| Author | Message | ||
     Two_buells |
The weather in southern PA will have highs in the lower 40’s on Thursday and 45 on Friday. My new 2009 Ulysses has been sitting in my garage for 10 days now. I have not ridden it or even started it. The bike only has 9 miles on it so I don’t think anyone has ridden it yet. So I want to ride the bike to work on Thursday but I don’t want my first ride on it to be in the morning rushing around on my way to work. I got home from work today and decided to go on a short shakedown ride. I have not been on a Uly for 22 months. I forgot how tall it was even with the lower stock seat. My 2006 Uly had the tall seat. Note to self; make sure to remember how damn tall this bike is at every stop. I’ve been spoiled riding my lower 1125R. With about a 1 ½ hour window of daylight left I pulled my Arai XD helmet out and I wanted to try the new Bolt jacket I just bought. The damn jacket has two zippers. The little inside zipper came apart while I was trying to zip up the outer one. I couldn’t get the jacket off. It was hard enough trying to zip the jacket while looking through the chin guard of the Arai XD helmet so I took it off and had to take the jacket off over my head like a shirt. I got my old Adventure Jacket and put on my helmet and went into the garage to start the bike. Now the bike has not been running for months. I am spoiled with the rotax engines in my 1125r and Can-am ATV. They fire up quick in any weather. The new Beast didn’t want to start. I cranked it for 5 seconds about 6 or 8 times and the engine finally fired but would only run for about 6 or 7 seconds and die. I started it about 5 more times and it finally did idle and warm up. I went on a short 10 mile ride, adjusted the mirrors, burned my palms with the heated grips, parked it in the garage and the fan came on. I forgot how loud the fan is. Boy I like new bike smell, much better than new car smell. The ride was fun, I can see over cars and large trucks. I can’t wait to put some miles in the beast. Things to remember; The Beast is taller than the 1125R and I must put my feet down, the beast doesn’t rev to 10500 rpm’s. The clutch is not hydraulic. My old Arai XD needs an air freshener after sitting on the shelf for 22 months. It’s nice to have a Ulysses again.  | ||
| Paralegalpete |
good story, I havn't ridden my 09 for 67 days 4 hours and 25 minutes | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
TB and PP-Can't even imagine what it's like to not ride for 3 or 4 months, or longer. Even short vacations without the bikes are dreadful. Guess we southerners need to count our blessings more often. I was sad and missing my Uly after spending a week and a half away from it in MN (the city-x too). Hope warmer weather and dry roads arrive for y'all soon. BeLinda. | ||
| Xb12xmike |
FYI: All next week looks good too. | ||
| Ronmold |
My son missed last summer's riding season up in Wash. state as the Navy sent him to Iraq for 7 mo. But on the bright side his next duty is in....Hawaii!  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Maybe I should start the ULY today as it has been sitting unridden for a couple of months. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Even here in CO I have reason to envy you. we haven't had snow for a while, it's been in the lower to upper 40's and the main streets are all pretty clear. However, the shade from buildings and low nighttime temperatures have kept my parking lot and my street for 100 meters from either side of my driveway covered in sheet-ice. Just getting the Uly out of my parking lot is a leg-breaking proposition. I will need another 50 degree day or two before I can even try. I'm really bummed. | ||
| Hooper |
I haven't been on the Uly in two months, and on ANY bike since November 29. Very psyched that it will be in the 40s and dry on Saturday. Definitely the longest I've gone in 5 and a half years. The Uly didn't want to start last week when it was in the 30s, so it's going back on the tender tonight and hopefully will turn over when its warmer. Harley didn't start either. They need some TLC. | ||
| Froggy |
They need lighter oil. My bikes will crank without complaint down to 15°F. Below that it is stubborn but does it. Hardest part of my commute is my driveway, which is usually covered in ice. If I make it past that, the rest of the ride is easy. I haven't driven a car to work in months. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My Uly is on a tender every night so I can ride it to work daily, even with weather in the 20s. I plug 'er in at night (and park in the shop at work) because it's an '06 with the original battery  She grunts...and *then* starts, but she starts. I have another tender lead hanging from the garage rafters that alternates (I move it each morning, one to the other and back again) between the S2, and the CR. But...there's just too damned much salt on the roads right now. I'm not used to the CR enough to take it out and trust myself ("my self"...control, that is)...and I hate to get the S2 all salty. You can *almost* tell the Uly is orange  | ||
| Wbrisett |
Hardest part of my commute is my driveway, which is usually covered in ice. If I make it past that, the rest of the ride is easy. I haven't driven a car to work in months. That does it. I'm officially giving you hard ass of the year award, because you're crazy.  | ||
| Mnrider |
Over two feet of snow in my yard and 3" of lumpy-bumby ice on the roads up here! I'm riding the snowmobiles. | ||
| Hooper |
Tried to start them today around 50 degrees...they cranked a few times but didn't have the juice to catch. The batteries are just not up to it. Gotta' jump 'em tomorrow. | ||
| Two_buells |
Joe...  You are the man! I have two battery tenders I switch between 3 bikes, an ATV and John Deere Mower. I spent the evening in the garage installing a Garmin Zumo and Sirius Satellite Radio on my Ulysses. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Michael - what Sirius did you use? Did you run it thru the Zumo? We have a pair (his-n-hers) of dock-n-play sirius receivers that we use in the cars, house, and garage...but I'd love to have something for the Uly. Only problem is, since my old Quest II flat out *refuses* to die (and I can still get software and map updates for it), I can't justify the cost of a Zumo 550 just to have BT and sat radio.... One of these days, I need to get a couple solar chargers for the lawn tractor and the New Holland backhoe....but I only think of it when they don't start, and by then it's too late LOL. | ||
| Hooper |
Tried to jump the Uly and the Harley - they no starty. Not even using my car battery. They got a little more juice and cranked a bit, but neither would catch, and then it was all clicks. The batteries both measure 12V, even though both are original from 2006. Is it the summer weight oil? Ugh...how depressing. | ||
| Two_buells |
Joe, here is the set-up on my 1125R http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/471191.html?1246082856 I have a Sirius Stiletto 2 and a XMP3 that I have on a Ram mount and can switch between radios. Before I shell out 200 for the Garmin XM antenna I want to know if I can get the Best of Sirius Channel package first. On my 2006 Uly I had an old Sirius Starmate 12v radio. Its the one under the windshield of the 1125R. I like it cause it has a external volume control just like the Stiletto. Most of the dock and play radios do not have an external volume control. you have to use a remote or go through many menus to find the volume. I'll post some pictures of the new Uly install later. | ||
| Two_buells |
Zumo and Sirius/XM XMP3 radio   | ||
| Two_buells |
Joe, TSS Radio makes a real nice kit to install your radio on the handlebar. It comes with a antenna that has a real short cable. (so you do not have to wrap up 25' of extra cable) you get •Dual 5v/12v power adapter •Satellite Radio Antenna with 6" cable •SUPV Universal Car Dock •Protective Rain Covers http://www.tss-radio.com/professional-motorcycle-i nstall-kit-sirpmk1-p-4430.html |
