| Author | Message | ||
     Bsafe |
Hi Guys, My first post (lurking for the last month or so). I'm getting the itch to buy a Ulysses for my commute back and forth to work, which is in excess of 100 miles a day. More specifically, I have my eye on a low mileage 2007 that looks really clean. I have searched quite a bit on this board and am aware of the sub par rear wheel bearings and the potential for failure of the crank. Those issues are concerning, but I'm willing to take my chances. What I would really like to know about is the longevity of the motor (crank issues aside). I'm coming off a 2004 BMW 1150R with 164K miles and would love to hear from any of you folks that have racked up serious mileage on your X models. I like to ride my bikes until the wheels fall off. My Beemer treated me well, but it's time for a change. A co-worker, who back in the day owned an S3 touring model thinks I'm insane for considering a Buell. He had an oil pump gear? failure at 23k miles that trashed the engine. Bike was out of warranty by little over a month and Buell refused to repair it. He told me it was the worst bike he has ever owned blah blah blah, and he curses Buell and Harley ever since (quite vocally I might add). Anyway, different topic for a different day. I guess I'm just trying to convince myself that a Buell won't let me down. Thanks and great site. Bill | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
A lot of peeps on here are at or above 60,0000 miles on their Ulys. There is a Uly owner info "Sticky" at the top of Big Bad and Dirty that should answer most of your questions. My question to you is, are you in Ritchie County? | ||
| Desert_bird |
If I recall correctly, Dr Greg turned over 100K miles on his '06 12X - then he went to the dark side (can you say rigatoni?). I'm not aware of anyone with a Uly going much above that. Not so much because they won't' do it, but more due to the fact that XB series hasn't been out as long as your '04 beemer. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'd be curious what the costs were to get that BMW to 164K miles. Most any bike can keep running forever given you fix things along the way. | ||
| Reepicheep |
His beef was legit with that pinion gear. But it was also fixed by the time the Uly came out. That tells you two things... The bike isn't perfect. From what I gather though, neither are recent BMW's. Buells eat wheel bearings, but at least their final drive doesn't catch on fire, and they aren't hiding weak fork castings that lead to spontaneous endo's. :0 It also tells you not to depend on Harley Davidson to do the right thing by you. They won't. You are on your own (with us, who support you better than HD ever could anyway). Though credit where credit is due, now that they have to actually solve the problem rather then micromanage Buell, their parts situation has gotten a lot better. Or maybe my local dealer just got less stupid (two ownership changes recently). Hard to tell. On the other side of the coin, we can tell you exactly what you need to know to make a Uly go a LOOONNNG time. For example, if your buddy with the S3 was participating here, he would likely have known to drop his oil pump and check that gear by 20k miles. And you can score a heck of a nice Uly for $5k to $8k. You will likely spend that much on just luggage and accessories for a GS. A GS probably costs as much as 3 Uly's.... so the GS *better* last a LOT longer. Finally, a Uly really does satisfy a niche BMW won't touch. Cheaper and simpler, but not "defeatured" simpler and cheaper like what BMW would force on you... more of a "less is more" elegance of simpler and cheaper. Both are great bikes. Even if my crank failed tomorrow, the 2007 I bought with side bags for $5k with 10k miles on it has been an insanely good value and great experience for me. $5k. Thats stupidly cheap and is "crappy bike" money, and the Uly is a stupidly nice bike. I can see somebody with a LOT of money wanting a GS. But I can't see how any good condition Uly for under $5k to $8k can be an even remotely bad deal for anyone. (IMHO as a Uly owner and Buell enthusiast who likes all sorts of bikes). (Message edited by reepicheep on February 09, 2012) | ||
| 7873jake |
