| Author | Message | ||
     Thetable |
I am looking at both the 08 and 09 Ulys and am close to pulling the trigger, but I am looking for some affirmation that it is the right bike for me. So let me describe myself and then go from there. I am a high mileage rider, 20-25k miles a year is about normal. About half of that is commuting, a quarter is just spirited play time, and the last quarter is medium distance touring. I like to work on my own bike. The closest my Suzi has been to the shop is I once took the wheels in to get tires mounted when I just didn't have it in me to mount them. The Buell has me a little scared when I read about having to reset the TPS and other things that require a Buell tech to do. Now I'm loving the idea of not having to do valve adjustments 3 times a year, and not having to deal with chain maintenance, but I still don't want to have to deal with taking her into the shop. I'd rather be riding, and having to deal with making appointments and finding a way to get from the shop or sit and wait. My bike is my main transportation, so I don't want to be without it, and it is far easier for me to tear stuff apart, than it is to find a way to get it to the shop. Is it possible to do all my own maintenance, or am I going to be forced to take it into the shop on occasion? I love the way the bike rides, I love the way it sounds, and I love the way it feels. But I need something that I can walk up to put the key in press the start button and the engine will fire. Alas, what are the other quirks of owning a Buell that I should be aware of before I bite the bullet? | ||
| Hughlysses |
The Buell is easy to work on and parts are relatively cheap. The 08-up bikes don't require periodic TPS resets so you don't have to worry about that. If you get the factory shop manual and you have a reasonable selection of tools, there is nothing a decent home mechanic can't replace on the bike. | ||
| Jameslaugesen |
I also do my own servicing on all my bikes and I find the Uly excellent to work on. The 'computer-related' things like TPS reset are also very easy to do yourself, purely depends on your computer tech skills. There is an excellent free software alternative to perform all of the computer-related servicing, and a LOT of cool tweaking. It's called EcmSpy: http://www.ecmspy.com/ Their website also details it's use, how to make or obtain a suitable data cable, etc. Of course you will get biased advice here. But I think the Uly sounds right for you *thumbs up*. Here's the most unbiased quirks/negatives I can think of; * the vibration - It DOES smooth out at low revs after running in, and honestly most people find it surprisingly smooth at real-life rpm's. * choice of tyres for dual-sporting. * suspension can be a little fiddly with large weight changes (removing luggage regularly, etc) - depending on how much comfort/confidence you seek... the Uly (and other Buells) just seem to emphasise incorrect/inappropriate suspension settings more-so than other bikes. However it IS possible to achieve EXCELLENT ride and handling with the stock suspension - it's all about the settings. Kinda not-so obvious positives; * Very cheap parts * Apparently extremely comfortable for pillions. Every pillion I've ever had has said it is THE MOST comfortable bike they've ever been on, the seat, the smoothness, sense of safety, etc... I've even heard that from a couple of very experience riders who'd usually just get off and say "Geez mate, you backed off a fair bit through that last hairpin". So yep, go for it  | ||
| Firstbatch |
The Uly will be a great fit for you and is definitely a bike that you will thoroughly enjoy. I have an '06 and with a shop manual have completed many service tasks as well as significant disassembly to change the paint on the powder coated cases, etc and it was very straight forward to accomplish. Of all the bikes I have bought and sold the Uly will remain in the stable forever. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm very similar to you - high mileage per year, tinker just enough to get myself in trouble, various types of riding (from commuting, to playtime, to travel). I ride my S1W because it's a hooligan. I ride my S2 because it's rolling art, rides great (very comfortable) and handles great. My Uly is my swiss army knife. Roads, dirt, gravel, commuting, corner-carving, loaded bags for long distance, don't care if I get it dirty (prefer it, actually). Comfortable, capable, and FUN. If you have a friendly dealer, see if you can take an extended demo on one. Ride roads you know, take the time to set the suspension for your weight before you go, and you'll know. The ride will tell you  | ||
| Seanp |
