| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
I think if I were headed into the dirt I'd pickup one of those way cool KTM's like Steve did . . . the Uly move reminds me of the Godfather. . .
30,000+ Ulysess . . . I sit here, ask myself . . ."how many have ever seen dirt?". . . perhaps a couple hundred. It's an interesting "Adventure" twist . . . but face it . . . the Ulysses is much more street bike than dirt bike. . . this is a great way to expand the appeal. | ||
| Jlnance |
you mean the header? i noticed this one seems to be longer and has way more of a 'bend' on the front pipe. do i win anything? I saw that too. I think that's a European, or perhaps Cali, model with a cat in the header. I hope the Cali model doesn't have Cats. I like going around bragging "The only bike able to meet cali emissions w/o a cat."  | ||
| Jlnance |
30,000+ Ulysess Have they made 30,000 Ulys? That astounding and impressive. It's an interesting "Adventure" twist . . . but face it . . . the Ulysses is much more street bike than dirt bike. . . this is a great way to expand the appeal. The thing that gives the Uly it's Adventure capability is primarily it's long suspension travel. I have really enjoyed that. It's great when there is a pothole, or you want to ride off a curb. Railroad tracks are a lot easier on the back too. I've enjoyed it so much, I don't think I'll ever look at another bike with typical sportbike suspensions again. The problem of course is that it makes the bike tall. The Uly is too tall for a lot of men and almost all women. At 6'2", Uly height isn't a problem for me, and I would choose the XB12X over the XB12XT hands down. I'm really glad they did this bike though, as I know people who I think would really enjoy a Uly, yet just can't sit on it comfortably. | ||
| Court |
>>>I would choose the XB12X over the XB12XT hands down. I'm kinda with you on that. One of the reasons I've enjoyed a KLR in New York City is that it **IS** tall. It helps while threading the way through Gotham traffic. The BMW F650 I ride (it's actually Vickie's bike) was lowered for her 5'-0" self and I feel like I am riding a recumbent. But I do think the XT will bring a goodly number of new faces. I've no idea on the number of Ulysses and haven't guessed. As I think about it. . . at 12,000 total units a year . . . It'd more likely be in the 15,000 range. My point is simply that very few, advertising be damned are pressed into true "off road" use. Court | ||
| Bobsims |
I don't think I'll ever look at another bike with typical sportbike suspensions again. +1! Let me add some more to Jlnance's "never again"... Never again: chain drive. Never again: manual-adjust valves. Never again: no hard luggage options. Never again: bottom-shelf suspension. OK, back on the XB12XT topic... FWIW, I think the best parts about this Ulysses version are that it appeals a bit more to (slightly) shorter riders, and adds another cool new color to the palette. I'm still digging the video, too. :-) Bob | ||
| Ikeman |
I posted up in the Dealer Meeting thread over on the Quick Board but here it is again - I am seriously considering trading my '06 Uly on a new XT. When footing is iffy and/or I've got the bike fully loaded it can be a handful for me when stopping/starting/crawling along in traffic. I think the XT route vs. lowering the Uly myself is a better option. Cost wise it seems about the same but I get a brand new bike in the deal. | ||
| Clutchless |
lets see. ALMOST as much space for goodies as an H-D bagger. ALMOST as much comfort as an H-D bagger. BUT they are about 4,000 times as fun as ANY H-D bagger. relatively speaking... (I dont care what motor work you have done to your H-D or how much you destroy your footboards, the are slower than my 110 honda 3-wheeler) I like it. +1 for arrest me red | ||
| Johnboy777 |
I think the new XT is great, it opens up the Uly to a whole new type of buyer.  | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
I bought my 12X as a commuter/touring bike (replacing an HD ultra for touring and 12R that I was commuting on). I would very likely have the XT in the garage if I had waited a month or two. BTW, I'm 5'10" so the lower seat is an advantage and I bought the side bags anyway. The XT is sure to be a BIG hit! | ||
| Al_lighton |
