel like a second class customer for riding a Buell. The one downside is that the only Buell items I found in the whole showroom (other than the bikes) were a few service manuals. No parts were in stock (even shifters, brake levers, and tank bags - common stuff I'd think) and not so much as a hat or T-shirt. | ||
| Buellish |
"The one downside is that the only Buell items I found in the whole showroom (other than the bikes) were a few service manuals. No parts were in stock (even shifters, brake levers, and tank bags - common stuff I'd think) and not so much as a hat or T-shirt." And that my friend,is an uphill battle.} | ||
| Sanchez |
> Salesman did not know a whole lot about Buells. Hmm, well I guess not all salesmen are created equal. I've always been impressed with the staff at SMHD, and with the management in particular. The two best people to talk to are Cameron (the general manager) and Phil in the parts department (an XB12S owner and 3%er). > Not true,we give test rides all the time. Is that a recent change? Last time I was there looking for a bike (admittedly last September), they told us we couldn't test ride any bikes but that they'd be glad to rent one to us for $120/day instead.  Maybe they just told us that because they knew we were fresh out of Rider's Edge.  | ||
| Buellish |
Sanchez,I don't know when they started giving test rides,but a friend of mine rode an X1 there in '99.I know of people that road HD's in years past. | ||
| Gtmg |
Been all over Atlanta looking at Buells and as far as sales goes Mike and Chad at Earl's are the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Buell line. I have always heard good things about Earl's service department. It is the other things like a total lack of accessories etc that made me wonder about dealership commitment. I hope they make it happen. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
You can always get your parts from Daves. Daves, how do you like the plug? |
