| Author | Message | ||
     Irelage |
I finally got a chance to test drive the Uly. Before I rode the Uly I had two rides on Lightning Longs. I wanted to make sure I had some comfort with a Buell before I jumped on the Uly. The counter steering was extremely strange to me (I'm a KLR rider) Once on the Uly we headed out of town on the inner city streets so we weren't going over 40mph. During an acceleration away from a rail crossing the dash lights come on and the bike goes dead. I tried to jump it as the bike coasted but to no avail. I tried pressing the start button and it would not fire (kill switch was in correct position) It wasn't until the ignition switch was turned off and then on that the bike would start again. We continued the trip for a few several miles. When approaching a right hand turn I decided to accelerate aggressively to catch up to the group. When I applied both brakes and down-shifted to make the turn the bike cut out again, dash lights on. I coasted to a stop around the corner and turned the ignition switch on and off again. The bike started right up. I finished the rest of the ride without a problem. The demo facilitator took the bike out and couldn't create the same failure. Other than the bike cutting out the ride was awesome! I am now a huge Buell fan and I am starting the purchase process. What did I do wrong to cause the bike to cut off? A red and green dash light came on but I don't know which ones they were. I think they were the same ones that come on when the key is turned on. | ||
| Az_rider |
What did I do wrong to cause the bike to cut off? Possibly nothing. There have been a series of Ulys that have had the engine cut out while riding. They were found to have a bad bank angle sensor. This sensor is designed to shut off the fuel pump in case of an accident or tip over. A simple fix, but a major pain in the butt. Mine went bad, but I did not get any dash lights come on when my bike died. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Sounds like either some sort of loose collection (battery, etc.) or it could be the Bank Angle Sensor. Mine died before 1,000 miles. They symptoms sound familiar. The only thing that concerns me is the dash lights. When my BAS died, there were no lights. I was able to get the bike to fire up with only a cycle of the kill switch. I'm sure that cycling the ignition switch would have done the same. | ||
| Etennuly |
That's the best description I've seen written about the BAS, and from a nubie! Mine did EXACTLY that, I had to cycle the key switch then hit the starter switch to restart. The lights are simply those that come on if you were to put the key in, turn it on, but not start the engine. Irelage you done good!  | ||
| Fastfxrs |
Irelage, was the test ride on a '06 or '07? I had the bank angel sensor and cam position sensors replaced on my '06 last spring as it was doing the same thing as you described. Buell was great in getting it fixed. After someone from Harley Tech services read my post on badweb, he contacted me and my dealer to set up an appointment. It would have been difficult for the dealer to diagnose as nothing would throw a code. Glad you liked the bike otherwise. I love mine. Tim | ||
| Jlnance |
Irelage - Thanks for posting, I'm impressed. I think most people in that situation would have just assumed Ulys sucked and moved on. I've no idea how KLRs steer, so I can't comment on the differences. One thing I will say is that XBs need to have the suspension adjusted to the riders weight to handle well. That generally doesn't happen at demo rides. It's probably more important on the lightning or firebolts than it is on the long or the Uly. The latter bikes have a 2 inch longer wheelbase, so they don't turn as quickly. | ||
| Irelage |
The Uly I tried was an 07. You would think that the Buell Demo Tour would have the latest, non-embarrasing, technology on the demo machines. Nobody else had the issue. Maybe it doesn't like KLR riders. This bike was extremely comfortable for me in the saddle and standing on the pegs going 70mph! I couldn't feel the heat everyone talks about but the sub 3K RPM vibrations are really cool compared to the KLR. I'm 5'10", 150lbs, 31-32" inseam. I was lightly flat footed. I'm also 49 years old and I'm Christmas morning excited!!! The Lightning model was the machine that I had a hard time relating to. The counter steering wasn't working that same as the KLR or GS. My second ride on the Lightning proved better but I was still going wide in turns because I could flick it. Shorter bars maybe? The Uly was stupendous and natural for me. The Uly feels like a KLR built like a BMW! (Message edited by irelage on October 30, 2006) (Message edited by irelage on October 30, 2006) (Message edited by irelage on October 30, 2006) | ||
| Jlnance |
You would think that the Buell Demo Tour would have the latest, non-embarrasing, technology on the demo machines. I doubt they realize it's having problems. I mailed Court. He will know who to tell at Buell. | ||
| Court |
Done. | ||
| Jlnance |
