| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
Peter Egan (writer in Cycle World and other magazines) mentioned back in 2009 that he finally got around to purchasing a 2009 Ulysses after the closure announcement. In the latest edition of Cycle World (February 2011), he finally says something about his Uly in his "Leanings" column. He says it's become his "go-to" motorcycle in his collection.  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
He said it is his daily rider if my memory serves me. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Yup, was a good write up! | ||
| Sfarson |
Thanks for the lead. Will look forward to reading it. He's one of my favorite writers. | ||
| Hooper |
Don't know if it's on purpose, but both Cycle World and Motorcyclist seem to have had a little bit of Buell in each issue since October, including an interview with Erik now that he is out of his non-compete. If it's intentional on their part, I say "GREAT"! Even if it isn't, I say, "GREAT, but why didn't you give this company the same amount of exposure in previous years!?" | ||
| Hughlysses |
It does seem like the motorcycle press has given Erik more good press after the closure than they did before. Egan himself did an article on an extended test with an 06 Uly a few months after the bike was introduced, touring the mountains of western Virginia. He apparently really liked the bike, but he didn't get around to buying one until right after the closure. It'd be interesting to know how many people are like him- they always were interested in Buells, but for whatever reason never got around to owning one until the massive discounts after the closure. I wonder how many of those people would have become die-hard Buell fans if they'd owned one sooner? | ||
| Johndb |
I've always wanted a Buell, especially after running into two touring couples on a ferry boat in Door County a few years back. The younger couple had a black Uly (other couple had a 'wing), and I struck up a conversation. At the time, I had a VFR, but knew a Buell was in my future. When Buell was shut down, I decided that I'd better get one while I could. My 2006 Ulysses had only 1,100 miles on it when I bought it in mid 2010. Love it! | ||
| Andymnelson |
I have loved Buells since I was in high school- I remember drooling over the S1s (just after high school)....then a buddy got an S1 with all kinds of carbon fiber and man was I hooked! I finally bought my first Buell in July of '08 ('03 XB9S), then bought my wife (then girlfriend) a Blast in June of '09, bought me an X1 in August of '09, then a Uly in June of '10....I'm hooked. I loved them (and rode them) before the shut down, and I still do after the shutdown! | ||
| Tastroman |
I became interested when the XB line came out but never had the funds. My ULY purchase coincided with a decision I had already made which was to purchase my 1st new bike. As luck had it Buell went under when I was trying to decide what to get and the close out deals tipped the scale. Not really as I did not even have a plan B.} | ||
| Ratbuell |
'99 M2 did me in, in late '98. The rest is history. (Infamy?) Current stable is a 95 S2, 98 S1W, 06 UlyX...and an 09 CR that I needed like a freakin' hole in my head but couldn't turn down when the fire sale happened...and damn, I'm glad I have no self control because that is one HELL of a motorcycle! | ||
| Bartimus |
I read the article also, and felt compelled to write in to the mag. Peter Egan stated that he had to bring the Uly in to the shop for an oil change and a drive belt adjustment. Really? A drive belt adjustment? How do you adjust the drive belt on an XB? I could understand if it was a Tuber... | ||
| Paralegalpete |
someone should also let him know about the comfort kit and remap that reduced the fan run at shutdown | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hopefully Steve Anderson will fill him in on tall seats, ECM programs, Comfort Kits, parts from Erik Buell Racing, and the lack of belt adjustments. | ||
| Kenm123t |
He must mean primary chain adjustment | ||
| Uly_dude |
Ever since the Uly came out, I had been checking it out closely, but there were always a couple things I was waiting for them to improve. Over it's 4 yr. run Buell started addressing them, but the fuel capacity and tire selection always held me back. But when the closure was announced, that is when I decided to sh#t of get off the pot. Picked my 06 up last spring and so glad I did. | ||
| Jlnance |
I say, "GREAT, but why didn't you give this company the same amount of exposure in previous years!?" I suspect it has to do with the fact that HD owned them. Now that they have parted ways, it isn't an issue. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I suspect it has to do with the fact that HD owned them. Now that they have parted ways, it isn't an issue. Promoting Buell Motorcycle Company might have offended other manufacturers (i.e.- magazine sponsors) as well. Now that Erik is on his own, that's probably much less of an issue. | ||
| Gunut75 |