I would agree with Reepicheep. (I hate when I do that!  ) My cost of admission in to the world of Buells was so low that even if I puked a crank, I could rebuild it and still have a nicer bike than nearly anything on the used market selling for double what I've got in to mine. Your concern in all of this 'logic'(?) is wanting to commute 100+ miles a day. I wouldn't fear it now that I have executed the changes that most have outlined here (bearing replacement, 77 connector, belt replacement, on and on) but in all fairness, I went on several long, multi-week business trips before doing many of those mods and never once encountered a problem. I got out and back many times and it never missed a beat. My .02: you could do a lot worse in the used market right now but it would be tough to do much better unless you found a newer Beemer that would allow you to still tap in to your working knowledge of that brand /model. Like you said tho, if its time for a change, the quality and quantity of fun to be had on the Uly pays you back exponentially. I own an '07 (build date Sep '06) Jake | ||
| Schwara |
I am nowhere close to the 100K mark, but unless I hit the lottery and E.B.R. comes out with a Uly replacement in the next 3-4 years I'll be getting close. That being said, even if I did have to dump money into the bike to keep her running I could spend quite a bit and the total cost would still be below the cost of a bike that even comes close to competing with what I now have. Someone out here called the Uly a transformer in describing how multi purpose it is and I agree completely. I love the comparison. It does a lot, it is relatively cheap (comparatively), and it is so much fun to ride. Put that together with a community of good hearted people with experience and a willing helping hand ... I can't honestly imagine a better option. A friend of mine bought a very nice brand new touring Yamaha this last fall. He spent a little under twice as much as me and yes he did get a few more bells and whistles, but I offered to let him go around the block once on mine, after a warning of how easily the front wheel can come off the ground of course, and when he got back his only comment was ... "That was fun!". | ||
| Uly_man |
At 164k over 8 years thats 20500 miles a year. The BMW 1150R was designed as a long distance mile muncher. The XB12X is a taller re-work of the other XBs which are a road/sports bike design. If I were doing a 200 mile commute I would buy something that was built for it. The X will do it but not in the same comfort and thats what you need to do these sort of miles. The reason to buy a X is not the same as a 1150R as they are totally different bikes. | ||
| Etennuly |
I used to rack up a lot of miles on my '06. My business changed over the last couple of years so that has slowed a lot. My Uly has 57,000 + miles now. I have not put over 5,000 of those miles on it in the last two years. I have owned many bikes and test ridden a lot more, and as of yet cannot find anything as satisfying as my Uly. I had planned on hitting 100,000 miles next year the way I was going. My plan was then to hang it on a wall in my shop as a tribute to an awesome machine. But things change. Now I look forward to opportunities to ride in moments that I am not working. I think it is Paul56 who has over 100,000 on his '06. There are others. Many of them are too busy riding to post here. But to answer your question, even if it takes me ten more years, I still plan on seeing 100,000 miles on mine. Why not? It runs as good or better than it did before every time out. | ||
| Yo_barry |
I think this engine is pretty bullet proof! I've only had my Uly since Oct and got a screaming deal on it -- 2009, $5,500, 2,300 miles on the ODO! Great bike! It shares the garage with a 2001 S3T, 76,000 miles and a 1999 Sportster, 91,000 miles. I did a top end on the Sportster only because I damaged one of the spark plug holes. Both of these bikes have been boringly reliable. I maintain them pretty well and replace stuff when it wears out but no engine, wheel bearing, or suspension failures. You could do a lot worse than buying a Buell. (Message edited by yo_barry on February 09, 2012) | ||
| Paul56 |
My 06 is stuck on 102,449 miles for the last 2 months as I recover from a broken sternum caused by a hit and run driver. Just finished reassembly of the bike yesterday (to look for hidden damage) and plan to take it out today for a shakedown cruise. Then it's back to work next week with my normal 70 mile commute. I haven't had any base engine problems at all. The most serious issue I had was a broken throttle body shaft at 82k. At the time that required replacing the throttle body, but since then Tootal can supply just the throttle shaft making it a very reasonable preventive repair. As far as comfort goes, ergonomically it is great. Could use more weather protection if you're planning on riding in the rain. Heated grips and gloves make it usable to very low temps. If I had to replace my bike today I'd be looking for another Uly. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Paul56, just curious, how have you done with belts? Great to hear that you came through a hit and run okay and will be back riding!  Did you post about the wreck on badweb? Best to ya'! | ||
