| Author | Message | ||
     Rhinosoross |
I currently own a 2007 KTM SuperDuke... 3 Months ago when I was visiting a friend's house some kids bent the locked steering straight and tried to wheel it off. I caught them, and have just got the bike back from the insurance. The thing is, that the tax and insurance have both run out and I'm not sure I trust a bike that's been 'played with' by unattended kids and then 'fixed' by folk who aren't ktm dealers. I could just chop it in for another Superduke, but I wouldn't gain anything over a clean conscience... I've been looking at the 2008 Buell Ulysses and it looks about as close to a SuperDuke as any other bike... but you get the ability to have luggage and that is valuable to me. It would also look less like something kids might think they can joy-ride (I hope)! So what I could do with is hearing from folk who have owned both bikes to hear how they compare. I've seen posts about the Buell saying the dealers had trouble fixing them - but they've been around for a couple of years now, so hopefully that is no longer an issue? I think they're likely to have very similar faults - it seems neither bike likes following 27mph traffic. I can see the SuperDuke (which has the engine from the KTM Adventure) looks bullet-proof, how does the Buell survive British Salt-strewn winters? Any advice or opinions appreciated. (Message edited by rhinosoross on January 17, 2008) | ||
| Buellerandy |
I haven't had any opportunities to ride the superduke...though I'm itching to, but I can promise you that the Ulysses will definitely wheelie the same if not easier  The aluminum frame and parts don't react well with salt on the roads, but there are those of us on here whom still ride year round. Thank goodness for the durability of powder coating | ||
| Dfishman |
I live at the beach & my aluminum(powdercoated frame)do fine here in the salt.The Uly is the best do EVERYTHING bike around. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I don't know exactly how relevant it is but I have ridden a 950 Adv quite a bit and own a Ulysses. The KTM has no torque down low compared to the Buell. The KTM runs smoother at lower rpms but begins to vibrate quite badly at higher rpms just exactly opposite of the ULY. These two engines and motorcycles are very different as is their intended purpose...no slam intended. If you want to stay with a "Streetfigther" ride an Aprilia Tuono...the motor is far superior to the KTM...The Ulysses is a backroad/touring/and a dirt/gravel road bike...not a hardcore offroader. Ride a ULY you might like it. | ||
| Hoon |
Rhino, Blimey,how time flies! This'll be the second winter I'll have had my Uly and it's not suffering yet. Admittedly I've not commuted on it due to not working since getting knocked off my previous bike (Triumph Tiger '99) but I do use it in all weathers and don't wash it-ever (maybe the covering off dirt keeps out the corrosion after a while). The Triumph was 3yrs old when I got it and the corrosion had already set in to the frame,wheels,fasteners.I'd say the Uly's looking good in comparison so far. Btw I'm in the UK too and I don't know why bike manufacturers bother fitting steering locks which kids can bust,I go for a disk lock and heavy chain to be sure. | ||
| Strokizator |
I've got a Uly and my brother has a Superduke. I go everywhere on the Ulysses and he uses the KTM as a track bike. This illustrates the strong points of each bike. Not saying you can't do track days on a Uly (I have) or that you can't tour on the KTM. You have to decide what you expect to do with the bike and pick the one best suited. | ||
| Rhinosoross |
I've posted a similar question on a SuperDuke forum. They're telling me bad things about Buell gear-boxes and servicing costs. None of them actually own a ULY yet... I'm guessing that a 2008 model should be pretty sorted with regard to gears, ECU and the dealerships should know how to fix them by now: is that the case? | ||
| Florida_lime |
I have a KTM Duke II (single cylinder, full street). KTM owners should not throw stones about servicing costs ! If you have everything done by the book at your Buell dealer, it may seem expensive. Like almost any bike.  If you do most or all of your own maintenance, Buells are less expensive than most brands.  I have not heard of ANY problems with the Uly gearbox.  | ||
| Rhinosoross |
Ugh. Went to check out the Uly at the dealers. Rust on the 1 year old demo bike wasn't inspiring, then I was told that the stock exhaust rusts to pieces in the salty winters, so they like to put a home-made stainless exhaust on at an extra £800... My Superduke has depreciated £3000 in the first year, which is about the same as the Ulys do. Ultimately the SD is now worth £5k, I'd need £3k more for the bike and if I say about £1k for the exhaust and £1k for the luggage that means I'd be swapping a bike plus the value of that bike again in cash for another bike that has few advantages :-/ I guess I should pay a service and get a custom luggage rack built for my existing bike. Might get a Uly as a second bike if I ever come into a wind-fall, though :-) |
