| Author | Message | ||
     Isaac |
Hi webers...... I have been wondering about making the Uly slightly more offroad friendly (Im not a big off roader, but I want to make a big trip next summer and I dont want be restricted to the dunlops). For what I have seen, the 17 front might be a problem for tough stuff.... but using an aftermarket muffler (the ones that are shorter, like micron) will there be enough space for an 18 one? And for the rear, I ve seen someone here put some 160 MTs on the stock rims of a CityX..... what about changing the rim for an Excel to fit a 160 without stretching the MT that much? Will that require some major surgery? I guess changing the front one will do, because of the TZL break system..... What are your thoughts? Isaac | ||
| Aeholton |
What are your thoughts? Horses for courses. Buy a true Dual-sport or dirt bike. The Uly isn't designed for that. | ||
| Idave |
One of the reasons I bought a Uly is it comes stock with 17's. Just sayin'  | ||
| Brad1445 |
After seeing how easy my rims dented and now lose air, I'm all ears for an alternative. | ||
| Soloyosh |
You can give these guys a call...  | ||
| Jim_sb |
Sweet. Who did that? Isaac, I've done several hundred miles off pavement with my Ulysses including Death Valley and the Carrizo Plain National Monument and my biggest concern was in sand that was 4" or more deep where the bike would develop a significant head-shake, worse if I was standing on the pegs. I believe a steering damper like the one sold by Al at American Sportbike would solve that issue. The tires themselves had good grip, traction wasn't an issue. I have no complaints with the Dunlops and I still run the 616's. OTOH if you find some 18" wheels that allow us to use some knobbies I'd be interested. Keep us posted, eh? Remember that it's the outer diameter of the tire that matters, going to 18" may not be a clearance problem depending on the tire chosen and it's profile. Oh, and I do have a dirt bike. There's nothing wrong with making a Uly a little bit more dirt-worthy. Best, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| James996 |
I'm having a set of adjustable billet triple clamps made. Then i can run any size rim i need. | ||
| Soloyosh |
}I'm having a set of adjustable billet triple clamps made. Then i can run any size rim i need. If you push the forks out (increase the offset) while keeping the rake the same, you'll shorten up the trail which may not be ideal. Jim, Here's the link... http://www.bike-farm.de/htmlGalerie/067Bike/Center067M1.htm Cheers Brett | ||
| Brad1445 |
Soloyosh Looks tough, but is it real. Thats looks like a Duck Tail. I like the look a lot! More clearance too boot! | ||
| Larryboy |
i've been thinking along the same lines lately. 18" front would be the way to go. a narrower 17" rear and i could run knobs front and rear. i can shave the front of the muffler for more clearance. i've been thinking of sectioning the muffler for more ground clearance and ditching the valve at the same time. | ||
| Isaac |
Aeholton.... its not about converting the Uly into a lightweight letsgocrazyktmlike dirt bike, its about making what IT IS supposed to be, an adventure bike, which means, that you can travel the world in that thing. For me, its not about being able to race on dirt tracks, its about being able to go to south America, Asia or whatever, and not getting stranded because u need some dunlops tires that are crazy expensive, and not easy to be found. You could say.... yeyeyeye, buy a beemer...... but beemers do not light my fire you know...... I really really like how my Ulys engine runs.... and the feel of it, and the confidence it gives you..... even after all the troubles it gave me in the beginning..... I still like this engine.... it does it all...... kinda sporty, kinda good for twisties, kinda good for traffic (yeah.... traffic.... I ride it every day on traffic and its feels really light).... so, my only but to the whole concept is those humongous tires..... I understand 180 is kinda the standard for sporty bikes.... but I think 150-160 will do just fine, and will give you the op to put knobies on it..... or TCKs and do some serious trips on it. Just my POV anyways.... isaac | ||
| Red_chili |
Just put on the tires Ulendo put on his CityX. Yer dun. That SM Uly is sweet- I like wire wheels. It does use Duc parts and for 20K Euros it's yours. You just have to figger out how to import it. But it still runs 17s. I don't think any gains from 18s would justify the cost - or even be noticeable. 'Twould be cool if they sold the exhaust/tail as a kit, or all the components. I guess you could go to the Duc store and buy piece parts... and a vertical mill from Harbor Freight. | ||
| Soloyosh |
Red, The 18 or 19" wheel would give you tire options in areas of the world that 17" sportbike tires are hard to come by. The trick is adapting the brake setup to the larger rim. | ||
| Red_chili |
I would think it would be simpler to coordinate freight drops in various locations... no? Fastening the rotor to an Excel rim, reliably, seems a little daunting. Easier to lose the elegant braking and go conventional. | ||
| Isaac |
I will not mind going conventional.... some nice 320 double dics with brembo pistons  | ||
| Red_chili |
I dunno... between the low weight and six-piston power of the stocker, I think that might be a downgrade! | ||
| Nytrashman |
swapping out the rims can get expensive. i am doing basically the same thing on a dual sport i have. i located someone selling a set of new excel rims in the size i want but i was not prepaired to spend $75 for front spokes & $72 for rear spokes. now add the cost of two new tires and the time it will take to lace the new excel's to my hubs. although for what i wanted to achive this was the perfect way to go it still ended up costing me more then i had thought. will it work on your Uly, i don't know just be prepaired to spend some cash as it won't come cheap. | ||
| Aeholton |
its not about converting the Uly into a lightweight letsgocrazyktmlike dirt bike, its about making what IT IS supposed to be, an adventure bike, which means, that you can travel the world in that thing. From Buell's website: "The Ulysses is the first Buell that’s as capable on fire roads as it is on back roads." ROADS being the key words in the sentence. The Ulysses is a fine street and graded dirt/gravel road bike. Even Buell calls it an "adventure SPORT bike" (not a true adventure bike). I know some people here and on Adventure Rider forum have ridden the Uly in some pretty extreme off-road conditions, but that is not what it was designed for. Hence my "horses for courses" comment above. In my opinion (it doesn't have to be yours), for the $ required to make the Ulysses a true "adventure bike" you would be better off buying a used Kawasaki KLR650 or Suzuki DR650. | ||
| Red_chili |
I would have a hard time riding the KLR or DR after a taste of Uly. It would take a lot of Pepto to keep my lunch down. I'm afraid I'd have to either spring for a KTM something (won't happen) or build something. Hmmm, I could marry an XR650R to a KLR somehow... naw... |
