| Author | Message | ||
     Jerome |
Hello from France folks! I recently acquired a 2006 xb12x ulysse with roughly 10400 km. She has a racing kit, other than that everything is stock. Previously I owned a quite a few supermotards. I used to ride lots of dirt bikes and getting older I switched to road bikes but can't ride anything that is not tall enough! Riding position I guess. Supermotard are great but when your wife gets the motorcycle syndrome they are not quite the best bikes around to go on touring. I looked at lots of bikes, sporty trails like the latest Triumph Tiger, even the 1200Gs but wasn't feeling it... Then I thought of a XB12Ss Long, It was fun enough for me but my wife wasn't so comfy. Tried the Ulysse and it was it... Awesome bike, love the twin, love the sound, love the seat (stock seat, very tall). Here's a few pics : http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010010. jpg http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010011. jpg http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010012. jpg http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010013. jpg Enjoying it so far, thought I might have to adjust the front forks settings. I never thought I would one day be riding an American's bike. Looks like I was wrong and happy about it. - Jerome. EDIT - Forgot to mention it, the tyres are apparently the stock tyres when the previous owner bought the bike. They are complete garbage. Untill now, I rode with Michelin Pilot Road2 on my bikes, but I may try the Scorpion Sync. I'm mostly interested in every days tyres, the PR2 are very good at that, they stick to the road like glue under any kind of weather. (Message edited by jerome on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Jerome- Congratulations on the Ulysses. It is well worth your time to adjust the suspension properly- these motorcycles are very sensitive to proper setup. If you don't have the owner's manual (which provides detailed instructions), you can download a copy at buell.com (in the "owner's" section I believe). The 07 and up Uly's switched to dual-rate front springs. If the front suspension is still not to your liking after you adjust it, that's a fairly inexpensive and easy upgrade. Hugh | ||
| Nevrenuf |
jerome, congrats and welcome to the madness. i know your wife will like cause mine does and that's even comparing it to an ultraclassic that we have also. i think you have the ideal bike for over there and let us know how it goes. haven't seen mr grumpy around lately but he's over there somewhere and would probably enjoy another bueller to hang out with. | ||
| Jphish |
Jerome - Welcome to the BWB! I just changed to Distanzias for a bit more dirt capability. Need to Beta test 'em now to see if there's really that much difference. The Syncs are a great 'sure footed' all weather road tire, and even do pretty well on dirt roads, as long as tread remains. (of course thats true for most tires) Have no experience with the PR's but they get pretty good reviews from other Uly owners. Hugh's council about suspension set up is important. The owners manual gives detailed, easy to follow instructions. About 20 mins the first time - 10 mins after that. I would perform the adjustment before your next ride, it REALLY does make a significant difference. Ride safe. BTW - you spelled TIRES wrong. (>8 j | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
Hi Jerome, welcome to the site and to Uly ownership. What part of France are you living in? I'm in Wales, UK and often ride across there, mainly down to the Lot region. I have just fitted a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 2CT tyres to my Uly and I can recommend then!!!!!! BTW, you spelt "tyres" correctly  | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
OK, you're in Isere, (No.38). | ||
| Atoms |
Welcome aboard Jerome! Enjoy the bike. I love the Syncs that came with my '07. I plan to get more of the same when replacement time comes around. Chaleureusement. | ||
| Ulykan |
Welcome Jerome! Greetings from Kansas! Nice to have you aboard. This is a great forum and the best forum I've ever been on. I know you'll enjoy your stay. Congratulations on your Uly. | ||
| Jphish |
Hey...I even looked it up in the "ENGLISH" dictionary. It's got an I - No Y. Are you folks having Fall yet over in Europe ? Started early here - afraid my Sept adventure maybe a cold and wet one...except for Death Valley of course. 'chow' j | ||
| Froggy |
Looks great. +1 to changing the tires, the Dunflop D616 is the worst tire ever invented ever. | ||
| Jerome |
Thanks for your warm welcome guys. Here's a better picture of the Ulysse and a real background this time. (French Alps, lots of twisty roads 'round here) http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010110. jpg http://i50.servimg.com/u/f50/12/60/43/17/p1010014. jpg Loving the ride more and more getting to know her sweet spot as well as the handling in corner though its hard with those tires to get the feeling. I put back the db killer on the pipes cause I thought it was making too much noise. Well I guess I'll try it without them. Fall hasn't started, actually we had a horrible weather in August, but looks we'll be alright for september. In the Alps anyway. Don't know about the rest of Europe.  | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Great pics Jerome & welcome to the madness  +1 on Froggy's comment about the D616. The D616's absolutely suck in every area. I'm a huge fan of the Syncs -- stick great, all-weather, warm up quick, no surprises. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