I love badweb. | ||
| Ulywife |
If our dealer network was as strong as the BadWeb network we've have it made!  | ||
| Etennuly |
It seems to me that BadWeb should be a required reading for service writers and service managers, that way they wouldn't be behind the ball on these issues. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Maybe it doesn't like KLR riders. Maybe you just needed to strap on a milk crate with some zip ties and it would have been just like home.  Thanks for overlooking a very correctable flaw and seeing the diamond underneath. What's weird is that I haven't found a single repeat offender BAS. | ||
| Debueller |
I love that milk crate look.  Me and some buddies were thinking to really finish off that look a person could use some rural mailboxes for side bags. Or maybe some old suitcases. I'm still waiting to see a KLR with that something like that! | ||
| Court |
Just a follow up, that the concern has been addressed, thanks for the "heads up". In this day, I continue to be amazed at how short the problem to solution distance has become. By the way, I reread the "You would think that the Buell Demo Tour" and would only comment by saying you will never find a more "tested" stable of bikes anywhere than the demo fleet of the company that BROUGHT you the demo ride. I learned, as a contractor, what happens when you buy 96 pickup trucks in a year and some are driven, at all times, by the same person and some are driven by whoever jumps in on a given day. The life cycle of a new K20 Chev 3/4 4x4 was 12 months TOPS. Thanks again for the info on the Uly. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You mean, I shouldn't buy used rental cars either?  | ||
| Court |
I have a hilarious story of someone who, thinking they were snagging a great deal, bought an ex-COV. Who was at the 2000 Homecoming? The inquiry came from a long-time, long gone, Badwebber who wrote me asking for proper break-in instructions for his newly acquired "deal". He proudly told me that the bike had less than 100 miles on the clock and he wanted to make certain he broke it in properly. After he provided me the V.I.N, I did a little investigation and told him I'd not knock myself out keeping it under 3,000 RPM.   By the way, after several "Jason Pridmore plays Joey Chitwood" and my Buell-buddy who was charged depreciated sticker" for the rental car he totaled (actually just a bent frame, 3 bent rings and the front suspension crushed after a demonstration the night before the Indy 500 (I'd name him, but his nephews NFL contract has a year left and I could get sured)) I'd advise against buying a rental car. Yeah...I may have been Buellin' too long. | ||
| Court |
By the way. . . the dealer should have been SHOT for what he did in the above case. | ||
| Megabytebige |
I will never by a DEMO, Rental as i may have been on them. Ride it like you stole it | ||
| Jmhinkle |
"The counter steering was extremely strange to me (I'm a KLR rider)." KLR rider here. As a matter of fact, I sold mine about a month after buying the Ulysses because I loved it so much. I actually felt just the opposite about the steering as you. To me the bike seemed like the next step up from a KLR. The steering was not much different, just more responsive. Then again, I was running 90/10 street tires on my KLR and liked to pass all the squids in the corners on it. To me they are extremely similar rides, except that the Buell does it all better. As far as the demo buying, I recommend not to. Those bikes are mistreated. I almost bought a demo Uly with 750 miles on it until they fired it up and the oil pump went bad. I bought the one with 4 miles on it instead and they gave it to me for the same price because of what happened with the demo. (Message edited by jmhinkle on October 31, 2006) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
In that photo above it appears that the one guy is crapping into the gas tank. Is that why there is all that smoke??? | ||
| Irelage |
"The counter steering was extremely strange to me (I'm a KLR rider)." I was referring to the Lightning Long that I test drove. It was very alien compared to anything I've driven. You are exactly right about the Uly compared to the KLR. The Uly felt like a BMW KLR! Note on the shifting; on the KLR I constantly seek a 6th gear, on the Uly I forgot there was a 5th! I love it, love it, love it!!!! I would never by a demo bike. The guy in front of me pulled a nice wheelie on his demo machine. Buell Demo day was very interesting. It ended up being a bunch of leather vested, chap wearing, 5'5" harley riders out for a joy ride on Buells. I was pissed because I had a serious interest in the Uly but had to wait for these guys to get there joy ride. | ||
| Irelage |
In that photo above it appears that the one guy is crapping into the gas tank. Is that why there is all that smoke??? OMG Coffee just came out my nose that is so funny! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Seems that there is a bette way to go 2-up. I don't think the scenery would change much. |
