| Author | Message | ||
     Yankee_dog |
I seem to have caught the Buell bug. So I wandered on down to the local dealer and took a test drive on an XT. Nice, I believe I may be hooked. But on to my question. What is the real world difference between the two Uly models. Or is there any? I am asking about performance/handling, not about seat height and luggage. The seat height on the XT is better for me but the X is doable. The X looks better (IMNSHO) and I will put bags and a higher shield on anyway so the cost comes out to about the same. Your advice and assistance please. Oh, as to riding style. It will almost certainly be a daily commuter. But the main consideration is its capacity as a two up steed. Most if not all of my weekend/vacation riding is two up. The missus and I did a 4500 mile trip this summer and do 2-300 mile day trips on a regular basis. I dont know how many dirt roads the bike will see, but that may change. I have not owned a bike with the Uly's capabilities in the past. Yankee Dog | ||
| Froggy |
The X is a fine handling machine. I haven't had any seat time on the XT, but from what I've read, it handles a tad better because of its lower center of gravity. Yes the X looks better, which is why if I get a XT the first thing I'm doing is putting on the beak and headlight grill. As for 2 up, many couples report it being nicer than a Harley Geezer Glide. Oh yea, welcome to BadWeb.  | ||
| Darthane |
You people and your beaks...crazy! That thing's butt-f-in-ugly.  I'm the opposite of Froggy - never ridden an X, but my XT is butter-smooth and the suspension settings right out of the book have been spot-on for both solo and duo riding. The amount of room for a rider+passenger is simply amazing (and actually somewhat irritating in my case, as both my girlfriend and I together still have almost a foot of front to back wiggle room). I'd have to say that if you're not doing the unpaved road thing often, my opinion is you're better off with an XT - it was meant to be a smooth road warrior with ample touring ability and a severe sportbike tilt to its handling capabilities. | ||
| Froggy |
Your the one thats crazy! Me and CityXslicker put beaks on our Lightnings!  | ||
| Darthane |
Bah! That'd have been the first thing to go if Buell hadn't seen the light and put a normal fender on the XTs. C. R. A. Z. Y. How do you like your wave rotor? I debated for a long time putting one on my Firebolt, just could never get myself to drop the money on it. (Message edited by darthane on August 06, 2008) | ||
| Ryat79 |
Froggy, how did you wire in the added lights, i did a similar mod with a new ktm dirt bike fender as well. i wasnt sure where i wanted to hook in the wiring, any suggestions would be great, just trying to figure out if it is straight forward or if there are any things to look out for. thanks | ||
| Supertoon |
My X is the most comfortable two-up bike I have ever owned in 25 yrs of motorcycling! An added bonus is virtually no change to the handling when riding two-up with the bags full. Put the strada brackets on, fill the bags and go! If you can handle the extra height, do the X! The extra travel is great when you realize all the fantastic back roads you can now do! | ||
| Crusty |
I had a 2006 Ulysses and I traded it in for a 2008 XT. I like the XT better. I prefer the slightly lower seat height, and the stiffer suspension seems to work a little better on twisty New England roads; though the X worked well on the same roads. I don't do a lot of dirt roads, so the XT is more of what I want in my bike and actually use it for. Either one is a great motorcycle; the XT is just that little bit more suited for me. Plus, I like the sportier front fender better than the beak. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I recently saw an X with the lower front fender on it and I didn't like the look! Had to do with all the open area above the fender to the lights and I was thinking about putting the low fender on mine before I saw that bike. Now for the XT, I like the look there with the low front fender and for some reason it doesn't look like there is such a void area above the fender like there was on the X model. Maybe it doesn't have the same amount of front fork travel? I don't really know about that. just my $.02 worth! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
+1 for the beaks, and lights that work off road  | ||
| Metalstorm |
Now for the XT, I like the look there with the low front fender and for some reason it doesn't look like there is such a void area above the fender like there was on the X model. Maybe it doesn't have the same amount of front fork travel? I don't really know about that. Exacto Bingo. The XT's suspension is tuned for street only. It's travel is much shorter and the springs are a little stiffer for better asphalt surfing. XT's fork springs are triple rate and I believe the rear shock spring is dual rate. | ||
| Ryat79 |
here are pics of my fender and light setup, thoughts??? i think the fender is more interesting than the beak and keeping with the original look of the bike unlike the low fender, i think it is a KTM dirt bike fender which i chopped to fit, i picked it up for $25 from a parts shop and really sure of its maker. you can also see my right side air scoop. i still need to wire up the lights.     | ||
| Froggy |
I see your 3rd picture and think this:  | ||
| Ryat79 |
not sure if that is good or bad, i always thought the concord looked funny but i would not have passed up a trip on one. the fender is a bit longer than i like but i got used to it. i think the shape is an improvement over the original. based on inputs here i can modify rev 2 of the fender if i need to. | ||
