| Author | Message | ||
     Stellaglide |
Some may remember my questions beginning a month or so ago about purchasing a Uly. I have only ridden one twice and the second ride was much better than the first but I didn't come away thinking "wow, this a great bike", after the second ride I did say "I could get in trouble on this thing" Anyway, I'm looking for a dual sport that is more on-road than off, about 90/10 with off road being gravel, forest type roads...no real think sand or mud. The Uly seems to fit what I'm looking for more than any other bike as I do a lot of highway touring and need/want the luggage capacity and engine performance for extended 80+ interstate speeds to get where I'm going. I initially was interested in the X but honestly think the XT would fit me better for my size and realistic riding expectations. I've had 2 chances to pick up a used XT for a good price and at the last second just couldn't pull the trigger. I currently ride a Street Glide and the creature comforts are something I'm having a hard time giving up but don't plan on selling the Glide. I think it's less the Uly and more just the difference in the 2 bikes thats giving me reservations about making a purchase. I'd appreciate others opinions on how they felt which transitioning from a cruiser/touring style bike to a Uly. I have read many comments here and on other sites where HD bagger riders end of loving the Uly so much they sell the bagger and I don't discount that won't happen, I just wonder how they felt initially after riding a Uly. Does the bike really grow on you, or is it a love at first ride sort of thing. Thanks a lot, and Frito I think you owe me one on that deal (Message edited by stellaglide on September 18, 2009) (Message edited by stellaglide on September 18, 2009) | ||
| Tginnh |
If you're looking for a 90/10 bike - the Uly is it. I believe Erik Buell refers to the Uly in those terms. I've never been an HD bagger owner or a cruiser owner, but I've ridden quite a few. However, my 2 cents on the transition is that you will most likely go from a passive to an active rider. You can "cruise" on a Uly, but that's certainly not its forte. My guess is if you make the transition, your riding skills will improve and your smile factor will increase. Good luck. | ||
| Stellaglide |
Thanks for the input, interesting to hear Erik refer to it as a 90/10 bike. I'm a pretty aggressive rider, routinely scape the floorboards on my Glide in the twisties and thus my comment after my second test ride that I see myself getting in trouble on a Uly, the few first gear wheelies I pulled were fun, not to mention running up to 95+ mph on the freeway. My concern is more the seating position and weather/wind protection that the fairing on the Street Glide provides. I've transitioned from a street bike with no shield, to a full shield to a fairing and made the comment at the time of acquiring the Glide that I'd never own another HD without a full fairing. Is there a lot of wind buffetting on the Uly? Does the tall shield on the XT provide any protection from the rain at highway speeds or is it a rain in your faceshield sort of thing? (Message edited by stellaglide on September 18, 2009) | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
19000 miles in 16 months. If the wind is a problem, I haven't noticed it. Rain gear provides protection from the rain. Best bike I've ever owned. Tipsy | ||
| Petereid |
with the stock windscreen the XT puts the rain right into your face...or at least it did into mine. I switched mine and it improved greatly. I also always wear fullface helmet now (I'm a reformed beanie wearer LOL) and that really helps. | ||
| Trevd |
The tall shield on my XT was hell for buffeting. The Madstad brackets that I got helps things wonderfully... Wind over my head, little buffeting. With the Madstad brackets, I don't miss the full fairing that my Honda ST1100 had... | ||
| Petereid |
+1 on Madstrad | ||
| Bosh |
To be honest, If after your second test ride you didn't come away thinking the bike was anything great and you're looking for excellent wind / weather protection and a big comfy couch to ride down the road on.. I'd say the Uly isn't for you. The 12X is a "naked" adventure tourer, as such you are out in the weather. You can modify the wind screen with various brackets to get most of the wind off of you if that's what you're looking for, but it will never compare to a full faring geezer glide in that respect. If on the other hand you really are looking for a 90/10 bike that will do dirt or gravel roads, run the canyons like a sport bike (almost) and be about as comfortable (for that type of bike) as you can be..... get the Uly. One thing I've found out about mine is it grows on you, I actually like it more and more as time rolls on. My other bikes were just the opposite.. after awhile I get bored with them and start looking for something else. I'll be keeping my 12X until I wear it out. | ||
| Hooper |