The moment they came out I was interested.I even test rode a black Cyclone at Uke's HD in Kenosha. I never ended up buying one, and at the time I was partying my arse off. Probably better that I didn't. I would buy cheap jap bikes that I wasn't afraid to wreck. Finally got my 05 Bolt 3 years ago. Unmolested (at least when I bought it), and "brand new" clean. Now?..........................just miles of smiles. It's that old saying "If I'd have known better, I'd have done this YEARS ago".  | ||
| Eulysses |
It was a freak thing for me that I own a Uly. My picture of a Buell was a big headlighted bike...then a couple beadie eyes. That was it! I was hanging with a Harley bud drooling on a V-rod (disgusting) and wandered into the back of the HD shop...and low and behold...something that looked, well, right. And would fit me. Asked if I could sit on it...wow...it fit. Sales guy said it had a high grin factor. Hmmm...couple days later I went for a rocket ride on one. Burned up a dirt road too...had to know. That did it. My buddy bought one too. Grin factor...just says it. Hopped on couple days ago...had been sitting out the NW rain and cold for a couple months. STARTED! Road around a little to get my mojo back (felt so good)and road it up on the trailer (first time...usually push it)...now sitting in RV park in Hawthorne NV on way to Yuma sun. Euly | ||
| Drunk_uncle |
I was first hooked on Buell back in 98 when the factory came to a motorcycle show in Ft Worth, TX. I went like 4 or 5 times. After Honda's super safe and slow factory rides, speeding and avoiding the cops with Erik's boys was awesome and I need to be a part of these guys. Bought my first brand new bike in Jan 01. I bought a year end close out 2000 X1 Lightning and loved it!!!! | ||
| Court |
>>>>I was first hooked on Buell back in 98 when the factory came to a motorcycle show in Ft Worth, TX. That was a great show that provided at least 4 of my most memorable Buell moments. 1) It was freezing, well below freezing, when I left Kansas. 2) I lost an AdSis face shield off an Arai helmet in the Arbuckle mountains about 1am. 3) Isolators gave out and my test bike was completely rebuilt while suspended from the awning of the Buell trailer. 4) I had a rear shock break in half on the about Ardmore on the way home (note: it was a test shock) 5) I had a sidestand switch failure the next morning about 6am . . . . . after getting all suited up in the 19oF weather. But . . it was a FABULOUS event! Did you go on the test rides? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Demo'd a Buell for the first time at the Kansas City Harley manufacturing plant's first open house. It was a Thunderbolt or Cyclone. I wasn't used to the hammering torque and the demo was a group ride and was at the limit of my abilities at the time. The motor seemed like it was trying to escape the bike and I told my wife that I would own a Buell some day. We've got two ULY's now. | ||
| Twobuells |
Someone needs to Introduce Peter Egan to BadWeatherBikers | ||
| Hughlysses |
Well, Steve Anderson also writes for Cycle World, is a member of BadWeb, and actually worked for Buell, so HOPEFULLY he has done so. Hmmm, maybe a PM to Steve would be worth while... | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Can I read the article online? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Not sure- I think you can get a preview of Cycle World online that lets you read like ~4 or 5 pages. I remember someone posted a link when the Barracuda 2 article came out. | ||
| Santa |
I too bought mine after Buell closed. I had been a fan for many years from the seat of a perfectly good BMW. I had test ridden several Buell models over the years and favored the Ulysses. Not feeling the time was right to buy another bike I waited too long. I wasn't sure I would be able to keep the dust off one of the bikes if owned two again. I found several new Ulysses but felt they wanted too much for and 09. I found a 09 with 1,000 miles on it online and bought it for $7500. Other than a little incident with the great front breaks it has been the most fun I've gotten out of $7500. | ||
| Tootal |
I was riding a Cagiva Gran Canyon and loved it but the seating positions left something to be desired. Seat tilted forward and you keep sliding into your underwear!! Great handling, a Duc motor and a 6 speed!! I rode up to the Harley dealer to get a part for my Geezer Glide and I see the Uly. What's this?! I have always loved the Buell's but they're like sitting on a mini bike! I threw my leg over the TALL seat and WOW, it fit me! I was offered a test ride so I took it and it's so different from the Cagiva in how it makes power and how it handles. Well the dealer didn't know what a Cagiva was and had no interest in trade so I waited. I finally found one at another dealer that was a demo and I talked them into a price I couldn't believe they accepted so I had no more excuses! Riding the Cagiva side by side with the Uly was interesting. Two bikes so close yet so far away. The comfort of the Uly won out and I sold the Cagiva and I've never looked back! I had actually rode a Buell a long time ago. Dale Walksler of "Wheels through time museum" fame use to have a dealership in Mt Vernon IL. I was waiting for them to finish up some warranty work on my Harley when he asked if I'd like to take a Buell for a ride. I can't remember the model number but it was an old iron head four speed. You think a Uly is geared tall, holy crap! You had to slip the clutch all the way through an intersection. It vibrated and burbled through town but when I got out in the open the torque and the handling were impressive. Just look at a turn and it started leaning! I wicked it up on the interstate and then flew up the off ramp and touched those six piston binders and stopped right now! I should have bought that thing but I already had a K100 RS Beemer and a new Harley so I didn't, but I will always remember how impressed I was at that machine. (Message edited by tootal on January 20, 2011) | ||
