| Author | Message | ||
     Sachmo |
I read a lot about how the XT is much better on the road but no one even touches on how it does off-road. Not look for full on mud or aggressive riding but is anyone taken the XT into the woods? If so how'd it do? | ||
| Growl |
... (Message edited by growl on May 17, 2008) | ||
| Crusty |
It's a road bike. Why would anyone talk about its off road capabilities? Even the X was not designed as an off road bike. It was touted as an all roads bike. How many people talk about the off road prowness of a BMW R/T? I'm really happy with my XT, and I wouldn't hesitate to ride it down a dirt road, but it isn't a dirt bike. | ||
| Barker |
I would say the XT is better @ "on-road" than the X. The only things you are missing is a little clearance, "heavy" front wheel and the the OEM tire selection.(thats debatable and an easy change). I would say it can do gravel roads and fire trails no problem. If you are up for it. Its more about the rider:  | ||
| Chrisgrant |
I think that the X sucks off road. Golf cart trail yesterday very little mud and the front wheel went left and everything else went straight. No harm done. Straighten the right side mirror and PIAA light and spray the mud off. That will be the last time I take my street bike down a trail. More aggressive tires wouldn't be worth the trade-off of loosing the paved road handling for me. IMHO the X is just a short wheelbase street bike with tall suspension so I that would make the XT a street bike with normal suspnsion. (Message edited by chrisgrant on May 17, 2008) | ||
| Wbrisett |
If you read anything (or everything) said by the Erik and other Buell engineers about the XT, they mention it is a road bike, no pretense of it being an off-road bike. They always suggest that you go with the standard X if you plan to use it as a dual purpose bike. As for those who say they wouldn't ever take it off the road, period, just take a look through the photos on adventure rider (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12 0486) and you'll see some folks have taken their Ulysses to places I never would have, but I'm not an off road guy. Wayne | ||
| Sachmo |
so I'm wondering if this is more of a tire question. Would changing the tires to what comes on the X kind of bridge the gap I understand that it has less travel but I dont want to do anything close to hard off "pavement" riding I'm one of those short people that has waited for the lower seat height so that is why I'm only looking at the XT | ||
| Ratbuell |
The spring and valve rates in the suspension are totally different in the XT. The X has much softer rates to absorb the shocks of uneven terrain; the XT will be bouncing and chattering all over the place if you get into gravel or dirt. It's more than "just tires". The XT is NOT a "low Ulysses". The XT is a totally different animal. I've ridden them back to back - 100 miles on an XT, 100 miles on an X, in 2 days. The only thing that's the "same" is the topside - engine/trans, seat, gauges, accessory ports, and seating position. Where the rubber meets the earth it is completely different. I'd have to check part numbers to see if it would even work, but if you want a "low Ulysses" I'd look into putting XT springs into the forks and on the rear shock of an X, so you have the "off-pavement" valving with the lower springs. | ||
| Jphish |
No argument on Barkers point about the rider ( I did 500 KLR650 mi on Baja dirt last month - but don't consider myself an accomplished "dirt" guy - 2 washouts on sand) The Uly however, also has 20* more steering lock & 47mm tubes, unlike the XT. I'm still learning about the X capabilities in an "all road" environment. Ive got riding partners that can make a 1200GS or Uly "run" in places I wouldnt walk. XT is a great adventure touring machine. But I still chose my 08 Uly for the road less traveled. | ||
| Fung |
I have hit a few gravle roads, and have struggled threw some deeper sand, fell over a couple of times. No damage . hit a few service roads and grass lands. Nothing wicked, worked fine, no baja 500. fun for mild exploring. I would not make my own trails with it. | ||
| Metalstorm |
If a 99 Sportster and an 05 XB12Scg can make it down gravel roads and mild (note:MILD) fire roads I don't see why an XT couldn't. AS far as trail riding, I'd say very improbable but not impossible in the right (read insane) hands. It probably wouldn't be any fun though. Especially on a shiny new bike. A definite puckering experience I bet  | ||
| Ulyranger |
The XT does fine on gravel, dirt roads, broken surface, rutted truck trail regardless of CYA statements to the contrary. I travel these surfaces on almost every ride, hell half my town roads are rough dirt surface. The suspension eats bumps just fine. I actually have to check my speed occaisionally when I look down at the speedo and a little sanity creeps in. I realize why Buell states what it does and the bike IS designed for paved road travel primarily, but that doesn't mean it can't do what the X does within reasonable limits. I also realize that if I break my bike doing what the manufacturer claims is outside it's designed limitations I will not be complaining or making a warranty claim. Valving and springs maybe different than the X but that hardly makes the XT a Ninja in Buell clothing because it lost 1.5" of suspension. If the 43mm forks are such a limitation then that means you'd have to down grade the 06 & 07s as well. Just my observations from someone who's ridden several hundred miles of dirt so far with no ill effects. That said, it is certainly no woods bike and I have no illusions of taking it where thumpers reign. Results may vary with others, but I have no problem recommending the XT flavor of Uly to those who need a shorter version. Just my .02. (Message edited by Ulyranger on May 18, 2008) | ||
| Sachmo |
Thanks guys that is pretty much what I was wondering. Just started getting a little worried with all the don't even think about it. I also appreciate all the words of caution, gravel, dirt roads and broken surface is exactly what I had in mind. I did get the bike this morning and took the afternoon to slow brake in the bike on the back roads from Dalton GA to Nashville, TN. What a difference from my M50. If I hit a bump with the Suzuki I get a sharp pain in my nail or back, but Uly was so smooooooooth. | ||
| Jphish |