Sounds like you've fully grasped the concept that switching to a bike like the Uly (or keeping both) will open up a different/perhaps new style of riding for you - I think it may cause you to view motorcycling differently, too. It did for me, as I bought it to replace a Yamaha V-Star bagger. It's not just the ability to act on the "Oh, I wonder where that dirt road leads." kind of thing, but also taking advantage of how the bike handles all road types (potholed, curvy, country, highway, etc.). Sitting up high changes the way I view traffic and place myself in it - I find my awareness increases a bit with the Uly's seating position. The nimbleness of the Uly does the same thing - I find myself maneuvering at slow and high speeds much more ably. It may affect the way you gear up for a ride (armored pants, jacket, gloves, and boots - full ATGATT). I find my riding attitude and "feeling" change depending on whether I'm riding my other bike, an H-D Dyna Street Bob, or the Uly. The Street Bob can handle the twisties just fine (especially with shorter exhaust pipes), but I find that when I'm riding the Uly through the same curves, I challenge myself more to achieve the right line, braking, entry speed, acceleration, etc. The Uly seems to want that more. I feel more connected with the road as a participant. On the Harley, I feel more connected with the scenery and the weather. That sounds a little crazy, but that's sort of how it seems to me. The issue of wind and weather will be hard to get around. I have the Buell tall windshield, and it does just fine to keep strong headwinds and rain from battering me, but aside from that it's pretty much a naked bike. The windscreen isn't wide enough to protect all the way across my shoulders, and after LONG highway rides I'll find my neck to be a bit sore. I know there are better windscreens out there, but I'm okay with what I have, and think it's also the best looking. The B.A.W. just ain't me. I'd love to get a full-faired touring bike, but right now, the Uly does just about everything I need - I can manage the wind and rain with the riding clothes that I wear. I don't do too many long highway journeys. And then I can get on the Harley for when I want to sit back and change the attitude a bit. Good times...can't wait for the weekend! | ||
| Treysmagna |
I have a 2000 FLHT and I have put over 100K miles on it, I also have a SPortster and a DR650. Every one of the bikes is different and you have to learn how you can ride them and what their limitations are. The Uly has few limitations. I don't think you will have a problem. I road my FLHT on the Dragon a few years back and cant wait to take the Uly there. I think I will enjoy it much more. I love my touring bike, but it really is only a big toy now because I ride the Uly every day. I do wish that Buell would come out with a fully faired sport touring bike now. I would buy one! | ||
| Ratbuell |
I also came from an HD touring bike ('96 FLHP), to the Uly. Granted, I've always had Buells in the garage...but for a "main bike" and the household "cruiser", the Uly took the FLHPs place. I don't miss the FLHP one bit. As you've noted - they're different. And that's what has to drive your decision - how do you want to sit? Ride? Handle? As noted, the Uly is much more interactive - you do more on the Uly than on an FLH. The FLH, you sit and stretch out. Chill and cruise. The Uly...you (at least, I) enjoy more. You do more. You move around. The bike pushes harder...or at least, it's that little voice in your head that's begging you to let it  You are more exposed - a fullface is a MUST; ATGATT is strongly recommended because you don't have a fairing; you don't have crash bars. I have two windshields for my UlyX - the stock (short) setup, and a CeeBailey 16" that I run in winter. The CB is as good as any Road King windshield I ever plopped my lanky ass behind; I *have* to take it off when it's above 50 degrees because it blocks ALL the air. The stocker...it puts me in the wind. But, it's *clean* air, no buffeting, no turbulence. If its creature comforts that get you...buy a throttlemeister and an iPod, and stick a hunting-jacket-zipper-thermometer on the dashboard What it comes down to, though, is you. What are you going to do with it? What do you need it to do for you? And...does it *do* that for you? But to answer your question directly...I rode the Uly in a product knowledge course in '06, at Vegas International Speedway. It impressed me...a LOT. But, I didn't "have" to own one, not then. I liked it, and it was very impressive...but I didn't pat myself down looking for the credit card or checkbook. But the more I rode one - on roads that I know, in situations I was familiar with - the more I liked it. Now that I own one, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love it. And, my wife likes it too - when we ride 2-up, she's comfortable...and THAT is as important as anything. It was also the driving force behind selling the FLHP - as soon as she said "we don't need the police bike anymore"...it got sold. Literally, that day. And I haven't looked back since. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
one of these??  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I traded my 2000 Road King for the Uly. Best move I ever made. I ride more, the wife thinks its more comfortable, I ride more, it hauls more gear...I ride a LOT more I'm not a big fan of the stock fly screen. I tend to ride without it or I put a my Cee Bailey's on when it gets cold or rainy. I would love to have a 2010 model with all the updates but fire is still burning bright in my '06... I've had it for just over 3 years now and its got over 42,000 miles on it. Not to bad for living in Central Ohio.  | ||
