| Author | Message | ||
     Cityxslicker |
Anybody else see the article in Rider magazine that called the Uly a pretender for off pavement riding. That by riders surveys, they are NOT riding this bike off road, off pavement, or anything more aggressive than the commute and weekend touring jaunt? I am calling hogwash. Chime in if you ride your Uly as an ADVENTURE bike (I know my cityx wishes it had the bigger motor, and I wish I had the longer inseam) Get on with the bendy and dirty, Lets let Rider Mag that they need to recheck there statistics. Thanks | ||
| Bertotti |
I've been through a field or two and gravel. I think it is more capable then people are giving it credit for. All it really needs is some appropriate off road tires to make me happy and the 74 degree turning on the 2008 will be a good improvement for off road. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Is the question A. Whether the bike is capable. B. whether owners are utilising the capability. Ans A - we obviously know yes B- They would have data that says their subscribers/readers use it as described. Is it a road only publication? (Message edited by danger_dave on July 11, 2007) | ||
| 12x_infatuation |
I was a little apprehensive on my 1st gravel road & the bike could tell... I now ride it on gravel like i used to ride my XR - with confidence, & the bike responds willingly. Loves gettin sideways on big sweeping gravel corners! | ||
| Hoon |
I'm starting to take mine along farm tracks/unsurfaced roads near me (some softish mud/ruts/gravel of varying sizes). I've done plenty of bumpy/long grassy fields in the dry and wet on it in the past for camping/rallies. I did about 5 miles yesterday and although it's obviously a far cry from the Yam DT125R I learnt to ride on and took off-road a fair bit,I was starting to gain confidence in the Uly. Next time I do it I'll back the suspension off so it's not set for a pillion and luggage! While I'm here,I saw a Hare (a fairly rare sight in this part of the UK (South east)) and a Red Deer (Doe I think) plus of course a plethora of other wildlife so it was a great afternoon. I would think twice about doing the same stuff if it had been raining 'cos I personally would like to be able to 'flatfoot' it in muddy conditions but it's starting to sway me towards another dualsport tyre for the rear' cos the original Dunlop is nearly dead and I would like to do more of this type of riding. Happy trails y'all. Ps:tell the magazine about the ADVRider site 'cos there's plenty of offroad Uly evidence there. | ||
| Freyke |
Like Hoon, I've taken mine on the occasional gravel trail or too. I've taken it places I would have never considered going when with my previous two Buells (S3 and XB9s). Admittedly, I certainly have not been "trail" riding though. I have always been a street type rider; that's where I learned to ride and my comfort zone lives. My dirt/off road experience is close to nil. | ||
| Snub13 |
I NEVER take mine off-road!       | ||
| Teeps |
I think the article summed it up pretty well. I've had my Ulysses on off the pavement just far enough to take a leak. | ||
| Bake |
Did it say how many were surveyed? | ||
| Soloyosh |
I honestly suspect the results would be similar for a BMW GS. | ||
| Froggy |
My bike wishes i didn't go off road, lol. I got a nice dent in my race can from getting stuck on it, My handguards look like they were used as skis, and somehow my belt hasn't been torn in half yet.  | ||
| Adrian_8 |
This subject has been pounded and hammered about the ULYs off road capability. So here goes again.... You can take any bike off road..look at some of the old enduro pictures from the 1940-1960s...big bikes by todays standards. When people say off road...some feel like a gravel road is off road...OK by me. That is about all these bikes can stand. Big 1000-1200cc bikes are not for "true" off road by the average human...the tires a not available and they are just too heavy... The ULY is great on beat up pavement and dry dirt..easy stuff. "Adventure" big bikes need to stay out of the mud and deep ruts...If you want to do that get a 650 or smaller. I think people watched LWR and get the "Walter Mitty" syndrome..man I can do that.. If you think you are David Knight..load your big 1200cc bike up and then lay it down on a grassy hillside, handlebars downhill, and practice picking it up and get going. Then lean your bike over on a hillside and stick out your leg and try and catch it...you better be 6'6"...have fun...You Da Man... Love my ULY...and KTM 450 EXC. | ||
| Growl |
