| Author | Message | ||
     Longdog_cymru |
OK, so just how reliable and durable is the Uly? What kind of mileages have you wracked up and what significant problems have you had? | ||
| Motomut |
I have a 2006 with 4500 miles; 40mpg+. Not problems so far; two factory recalls (sidestand and BAS). Bike Mag.in UK did a review after 25,000 miles on a Buell (Not sure about mileage) but after inspection very little to no wear to report. | ||
| Lonz |
I have just over 35,000 miles on my 06 Uly. It is my daily commuter and weekend runabout. Runs like the day I bought it. | ||
| Galloper |
Just over 13000mls now and it's also my daily commuter & weekend fun bike. Sidestand recall & disintegrated licenseplate light (warranty), small oil leak fixed (warranty) broken down fan (warranty) (Message edited by galloper on July 01, 2007) | ||
| Adrian_8 |
My ULY has 30,259 miles on it and I just did a 6,350 mile trip and it used 9 oz of oil...not bad. | ||
| Etennuly |
16,500 miles, it runs better and shifts easier every time out. Ready for the trip to homecoming, should be about 1200 + miles. | ||
| Crusty |
My Uly is as reliable as an anvil. Come up to Homecoming this week, and you'll see a few reliable Ulys. | ||
| Windrider |
I have an early 2006 with 10.5 K miles. Here are the problems to date: Tall Windshield Recall Sidestand Recall BAS Recall Note: I did not experience any problems related to these recalls other than the pain of getting them done 7500 miles : lost left fork seal 8000 miles: replaced failed engine cooling fan 9100 miles: hole in drive belt from a rock My bike serves as a daily commuter and does a fair amount of dirt and gravel roads. I also take a few longer trips every year but time is my ever pressing enemy. All in all, my Uly has been a reliable ride, has never put me walking and has always started. It runs better today that it ever has. | ||
| 911_racer |
15,000 miles and the only problem has been a blown fork seal. but that was ok cuz it was a good excuss to put the 07 fork springs in. a great bike that I hope will last a very long time. Im planning to ride to south america next year and I hope this bike will be the one to take. or I will trade it in for a BMW GS. I hope I dont have to do it. | ||
| Jlnance |
I've got 22,000 miles on my 06. I've had the fan and break rotor replaced. I've put new brake pads and tires on it as well. I ceramic coated the muffler because it was getting some rust. | ||
| Adamd |
read this.. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/283441.html?1181401669 | ||
| Dr_greg |
I have 30,500 miles on my 2006 Uly, here are the problems: 1. Low-beam headlamp failed at 18,000 miles 2. Oil line fitting started to weep at 24,400 miles; tightened it. 3. Clutch cable broke at 29,800 miles That's it. Runs better than ever. | ||
| Paochow |
I 've had mine 11 months and I'm just under 10K right now.. BAS and kickstand recall. Frame decals are peeling. Only failures have been a flat tire and some idiot running it out of gas  | ||
| Bearly |
9900 miles and going great. I did the two recalls, a blown fuse the first day, and had the fan replace as it started to make noise before a long trip. I did break down on that trip though. Yep, it was just terrible. I had to break out the took kit. The left mirror had come loose and it was turning into the wind. I managed to fix it without a tow. If had to buy another bike right now, I'd buy a Uly. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
1000 miles on my 2006 Uly. I blew a fuse (brake light/horn/muffler valve) this weekend. Other than that no problems so far. | ||
| Az_rider |
I have 15,500 miles and the only problem was a bank angle sensor at 5500 miles. My bike runs so much better (smoother, handles better) than when I bought it new. | ||
| Kurbennett |
I have a 2006 I bought used and now have a little over 8000 miles on her. No problems to mention, just gets smoother everyday. | ||
| Snowscum |
I have 7800 on my 06. Ive had the belt tension pulley replaced,intake leak,pinging issues and excessive lifter noise. Most of that started and or continues around 1200 miles. Still a blast to ride though. Not sure if I would trust mine on a long trip but thats just me. Not trying to be negative just honest. | ||
| 911_racer |
well this shure is a nice blog. most of the pages on this site are full of problems and sad stories. its nice to hear from people that dont have problems like myself. puts a little trust back into the ol' Uly. and that shure is a good felling because im leaving in 30min to ride about 500 miles to visit grandpa. | ||
| Pso |
