| Author | Message | ||
     Jules |
I've been offered a straight swap. It involves exhanging my 1125R for a (very) low mileage Ulysses... I must admit I've always wanted one so I am tempted. I recently bought a ZZR1100 (ZX11) so the need for power/speed can be satidfied through that and the Uly will handle more than adequately for my needs.. I realise that this is a Uly forum so there may be a little bias, but what do you think? The Uly has only 1500 miles from new, a fair few less than my R, it's got a few of the usual upgrades on it. It is 3 years older than my 1125R (2006 to my 2009). I wouldn't change the 1125R for any other bike, but I've always hankered after a Uly so this is a tough call.. | ||
| Froggy |
I posted my thoughts about this on your thread in the 1125board. I don't want to get shot, so I won't be reposting them here  | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Went over and read what Froggy posted on the 1125 board. Largely agree. At least go for a 2008 or up. Even the 07 had better springs, and turning radius. If it were me.... and I really wanted a Uly(And of course I'd want a ULY!!!), it would have to be an 08 or up, to trade away an 1125. If not in totally in love with the Kawi, see you if can trade / sell it. There are lots of them out there if you want one again later. Buells are awesome bikes, and while cheap right now, will become short in supply... Good luck with your decision | ||
| Ourdee |
I haven't read the other thread. I think you would be getting the short end of the stick. Turn the 1125 into a tourer with high bars. Put beads on the seat, and some racks and bags on the back. | ||
| Jules |
I don't want to get shot LOL.. I'm away for the weekend on the 1125, I'll see if that re-awakens my love for the bike...which I suspect it will.. Interesting to hear that there were changes to the Uly in 2007/2008.. I didn't know that.. Thanks | ||
| Froggy |
Huge changes to all the XBs in 08, especially the X. One other guy in the UK recently had his 06 Uly stolen, replaced it with a 2010 Uly and couldn't believe the difference. There isn't much on the bike that remained unchanged over the 5 model year run. | ||
| Buelet |
I've got an '06 X & an '09 XT (wifes)... I like my '06 WAY more than hers. If I were going to replace my '06, then it'd be with another '06/'07... Unless MAYBE I found a '10. I also have an '08 1125R and it sits most of the time. I like it - BUT it just doesn't have the GRIN factor or the Ulytility. YMMV | ||
| Mnviking |
I took an 1125R for a test ride right before they closed down Buell. Nice bike, wouldn't mind having one in the garage. Doesn't even come close to what my Uly does for me though. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I would never trade my '06 Uly for an 1125R. No way. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Froggy likes to go all froggy about how 08' on are so much better. When we went to get my son a ULY we looked no further than the 07'. I demo'd 08' and was not impressed with the off idle response which was anemic compared to what I am used to on my 06'. My son's 07' is a great ride. | ||
| Jules |
I've just got back from a weekend away on the 1125R and I'm no closer to making a decision. The bike performed perfectly over the ~500 miles. Traffic made the trip "interesting" but the largest proportion of it was covered at speeds around 100mph... I'm not 100% sure that the Uly would have been happy doing ~100mph for long-ish periods.. On the flipside I did spend quite a bit of the trip monitoring the voltages as I know the R stator is a weak point and my voltages at ~5k have dropped from 13.7 to 13 now..BUT.. I stopped for fuel and cigarette breaks 3 to 4 times and the bike always started right back up and the battery voltage light only came on once.. I think I'll probably hang on to the R.. It just goes, stops, handles and sounds fantastic and although I love the looks of the Uly I think I'll wait til next summer and get one as a stablemate for the R....probably...I think.. | ||
| Ourdee |
The trick to my 08XT is the eBr race ECM. Response off idle is better with it. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I would never trade my '06 Uly for an 1125R. No way. Ditto.... the Uly is the swiss army knife of bikes... it does it all and I love my '06 | ||
| Hangetsu |
The Uly will be fine at a sustained 100mph. I do it all the time on those long, empty back-roads in south-central CO. | ||
| Hangetsu |
However, speeds between 80 and 90 seem to be where it's happiest. Faster than 90, and the upright seating position takes it's toll on comfort and stability. Not that it's unstable, but the wind blast at 100 tends to beat me up a bit if I stay there too long. | ||
| Jphish |
Hang' - tried Palmer brackets & wind screen ? Really took the pressure off my fast Black 08'. Not, of course, that I'm advocationg for triple digit cruising... | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