I ride (double up - with my wife) on dirt roads all the time... sometimes strewn with loose rock and boulders. The Ulysses is sure footed and controllable and with longish travel suspension allows 30 mph where a normal street bike is limited to 15-20 mph. I joined a dual sport group and went on a ride, a little apprehensive about being able to keep up. The Ulysses blew my mind as well as some of the other dual sport riders who commented about how loose I was getting on the whoop-de-dos. The mass centralization really makes it handle like a lot lighter bike. Having said that... this is not a bike to risk dumping! | ||
| Jim_sb |
I have ridden my '06 Uly (purchased Sep. 2005) hundreds of miles off pavement on gravel roads and fire roads. It does not like stutter bumps - feels like it is being pounded to death - it does not like embedded rocks - same issue - nor does it like sand or gravel more than say 4" deep (on mine the bar oscillates a lot in near tank-slapper mode). I have tried tuning the suspension (soften compression damping and spring pre-load) for the stutter bumps and embedded rocks with no success. I believe an after-market shock/strut company like Race Tech can help there by modifying the forks. I also believe I can resolve the deep sand/gravel issue with a steering damper. Before anyone starts coaching me on riding technique - I have thousands of dirt bike miles (single track, atv trails, 2 track, rocks, sand dunes, sand washes, mountains, ruts, shale, etc.) and I still ride a dirt bike regularly. I think the Uly is fun on gravel roads and have had mine over 80mph on them. But it does have limitations in stock trim. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Arcticktm |
Who the hell reads Rider magazine anyway? I found it pretty superficial and narrowly focused when it first came out, and have not seen it since the first year. They are really about touring/sport touring anyway, so does the opinion poll really matter to any of us that already own a Uly. Nope. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
You would be surprised at how potential customers will be swayed by that article from "experts" and never walk in the door because the ULY is "not" an off road bike.  I have taken two BMW GS1100's in on trade on the ULY. Their main drive was the factory warranty and the service locations available, compared to BMW. After the test ride, both traded in on the spot, with out the "I will have to think about it" I believe that is the truest best endorsement for the Buell and off road. (now if I were only tall enough for the ULY) | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I have had mine over 75mph on smooth dirt roads too...but for deaper and looser stuff you need a 21" front and a 400/18" knobby.. The tires on the ULY are what make it handle so good on the blacktop but make it very difficult in loose stuff, they are just short and fat....The bike does exactly what Eric Buell intended it to do.. rail on the blacktop and some easy dirt roads..he figured Buell owners were smarter than to try and take it across Russia and Mongolia. Now if you had a platoon of Army Rangers along to help like the LWR guys did..who knows? | ||
| Paochow |
I'd never take my Uly in the dirt either. I only use the bike to drive down to the local cafe for tea and crumpets.      | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>but for deaper and looser stuff you need a 21" front and a 400/18" knobby<< They are certainly much better, no doubt - but not a matter of need - a matter of slower. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Can someone answer the question please - is Rider a road bike only magazine? | ||
| Adamd |
Going to Goose Bay, Labrador in 2 days... | ||
| Crusty |
Danger Dave; the answer is Yes. Rider is a touring bike oriented magazine. | ||
| Danger_dave |
Thanks Crusty - Next question: Why then is anyone surprised? Ask it in a Dirt Magazine and I bet we're all frickin' Gulliver X Marco Polo. ;-P | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Great pics Paochow..like the Lone Ranger said, "It ain't the bow...Its the Indian".. | ||
| Danger_dave |
I take back what I said about the muffler guard - looks good with the steel can. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Had I known about the LWH I would have gone with them on a Buell. Looks like they could have used a decent translator, that and somebody with them that actually knows the culture as well. Damn where was my e-invite? Maybe Alton Brown will give me a call for his new Dining off Dirt series ;) |