I agree with 911 racer-It is nice to see good stuff. I was starting to get paranoid about things going bad on my bike. However to be forwarned is to be forearmed. I have had no problems other than the recalls which were done with what appears to be no prompting to the Buell folks, and also the dealer that did not know how to reset the TPS at the 1,000 Mi. service. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
The only problem I've had with my Uly is me. I can't decide what to mod, and what to leave alone. It's killing me!!!!  | ||
| Paochow |
Mod it all... Heres some help if you need some ideas http://www.paochow.com/Buell_files/page0001.htm | ||
| Windrider |
Paochow, Nice Pics. You have certainly modded it! I am leaving in a couple of weeks for a 2000 mile two up road trip through Montana and Idaho and I have all the confidence of a fool that the Uly will take us there and back with no problems. | ||
| Paochow |
Should be no issue. I did a 3200mi two up trip last month no problem. Just be sure to take lots of pictures to share. | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
Thanks for all the contributions! With a few exceptions, (rear wheel bearings!), it looks as though these are tough old birds! | ||
| Adamd |
Yeah, I had a 2000 KLR650 bought in 2001. Had it for 3 years. I can't count how many things went wrong with that bike. No bike mag ever comments on those •••••• glass fuses that blow when you hit a bump causing the fan to stop running and potentially overheat the engine. My gauge was redlined..Aircooled engines tolerate it, liquid cooled ones don't The doohickey broke, destroying my engine. Luckily kawi payed the parts out of warranty, 900$ labour. Exhaust fell off. Spedometer spline sheared. Swingarm bearings bad, rear wheel bearing bad.. Don't really mind here, as bearings are considered consumables. 100 bolts fell off. I could go on, but the point is, I loved that bike and I accepted it because I loved it. I don't think the ULY will give me half the trouble the KLR did. At least Buell has recalls. 20 years and Kawasaki didn't recall 1 doohickey. I know of over 100 accounts of this failure. I'll take a company admitting they chose a bad supplier/product and try to correct it any day. (Message edited by adamd on July 08, 2007) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I have used automotive Mobil 1 15W50 since about the 1000 mile mark and now I have 7000 miles on the ULY. I just got back from Buell Homecoming and it was about a 1300 mile trip. When I left Omaha I already had 1000 miles on the oil and then went to East Troy, Wisconsin and then up to Road America and then back to Omaha. 2300 miles on the oil and if it burned any I couldn't tell. Looked the same on the dipstick to me. Another thing is that I've never had a bike idle so flawlessly on a very hot trip. As I said elsewhere, my ULY has never had a TPS reset done to it in the 7000 miles I have owned it and I bought it new. I got around 50 mpg even with the huge windshield I ride with. It is just a great bike. I'm almost afraid that a TPS reset will be done wrong and screw up a good thing. | ||
| Tstone |
For some reason people seem to get all wigged out over the recalls Buell has done, and I just can’t figure that out. I subscribe to Motorcycle Consumer News and every month they publish several pending recalls. From their list of recalls it seems everybody has some dirty laundry – even the Japanese gods of manufacturing. As far as my own personal experience? Mine backfired once. Not very loud though and I told everybody it was the dog. | ||
| Paochow |
One week and close to 1,000mi later, my Uly is running strong. I managed to take it on some offroad adventures, to which my riding buddies riding DRZs and XR were amazed at the places I took the beast. Even tried to prove pigs can fly..  And then felt like going for a swim..  And once I got it home, it washed up good as new..  Very pleased with this bike. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Mine has had the oil cooler replaced, the fan, the header pipe and a rear exhaust stud, and I have been waiting for rear wheel bearings to arrive at the dealer. I love the ride and handling of this bike. 2up it handles better than any other bike I have owned. I understand that not every bike is perfect, it is a mechanical device, and will have problems. The only bike that would get me off the Uly is the F800ST from BMW. I have no delusions that the Uly is an off road bike, and I didnt buy it for that purpose. I enjoy (enjoyed) doing touring and distance riding, but my work schedule, and being without the Uly for 7 weeks and counting this year, has lowered my mileage quite a bit for 07. Riding my airhead is great fun, but I would rather ride the Uly. |
