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Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 10:50 pm: | 
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Buellyxt-
That is the gist of what we have been told about the wee-strom: capable, yes, but lacked personality. A random Austrian beemer riding guy we spoke with at the Daytona demo rides a few years back suggested we stick with the "more passionate" Buells and said the wee-strom was "a boring old man bike".
Sure glad nobody ever told my manager that. Her wee strom suits her: bright yellow, she loves it, rides it a lot and has it set up for her prosthetic leg. She rocks! |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 09:17 am: |
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Chris,
I've recently gone through the same deliberations. I'm on my second 06 Uly, and at 40k something miles, it just isn't that reliable anymore. Given I like to take really long trips, that's a problem.
I found a used Wee (08 w/ 2500 miles) for about 4k. It's hard to complain about the price. I enjoy the Wee. It's different from the Uly, and depending on the day, I'll feel like riding one or the other. I'm lucky enough to be able to have both, and I'm glad I don't have to choose one or the other.
Anyhow, I think a lot of the answer to your question comes down to what you're going to do with the bike. If you're like me, and you really can't deal with mechanical failures, then the Uly isn't a good option. It will only become more difficult to get parts as time goes on, and as the bike gets older, you will need the parts more frequently.
On the other hand, that isn't as much of a concern for other people. If you're not going to tour on it, and you're always reasonably close to home, then it doesn't matter if it breaks occasionally. |
Panhead_dan
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 11:45 am: |
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A properly sorted Uly won't randomly break on ya.
When I bought mine, a good friend decided he needed a DS and bought a DL1000. It was very reliable until his engine grenaded. My Uly still works perfectly and is ready to go anywhere at any time. |
Chrisrogers3
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 01:27 pm: |
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Thank you guys and gals....
Im still debating the decision. I have a local dealer looking for a brand new leftover DL-1000. I will most likely go that route if I can get a good deal.
Im still thinking about the Uly aspect, and I would hands down go with the Uly in a heartbeat but my big scare is the parts availability issue (not necessarily engine/trans related).... but more so stuff like the accessories, belts and especially frame pucks, (haha yooper71 can attest to my constant need for these when I go off-road).
So maybe I should look to see if there are any new leftover Buells left on the showroom floor somewhere.....
I also do a lot of longer trips (1000mi days), so reliability is an issue (but I carry my own tools and do my own work).
All in all Im still torn! |
Bdrag
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 09:18 pm: |
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Chrisrogers3
There are still some 2009 modles to be had and the price I have seen of late is about $7900 plus the TT&L. Same as I paid for my 2004 in 04.
I think the 2009's are all black.
I tell ya, you would not go wrong with the strom 1000. I have read here where they have no soul or are crap in the wind and they don't handle but its all just ONES opinion. I personally LIKE the bikes handle in a turn with its VERY NUETRAL steering. Its ROCK SOLID in wet weather with the Pirelli Scorpions, Metzeler Tourance, The mich Anekes and even the stock Trail Wings were not bad.
My Strom handles the wind better with the HUGE Krausers on than with them off. I think they act like rudders. They also slow down the transision from left to right in quik flip flop corners. Makes the bike feel more solid, heavy. Cross winds suck on any bike. Now at speed, indicated 135 mph I CAN take the bars and go almost full lock to lock and have the bike stay straight. HAhahaaaaa. Its front end light at speed.
I have put MANY hard miles on the Strom, Like I said, almost 60K. Its got a BULLET PROOF motor. One Trip in the northwest we did one tank of gas at no less than 120 sustained sept for road work stops. Got CRAP milage that tank! I get 2500 to 3500 per rear tire, front tires get about 8500 to 10,000 miles. Play with the tune a tad, remove the secondary throttle plates, adjust the valves every 15K, Chain and Sprokets between 15K and 20K. Keep the cush drive rubbers changed out when they get loose and it will shift like a new bike forever.
I would not fault you for buying one. I love my XB12X and plan on keeping it for many many years. Concours, ST's, Wings, FJR's are just not my style. I like the smaller MECHANICAL feeling rides. Triumphs Tiger is a good ride. So is the KTM but its TALL!
The Strom has been on 3 or 4 road trips every year since 2004 and it has had a fuel issue here and there but HAS NEVER left me stranded, NEVER. Get both and be done! AHhahaaaaaaaa.
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Stellaglide
| | Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2011 - 11:15 pm: |
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If your looking for something that compliments the Uly, consider a Triumph Tiger 1050. I picked up an '08 with less than 5K miles, ABS, OEM hard bags, heated grips, center stand, rear top rack (no box) and hand guards for $7K back in November.
I debated back and forth and finally settled on the Tiger a year after HD shuttered Buell. The Triumph may not be quite as off-pavement worthy as the Uly, it shares the exact same wheel/tire size, but it really excels on the pavement and I've put about 100 miles on hard pack dirt and forest service roads with the stock street Pilot Road tires with no problems.
