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Lowflyer
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 09:13 pm: | 
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Consumer Reports did an article on the Ulysses?
Larryboy may be accurate if his statement were applied to a lot of things, but it is statistically unproven and completely inaccurate, false and totally bullshit as it relates to the Uly. I'm not sure that the problems that have been mentioned in here have anything to do with when the bike was made. The side stand is the only 'early model' issue of which I am aware.
My advice to anyone that is contemplating an '06 or '07 purchase is to buy the one that is least expensive taking into account the difference in price for the $110 seat on the '07. The issues mentioned in this thread will happen from time to time regardless of when the bike was made - so far as we know.
All that said, I will eat those words and offer my sincere apology if Buell recalls the BAS and/or fuel pump. My guess is that they won't because these appear to be relatively isolated issues. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2006 - 09:36 pm: |
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Agreed Flyer!
The sidestand recall was a must due to the potential primary and secondary damage from a bike falling over.
My guess is that the BAS/Fuel Pump issue will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Either they are bad or they aren't. Because of the lower production numbers, I would assume that no recall will be issued. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
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"I have had a first year Toyota 4Runner, ..."
And the first and second year 4Runners remain the most desireable. If you can find one with less than 300K!
One thought, a first year Uly is only a first year for that particular combination of parts, for the most part. Most of the parts already have been in production, just not with those suspenders, or these handlebars, or that beak... no? |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 10:41 am: |
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The frame is different, the tail is different, the swingarm is different, the forks are different, the handlebars are different, and I believe the rear shock is different.
It's the combination and where they are ridden that are different.
When I said first year 4Runner, I meant first for the redesign in 1996. It is not the most desireable, although I bought mine for $20,000 (58,000 miles), drove mine to the 206,000 mile mark and sold it for $4,000. It was well loved. I changed the fluids, replaced tires and brakes, and did the timing belt and water pump once.
The only issues I had were the recall on the head gaskets and rear shocks, and I had the unfortunate circumstance of the harmonic balancer bolt coming loose and the harmonic balancer walked off the end of the crankshaft and had to be replaced.
That sucked. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 10:59 am: |
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Okay, now I disagree again.
Of the things you cite that are different, not one of them has posed a problem that has been discussed in here. The problems I have heard about are the fan, the BAS, and the fuel pump - all of which have been in production on other XBs.
The Uly, for the most part, is not necessarily being ridden anywhere that other XBs have not gone. It may be thought of as doing more dirt road miles than other XBs, but that is not necessarily the truth.
Also, to my knowledge nobody is full-time stunting a Uly either. Other XBs have been performing that duty for some time now. That is way rougher than anything I have put my Uly through and mine is flogged year-round. I'd say the components in question are fairly well proven, but like anything will have their lowest common denominators.  |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 11:53 am: |
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The Uly, for the most part, is not necessarily being ridden anywhere that other XBs have not gone. It may be thought of as doing more dirt road miles than other XBs, but that is not necessarily the truth.
When was the last time you saw a Firebolt here?
Let's say that the fan is more sensitive to dust. Riding on dirt roads will introduce more dust into the fan causing failures.
Let's say that the new frame configuration concentrates more heat at the rear cylinder. The fan would be required to work harder decreasing it's life span.
I don't know why the BAS has been failing. Maybe it is due to positioning on the bike. Maybe it is due to vibrations. Same with the fuel pump.
You can't just look at the parts that are different and say "none of them have failed", but you have to look on how the configuration of ALL the parts contribute to the combined bike. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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Yup, that's why I said, "for the most part" and "not necessarily." One muddy Uly does not an adverse conditions usage across the board make. Only an ADVrider would publish a picture like that. The average Firebolt rider would be ashamed.
I agree, but there is no evidence yet to suggest that this configuration of this combination of parts is any more susceptible to failure than any other. In fact, I suspect the contrary to be the case given the relatively few folks in here that have experienced these problems compared with the majority of us who have not. People with problems tend to be more vocal than folks who are satisfied. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 01:08 pm: |
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Agreed- folks with problems post them, search for solutions, report their progress or lack of it, and they dominate the boards usually.
Folks with no problems... ride.
"When I said first year 4Runner, I meant first for the redesign in 1996. It is not the most desireable, although ... It was well loved."
Not so many problems with that model though. So you are a young phfart eh? 
I am running the motor out of your first 4Runner in my '87 frankenrunner, and yeah, the hg recall was done on it within 3 months of being new back in '96.
You do make a point about the fan & dust (though it should not matter). I don't think the new frame is much changed around the rear cylinder though, is it? |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 01:34 pm: |
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To the one-star voting vagina:
I was not serious about it sucking to be Larryboy. I was poking fun at his apparent cyber-temper.
We should all be friends here; large abrasive vaginas who hide behind cute little red stars notwithstanding.  |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 01:34 pm: |
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No, but is the Uly more or less likely to be ridden at (or over) it's gross weight?
Is it more or less likely to be ridden at higher RPMs (slow low gear dirt crawling) with low airflow?
How R's and S's have EVER been on a dirt road? How many have EVER done a creek crossing?
Most don't get theirs as dirty as the one above on a regular basis, but I bet more Ulys have been dirty than ALL Firebolts and Lightnings combined.
There are two considerations to consider with the ULY:
The combination of parts and how they interact differently than previous models.
The use of the Ulys and how they are different than previous models. |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 02:23 pm: |
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Fair 'nuff. I'd say, though, that this actually speaks well of the Uly. Overengineered enough to take on new applications and, overall, succeed with few problems.