Hell - cityxslicker does his forest road riding on a cityx. If you look at some of his "adventures" it's more than I would likely try on the ULY...Thats what my knobbied KLR is for. You can take just about anything, anywhere...if you're "committed". Look @ some of the terrain those WWII Harleys navigated through - impressive. Ride what ya like - XT is a great choice. | ||
| Skyclad |
So far, there are not many choices for aggressive tires for the Uly. The two most common are the Avon Distanzia's and the Pirrelli MT-66. Both are more of a supermoto tread than real knobbies. From all the reports that I have read, you will not lose much, if any road grip with either tire. I will be putting a set of the Distanzia tires on this weekend. Review of new tires and XB9 gears will be forthcoming. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I am sure the factory boys would never say the the CityX will do what I make mine do. (and I have had some hard lessons about the limitations of the bike) now if i had an extra inch of clearance, a bigger gas tank and 1203cc motor, I would be on the TT for what I do and the way I ride. It still needs the 08 Uly fork clock and the heavier ULY wheels....  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I was having this banter with a local guy that is convinced that the ULY has no off-road prowess and the CITYX is a street bike.... He is on a KTM950. For him, if it doesnt have a 21 inch front wheel, it just isnt capable....  ignance is bliss. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Barker and I put two Uly's through their paces on wet, muddy, and loose gravel roads. We ran at a healthy pace. We got air. We had a VStrom behind us. WAY behind us. It is supposedly a much better "off road" bike. I was riding a Uly with regular R/S wheels. So was the third Uly of our group. If you ride the Uly off road like you do on road, it will suck. You have to keep the weight off the front wheel and keep your weight correctly placed. The XT has the same suspension as the 06 and 07 Uly only shorter. The rest of the bike is 08. If you don't need the ground clearance, there should be no reason you couldn't ride the XT on any reasonable road where you would use the Uly. Now if you are planning on pushing the envelope, you close the margin on even the Uly's off road capacity. It ain't no rock hopper. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
ah the reason for more ground clearance, and the bash plate that is currently on the CityX. Apparently 15mph over a field of shale rocks will do that to the bottom of the bike.  | ||
| Maximum |
Should be some kind of crime...doing that to a race pipe!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It is. The sentence is having to endure the stares and jeers of all the Harley crowd when you go to work every day. | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
I think that the X sucks off road. Golf cart trail yesterday very little mud and the front wheel went left and everything else went straight. No harm done. Straighten the right side mirror and PIAA light and spray the mud off. That will be the last time I take my street bike down a trail. More aggressive tires wouldn't be worth the trade-off of loosing the paved road handling for me. I did a 140 mile ride through the Berkshires on my X last weekned. About 90 miles was on dirt. Half of that was in the rain. Yes, the front end would get squirly in the mud if I was sitting in the saddle. But standing on the pegs, the bike handled the dirt very well. I would have definitely liked to have the TKC's that most everyone else on the ride had, but other than that..I thought the X to be very dirt worthy. Tipsy (Message edited by TipsyMcStagger on May 22, 2008) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
you think it is bad when my dirty Buell is out front, you should have heard the hoggies squeal when my sportster was out front, and I hadnt washed it in 3 weeks. You would have thought the end of the world was coming. I spend my time at work, and riding, I dont really have the down time to wash it. That is why I am taking chrome off the bike at every chance and paycheck .... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Instead of the "Dark" or "Night" versions, they ought to have a "Sloth" or "Lazy" version. Everything is covered in dark taupe crinkle paint the color of road grime. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I could ride it , or I could clean it.... Riding wins every time. And hell it rains here often enough to get the big chunks off kind of reminds me of that subaru commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj66tLYd8pE | ||
| Jlnance |
The XT has the same suspension as the 06 and 07 Uly only shorter. The rest of the bike is 08. Thats not quite true. The XT does not have the steering angle changes of the 08s. It also uses standard XB wheels rather than the beefier 12X wheels. The front fender arrangement is different, since it's not designed for off road. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Thats not quite true. The XT does not have the steering angle changes of the 08s. It also uses standard XB wheels rather than the beefier 12X wheels. The front fender arrangement is different, since it's not designed for off road. I was throwing the steering lock in as a "suspension" item. The fork diameter is the same as the 06 and 07 models. The fender is a minor difference. Both would become equally caked with mud given really sloppy conditions. You'd probably get a little more crap slung on the engine with the XT fender. Easy enough to swap out. I'm assuming you could add the Uly beak if you wanted as well. The wheels aren't that big of a deal. Last weekend I ran with R/S wheels as did ChadHargis. You simply have to be a little more careful to avoid rocks. Now if you're gonna go "off road", that's another story. | ||
| Tsorl76 |
I will be putting a set of the Distanzia tires on this weekend. Review of new tires and XB9 gears will be forthcoming. Hey Skyclad, looking forward to the report, especially the XB9 gear. I've been thinking about changing over but don't know how it will affect overall power and top end. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
oooh I do not like the Distanzia Sam I am. They tend to want to wash and float out on loose gravel at over 45 mph. I had a couple of corners that were not very confidence reassuring. I will be burning through them fast and putting the Scorps back on. I do not like planing on top of the gravel. |