The overall dimensions, weight, seat height, and engine output are very similar to the Uly and it falls within the same class as the Uly. Not a true dual-sport but of an Adventure/sport/toruing bike.
I've never ridden a Storm so can't comment on it specifically but the 1050 Triumph Triple engine is silky smooth with one of the flattest torque curves out there and the bike is just a hoot to ride.
Best of luck with your decision making. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 07:24 am: |
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A properly sorted Uly won't randomly break on ya.
My experience is that Uly's are very reliable for the first 40k miles. After that, they are less so. Still not awful, but things break. |
Chrisrogers3
| | Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 07:48 am: |
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A properly sorted Uly won't randomly break on ya.
My experience is that Uly's are very reliable for the first 40k miles. After that, they are less so. Still not awful, but things break.
I dont think we should necessarily point at (just) the Uly in the case of 40K miles....
Moving parts and pieces to have certain life expectancies. Things continually break on any bike no matter the brand....Nothing lasts forever. The added bonus to the Uly in that respect was that all of the parts used to be active and used to be cheap. Such is not the case anymore. Which is where the DL-1000 still has ALL active part numbers. Even though the DL-1000 isnt being produced all of the components are still being recycles through the SV series and the tinier Wees and I even think the bandit has a carryover of some parts.
As far as the Tigers go, yeah I would look into one but trying to find parts for those damn things is just as bad as traveling a hundred miles to get a belt for a Uly. No doubt the Tigers are great bikes but things still go wrong. |
Jphish
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2011 - 09:50 pm: |
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I have an 08 Uly & 06 Tiger. Never had any problems getting tigger parts.(However - my dealer is only 25 miles away) Actually the Tiger hasnt needed much, except brake pads & a fuel filter. Oh - yeah & a spare chain...ya can get just about anywhere. |
Royintulsa
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 08:49 pm: |
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Cheap low mileage Uly's all over the country, IMHO, the best buy in used motorcycles in the $5000 range.
People are afraid of them, I think Buell will become a cult brand (even more so) and parts will not be a problem.
What other bike can you get with luggage, two up comfort, torque, cornering, v-twin, wheelies, a sport bike you can take camping.
It is still a great bike, even better cause you don't have to pay full retail plus luggage, race pipe, custom lights, yada yada yada keep it forever. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 09:30 pm: |
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quote:What other bike can you get with luggage, two up comfort, torque, cornering, v-twin, wheelies, a sport bike you can take camping.
Other than the luggage not being OEM option, the 1125R fits the bill more than the Uly  |
Fltwistygirl
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 10:56 pm: |
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"A sport bike you can take camping". Yep! |
7873jake
| | Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2011 - 08:54 am: |
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There' an 1125R Running around down here with the Uly Journey bags 'retrofitted' to it.
Remember, this is a state that struggles with things like voting and writing too many Rx's for Oxycontin. I didn't say it was attractive, just that it had been done. |
Chrisrogers3
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 11:05 am: |
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Alright alright ALRIGHT haha
So as usual common sense has prevailed and I dont think I would be happy with something other than a Buell. After racing and riding them and dealing with every aspect of the bikes I just cannot see myself screwing around with valve adjustments and chain maintenance....
So now the real question is...
WHICH ULY....
Do I find a one tucked away at a dealer and hope to score a halfway decent deal, or do I buy a used one with some farkles?
Any Input?
Thanks Again for talking some sense into me! |
Froggy
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 11:14 am: |
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Here is one, but they are asking way too much for it, but you could get them to something reasonable:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ hashZitem3a63ccf8d7QQitemZ250782480599QQptZUSQ5fmo torcycles |
Chrisrogers3
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2011 - 11:48 am: |
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Froggy I said I wanted a Uly.......
You know, the CR never did appeal to me; love the looks of the R model and will definitely own one again someday but not a CR.
I am hoping to find something in excess of 1000 miles away so I can do a wonderful fly and ride as well. |
Hooper
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2011 - 03:12 pm: |
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HD of Frederick, MD has a red 2009 XT on its showroom with 5,093 miles for something like $7k (I might be wrong). It looked clean to me. Boy, that would be a HECK of a fly-and-ride for you! |
Chrisrogers3
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2011 - 03:26 pm: |
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Hmmm I've dealt with the boys at HD of Frederick in the past. They seemed like a great dealer. I needed a wiring harness for my firebolt and they were the only dealership that had one in stock in the US. They gave me a nice discount and shipped it for free!
Guess I will have to give them a call today and possibly arrange an epic fly-n-ride. |
Datsaxman
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 - 04:06 pm: |
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//
Other than the luggage not being OEM option, the 1125R fits the bill more than the Uly
//
...and other than the 1125 being a lot less comfortable after an hour or two and having a ridiculous seat for two-up.
The backrest and comfy seat - for pilot and passenger - make a huge difference. Can't get the GF or the ten year old comfy on the 1125. Perfect on the X and the XT.
Selling the 1125 soon... |
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