I ride mine for commuting every day, and have ridden thousands of miles in a couple of weeks and many multiple-hundred-mile trips, both superslab and back road. I've also ridden on the "spirited" roads in the Tennessee/Georgia/North Carolina area. It's perfect for all those things. For commuting, make sure you get the bags. Being able to lock up you gear once you arrive at your destination is a Godsend. It is comfortable for passengers - my wife rode with me from FL to CT to WI and back to CT over the course of a week and a half, and she didn't complain at all about the seat. The longest ride we'd taken before that was a few hundred miles in one sitting. +1,000,000 on the suspension settings. Take your time and read the manual. It explains what settings do what, and once you've got it dialed in it's perfect. But if it's off at all the bike feels either way too jittery or like it's wallowing through corners. I don't do any mechanical work on the bike, as it is my primary means of transportation and I don't want to screw it up and have to drive my truck and find parking. I have installed some electrical things, and I watched Odie put on my SpecOPS pipe, and it's an easy bike to take apart and put back together. Finally, the best part about the bike isn't even riding on it - it's the people involved. A couple of times I met the man whose name is on my bike, and that's awesome. Plus he's just a great guy. To top it off, everyone involved with the company, from customer service, to the "good" Buell dealers, to the folks who work in the factory, to this bunch of jokers on this board, all these people make owning a Buell far more than owning a motorcycle. You're buying a whole experience... | ||
| Hooper |
Sorry, I gotta' bring it up... If you do the kind of commuting I do (usually moving on the highway, but sometimes creeping along in hour-long, bumper-to-bumper Beltway gridlock), you may want to read more threads about the heat the Uly can throw off and the fan that goes with it, especially in warm weather. I love the bike so much that I just don't really care anymore - and there are ways to reduce the issue - but if you're a finicky rider, you may consider it a dealbreaker. For me, it's all about the ride - an easy tradeoff. It's the most unique, riotous, comfortable, flexible bike I could find without paying a fortune. Every time I start out on a ride, I get some of that thrill from the first time I rode my first bike back from the dealer (without the sheer terror). (Message edited by hooper on September 26, 2008) | ||
| Atoms |
The Uly is a great bike. The only possible issue I see for the OP is the commute. If that commute has a lot of stop and go traffic jams - i mean the kind where the freeway (or whatever) is backed up regularly and you find yourself actually coming to a stop dozens of times per mile, then you may want to consider that the Uly is not the optimal bike for that. Especially if the commute is in a hot climate. I love my Uly dearly. But if I had to use it to commute here in Chicago to or from the 'burbs during rush hours, I'd probably be miserable on those commutes. It could be that I just never developed a tolerance for that stuff since I've always managed to live within bicycling distance from my jobs. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
You will find, as I have, that the Buell is the easiest, least expensive, lowest maint, most versatile and above all- MOST FUN- motorcycle on this or any other planet. Pull the trigger and don't look back. You will thank me later. | ||
| Thetable |
@Hughlysses, I definitely plan on picking up the FSM when I get the bike. @Jameslaugesen, the ECMSpy looks good, really good, better than anything I have seen for any other brand. I appreciate the link. @Ratbuell- The problem is that I did take one for an nice long test ride, and now I have completely fallen for her. It just hits all my senses in just the right way. (Well I didn't taste it, but four out of five isn't too bad.) On the other hand my brain just says NO, because of the stigma associated with anything associated with Harley and the few people whining very loudly about theirs had problems, so everybody's is garbage, and you have to take it to the dealership all the time, and the dealership network sucks, and on and on. So I guess I am just looking to hear some reinforcement that they do make a solid bike and not every one spends nine months out of the year in the shop. Thank all of you for your words of wisdom. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
A better question might be, 'are you right for the Ulysses?' There's none of that latté-sippin’, metro-sexual, euro-chic crap here – it’s all about the eye-popping raw torque, smothered in oil and gasoline with a take-no-prisoners riding like your hair’s on fire attitude. Oh yeah! Ya see, the Ulysses is a man's motorcycle - real men ride it, real men enjoy it. Are you man enough? ...'cause if you're not, you can always buy a Harley and ride to bike night, or maybe even Starbucks.  . | ||
| Svh |