| Paul56 |
Thanks, Bueller. I posted about it here as "100k Uly (and me) nearly bit it". I replaced the oem belt at 30k miles. I replaced the next one at 76k (46k accrued). I plan to run the third belt until it fails and use one of the spares. It has 26k on it now and I noticed a few faint cracks running across the width of the back of it while I had it off. I don't wheelie it and really don't hammer on it much, so I've had good luck with belts. | ||
| Bsafe |
First off, thanks Paul for the input. Your 100k plus effort is the kind of info I was looking for. Sorry Wolf but county is Jefferson. E_glider, I suppose I have been fortunate with my BMW. No major complaints. Mainly routine fluids changes and valve checks. Did replace a stator at 60k and the clutch at 96k (pita). I'm sorry to disappoint everyone, but I never experienced the flaming rear drive failures that some folks like to bring up. Uly_man, not sure your description of the R1150R is correct. I think you were thinking of the 1150RT model, which is more in line with a long distance mile muncher. The 1150R is more suited for around town and medium length trips. With a set of bags, however, it made a great commuter and was more than adequate for my 100 mile commute. I believe a Uly will meet my needs as well. Going to look at a few other bikes before making my decision. Thanks again | ||
| Froggy |
All the issues on the Buells are fixable. The oil gear failure the S3 had will not occur on a 07 due to them using a redesigned gear. The wheel bearings on the 09 and older bikes suck, but a 2010 wheel can be acquired and installed and that issue is a thing of the past. There are fixes for everything that can go wrong. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Bsafe, I give my two thumbs up on the Uly as well. It is a great combo of power/flickability/comfort and is FUN to ride. Best of luck to you. Hey, look at Paul's great belt experience! Paul56, I went back and read your accident post and noticed that I commented! CRS? I've read WAY too many motorcycle accident stories. After re-reading it I feel bad for you all over again. The DREADED rear ender and then a loser who drives off and a cop not willing to investigate, and heaven help her, THINK! Cops, in my experience, avoid investigating accidents beyond a 'cursory' look, avoid paper work, look for quick and easy 'causes', and work HARD to keep 'bad' statistics to a minimum. So glad you are healthy and back on your Uly. I wear a bright, reflective belt, diagonally, and am looking for better "SEE ME' options. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I don't bring up the BMW problems to say they are bad, they aren't. I just bring them up to point out that no mechanical system is defect free. Some are better than others, but it's all shades of grey. Its a cool picture though!  | ||
| Tootal |
I was in Rapid City SD. many years ago during the Sturgis rally. I felt so sorry for this Beemer rider. He and his buddy were from Germany and his diff went kabloowy! He showed me the bearing out of it. It was a FAG bearing but looked like it was a FUBAR bearing!! Back then the BMW and Harley dealer were in the same building. So here they sit, waiting for parts for his BMW, surrounded by Harley riders!! It's a good thing they had a sense of humor cause there was a lot of ribbing going on. I think most really felt sorry for them. Chit happens no matter what you ride. Paul, good to hear you're climbing back on! As someone that has been rear ended, I feel your pain. They totaled my Harley but I was much more fortunate as I only had a broken thumb! Ride fast and don't let the bastards get close!! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Bsafe- We liked my (our?) 09 XT so much when an 09 X came thru the dealership, we decided to pare down the herd and sold my City X and his Triumph Thruxton, outfitted it with Givi cases and took both on a trip to the Smokies with our son. I'd make the same choice again today. We've had a couple hiccups along the way, but all warranty stuff or stuff we (and sometimes just me) could fix on our own with the assistance of the badweb. My usual Florida commute is 106 miles round trip, and with proper riding pants to protect you from the heat of the dreaded "Uly leg", the Uly is fine for that daily trip in FL, even in August. My snowbird-esque summertime work commute is 400 miles round trip when I work at the range near my mom's in MN (I spend a night or two), 320 miles when I work at the range near my niece/my old college buddies, and it easily and comfortably accommodates my personal and teaching stuff. Knock wood, I've had more gear (usually rain gear) failures than mechanical failures on those adventures. Paul-Good to hear from you. Even better to hear that you are getting the bike back on the road. Have their been any leads on the bastards that hit you? | ||
| Desert_bird |
Bsafe, Hold on; 164K miles, and no replaced wheel or steerer tube bearings, no electrical issues, no failed motor mounts, no frayed clutch or throttle cables or top/bottom end rebuilds, no blown shocks or seals . . . ?  That's a maintenance record which is pretty darn hard beat. (Message edited by Desert_bird on February 10, 2012) (Message edited by Desert_bird on February 10, 2012) | ||
| Someday |
Desert brd, You forgot to mention it's an '08. | ||
| Bsafe |
Desert_bird, I replaced bearings, seals and sensors along the way. Tires too believe it or not. I consider these items normal routine maintenance. I'm not trying to hide anything, I just did not want to make this a BMW vs Buell discussion like some of the others here who posted would like. If it makes you feel any better, replacing the clutch was a bitch, way more difficult than necessary and a very poor design in my opinion. I simply asked for some input from high mileage Uly riders in order to help with my decision. Paul56 gave me some good info, others not so much. I did find and contact a member on here who has put over 100k on an 07. He was kind enough to email me back and gave what I would consider truthful answers (both good and bad) regarding his experiences. That is all I was looking for. Thanks and B Safe Bill | ||
| Desert_bird |
Ain't a thing, Bill. I have no ax to grind, one way vs. another, and I wasn't trying to be facetious. Only trying to be helpful. Nice to see a (fellow?) rider who has taken the care to get so many miles out of his bike. Nevertheless, I hope you scratch that Uly-itch. DB | ||
| Uly_man |
"Uly_man, not sure your description of the R1150R is correct. I think you were thinking of the 1150RT model, which is more in line with a long distance mile muncher. The 1150R is more suited for around town and medium length trips. With a set of bags, however, it made a great commuter and was more than adequate for my 100 mile commute. I believe a Uly will meet my needs as well." You are quite right it is not. Sorry. I have had two Ulys and both have had some problems. Mainly electrical ones which I think is the main fault with these bikes and can be VERY, VERY hard to track down. Trust me on this one. I am good on electrics and still had some problems. The rest of the bike should not be a problem if you look after it. I would say buy the Uly but keep the BMW, if you can, for a while in case any bugs come up with the Uly. I would also carry a spare belt and have a recovery service deal if I was doing a lot of miles. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Since my name came up, I'll chime in. I WOULD have had nearly 100K miles by now on my '06, but a deer got in the way. I replaced him, and have almost 40K miles on the replacement '06. Yes, I did go to the dark side with the Multistrada 1200, but I still ride the Uly daily for commuting and love it as much as ever. --Doc PS. Only real mechanical problem with the bikes was the spark plug blowout on S/N 044 at 55K miles. | ||
| Ourdee |
Doc, 40,000 on a 6 year old deer is a lot of riding. Do you use a saddle?  Hold on to that bike and try for the 200,000 mark. Get the 2010 wheel and a spare belt for the uly. It does require maintenance, shakes till 2000 rpms, and puts off some heat. The uly is a dream on the highway . It wants to run for 30 minutes or more at a time. Will need a battery tender if used just for 5 minute rides. I used to put 20,000 mi. a year on 250 cc thumpers. Lucky to get 10,000 a year now a days. Uly is a world more comfortable than they were. |
