| Author | Message | ||
     Schwartzkm |
I went to the local H-D/Buell shop to look at the 2009 Uly yesterday. I sat on the beast and was on my tip-toes so I was wondering if anyone in the DFW area (preferably plano area) has a uly with the low seat I could sit on? I really like the bike but the height for a daily commuter could wear on me quick in stop-and-go traffic. My sales experience: The sales experience was typical of most I read about on this and other boards in regards to H-D sales people and Buells. I walked into the shop and was greeted by Skull (not his real name) one of the many salesmen hanging around the front waiting for a customer to come in. I asked about the Buells and he walked me over to them and started explaining the various features of the bike for all of 3 minutes. I mentioned sport-touring and all he heard was “touring” and immediately escorted me over to the Roadglides. I humored him and after he did his 15 minute spill on how the RG would be much better suited for touring, I asked if any of the salesmen own Buells? Reluctantly he said “yes” and pointed at Mark. I left him there holding his hog and walked over to Mark. Mark owns an XB12s and recently sold his Electraglide so he is now down to one bike. Already promising! (Just kidding. I would love to own a cruiser and a Buell. Best of both worlds!). He went over the features in great detail and you could tell that he really likes the Buell line-up. My only two concerns about the bike is 1) its height and 2) its height. If I could sit on one with the low seat option I might be ready to make the plundge. | ||
| Froggy |
Not really, many trade in geezer glides for Ulys! You do know about the XB12XT? It is all the Uly without the hight. Also the low seat isn't much lower than the seat on the 09, so your not going to see huge gains that way. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
If'n your really short like I am (5-6 with a 29 inch inseam) The City-X will do off road with the best of the ULYs. Fire roads, county access, powerlines, just no single track, railway beds or high angle approaches that will leave you high centered. | ||
| Hangetsu |
I'm 6'2" and with the 06 seat I'm on my toes too, but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Just never stop  | ||
| Acav80 |
I'm 5'11" and my two feet are pretty much never on the ground at the same time with my 06 stock seat. I'm so used to it I don't even notice anymore. Tripods are stable. | ||
| Thunderbox |
If you want to 2 up it don't consider the CityX. No room on the seat compared to a Uly. I have a 30" inseam and have 2 upped it for at least 12000 and it was never a problem. In real life with 2 up and anytime you have luggage the bike is lower than it is on the shop floor because it is all stiff and new and doesn't attain it's real ride height. | ||
| Froggy |
Or you could build your own Uly using a Lightning long  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If you HAVE to have both feet flat on the ground to feel comfortable, you're probably looking XT or nothing. I'm 6' with 32" inseam. I can't flat foot both feet. I can flat foot one foot at a time, or I can touch both balls of my feet at the same time. It's either an issue for you or it's not. I have done lots of stop and go traffic and have never felt that the seat height is an issue. | ||
| Old_mil |
I'm 5'8' with a 29 inch inseam, and coming to a stop on the Uly takes some thought. I can't just get on the binders and extend the landing gear like I can on my x1. It makes in town riding enough of a chore that I preferentially chose the x1 for local rides. But out on the open highway, the Uly can't be beat. The same would be true of the XT, I would imagine (that would be my recommendation....) | ||
| Bertotti |
I just shift to the side and put one foot down. Not much thought involved just like riding a dirt bike to me. I was a lot shorter then riding a taller bike. Really after a little practice it is no big deal and after awhile it becomes second nature to put a foot down. | ||
| Ourdee |
5'7"x31" Own 2008 XB12XT. Here is the thought or why do I only put down my left foot. I stop with the clutch pulled in and the bike in first gear. I leave it in gear while I am stopped. (Need to get under way right now, bike is ready) I use the front brake to stop but not to hold the bike in place once stopped. (That builds up yuck on the front disc and causes it to pulsate sooner or later) I use the rear brake to stop and hold the bike in position once stopped. If I lean the bike to the left, once stopped I can flat foot with my left. Watch a motorcycle cop and you will most likely see the same behavior. That is where I got it from.  | ||
| Buellhusker |
Has anyone moved the forks up in the tripple trees & backed off on the rear shock preload to lower the bike an inch or so? | ||
| Ourdee |
Buellhusker, There is not much room between the top of the forks and the handlebars. Maybe lower the front shock preload also. On a calm day I just balance the bike doing a real slow roll for the last car length. A little rear brake and sometimes a touch of engine. If I wobble, I don't try to save it, I just turn right and put my foot down. | ||
| Skinstains |
I'm 5'6" tall with a 28/29" inseam and have no chance of two footin' my 09 Uly. Not a problem so far, just pick a side (different circumstances different sides) and lean it over 'till your foot hits the ground. | ||
| Ratbuell |
It's a light and well-balanced bike. One-footing it shouldn't be a problem at all, I do it by choice a lot of times (6'4", 34" inseam, 06 Uly with stock tall seat) just to keep a toe on the rear brake. You'd have to add a handlebar riser clamp if you wanted to slide the forks up in the tubes. I don't recommend it, though - they handle so well the way they're set up, I wouldn't mess with success. If you're that concerned, get an Ss and add bags. That drops your seat 1.2" and only cuts 0.8" rear / 1.2" front suspension travel. Or, as mentioned above, try the XT (1.1 lower seat than the X, and 0.7" less front/rear suspension travel). Oh, and I sold my FLHP (police Road King) when I bought my Uly. The Uly's just a better bike, at least for what I do...and the wife is more comfy on it, too. | ||
| Froggy |
Not easy to add bags to a SS, requires custom modded brackets. Hence part of the reason I am doing the Uly tail on my bike | ||
| Ratbuell |
I thought the HB brackets would bolt right up (side bags, anyway). I've compared the seat rails side by side, and they're the same castings, just have different bosses drilled out for passenger pegs and taillight bridge support. All the bosses are there, though, in either set of rails. If you get a chance, and have access to a Uly and Ss side by side, pop both seats off. You'll see what I mean. | ||
| Etennuly |
I'm 6' with a 31.5" inseam. Where the pavement is rutted from trucks at the stop lights I make sure to have my tires in the ruts. I can flat foot one side and touch my toes on the other. With my '06 low seat I can get most of both feet down flat. The choice of boots makes a big difference also. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
the H&B brackets mount up to the shorter frame lightnings. At the time that I did mine, there was some fabbing to do for the TT & SS. But it was fairly easy kit and bolts on in under an hour and 2 beers. (all mods done in the garage are measured in beers and pizza slices for difficulty, time for duration) The caribou cases bolted right on. I dont ride a passenger, she can get her own. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
For shorter riders the XT is the way to go..as the ULY is really just a long- legged sport bike...not an off road bike. So in reality and practicality the extra suspension is not really worth the increased seat height. My .02 worth. |