ECMspy will not work on the 08 or 09 yet I am pretty sure. I love my XT and I see that is what you have your eye on also. I am not as experienced on them as some on here yet but I had the 1000 mile service done a week after purchase. Not sure how many miles I will get on it this year before the snow but I am going to enjoy up until the first snowfall. Pluses for me: Usable power the look comfortable great ride heated grips on 50F or less mornings the sound that giddy feeling every time i start it up Wife loves riding with me and the seat is comfy for her unlike 3 other bikes we tried out Negatives: MInor neg is the heat but there are ways to help that gas tank is too small need to stop and fill it up limiting riding time slightly The biggest positive for me and the real deal maker was actually this board. If something ever does go wrong the guys and ladies on here are the great at helping out. This site is a great service to all Buell riders. You will love the bike and be so happy you bought it. Ride safe Sam | ||
| Froggy |
ECMspy does not work on 08's and 09's. (Ok a handful of 08's) Don't forget another bonus of the Buell's, they crash well. I went down a dozen times on my Uly, and it was always less than $50 to repair it good as new! Exception was the last wreck, but the insurance company sucked nuts and totaled it. | ||
| Dirt |
My bike is my main transportation, so I don't want to be without it If this is the case, and based on my experience to date, you may want to rethink your purchase. My issues are probably not the norm and not what others on this board want to hear, but they are valid data points and should not be ignored. I use my Uly to commute to work during the week and put about 30k miles a year on my 3 bikes combined. In the first 18 months of ownership, my bike has been at the dealer for periods of 4 and 6 weeks waiting for parts to repair 2 rear bearing failures. I've also experienced 2 belt failures along with several other component failures. 10 weeks of down time is significant in my book. I'm fortunate that I have other bikes to ride while the Uly is down, but from the sound of your post this will not be the case. On the bright side, what the others have said about the uly being a great ride and easy to do routine maintenance is true and accurate. The sad part is that the Uly is the newest bike in my garage but unfortunately the most unreliable. In fact, in 26 years of riding, I have never had a bike with this many problems. YMMV. | ||
| Froggy |
Dirt they have improved both the belt and bearings since your issues have occurred. Remains to be seen how effective the improvements are. | ||
| Jlnance |
As Hugh noted, the ECM was changed in the 08 model year, and the bikes no longer require TPS resets from the dealer. The only other thing which might require interacting with the computer is reading the trouble codes out of the ECM, and it is very easy to make it blink them out on the instrument panel w/o using a computer. I've got 52k miles on my 06 Uly, so I don't ride quite as much as you, but I'm in the ballpark. It does well with distances. I'll do 700 mile day trips up to the mountains to see my mom. I did a rush trip around the country, averaging about 600 miles a day. It works. Alas, what are the other quirks of owning a Buell that I should be aware of before I bite the bullet? The dealers are the biggest variable, but you won't be relying on the dealer for service, so that won't be too much of a problem. Order your parts online from one of the sponsors here, if yours doesn't stock them or isn't punctual about ordering them. The Ulys have had rear wheel bearing issues that we have not managed to pin down. Keep a spare set around (6006 2RSC3) and check them occasionally. The muffler will rust, paint it, replace it, or ceramic coat it. The lights could be better, add some, or switch to HID. If your front rotor begins to pulse, clean it with a brillow pad, and change the pads to Lyndal or EBCs. Enjoy the bike, ride it like you stole it. | ||
| Froggy |
Oh yea don't forget changing the fork oil every 10k! It is not hard but most people do not have the resources to do it. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
There's none of that latté-sippin’, metro-sexual, euro-chic crap here – it’s all about the eye-popping raw torque, smothered in oil and gasoline with a take-no-prisoners riding like your hair’s on fire attitude. Oh yeah! Dont forget tall enough. That ULY has a "Must be this tall to ride" element to it. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""Dont forget tall enough. That ULY has a "Must be this tall to ride" element to it."" Right, like those signs at amusement rides..'You Must Be This Tall To Ride This Ride" When I had my bike serviced recently, the Buell tech was pretty short and I had the '06 seat on it ... that was pretty funny to watch. . | ||
| Ratbuell |