| Frito |
Stellaglide sez "Thanks a lot, and Frito I think you owe me one on that deal" I'm confused, what am I missing??? | ||
| Stellaglide |
Thanks for all the great replies! I think the fact that I don't NEED another bike is what's stopping me from pulling the trigger. I just want something different and I want something more sporty than the FLHX. My buddy has a Wide Glide and a BMW 1200GSA. He rides the HD 10% and the the BMW 90%. We have talked about riding off-road, out west and maybe even a trip to Alaska. I've been on the Dalton Highway and up to Prudhoe Bay but would not consider doing it on the HD. I like the BMW GS, but it doesn't provide near the level of "sport" of the Uly, not to mention the price and maintainence costs. I live about 250 miles from good twisty riding so just to get to the fun stuff it's a 4 hour ride on flat interstate. I told my buddy after the second test ride that if I lived close to the twisties and good off-road riding I would be buy it tomorrow. The creature comfort comment and weather issues have more to do with the 4 hour interstate ride to get to the fun stuff than actually riding the fun stuff. Frito - maybe I'm mistaken but did you buy your 08XT from 4 Rivers HD buy auction? If so I had my bid entered (a good bit higher than it sold for) and watched it count down to 0 secs and just couldn't hit the submit bid button. If you were not the one that won the auction then forgive me. | ||
| Babired |
sounds like you want another bike but not ready for it. How about a KLR 650 have you ever rode one of these? Smaller, cheaper, with a huge aftermarket parts supply. I was a cruiser rider until I got an old Yamaha Seca, after that the cruiser collected dust in the garage, I sold it a short time after. | ||
| Frito |
Stellaglide, Yep I did indeed get the last XT from 4 Rivers HD. Now I know who to blame for me winning the auction. I told the wife it wasn't my fault since I bid with 27 seconds to go........ Just a little salt in the wound.  40 bucks would have beat me out. I rode it home yesterday. 246 miles to NE Arkansas. Seemed to suprise the staff. The salesman acted shocked when I asked if there was something wrong with it. He said no. I told if there wasn't anything wrong with it, it wouldn't be on a trailer, it would be ridden. Just wore my rainsuit for ~50 miles. It's ready for the 1K service now. | ||
| Frito |
If ya want a cheaper auxillary bike I'd make ya a deal on a '09 KLR. It complemented my bagger well, it just wasn't quite what I wanted. | ||
| Stellaglide |
Frito - PM sent. | ||
| Dcc46 |
i was riding a 08 streetglide when i bought my 06 x ,i thought the uly was the perfect bike for me on paper. but when i got it home it did take some getting used to, first off going from foward controls to (i swear the pegs still feel like there back by the rear wheel) and the seat height (omg i can just get the toes of one foot down)the steering lock (how the •••• am i gonna make a u turn) etc... after a few hundred miles none of the above were a factor and i ended up liking the bike so much i just got rid of my flhx all together and got the 10 xt .i have to post a pic of the windscreen on my 10 ,it has a recurve at the top and i get 0 wind buffeting on my helmet. all i miss now from my flhx is the radio. dave | ||
| Palladin |
I had a roadking before the XT..plenty of k's on it. Yeah it was great..the King..like a sofa on wheels, good wind protection, all that...but the XT is a real motorbike..not a cruiser..you just need to wail on it, period. If you crave more protection..get a subaru, if you want to ride a bike that is a real bike in everyway..get a XT..pretty simple really | ||
| Tootal |
I ride a Uly and a Road Glide. Both have their places. Of all the Harley baggers the Road Glide will out handle them all. Everybody with a bat wing that rides the RG can't believe how much easier it is to ride in the twisties. The frame mounted fairing gets all that weight off the handlebars and really improves the handling. I take a lot of trips with friends that wouldn't even think about taking a gravel road, let alone a jeep trail. I'll take the RG and sit on the ez chair and enjoy the scenery yet I can still wick it up and leave them behind when the road gets crooked. When I'm alone then the Uly is my choice. In Colorado I was heading up to Monarch pass when I saw a sign for Old Monarch Pass. I went back and saw a dirt road heading straight up the mountain. Even though I've been riding dirt for 41 years I still had to think twice about trying that road. I finally decided that I was going to give it a shot and nailed the throttle and, well, it was just so EASY! I was a believer from there on.   | ||
| Caddypat |
since i got mine,i get into trouble on the clumsy bagger style bikes.i find you must approach life at a much more sedate pace when your not on a buell.in fact im putting a sidecar on my oldwing just to keep myself out of trouble.lol.pat |
