| Author | Message | ||
     Chrisgrant |
While looking for the right bike for me, I found an article where Rider Magazine tested the Buell Ulysses, Ducati Multistrada, Suzuki V-Strom and the Triumph Tiger. The four riders rated these bikes as follows: Ducati- 3 riders 4th place and 1 rider 1st They didn't like the firm seat or the $ but loved it on the track Buell- 3 riders 3rd place and 1 rider 4th They loved the power and front brake, plush suspension, saddle bags and engine sound. They didn't like the seating position for long rides. Lost points for poor wind protection, annoying engine fan, lack of steering lock and heat pouring off of the rear head onto the riders thigh. Suzuki- 3 riders 2nd place and 1 rider 3rd place The bike has good wind protection and seating position, Cushy seat and plush suspension. 19 inch front wheel felt loose. Good riding bike as long as you don't plan to ride fast in the twisties. Triumph- 3riders 1st place and 1 rider tied for 1st w/ Ducati best overall bike of the four tested I found the following post on another forum listing some of the changes for 2008: "New 47mm front forks replace the previous 43 mm forks. Secured with a new triple clamp design, this new front end improves the torsional rigidity of the entire chassis. Fork flex is reduced during hard braking for improved stability and feedback. Steering sweep lock-to-lock is increased to 74 degrees from 54 degrees to reduce the turning radius in off-road low-speed maneuvers. New off-set triple clamps maintain the 23.5 degree rake and 4.8 inch trail. Heated hand grips are now standard equipment on the 2008 Ulysses. The grips are rated at 18 watts per side on the High setting and 11 watts per side on the Low setting. New air guides positioned on the tail section of the Ulysses deflect engine heat away from the rider’s legs. Modifications to the 1203 Thunderstorm V-Twin engine enhance performance, reduce maintenance, and allow a new redline of 7100 rpm (see separate Thunderstorm release for details)." It looks like the steering lock and heat problem have been addressed. What are your opinions on the brakes and other problems with the Uly. BTW none of the other bikes have what the Uly has, and thats the BADA$$ factor. That alone is enough for me. | ||
| Court |
Chris: Hang out here and scour the "Big, Bad and Dirty" (Ulysses) section. You'll find out members have ridden the Ulysses from the Arctic Circle to the Southern tip of South America within the last year. You also need to check out Danger Dave (a brave and daring moto-phenominist from New Zealand) who just took a Ulysses through the Australian Outback. The Ulysses is NOT a dirt bike. If you need a DR-Z400, I highly recommend it. The Ulysses **IS** and excellent long-range, comfy tourer that is a great platform for mounting enough gadgets to operate the Space Shuttle and is quite comfy on unpaved roads. And . . . this is the part that is threatening to get me to BUY a Buell when I can pretty much borrow whatever I want . . . IT HAS HEATED GRIPS! I love heated grips! Court P.S. - if Dangerous Dave comes around (it's about the time he'll be getting up in New Zealand). . don't make eye contact. | ||
| Chrisgrant |
Thanks for the eye contact warning with Dangerous Dave, Court. I don't plan on going off road, I have an ATV for that. This bike will be a street bike, dirt road if I feel the need, but not likely. I've been looking hard at the sport touring bikes, but everyone has one of those. I just want a bike thats comfortable enough to stay on all day long. I think that I could easily fall in love with this bike. | ||
| Court |
You should have been at Homecoming when Erik gave his talk . . . go HERE and read about
Then . . . before the Dangerous (what Mum names her kid "Dangerous"?) wakes up go read THIS . . . . go to "written Arts and find the XB12X review. Have fun . . . and I get mine first! Did I mention the 2008 Uly has HEATED GRIPS ??? | ||
| Stevenknapp |
My 06 Uly has heated grips too.  | ||
| Maximum |
Chris, what's nice about the Uly is that you don't have to stop when the asphalt unexpectedly turns to dirt. Of course after you have stumbled onto a couple of those, you start looking for more of those dirt roads.  I did a 2800 mile highway trip a few weeks ago, dirt/rocky roads to a 12,000 foot Colorado mountain pass a couple days ago, and 60 miles of city commuting four days a week. It is the most fun I have had on a bike in all three scenarios! | ||
| Chrisgrant |