| Greenamp |
From the front, the orange Uly looks like Big Bird.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
You know what burns my biscuit about Seseame street? (I have a nephew that loves it) Oscar is no long the "Groutch"! WTF Man he was my favorite character. Freakin PC liberal whiney whacko television terrorist whimps, get an f'n back bone you thin skinned, lilly coated, ninny brained, wipers of other peoples behinds. Sorry, We now return you back to your previously scheduled debate about the ULY Beak. | ||
| Yankee_dog |
Thanks for all your comments. It sounds like the XT is a better fit for my kind of riding. However it doesnt sound like there is a huge difference. Which is a good thing since I hope to buy used and being able to choose either bike give me a wider pool of choices. As to the looks. I think its more than just the beak on the X. The fork/mud guard also gives it a different look. Yankee Dog | ||
| Ryat79 |
It is a good thing i didnt put the yellow stripe down the front of the fender, it would really have looked like big bird. i think you need to find a picture of big bird's mom, the added lights look like ear-rings now that you have made the connection. | ||
| Froggy |
Yankee Dog, both bikes are very similar. The big difference between the 2 is the suspensions and on road wheels/tires. As stated before, the XT has a shorter suspension, which makes it more suitable for on road use. You can still off road a bit no problem, as I do it on my Lightning Long and CityXslicker does it on his CityX. The X has a better turning radius as it has a different setup to allow the forks to turn more side to side. Other than that, the differences are comedic. | ||
| Darthane |
Comedic? Comedic how? Comedic like a clown, like haha? Am I here to amuse you? | ||
| Froggy |
Meh stupid spell check, "Cosmetic" | ||
| Arcticktm |
The turning radius alone might sway me toward the "X", even if I only planned to be a pavement rider. Of course if the "X" was too much taller (not a problem for me, but for some), that might trump the turning radius. I sure wish my '06 had the tighter turning (without me having to buy new triple clamps and give up fork lock). BTW, the "X" also has a triple rate fork spring starting in '07, and many of us have replaced our '06 single rate springs with the '07 parts to reduce fork dive somewhat. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I like Comedic better. Almost sounds like the clip from SuperTroopers when they do the cat stop. "Do I look like a cat? Do I look like I run about all nimbly pimbly..." but really, I know I get more dirt than our average ULY rider, most of ours use it for the durable reliable day to day commuter, and dont understand why i would ever abuse the bike the way I do. | ||
| Darthane |
Arcticktm - supposedly my XT doesn't have the tighter radius that the X does, but I'll tell you, it turns around in the garage in a much smaller area than my '03 Firebolt does. The Blast beats it, but not by much. | ||
| Naiguy |
what meow? i have the xt meow and i ride alot meow i dont ride dirt meow so i ride an xt meow i like the low fender meow but want a low windshield meow. if you need a road bike meow go with the xt meow. if you plan on needing alot of front travel meow go with the the x meow. but remember meow they both great bikes meow. | ||
| Ulyranger |
"As to the looks. I think its more than just the beak on the X. The fork/mud guard also gives it a different look." So get the XT if that's what fits your bill and order the X farkles for the front end. That's what I did, a few $, a few days wait for the parts and about 20 minutes = X looking XT. I put on all the X front pieces; beak, low-half fender w/fork guards and headlight grill. The headlight grill actually turned out to be a functional upgrade after my encounter with Bambi, bulbs were blown but the lenses are intact. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
The X can be lowered with the Shock from the XT or the TT/SS to get the desired seat height. Of course, the front forks will need to be moved up in the triple clamps to compensate for the rear being lowered. A TT Rear Shock, complete with spring can be purchased for about $300 depending on the discount you get from your dealer, if any, on parts. There is no cost, other than a bit of labor to slide the forks up in the clamps. In our mind, the entire Ulysses framed family(12XB X, XT, SS, TT) has the ability to be mixed and matched to fit you height, riding style, and about anything else. YRMV Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 (Message edited by buelldualsport on August 08, 2008) | ||
| Brijasher |
Yankee Dog, you managed to ask your question at just the wrong time. There is another thread that has started us all teasing each other about that "beak" and you managed to get caught in it. I recommend a strong dose of eyerolling and tsk tsking to counteract any side effects. Here is the offending thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/521997.html?1260991879 As to the differences, The X is a little more dual-sport, the XT is a little more sport-tour. Since my previous bike was an 82 'Wing, the XT seemed a slightly better fit and I am really enjoying it so far. Hope this helps! Brijasher | ||
| Brijasher |
Meh stupid spell check, "Cosmetic" Froggy, given the "beak" break we've been having, I think your first spelling was the correct one. =D | ||
| Froggy |
A year and a half later one misspelling still haunts me...  |
