| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
Ok, this is not exactly a Uly post, but since this is where I spend most of my motorcycle related forum time, and there is a Uly tie in at the end, I thought I'd post it here. Being a Floridian I don't get much experience with curves or mountains, but for the last two years I have taken a trip to North Carolina with two friends for a few days of riding in the mountains. None of us is experienced on sportbikes and I am the youngest of the group at 43. So you see we are not up there setting the world on fire, but really just enjoying the change of scenery. Still, it is safe to say we push our bikes harder up there than we ever do at home. We did a variety of rides and I am working on a trip log complete with pictures. When I get it completed I'll post a link to it for the really bored. What I wanted to share with you all though, were some general impressions I have at the end of this trip. First, I am overall pretty happy with my bike (a 2000 FXDX). It doesn't do anything great, but it does several things pretty well. I have a windshield and bags on it and loaded it down with a big bag on the passenger seat for the 600 mile trip up to NC. We took mainly state highways, some 2 lane, some 4, and it was pretty comfortable. Not like an Electra Glide, but not bad. It's weakest spot was the few miles we did on the interstate. Even with the windshield I get quite a blast at speeds over 70 and long stretches can get a bit tiring. Still, I have done an Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 on the bike and it will do it. Once in NC, unloaded, the bike did better than the other cruisers in the twisties. When I wanted to I could leave the other guys behind. Both accelerating and cornering. No where near sport bike performance, but still pretty good. The day on the Dragon was the most fun I have ever had on two wheels. I pushed myself and the bike to levels we had never achieved before. I am still smiling. As a result of this trip I have a bit more focus in what I would want in another bike if I traded in my beloved FXDX (or even better, added another bike to my garage). I would want something that didn't beat me up as bad on the interstate. I have no complaints at all about the comfort below 70. I would also like a bit more horsepower. My FXDX's engine is mostly stock and while it runs good for a Harley I could use a bit more power. And finally, I would like something that handled a bit better. Again, I think my FXDX is great for a cruiser/standard, but less weight would be better. So, this is where the Uly comes in. It is one of two bikes I would consider. The other is the FJR. I have never ridden an FJR. I did test ride a Uly, but I was not able to take it on an interstate, so I'm not sure how it would be comfort wise at highway speeds. I am sure it would handle the twisties nicely though. I know, I want it all. My bike is paid off in about 18 months and I am trying hard to be patient and wait till then before buying another bike. Most of my riding is in town or short trips. When I get the chance to take these longer trips it is FANTASTIC. It is these trips I want to plan my purchase around. Most any bike would be fine for my other riding. Any thoughts? Thanks Dan | ||
| Crashing |
I have been lucky to have a few different bikes from cruisers (fxdx, sportster roadster, honda cx500, gold wing), to sport touring (kawasaki concours) and lots of dirt bikes. The problem I had with the sport touring bike was that it was too darn smooth if that makes sense. You would get in the freeway, do your lane changes settle in and glance at the speedo and wow-- 100mph like it was nothing. In my neck of the woods, the revenue collectors love this. The FJ has even more power. This in mind, I moved to the cruisers (I will always keep a dual sport or dirt bike for goat trails). These bikes kept me out of trouble but leave a lot to be desired from a suspension, seat position, and engine standpoint. But they do keep you out of trouble (in my case). On my way home one day feeling sassy I jumped a small city curb right where it makes a rise to make a curb from a driveway. The bike mule kicked it bucked up and hit me in the arse so hard my back is still sore a month later. I put it up for sale the next day. Basically to me a m/c has to do a lot of things well. i don't like the really specialized ones (except for dirt bikes). So the combo on the Uly is where I'm at. I think the S/T bikes are great tools for piling on the miles. The uly can do that but it also does other things well too and has a great adjustable suspension. I would buy another S/T bike if i had lots of daily miles to cover like a long commute where I wanted the weather protection and "just get me there" miles. They are fun, to me the Uly is just capable of more fun and for the rec riding I do, the more fun per mile wins! | ||
| Etennuly |
My Ulysses is the best interstate cruising bike I have ever had. I have cruised at 70, 80, 90, and 100 for long distances. Raining, hot, cold, heavy traffic, construction bumps. I even rode over 700 miles one day after cracking six ribs, with both ankles sprained. The stock windshield works fine for air management with a good quiet full face helmet. I tend to move around on the seat to stay comfortable between fuel stops, and there is plenty of room for that. It is a fun screamer ride on the twisties, and is fun to just commute on around town. My gas mileage goes from my lowest ever of 41 really hauling butt for a long duration, 43 mpg running about 90 - 100, 46 mpg at 80mph 49 - 50 mpg in the 70 mph range and 53mpg at 60 mph and I usually get 52 - 53 running the mountain roads around East Tennessee. The best I have done was 62 mpg on the Blue Ridge Parkway running 45 mph. | ||
| Old_mil |
First, I am overall pretty happy with my bike (a 2000 FXDX). It doesn't do anything great, but it does several things pretty well. I have a windshield and bags on it and loaded it down with a big bag on the passenger seat for the 600 mile trip up to NC. Out of curiousity, do you have the mid or forward controls on your FXDX? I used to have one, but it had forward controls which seriously compromised it's ability in the twisties. I'd like to try an FXDX with mids in the mountains someday though. The Uly and FJR are very different bikes. The Uly is a much better bike for the twisties. The FJR has better weather protection if you're concerned about 3 season sport touring. Some of that can be overcome with the Parabellum tall windshields. Both bikes can have hard bags and top cases fixed to them. The Uly is a HD twin, the FJR a Japanese sewing machine. My choice would be the Uly, but people own both and love both. | ||
| Dynasport |
Out of curiousity, do you have the mid or forward controls on your FXDX? I used to have one, but it had forward controls which seriously compromised it's ability in the twisties. I'd like to try an FXDX with mids in the mountains someday though. \i I have the mids. The FXDX was alot of fun on the twisties, but I admit my experience is pretty limited so I don't have much to compare it with. I pushed it really hard on the Dragon though and had a blast. Dan | ||
| Etennuly |
I have ridden with many different riders on many twisted roads in Tennessee, including the Dragon many times. If you liked it on your Harley when you were pushing it, you will love it on a Uly just pacing it. I ride with some pretty capable HD riders and they are fun to watch in my mirrors as they are throwing spark showers. They like it when I lead, so I go just fast enough to make the show interesting 'cause some of those guys would wreck themselves trying to keep up. Sometimes I will loose them and pull away for a few miles then stop in a pull off and wait for them. My goal being to have my fan shut off before they get there. | ||
| Dynasport |
I ride with some pretty capable HD riders and they are fun to watch in my mirrors as they are throwing spark showers. They weren't on FXDXs then. Mid mount pegs nice and high. Plenty of cornering clearance. Believe me, cornering clearance was not the limiting factor. The limiting factor was primarily my skill, complicated by the bike's weight and a need for some more horsepower. Dan} |