| Uly_man |
I looked at a Buell, about two years after they come onto the market, but the issues with them were just were something I could not work with. Atrocious reliability problems with them here in the UK. The Uly is a bike of "happenstance". A bike designed to take advantage of the new "adventure market" by using the base XB frame with a few, but not many, extra bits. But its those bits that make the bike so very good. It is pure luck, on Buells part, that the X worked out so well. It is just a shame that they not able benefit from it now. Buells are already in that special area but the "Ugly" is in a world of its own. Oh and bike jurnos. For the most part you may just as well take advise from me because I know f+ck all as well. (Message edited by uly_man on January 21, 2011) | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Uly's are NOT ugly! They are beautiful, I just love them. But then a sharp looking KLR is a good looking bike to me. My XT with side cases looks like an Apache helicopter from the front to me. Those bags looking like rocket pods or something. Maybe they are not flowing gown wearing Eye-Talan's, but more like the tom boy chick, you just know is hot as balls, and will take you on the ride of your life. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've always believed the ULY to be a sharp looking bike. It's those stretched out choppers that are butt ugly to me, especially most of those bikes built on that American Chopper show. Love that show but wouldn't give them a plug nickel for any of their crappily built bikes. I also think that those big seated scooters look awful, like the Burgman. | ||
| Tootal |
Well I had to go out and buy the cycle world mag and read the column. Sounds like he fell in love with his Uly. Big surprise!! Later in the mag I noticed Ducati had their new bad azz bike. Holy crap, the muffler is under the engine. Those Italian's think of everything!!  | ||
| Ratbuell |
Well, I knew I liked Buells because I bought one in '98. In '02 I went on my first demo ride, in Daytona. Rules are: don't pass the engineer..Don't pass the engnineer. Do NOT pass the engineer. PASS an engineer? I couln't even SEE an engineer  That, was when I felt a connection to the company. | ||
| Wbrisett |
My Buell story is interesting. When I got back into riding after a 17 year lay-off, I wanted a touring bike. I ended up buying a 2004 BMW RT. I started riding with a bunch of the local BMW riders and would take my daughter all sorts of places on it with them. My wife, who had always thought about riding, decided it was time for her to get a bike if she was ever going to not stay home since I couldn't take both on trips. After some looking around, we found a Blast and my wife learned to ride on it. When I had to go get parts, at the Harley shop, I was intrigued by the Uly. After reading as much as I could on the bike, I rode one and decided that it would be an awesome bike for me. When I needed a bike for everyday riding (My RT was starting to get into the 50K mile range and riding it daily didn't seem like it would extend the life of it).  Then fate entered the picture. My wife found the perfect bike for her (a lowered 2004 BMW R), and we got ready to sell the Blast. I placed the Blast in the shed, put an ad on Craigslist and within 48 hours had somebody who wanted to buy it. I was out of town, and my wife was going to handle the transaction. I accidentally left the Blast on when I put it in the shed, the battery died, and so she ran to HD, picked up a new battery and put it in the bike. They guy bought the blast on-site. The following Monday, we met for lunch and returned the battery to HD. I was looking at the Uly and some sales guy actually came over and started talking to me. He knew nothing about the Uly, but said he would make me an offer on it. So, we talked price and my wife said I could buy it. Thus, I went in to return a battery and came out with a new 2007 Uly. The Uly has been my main bike for quite some time now and I rode it with my daughter to and from Austin, TX to homecoming last year. When the CR came out, I fell in love, but just couldn't part with the money. However, when news came that they were closing down Buell, I rushed out to buy one. I still don't get to ride it as often as I like and occasionally talk about selling it because it sits more than it gets ridden, but I can never do it. Both my Buell bikes are things that I'll continue to ride until they finally give up the ghost. Wayne |