Not sure any of the (few) problem areas have really been addressed by design changes in the '07s, though, have they? |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 02:28 pm: |
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I would wager that the vast majority of the parts are the same from one year to the next. Side stand, seat, fork springs, and air box seem to be the most talked about new features of the '07. |
Debueller
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 02:30 pm: |
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I gotta chime in here.
The Uly above is mine, photo taken 2 weeks ago in AZ.
At the time of the photo it had over 30K miles on it.
That bike has been drag raced. (12.94 with my fat ass on it)
It's been jumped (It lands hard)
The belt has injested mud and snow to the point of causing it to "skip".
It's been wheelied to the point of tearing off the top box. (not on purpose!)
I chased a Beemer boxer at 100mph+ for over 10 miles in 100 degree heat. He never did get away...he pulled over. HA!!
The bike is a Sept '05 build date. I've got #73 Erik singature windscreen. (early build date)
Failed componets:
Broken belt (twice).
Failed fan 25K mi.
(1) Broken sidecase latch.
Left fork seal blown at 20K mi. (I'm TRYING to cool it on the wheelies,it's tough).
There has been a few other minor issues, some my own fault or normal wear.
IMO that list is pretty short for a bike that has done the things I've asked of it. It is no POS.
All in all I'm VERY pleased with the reliabailty. The damn thing still runs and rides excellent. As it stands now I will buy another when the warranty runs out.
My brother rides a KTM 950 Adventure. He's treated his pretty much like I've treated mine. I'm going to put this nicely (he'll probably read this) he has really struggled to keep his running all the time. The Buell has been WAY more reliabale. And it cost less, too!!
All the naysayers can rant all they want, but I'm going to go with my own experence. (can't wait for the '08's) |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 02:45 pm: |
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The Uly if a friggin tank! I think ANY of the failures that have occurred are well within the engineering margin of error of the unknown on a new model
There are a couple of additional modifications from 06 to 07.
The oil pump has had it's flow rate boosted I think to provide better cooling, reduce fan cycling and reduce pinging.
The fuel delivery has been tweaked a little as well.
I doubt that if you took the basic design of some of the competition's road bikes and converted them to a semi-off road bike, they would have faired far worse. |
Debueller
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 03:27 pm: |
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I agree.
I rode with Chris (Ulendo) last Sept.
He off-roads a CityX, a street bike.
I witnessed his bike taking quite an off-road beating. And he wasn't slow either.
With the exception of some electrical gremlins, the bike seemed to handle it very well for a road bike.
My experence has shown me that the XB series of bikes are very tough and reliable |
Court
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 04:01 pm: |
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The day when the "first year" concerns were based in fact is long gone. . . |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, November 02, 2006 - 09:10 pm: |
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Court,
I'd believe that if I hadn't had several things replaced before 1,000 miles, and these are issues non Uly riders don't seem to be complaining about. |
Firemanjim
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 01:47 am: |
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Larryboy,bring your bike down to Vallejo.Very Buell friendly and Terry Parsley rides a Uly himself.I haven't bought a bike from them since 1995 but still am treated fantastic. |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 11:20 am: |
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Court,
I still think first year bikes are problematic when compared to subsequent years of a given model. The ULY has had it's share of upgrades and problems: TPS module, oil pump assembly, side-stand, rusty muffler, beefed up primary case where it holds the chain adjuster, rattling horn, tires, seat, chin fairing where the tire was hitting it, seat hitting the ECM, air-box cover now has better breathing, wires wearing through because they are too tight around vibrating frame parts, fuel pump wires wearing through and fuel pump shuts off, lean over sensor going south, rear cylinder fans wearing out prematurely, and probably a few other things I haven't mentioned. Most of these things haven't been a problem for most bikes but they have been problems associated with the growing pains of being a new model.
(Message edited by electraglider_1997 on November 06, 2006) |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 01:27 pm: |
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The thing that ties all of the first-year Uly "problems" together is that they were all talked about here. I think this forum can give a false perception of reality because people who bitch about their bikes can do it so easily and so frequently here. This can make an isolated incident seem like a widespread calamity when it is just two or three guys (out of thousands) experiencing the same problem. It snowballs with folks chiming in about how they "almost" had the same problem, or thought they had that problem but it went away, etc... Next thing you know, the Uly is accused of attacking small children in crosswalks.
My bike had the rust on the muffler, and that's it. I repainted it. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 01:54 pm: |
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My Uly did attack some small children! I thought it was an anomaly. Now I need to start the "Ulysses Attacks Small Children" thread and see how many are having the same problems.
Court, how many 2006 Ulys have been sold world wide? |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 03:21 pm: |
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My garage cat is pretty sure my Uly attacked her at least, when I wasn't looking. I'm callin' the SPCA.
OK, let's say the failures (not just design changes, but failures - the primary case etc. is not unique to the Uly, is it?) above happened to occur in early '06 Ulys. Is it because of first year blues? Or coincidental suppliers/application to early Ulys? The latter would look just like the former, but be entirely unrelated to the first year blues. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 03:40 pm: |
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No, yours was not an anomaly. Mine attacks anyone under the age of 6. I had to put a muzzle on its beak. |
Lovehamr
| | Posted on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 05:11 pm: |
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"large abrasive vaginas who hide behind cute little red stars"
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!
Ya kill me!
Is that anything like a "Taintelf"? |
Dmcutter
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 02:26 pm: |
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Nothing worse than an abrasive vagina. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 02:51 pm: |
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...except one that is also large. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 09:41 pm: |
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Unless it's also salty.  |
Dmcutter
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 07, 2006 - 09:46 pm: |
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Nice. |
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