| Author | Message | ||
     Tstone |
I’ve made the saddest, stupidest, mistake of my motorcycling life. I usually trade bikes about every four years. I know a lot of guys think of their bike as a long-term commitment, but I’d decided it was time to trade the Ulysses, even though I have no complaints about it. So off I go doing research and test riding bikes. I found a bike I liked and a good deal on a used low mile unit. I had not test ridden this exact bike, but I’d test ridden it’s competition and felt comfortable that I knew what to expect. I was comfortable making the deal in part because this bike is consistently rated best in class. Yesterday morning I picked up the bike and took it for a test ride. It seemed incredibly smooth. So smooth that the engine almost seemed to die at times. I’d look down at the tachometer and, sure enough, the thing was still running. Other than the original owners screwy adjustments on the suspension and controls it seemed okay. It was a pretty short test ride. By the time I made the 70 mile trip home from the original owner’s house, my butt was hurting, my wrists were cramping and my fingers were going to sleep. Gentlemen…I know people like to give Buell and HD a hard time, but I’ve just came home with what is SUPPOSEDLY a state of the art class leading motorcycle – and this thing is a piece of crap. One journalist said it was the best in its class and the best of its generation. BULL SH!T! This is supposed to be an all day bike and the ridding position sucks. It forces too much weight onto your hands/wrists. Sure, it’s just wonderful…for about 40 miles. Yes, the engine is “buttery smooth” when you’re idling or cruising around town but, guess what happens when you hit highway speeds. The handgrips buzz. Oh it’s not so noticeable at first, but after about 50 miles it gets extremely annoying. 75 miles and your fingers are going to sleep. And yes again, the thing is fast. I’m mean really fast. It has a 6 speed gearbox and will jump from 60 to 90 in a heartbeat. But guess what, the engine has little useable torque SO IT HAS TO HAVE A FRIGGIN six speed box to keep it on the pipe. What a damnable nightmare. How the hell can this happen? How can these things have such a strong reputation? They say the suspension isn’t completely adjustable, but doesn’t need to be because it’s so well developed. What a load of stink. My Ulysses can be dialed for whatever I’m doing. Why is the cycling press covering for these miserable failures? Seriously, can somebody tell me why? Is it because they’re comfortable with the name on the tank? Well I’ve ranted enough and this is too long already, but the worst is yet to come. My wife wasn’t too thrilled with this purchase. I had to apply a full court press to get her to buy in. I haven’t told her any of this, and I can’t tell her that this be-all/end-all motorcycle I’ve been whining about is a piece dung. So the worst thing is….I gave my word I’d sell the Ulysses as a condition of buying the new one. I am absolutely nauseated. I’ve pampered and farkled that bike, it runs like a scalded dog, never given me a microsecond of trouble – and I have to put it up for sale. I’m essentially paying the next owner 6,000 dollars for the privilege of farkling and breaking the bike in right (16,000 miles). Well, I’m sorry for the long post. I hope you guys will forgive me for being such an idiot. But I’ll swear one thing for sure – I’ll never, ever, again politely listen to criticism of a Ulysses. PS: I won’t mention the make & model of the p.o.s because I don’t want to offend anybody, and somebody on here probably owns one. Wish me well boys, I’m off to ride in crap land. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Do you still have the Uly? Can you sell the "best in class" nightmare and keep the Uly? If it were me, I'd be happy to eat crow especially if it meant keeping the bike I loved. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Don't worry about offending, help keep others form making the same mistake! Plus, you never know..there may be some here that have experience with your bike and can help you out. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Don't worry about offending, help keep others form making the same mistake!" Good point, Andy. | ||
| Mnviking |
Brother, I just have to know what that crap-mobile is. Even if you just send me a PM. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Why is the cycling press covering for these miserable failures? Slap a bunch of those high priced ads they buy in the magazines up in the garage . . . perhaps they'll snooker you like they did the magazines. I just went and hugged my Uly. Seriously . . thanks for the report. | ||
| Mnviking |
I just went and hugged my Uly. It takes a real man (or woman) to admit to hugging their ride. Is it okay that I talk to mine? | ||
| Froggy |
Obviously its not a Multistrada 1200, that motorcycle is perfect! My guess is you have an Electra Glide | ||
| Andymnelson |
In all reality...a buddy of mine rides Ducs. Great bikes and all, but I finally own a bike that I can honestly say I do not lust after other bikes! Usually it takes me about 6 months before I'm looking at something else  I LOVE the Uly, and I too shall give it a hug tonight  | ||
| Shagg1970 |
Seriously what model is this super end all be all bike? | ||
| S_palmer |
I almost make the same mistake. I got the urge to trade last fall thought I just had to have a BMW 1200GS, until I went for a test ride. I couldn't wait to get back on my ULY. I still have the urge for new, I ordered a new super tenere, but I don't think the ULY is going anywhere. | ||
| Itileman |
I've had mine for sale, but am taking it off the market. Did a couple hundred miles last Sunday in some of the worst wind I've ever ridden in through Montana and Northern Wyoming. The rain/sleet/hail/snow was bad too. Just rolled a quick 500 miles from home to Whitefish, MT, the back way on two lane though mountain twisties, state forests and rolling foothills. Eight and a half hours in the saddle and arrived fresh. I haven't been able to find anything to replace it and there aren't many bikes you can take out in the wind conditions that are prevalent here. | ||
| Trevd |
Keep your Uly, sell the other bike. Life is too short to be riding a bike you don't love. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Obviously its not a Multistrada 1200, that motorcycle is perfect!" I lust after those bikes in my heart. It looks perfect, but those darn valve adjustments are not perfect. They are scary. Even just at 15k, for the riding the snot out of bikes we do now, just plain scary. And besides, a MS would not be buzzy. Would it? | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