Not to mention, its BADA$$ + heated hand grips.  Man, I can't wait. I drove 1.5+hrs to Gastonia, NC Sunday just to see one. That made me want to go ahead and get it right then. And when he started it, OMG, the hair on my arms stood up. What accessories would you guys say are most important to get with the bike? I'm thinking, taller windshield and... | ||
| Jlnance |
What accessories would you guys say are most important to get with the bike? I'm thinking, taller windshield and... Tires Lights aren't a bad addition either. | ||
| Crusty |
I have done several 700+ mile days on mine (the latest being from Flint, MI to Leominster, MA; coming home from Homecoming), so they obviously know what they're talking about. If I were buying a new Uly, I'd get an '08 over an earlier model. I like the changes the Factory's made. As far as accessories, get the bike and ride it a bit; then figure out what accessories would make it better for you. Everyone uses their bike differently, so the changes that make my bike better for me might make it a nightmare for you. | ||
| Chrisgrant |
That makes sense, Crusty. I was just thinking that if I get accessories with the bike, I might get a better deal and save sales tax ($300 limit on registered veh. in SC). Lights are always a good idea. These days, strobes are a good idea for others to see you better. | ||
| Teeps |
Ulysses is badass? The Ulysses is different, but I have never though of it as badassed. I got rid of my black & chrome Honda VTX1300 cruiser, because the badass pretender image was not me. I bought the Ulysses because of the following: air cooling hydraulic valve lifters final belt drive fully adjustable suspension fuel injection fuel in the frame oil in the swing arm the innovative design features steel braided brake lines, quality hardware etc... Of the 35 bikes I have owned, since 1968, the Ulysses is by far the best. The only thing that really bugs me on the Uly is the loud cooling fan. But not so much as to make me sell it for just that... | ||
| Atoms |
Chris, If you are set on spending more money right away on Buell accessories I'd consider: 1. the tank bra - I like mine. 2. the tank bag - I don't have one, but I'm seriously considering it. I really miss the glove boxes my RT had built into its giant faring. (I DO NOT miss the giant fairing.) 3. If you are getting an '07 I'd consider the heat-reduction thingy. I'm going to order one today from my local dealer (if they will let me yet.) As for aftermarket stuff, so far I've gotten the Touratech side-stand foot and a throttle lock from Kaoko.com. That is a HUGE improvement over the O-ring I was using before. Other stuff I'm considering: - MSR fuel bottles - some kind of GPS (mebbe a Zumo?) - some kind of bluetooth com system (for pillion, not other riders) - heated grips - but not until winter | ||
| Iugradmark |
Atoms, Does the Kaoko throttle lock work with the factory hand guards? | ||
| Atoms |
Iugradmark, Yes it does. The factory hand guards are flexible enough to accommodate the extra inch or two taken up by the Kaoko throttle lock and the accompanying bar end weights. I've been meaning to take some pics of it, since the guy at the Adventurer's Workshop said that I was the first guy to get one for a Uly. (from him anyway) | ||
| Old_mil |
This is all well and good, but the Uly is the only one of those four motorcycles that the FDA is considering regulating as a controlled substance. | ||
| Chrisgrant |
Planning on an '08 in Jan-Feb. Going to have to check into other stuff you mentioned, Atoms. What are Touratech side-stand foot and a throttle lock? (I'll check their website) Tank bag over hard bags sounds a lot less expensive and practical. A+++ What about windshields, taller Buell or aftermarket? I'm 5'10". I want to block wind without it looking too tall. (Message edited by chrisgrant on July 25, 2007) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Hard bags are expensive but having used them to go to the Buell Homecoming, all I can say is that they are great to have and as Maximum pointed out to me at the factory parking lot, they can save your legs in a spill. | ||
| Crusty |
The first time you ride through a heavy downpour with hard bags, and your gear is dry, you'll fall in love with them. | ||
| Radegast |
Thanks for the Kaoko link. I installed one on the wifes' GS but didn't know they had them for Buells. As for the hard bags, they are awesome. Also, the Yamaha FJR hard bag liners fit quite well in the side bags ... and may be much cheaper. They have lowered the price of the liners on the Buell site in case anyone is interested. (I think $79 a pair, they used to be $79 each) |