I think the concept is great. WAY too many people call me for lowering kits for Uly's for this bike not to make sense. That said, I have a 30" inseam. I'm not particularly short, just long trunked/short legged. And I wouldn't dream of giving up the suspension my Uly has. It is the Uly long suspension that gives it the most comfy ride of every Buell I own. I don't even notice the height any more. The only time I do is when I get on one of my other Buells and notice how SHORT they are That header on the US web site sure looks like the one on all the other 08 bikes. And the 07 and 08 headers on all the other Buells are the same part number in the parts books. However, the pictures in the gallery on the road show a different header. I think someone nailed it, that may be the Euro header, which IS different due to the different muffler with the cat. I see: different front and rear suspension (note: no dogleg in front slider end and 43mm slider tubes means that it probably doesn't have the 08 Uly's new steering lock angles, but they don't spec that) Different wheels and tires Different front fender Different Windscreen Different colors If there is something else, I sure can't find it. It's kinda like playing where's Waldo. | ||
| Jlnance |
I like it. +1 for arrest me red  I thought I was the only one before I went to homecoming. | ||
| Spike |
I'm not sure I'd put much stock in the header shown in the pictures. A similar header was shown in some of the '08 XB12X pictures:      | ||
| Naustin |
The more I think about it, if I were buying a Uly or a XT, I'd probably go with the Uly for the long suspension... I appreciate Buell taking a step in the Sport Touring direction because I really, really want a sport-touring bike; but the XT doesn't have a key ingrediant : a nice big fairing. Now that the Helicon powerplant has been revealed - having that too jumps to the forefront of my wishlist -but it wouldn't have been absoulutly necessary. Given the lack of either of those two things however, the only reason to buy an XT instead of a Uly would be because you are short. All that said, I still can't wait to see your Monster, Al. It seems to be that it should be alot cheaper to put an Eleven Fairing on an XT or a Uly than it would be to put a Uly tail on a Firebolt. | ||
| Gotj |
I've noted several comments about trading an X for an XT primarily for the lowered suspension. I don't understand that because the 06 and 07 Ulys can be lowered nearly 1.5" for costs ranging from about $200 up to $2000. There are multiple threads on that topic. Put the 08 triple trees on and be even better than the XT. That being said, I was of those astonished that this bike was not part of the initial 08 models introductions. I have promoted that concept for a long time. (I will be looking for some residuals, Erik.) I want more of the Ulys out there and this should enhance that possibility. | ||
| Rekrab |
Any thoughts on which would give the best results, lower my 08 , 2" with Penske custom build rear and forks revalved and shortened internally, $1800. Or trade for 08, XT for maybe near the same dollars, give or take $ ? 11000mi. on my 08, bags [side] GPS New tires front and rear, warranty till next fall. Or, maybe leave it alone, work my tip toes and deal with it! | ||
| Danger_dave |
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| Gotj |
Rekrab, Check Trackside Engineering which offers reworking your existing components to lower the bike 1.35" for $430 including revalving for your weight and riding style. I had them redo just my rear shock and raised my forks in the triple trees to lower the front. http://www.tracksideengineering.com//ecommerce/cat alog_ms2.2/product_info.php/products_id/30?osCsid= 32038de13cf880379eaebecac13eadb9 Regarding Penske, I had a custom shock done for another bike and it came to me with an eye-to-eye length 1/2" longer than stock. When I called, I was told they couldn't be expected to know the correct length of every bike's shock and if I sent it back to them with the proper length, they would fix it! I wouldn't go the Penske route again. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Regarding lowering the suspension on the "standard" Uly's, here's a question I've been pondering for a while: What's the difference in (1) installing a shorter rear shock and front springs and (2) not dialing in the full amount of recommended pre-load front and rear? With sub-recommended pre-load, the bike would be full height with no weight on it, but the ride height would be lower once you sat on it. The compression and rebound can be set for the appropriate weight so the weight on the bike should be "controlled" properly and it doesn't seem the bike should bottom out any worse than a bike with a shortened suspension. The only downside I can see (compared to a modified suspension) is that the bike might tend to "float" more over big bumps. Am I missing something vital about suspension geometry here or is this just "needlessly simple"? | ||