It takes a real man (or woman) to admit to hugging their ride. Is it okay that I talk to mine? Thanks for acknowledging the fairer gender, Mnviking. I hug and talk to mine often. These are not soul-less creatures we ride. Thank you Erik! | ||
| Froggy |
15k is about 3k more than the valve schedule on a proper touring Buell. I don't see what the big deal is over it. Yes it is one more thing to have to do, but its not like your bike will be down for 5 weeks to get it done. Also, I test rode the Multi, no buzzing. If you want something that shakes and buzzes, get an air cooled Buell. | ||
| Mnviking |
My wife rides the honda cafe racer that I built for $600. She has a heavier wrist than I do. Lots of respect for the lady riders out there. (B you get extra points for riding anything crafted by EB!!) I doubt young Thomas is talking about an ElectraGlide based on the "too much weight on the wrist/hands" comment. The riding position wouldn't be causing that on any cruiser-like bike. Plus HD rarely (if ever) gets any praise from the media. Can't be an HD. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"If you want something that shakes and buzzes, get an air cooled Buell." It does shake, but that's what V-twins do. Proper gloves help with any discomfort with that. Buzzing, not so much. Thats what the versys did. Our beemer hums. The triumph hummed as well. To each his or her own but but I am so happy the XT brought my hubby over to the darkside. He loves Buells now! 1600+ miles later in 2.5 days on my bike, he wanted one for himself. His bikes were a lil' too much like sewing machines for my liking, but that's just me. Personal pref, dif strokes for dif folks. See, even under the same roof you can have tastes that are way different, respect others choices, and still...gasp...get along. Learned that from my mom and pop. I grew up riding shiny purple Rupps and metrics of all colors of the rainbow in the summer, and all bombardiers all the time in the winter. Never had a v-twin till I was all growed up (if y'all call what I am pretty much now, THAT. I sure don't). I appreciate the powerplant in the liquid cooled Buells but the 1125 style bike does not work for me for more than 25 minutes at a time no more. Yep, I know my limits! (Message edited by fltwistygirl on May 08, 2011) | ||
| Ulynut |
Maybe you can convince the wife to let you keep the Uly and sell the Triumph.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Tom- maybe the Uly was a better bike for you, but I wouldn't write this one off so quickly. Different handlebars, grips, bar end weights or a bar snake, etc. might make the ergo's and ride a lot more suitable for you. Give it a while; maybe it'll grow on you, maybe it won't. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Well that's the oddest, pitch I've heard to sell a Uly. but strangely I want to buy it despite the fact that I already have one | ||
| Panhead_dan |
me too! | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Froggy, Apparently you only read every third word of Tstone's post. High rpm and buttery smooth is not any v-twin made and not even your perfect for everything beloved 1125 is buttery. Not an Electraglide, otherwise he would have been telling you how balanced it is for being such a porker of a bike. Plus you'll not find any articles in Cycle World, Motorcyclist or others saying what a perfect bike an Electraglide is. Probably as Court points out about ad revenue wagging the magazine editor's ass is that Harley doesn't even have to advertise much in their rags to sell them so the rags always dis the Hog. Multistradas cost so darned much because Ducati pays the rags beaucoup for about 5 full page ads each month pushing them. No matter what kind of wilted hard-on you've got for Harleys, they sell themselves. The Electraglide Street Glide is the best selling motorcycle in the USA. I'm through buying heavyweights but Electraglides are still a beautiful motorcycle and I'm only one of hundreds of thousands who apparently agree with me. Must be an Electraglide my ass. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on May 08, 2011) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
T-stone, How well did that Rotella syn 5W-40 perform for you. All season use? | ||
| Uly_man |
Tstone. The press, most of the time, are not real world motorcyclists. They tend to asses a bike, on a new model launch, via a few rounds of a track and silly comparisons, sports bikes get hit the hardest, of older bikes. It is just me but most of the time I find that they are hardly worth the price of the magazine and that is a lot these days. They also, because of this, have had a hand in the demise of Buell and other bikes. A bike is like no other product. You can buy 2 bottles of JD, 2 telephones, 2 TVs or 2 pairs of jeans, etc and they will be the same. Not the case with bikes. Even 2 in the same showroom may not run/handle the same. I know I had it with the Uly. A new/used bike needs time to set up, 3 months for me, for the owner to get the best for what they want from it. (Message edited by uly_man on May 08, 2011) | ||
| Buellerxt |
I agree with you, Electraglider. The Electra Glide is a great motorcycle. I put 98,000 very enjoyable miles on a 2000 FLH Classic and thoroughly enjoyed the bike. They are even better today. I doubt I'll get another heavy weight bike but if I do it will be another Electra Glide. Never say never! | ||
| Tootal |
Well I agree with others, sell the Wundersled and keep the Uly. We all make mistakes, just correct it. As for Froggy, the Duck is great if your legs are sawed off. I sat on one the other day and said no thanks. I'd be cramped up riding that thing. I'll keep the stretched out Uly thank you! Oh, and if I ever pull up next to you at a stop light on my Harley I'm going to blip my throttle and suck your little ass down the carburetor!  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Oh, and if I ever pull up next to you at a stop light on my Harley I'm going to blip my throttle and suck your little ass down the carburetor!"  | ||
| Portero72 |
This has jack-all to do with anything, but there are precious few inmates on this forum that I would like to sit down and have a drink and conversation with. EG is one of them. Love that guy! (Wiping away a single manly tear) | ||
| Uly_man |
I was sat in traffic next to a Glide once. While looking at it I felt something was not quite right. After another look I noticed that the BIKE was in sharp view but the ENGINE was not. This was because the engine was vibrating so much it was just a blur. It was a very strange thing to see and almost hypnotic. Is that normal? |