another danger-dave wanna be i see.lol take that as a compliment cause he always post great pic of the new zealand area. looks like another beautiful place to live. unfortunately, i'm going back to florida where we have 11 curves in 318 miles(look up deals gap, aka tail of the dragon) very boring riding. keep posting the pics, always nice to see another part of the world. | ||
| Longdog_cymru |
I mentioned in an earlier post that I changed to Michelins Pilot Road 2CT from the Dunlop 616 that are fitted as standard. Just an observation, I thought the Dunlops were pretty good to be honest, but there came a point after about 3000 miles, when I started to get instability from the back end. I thought the tyre was losing pressure. On corners, unless you were absolutely committed, it felt like the back end was coming around. If you threw the bike on it's side, it was OK, anything less and it felt like it was going to let go. The tyre had loads of wear to go before hitting the wear indicators and it certainly wasn't "squared-off" either. I think it was a characteristic of the tyres. Since running the Michelins, (I only ride on tarmac), the bike is stable, turns easily, is very predictable and handles the way it should. By the way, "Fall" is "Autumn" on this side of the pond and we are staggering out of the wettest, dullest, coolest August since records began!!!! | ||
| Jerome |
"i'm going back to florida where we have 11 curves in 318 miles(look up deals gap, aka tail of the dragon) very boring riding. keep posting the pics, always nice to see another part of the world." I've heard about "Deals Gap" quite the amazing road indeed. But I confess, we've got our share of twisties around here aswell and as much as breathtaking sceneries. Here's one taken few weeks ago. Its a moutain pass with an artificial lake and its dam. Located not too far from home, in the Alps. http://i40.servimg.com/u/f40/12/60/43/17/dsc01810. jpg What we are missing here is such huge countryside void of people and houses like you can see in the USA. Before I get too old I want to ride there just to get that feeling of freedom that you must have riding there. | ||
| Ulykan |
Sigh....if only Kansas had that many great roads. We do have a few but in my area they are few and far between. That's not to say we don't have great scenery. We do but just not the twistys you fellas do. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
"nice" that's all i can say. | ||
| Hooper |
Awwwwww, the D616s aren't that bad (ne pas mal!) - I have an '06 and did just fine on my first rear wheel, and plan to replace the front when my second D616 goes in several thousand miles. Not sure what I'll go with, but I find them to be just fine on pavement and in weather, and excellent off-road. "SUCK" is a such harsh word. I don't think I would apply that to my Dunlops. "SUCK" to me means a total failure. Bon chance! Il y a tout ce que vous voulez a les Etats Unis! | ||
| Jphish |
Jerome - The US has some remote areas to be sure and magnificent scenery out west. I've ridden pretty much the entire North American continent. I'd suggest southern Utah in the canyon lands - no place like it on earth - & the NWT & Yukon in Canada. Wonderful contrast and the country you ride through to get to both, is pretty spectacular in it's own right. Figure at least a month to do both, perhaps more, depending on weather and your propensity to gawk at the landscape. Canyon lands are not devoid of people but late spring or late summer early fall provides best opportunity for reduced humanity. NWT & Yukon is lonely - on one stretch in early June we rode 120 mi on the road to YellowKnife & saw 5 cars. Some places 170 mi or more between fuel stations. Wildlife galore (including large Bears, Buffalo & Moose's!) that require your full attention on the journey. It's an adventure riders dream. 'chow' j | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Congrats on the bike..I am on my 8th set of tires on my 06 ULY...Just put on Dunlop Road Smarts today...took off Michelin PR#2...got 6K plus miles on them but picked up 5 pieces of glass... I told my tire guy, as he had some Dunlop 616s on the rack how bad they were...if fact, I said I would not let him put them on for free. | ||
| Florida_lime |
I ran a REAR D616 and had no problems with it, other than it didn't last as long as the Pirelli Syncs. But for free.....  I'll take it ! | ||
| Pso |
Welcome- I agree about the suspension.I have found the Uly to be more comfortable than my 01 Goldwing was(other than I had hiway pegs on the wing to be able to strectch out). I presently am running the Pirelli's and like them. Next set I am going with the PR2's just for comparison. | ||
| Jerome |
Hey guys, have been away from internet for a long time. Just thought I would share this picture. Taken early September, Galibier moutain Pass. Famous because the "Tour de France" goes through this pass each years. I was riding with my wife, good times. Now its full of snow everywhere. Although I do still ride but just in town. God darn salty roads make the Uly in such a bad shape. I hope everyone had lots of fun on their Uly meanwhile.  Cheers. Jerome. Edit - By the way, since then I changed my tyres, I've got a pair of Metzeler Roadtech z6 its a whole new world. (Message edited by jerome on December 19, 2008) | ||
| Ulykan |
Great picture. Thanks for sharing. |