On the other hand my brain just says NO, because of the stigma associated with anything associated with Harley Buell - all the people involved, from factory assembly folks, the guy whose name is on the bikes, and the owners group - is TOTALLY different than HD. Apples and oranges, no comparison. and the few people whining very loudly about theirs had problems, so everybody's is garbage, Whiners are always louder than happy, content people. We're usually out riding, instead of typing tripe on a message board. Yes, there were some growing pains. As noted, the 08 and 09 bikes have many improvements over some (emphasis on SOME) of the earlier bikes. For example - not had problem one out of my 06. and you have to take it to the dealership all the time, and the dealership network sucks, and on and on. Like anything...there are good and bad. Dealers are no exception - there are good and bad. Badweb is a great resource for finding the good ones, both through the sponsors and through members who have been in your boat, and done some experimenting for you And for the "to the dealer all the time" part, well...scheduled maintenance is once every 5k miles. No valve adjustments - ever. No chain maintenance - ever. Ride, grin, repeat. | ||
| Metalstorm |
For the most part, the bikes are sound and just keep getting better. As was stated, the few who have had the misfortune of problems are the most verbal. You won't see too many "my bike is running great" threads because their owners are happy & content & probably out riding. Plus keep in mind that though the number of members here is quite large, It doesn't come close to the actual number of Buell owners in the world. With that in mind, the small percentage of peeps with problems becomes an even smaller percentage. The fact that you wrench on your bike completely negates the one and only BIG negative that I can think of. The Dealership. A good dealership can make your Buell owning experience a dream whereas a bad dealership can make it a nightmare. The dealers need to commit themselves. If they want to sell them. They should give them (and their owners) the respect they deserve just like they do with their HD clients. But if you do your own servicing (and servicing these bikes is soooo easy) Even a bad dealership should be a non issue. I think you would an excellent Uly partner. Besides, it sounds like you already made up your mind and are looking for reassurance. Let me assure you. The Uly is golden. Get the bike. Ride the bike. Love the bike. On Edit: If by chance you pick up an 08, make sure the ecm gets reflashed with the newest update. As improvements to the DDFI3 fuel system are made, dealers are sent flash updates. (Message edited by metalstorm on September 26, 2008) | ||
| Crusty |
Thetable; I don't do quite as much mileage as you do, but it sounds like we do the same kinds of riding. I had an '06 Uly that had 34,000 miles on it when I traded it in on my '08 XT last May. I just broke 11,000 miles on the XT. I had a couple of minor problems with the '06, but the '08 has been 100% trouble free. The Uly, and now the XT have been the most trouble free and easy to maintain motorcycles I've owned in 39 years of riding. If the test ride grabbed you, then get the bike. You're going to love it. | ||
| Rotorhead |
Alas, what are the other quirks of owning a Buell that I should be aware of before I bite the bullet? Be ready to explain to "Who makes a Buell" or "You like riding that Bimmer" or "why do you drive that sport Harley bike" Pull the trigger!! The Uly is my primary mode of trans port. to compare to the car I got the wife at the same time the car has been in the shop more than the bike. I worked on my ULY well before getting a manual. a simple machine. Maintain the machine and you will not be dissappionted | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Here's a testimonial for ya; I was one of those new owners who had problems with the bike when new. Lots of problems. The dealership had the thing more than me! Then I was given the key. The cure. The fix, and it was so simple! If the dealership gives you any grief, just call Customer service. That's it. Simple and amazingly effective. Problem solved and now the bike is as reliable as a swiss watch. I have never been so happy with a product of any kind in my whole life. I shit you not! Well there was that time I survived being hit by a train in an old Ford pickup but that's another story... The gentleman who gave me the advice to call CS just got a new Uly. Need I say more? You know you want it. You know you will love it. You owe it to yourself, no? | ||
| Crusty |
Well there was that time I survived being hit by a train in an old Ford pickup but that's another story... Couldn't have been much of a train if it fit in a Ford Pickup... | ||
| Cycletlh |