| Danger_dave |
Depends how much you mind bottoming out. | ||
| Rekrab |
I did contact Trackside, they have a new owner. Talked about what I wanted, and they never called me back! The Penske conversion was from Computrack Atlanta. They did the work for a post I saw on this site. sounded like the new set up was superior to OEM ? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Not riding your ULy's out on the back country dirty twisty roads, chewing up gravel and summiting the forest service trails? Good, I never did like traffic ;) | ||
| M2nc |
30,000+ Ulysess . . . I sit here, ask myself . . ."how many have ever seen dirt?". . . perhaps a couple hundred. It's an interesting "Adventure" twist . . . but face it . . . the Ulysses is much more street bike than dirt bike. . . this is a great way to expand the appeal. I guess add mine to the few hundreds. Its bin in places it really should not have been. The Uly is more adventure than many of its latest competition. Only the GS and KTM can really boast better big bike off road capability than the Uly. Some on Adventure rider are now asking for a more Adventure version of the Uly. A heads up competitor for the GS with different wheels and tire combination. I know I am in the market for truer Dual Sport. I was really hoping the 450 would have panned out for Buell. That said Erik should be happy with the comments on the boards about the XT. There has been a lot of positive feedback already on this bike and it should really spur on Uly sales. Overwhelmingly positive comments and I could not be happier for Buell because they have a hit on their hands. | ||
| Metalstorm |
Hmm.. an XB12EX (extreme) would be cool. A regular Uly with a 19" laced tubeless wheel up front and an 18" laced tubeless wheel in the back would be awesome. It might require different swingarm and fork geometry but if any one can do it, Buell and the elves certainly can I'm pretty much an asphalt only guy myself (at least at the moment) with a short inseam to boot so the XT really appeals to me but I want to someday see many different Buells. One to fit each person's passion. | ||
| Gotj |
Rekrab, I would be the last to criticize someone for going for an ultimate setup. My suggestions are for those who might want a lower bike but don't need or want the last iota of handling like myself. An even simpler solution is an XB9/12 rear shock and lowering the triple clamps. Why don't you come down for March Badness and then on to Atlanta to get the suspension redone? Or, ride to Atlanta, get the suspension redone and THEN do March Badness?  | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Not riding your ULy's out on the back country dirty twisty roads, chewing up gravel and summiting the forest service trails? Good, I never did like traffic ;)<< Roads??? Roads are for fairys.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
DAAAAMNIT I have to ship my bike down to the southern hemisphere and go on some rides with that Danger fellow. | ||
| Rekrab |
Gotj ; Exactly what I've been thinking. Atlanta and March Badness. It will be fun to put some faces on all the great info. I've been able to glean from this site. | ||
| Khelton |
The more I look at it, the less I like it. Makes the Uly more like a naked ST1300 or a Tiger. My stock 06 already handles like a sport bike and is comfortable all day. Guess that makes it a sport tourer with legs. The longer suspension is a major reason why the Uly is unique. | ||
| Dbahm |
Sir Chadley? XB12XT: your name for it? Denny | ||
| Cyclonedon |
if I already didn't have a 2006 Uly, I would be purchasing the new XB12XT. I really like the way it is set-up, but I wouldn't part with my 2006 for anything! I truly consider it a once in a lifetime motorcycle because it's so much fun to ride and the most dependable motorcycle ever made. I still plan on changing the front fender to the new XB12XT style and also I want to have the header jet-coated black. I haven't decided if I want to spend the extra money for the black wheels yet, but I sure do like them. As far as the tires, I'm sold on the Dunlop D616 because of the traction they provide, the handling in the rain, and the extreme mileage they give me. I put 10,000 on my first rear tire and I'm not going to change it until the 20,000 serve along with replacing my front tire for the first time also at 20,000 miles. I think this new Uly is sure going to be a hit with Buell Motorcycle Company. Has anyone seen this bike yet? Is it showing at the IMS? I hope they have it on display in Chicago next month. |
