| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
After realizing that my X1 has it's limits, I'm looking for a strange category of motorcycle. Sort of a touring meets enduro. I want something that's comfortable for 500+ mile days, and won't be bothered by unpaved roads. The BMW 1200 GS has me amazed, but my budget is no good for $15k. The 800 GS looks like a great bike as well. Does anyone here have experience with the Uly and a GS? How do they compare? I started a thread on the quick board about this, but figured what better place to go for answers than the big bad and dirty themselves!?  | ||
| Madduck |
I prefer the Uly for its dealer network. BMW has next to no dealers between chicago and the coast. The bikes are pretty darn nice and would get one if they were better supported. The ULY is far more comfortable for both rider and passenger. Uly riders also seem much friendlier. Better adjusted and always willing to help. | ||
| Stacky |
I've not ridden the 800 GS, but my last BMW--a 2004 R1150RCK "Rockster"--had higher horsepower and torque ratings. And I found the Rockster a bit too tame. My Uly has a lot more snap, and it's roomier as well. I've looked at the GS recently, and, as always, it's beautifully made and finished. But my sense is that it's a top-shelf starter bike, or a great option for someone seeking a mid-sized machine. I don't think you can go wrong with either bike, but IMO you just get more for your buck with the ULY. Good luck! | ||
| Jphish |
PK - Ridden both, own an '08 Uly. If your first paragraph is indeed indicative of your desires, I think you'll want the Uly. The 800 is a pretty good ride - and IF your going to do alot of dirt roads (or worse) the 800 maybe a better choice. (still NOT a single track dualsport - TOO heavy !) But if it's an 80/20 proposition - where you dont want to detour because of a dirt road, or want to take the one less traveled just to see where it leads - than the Uly will do that quite competently. As a 'adventure touring machine' where 500mi / days are the norm -there is nothing out there BETTER than the Uly. Not to say there arent others that are very capable, comfortable and do dirt as well, (like the R1200GS) but they dont do it BETTER. My riding partner has an '07 GS which we periodically trade off on long rides. It has a slight edge on dirt, primarily better tire selection. But in the canyons, mountains or secondary roads ? Not a GS out there (riders being equal) that will top the XB12X. You ride Buells - so you know. So...on merits alone, its the Uly. Add to that, its a small club of eccentrics, being one of less than 8000 world wide. Good luck in your deliberations. j | ||
| Ratbuell |
Not having ridden a GS myself, all I can do is relate a story about a gentleman I sold a Uly to a couple years ago. He owns a GS Adventure, rode it in when he bought the Uly. To my knowledge, that GS *still* hasn't been started, since that Uly got home with him. YMMV, but I know I love my Uly - as much as my tubers, but for very different reasons. S1W - toy. S2 - street tourer, 2-up bike. Uly - swiss army knife, 2-up rider (she loves the backrest), do it all, doesn't ever ask "why?"  | ||
| Nipsey |
Whothefack you calling eccentric???  | ||
| Ishai |
"Not having ridden a GS myself, all I can do is relate a story about a gentleman I sold a Uly to a couple years ago. He owns a GS Adventure, rode it in when he bought the Uly." - Hey Joe- the GSA has been started once since then.Oh, easy with who you're calling a "Gentleman"....  . I have'nt tried the 800 nor the 1200 but the Uly Grabbed me in a way the 1150 never did and I love the riding experience on it whereas in the 2 years I rode the 1150 GS it was (is) a great bike but I never really bonded with it. It is a totally different riding experience -it either "talks" to you or not . Either way enjoy your choice. | ||
| Fung |
for me the dealer network was a big one. I have not been on the GS. I do think its a nice bike. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, easy with who you're calling a "Gentleman".... Using the term loosely, don't worry. I wouldn't want to blow your (self)image or anything, LOL. | ||
| Chuck_v |
I have ridden the Ulysses and the GS1200 back to back. Uly hands down. MUCH more power, WAY better handling, higher quality suspension, and no final drive to fall off! BMW reliability is (almost completely) a myth. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Chuck... The F800GS is a different beast than the R1200GS. It's lighter, no final drive, and less money. I haven't yet ridden the F800GS, but talking with a few people who have, they seem to like it more than the 1200GS. Unfortunately none of those people had ridden the Ulysses, so they couldn't compare it to the Uly. I like the F800 myself, and would certainly buy one if I had the money. Nothing having both the Ulysses and F800. Wayne | ||
| Old_mil |
...I'd go with the Uly. A great bike. Having owned both, the newer BMWs just don't measure up to the old models that built the marque's reputation. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I appreciate the feedback guys. I've seen pics of a "ulybolt" on this site.. sort of a mix and match of different xb models' seat, fairing, and frame. THAT is the bike I'm looking for. | ||
| Skinstains |
I was in Cali this spring for work and rented a bike to ride the PCH. I had read about the F800GS and really wanted to try it out. Either they weren't in dealers yet or the rental company just didn't have one in their fleet. So... I rented a R1200GS and hit the road. What a hunk of german junk ! I can't really pinpoint what I did and didn't like about it but I know that I had a $hitty time riding the PCH in beautiful weather. It was just a bland so-so'ish bike that was way over hyped. I just took delivery of my 2009 12X last week and put a couple of hundred miles on it over the weekend. These were lousy miles of slab in the NYC/Long Island area in low 30's/high 20's. No comparison ! Buell kills the BMW. I can only imagine how the Uly would have been on the PCH in nice weather. | ||
| Metalstorm |
BMW is like Beethoven. Buell is like Jerry Lee Lewis. You can't dance to Beethoven. (Message edited by metalstorm on December 17, 2008) | ||
| Jaybirdxb12x |
I think this sums up BMW. I still love the old ones though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFA7lQx0Aq4 | ||
| Ulykan |
Are they still alive?  | ||
| Hangetsu |
That is f#@$ing hilarious! I teach high school German and use downfall in my class time to time. I'm going to have to download this and see if my students figure it out. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I rode a 800 GS on a 165 mile Adventure ride which was about 80 miles of gravel and 85 miles of small blacktop. The bike handles much better on the blacktop with the 21" front tire than I thought it would..quite good really. The FI on the 800 was abrupt off idle making it dicey on the gravel and it was easy to kill off idle.not much torque down low. I liked it much better than my buddys' R1200GS, which I have ridden quite a bit.. The 1200s are an acquired taste than I have not acquired... I like the conventional suspension and the chain drive on the 800 and it is easy to change oil on.. If you are going to do a lot of gravel and dirt I would lean to the 800gs..but in the real world of everyday riding I like the ULY. The motor of the 800 has a narrower powerband and you have to rev it more and then in the upper rpms it starts to buzz..the Uly shakes down low but smooths out above 3k...I would take the 800 or the ULY over the R1200GS..you pick, but for the twisties and riding two up for comfort the ULY is KING |