Panhead Dan wrote "If the dealership gives you any grief, just call Customer service." I have called customer service twice about my rear wheel bearings. Both times they were going to call me back. I e-mailed to see what the status was. No response. I do like the bike. Biggest problem for me is wind noise. If there was a fairing option that solved the wind noise without adding buffeting long days and lotsa miles would be a breeze. If I had to do any stop and go the heat and fan noise would be a problem. | ||
| Thetable |
Good stuff. I spend no real time in traffic, one day a week I go towards DC, but the rest of the time is headed the other direction. Air/oil cooled I am used to, last two bikes have been air/oil, although the have had significantly bigger coolers, but no fans. The fan noise, I heard after shutting down the bike I test rode, but never while riding. Does it get loud enough that I am going to hear it through the helmet and ear plugs? Sadly I have been figuring out the dealer thing with ever bike I have looked at, and the more I look, the fewer shops remain that I will do business with. The shop in Frederick Maryland was pretty easy to deal with. Thanks, Joseph | ||
| Froggy |
I believe that Ratbuell is a salesman at Frederick. | ||
| Keith_mahoney |
I was in the same boat as you for the longest time. Even though I do not pick up my Buell until next week I feel I have spent enough countless hours reading here to give you an answer. I do use a bike as my primary transportation every where. I do have a shitbox 89 VW caddy that tops out screaming at 40mph so I can only barely take it to work when it's iced up outside. Anyhow this is what I have come up with. Most people here (you can see a few cases above) who have gone without their bike for an extended amount of time, have done so for some pretty lame reasons (belt and bearings). Bearings are cheap enough that if you want to bet very anal and proactive you can change them at every tire change for less than $50. Tada no problems with worn out bearings. I will just check them every weekend or before every non-commute ride. Belt - buy one now and hold on to it. They have a history of slow delivery time. Might as well buy a new clutch cable now too, even with the pics I have seen of the new wire form it is pretty close to all the heat from the header. Those items sure beat the hell out of doing valves on my Suzi every 6k miles. That is one pain in the ass job. Oh yeah and some have had there intake seals go bad. this looks to be a bit more work than the other problems but the better parts are only $5 and it's still easier than valves Now take this worth a grain of salt because even though I purchased a Uly in July I do not have it yet(I am over seas) but this bike better ride like everyone claims it does. Because the stories of dealers having peoples bikes forever really scared me until I realized it was just people giving up their bike for warranty work rather than dripping $100 to do some task themselves in an hour. I come from a CBR background and am not exactly looking for the same corner performance but I do not also want to be folded into a pretzel the same way. My current bike is a cruiser (things in my life just said slow down at the time) and it is pathetic how quick the pegs touch down, but I love a V-twin. I guess I am getting old or maybe it was just my best friend dying from hitting a tree at >150mph but I want a bike that can corner but still be relaxed (sitting comfort and engine revs/pull) You have the luxury of going for a test drive. That must be nice. Also if you change your own tires and do your own valves currently, it sounds like you have the aptitude to handle any work on the Uly and the warranty is just there incase you put a rod through the side of the thing in the first month. | ||
| Dirt |
Most people here (you can see a few cases above) who have gone without their bike for an extended amount of time, have done so for some pretty lame reasons (belt and bearings). Bearings are cheap enough that if you want to bet very anal and proactive you can change them at every tire change for less than $50. Keith, thanks for the insight. I'm not going to rehash the whole bearing thing (it has been done to death), but for the record. My first set of bearings failed with the original back tire still on. The tire had never been removed prior to the failure. I had the dealer put a new one on at this time. The second bearing failed with tire number 2 (it, like the first tire, had never been removed prior to the failure). Oh, by the way, when the first bearing failed it also trashed the axle and spacer. Just my luck that the axle was on national backorder at the time. I confirmed this fact with Buell CS. The second failure took out the swingarm, wheel, axle, and spacer. The dealer, for whatever reason (I did not follow up with CS this time), had to wait an extended period of time for the rear wheel. I guess that was a pretty lame reason. My own fault I suppose. I should have just pulled it into my garage and done the repairs myself. The cost for parts was only a little over $1k. |