I test rode an R at the time of the "Fire Sale" and loved the motor!..I loved the extra ponies,wished I could have that engine in my Uly!..Not crazy about the crunched up laying forward feel anymore..Awesome bike tho..  | ||
| Glenn |
I'd trade it and when you have to do the fork fluid change, switch the trees for the 2008. Tootal wrote a great how-to and I did and loved the difference. | ||
| Steveford |
I uncrated, set up, modified and then bought the first Ulysses that came into Schoch's H-D/Buell years ago and it's been a good bike but be aware of: throttle butterfly shaft breaks rear wheel bearings come apart stock front pads lead to rotor pulsing fans will croak sooner or later clutch barrel really needs blobbing with grease where it goes into the lever or else it'll crust up and pop you'll need the occasional headlight bulb and the occasional sensor will go kaput which is why I'm on an S1 this month. Pretty much flawless for the first 20,000 miles, little problems thereafter and it's got close to 50,000 on it as it sits now. How the 1125s do as the miles accumulate I don't know. (Message edited by SteveFord on July 04, 2011) (Message edited by SteveFord on July 04, 2011) | ||
| Froggy |
They are. The changes to the throttle and then the IAC make takeoffs smoother and easier. You can always stuff a rag in the intake of the 08 to simulate the roughness of the 06
While it will do it, the biggest difference will be that you have the motor nearly at its maximum. You won't be too far off from redline, and if you have an aftermarket pipe the cops will know too. The 1125R as you know will easily cruise at speeds higher than my IQ, and if the dash was unplugged you would never know you are doing twice the speed limit. The other thing to remember is the fairing and riding positions. The 1125R protects you pretty good from wind and rain, while the Uly points the wind and air directly at your helmet. You can waste money on adjustable brackets and gigantic windshields, but nothing will come close to the windtunnel designed 1125r comfort zone. The leaned over positioning on the R takes the weight off your back allowing you to ride longer without discomfort. The Ulysses keeps you upright, and should come with a backrest. It also turns you into a sail at highway speeds, the additional wind you will fight will ultimately tire you out faster too. The foot pegs keep you legs up nice and tight, and allow you to easily move around. The Uly footpegs are way too low, and can cause cramps. It also makes it harder to move around on the bike, and they seem to be perfect at getting in the way every time you want to use the kickstand. The gear shifter is in a terrible spot too, I find my pants often snag the lever changing my gear when I go to put a foot down. The stock Uly seat is better than the 1125R stock seat, but the Buell Touring seat for the 1125R blows away any Uly seat. All the above make it hundreds of times easier to rack up miles on the 1125R than a Uly.
So does the 1125R.
You also forgot fuel pump wiring, voltage regulator connector, ECM cracking from the seat, steering neck wires breaking, wires chaffing pretty much everywhere, and the more frequent and complex maintenance.
Once I got used to it, I saw all the things wrong with the Uly riding position and now I wonder how the hell I did so many miles on it.
My personal experience says better than the XB by leaps and bounds. The only things that my R has been in the shop for are minor niggles that I can fix, but being its under warranty I'll let them deal with it. My XBs have had enough warranty work done that I probably could have bought a brand new XB cheaper. Good thing it was under warranty for most of it! | ||
| Jules |
I'm glad I asked the question, and appreciate all of the responses. I am dropping the 1125R into the dealer tonight with a charging issue (possibly the stator) but I think once that's fixed I am going to hang on to it. I still think the Uly is a magnificent piece of engineering and I'll definately have one in the near future, but right now I think the 1125R fills my requirements a little better. I was remarkably comfortable on the bike during my trip, I am 6' tall and ~260lb and i didn't feel at all cramped on the bike. I have a double bubble screen fitted and a modified seat and together they just made the whole experience relaxing and fun. I'll have a look around for a Uly to take for a test ride, at the moment my only experience of the older (no offence) Buell mill is from my old X1 and I know things moved on significantly between the tuber and the XB range so I don't think i am being fair to the motor there...although they are rose tinted memories so maybe that cancels each other out. I think next sumer I'll look for another Uly to sit alongside the 1125R and then have the best of both worlds. Thanks for the input everyone. |
