| Author | Message | ||
     Vospertw |
All, I've made several mistakes in my life... Two of them associated with Buells. I was really close to pulling the trigger on a Uly in November 09 but personal issues made me delay. At the time, I also had a GS and wasn't sure what to do with it, so when I finally had the green light for another bike I figured a Uly would be somewhat redundant and found an XB12Ss; probably the most fun I've ever had on a bike. Then... When I had it set up about perfectly, I sold it for reasons other than the bike. But I keep coming back to the Uly which seems about perfect for what I do here in San Diego. However, being out of the fold for a year, I wanted to see how the Buell community was holding up, if any of the dire predictions about parts, etc. ever came to pass, or if there were any other reasons NOT to start looking for a Buell. I mean, other than the fact I sold the previous one with all the manuals, tools, and goodies, dang it. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Harley bought back all Buell's for 5x's the kbb cost. Those left on the boards are the ones whom it had more value then that to. So only about all of us are left! | ||
| Vospertw |
You know just how to make a guy feel better, Terrible! | ||
| Froggy |
My cousin in San Diego is selling his 1125CR, it would be a nice change of pace from all the air cooled lumps you've owned! | ||
| Fordhotline |
We are fine. There are always parts to be had out there. | ||
| Vospertw |
Froggy - you say the kindest things too. Does he know his way around them like you do? One thing I liked about the Uly and Ss, the longer suspension travel was appreciated on some of our mountain roads; they're I paved but not exactly smooth. They didn't have any CR's left by the time I was buying so never had a chance to ride one. | ||
| Vospertw |
Ford, I had a chat with my dad about it when Buell closed. I had already been looking at Uly's at the time. He's a retired farmer and laughed at the idea - his point was that there were more parts available for some of the older machinery than when they were new. Someone is always going to step in and fill the gap. Of course, in this case Harley is involved... | ||
| Froggy |
I'm not too sure how well he knows the bike, it is his second 1125, as he had a 1125R he traded in for a Harley, ended up missing the fun factor of the Buell and then bought the CR out in Arizona and rode it home. I believe he wants something a bit more touring oriented. Oh, I can tell you first hand with my 40k+ miles experience, the 1125 suspension is fantastic when things are smooth, but it will not absorb bumps like the Uly. Parts situation has been the same for the last few years, if anything it is better now in some ways because EBR sells some parts like brake rotors that are better and cheaper than the stock ones. | ||
| Vospertw |
Pretty tough to expect any sport bike with 5" or less suspension travel to cope with rough roads. EBR was ramping up as I stepped away. I knew I was gonna regret it but there were other factors involved. | ||
| Datsaxman |
Vospertw, Remember, Froggy thinks the 1125 is a better offroader than the Ulysses... I had an 1125, and still have a 2006 XB12X and a 2009 XB12XT. The 1125 was certainly faster, but every practical advantage goes to the Ulysses. I have done two 1000+ mile days on the XT, and would not even attempt it on the 1125. Where would I put my stuff? How would I walk afterward? Who would pay the speeding tickets? | ||
| Froggy |
Please quote the post where I said that. The suspension is the biggest thing holding it back offroading, but it does just as good as a Ulysses if you don't mind losing your fillings 
I've done several on my Ulysses, Lightning, 1125R, and 1125CR. There is no difference between them other than comfort, which the 1125 wins hands down thanks to its ergonomics and fantastic fairing that keeps you out of the exhausting wind and soaking rain.
In a bag.
With two legs.
I've never gotten a ticket on either of my 1125s, almost got a ticket on my Blast, got more than a few on my XB and Uly. Perhaps there is something to having the extra power on tap?   | ||
| Vospertw |
Datsaxman, I agree - I thought the Ss was pretty good for what I was doing and the Uly would be even better. Though I used to ride with some guys on 1125's and was always impressed at how fast they could leave me in the dust on the straights. | ||
| Tootal |
Damn Froggy, you're pretty good with Photoshop!!  | ||
| Datsaxman |
Frank, You post too much (and could just remove it anyway if you wanted) for me to go dig up the one where you said "...the only thing the Ulysses does better is go slower" or "...the 1125 can do everything the Ulysses does, only faster". A paraphrase, but you know you said it. You said you rode your 1125 on dirt roads and it was just as capable as the Ulysses. Which is fine. I just don't agree. On any terrain. The Ulysses is much more comfortable than the 1125 for any ride over an hour or so. You are pretty small, so the 1125 is a good size for you. Most folks can't get behind the 1125 fairing and stay there, and stay comfortable, for very long at all. I can't, which is what I said. Ulysses has bags. 1125 none. And so on. No fake photos from me, but here is a real one.  An easy day on the more comfortable bike of the two. (Message edited by datsaxman on February 09, 2012) | ||
| Orangeulius |
Vospertw, you are touching on two things close to my heart... The Buell Ulysses and my home town of San Diego. After giving up my 06 Ulysses during the early days of the recession I've been planning my come back. I pulled the trigger on a black 08 xt about three weeks back. It has a bad exhaust actuator valve. I spoke with the HD dealer last week and they estimated 4 to 5 days to get the part. We'll see. My love for the Ulysses trumps any hassle of getting parts. Do me a favor and have a a Bonus Jack and Monster Taco for me at Jack in the Box. PS Buy your Uly! | ||
| H2opatrol |
I'm just going to come right out and say what's so obviously on everyone's minds. Froggy, you are the most awesome person on the planet and it doesn't matter which bike is better in any category, whichever one you are on will blatantly and obviously be the best machine to ever touch asphalt/concrete/dirt/mud/gravel/moon rocks. Your flirting-with-lightspeed adventures and cunning wit are an inspiration to us all. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Quit busting Froggy's balls. He rarely Effs his facts and he's a real "good guy". I have a Uly and an 1125R. The 1125(08) has almost 28k miles, the Uly(09) a little over 25k. In cold weather, the Uly is easier to ride with more gear. I have taken a trip to East Troy(Homecoming 2010) on the Uly, rode straight home, 1100 miles in 20 hours. When it's a bit warmer, I can full tuck on Loretta all day. I took a 3k mile trip to Texas and back and a 3500 mile trip to Homecoming 2008 within 2 months in 2008. With the exception of fueling issues, both trips were a total blast. I even dozed off one time, she is so comfortable... Difference is, like my bro said as we were leaving for Homecoming 2010, he on my old XB9R, now his, and me on the Uly - "You look like you're going to work and I look like an Okie moving to California..." Z | ||
| Xbimmer |
Hard case capability and CA's crappy roads are EXACTLY the reasons I chose the X over the Ss back in '06. For 40 years or so I've never ridden behind much more wind protection than my R100S or my Uly (aside from occasional trips on a brother's R/K RS's), and I've done fine with 1000 mile days. IMO the only drawbacks of my Uly for distance riding is the 4.4 gallon fuel capacity, that's it. YMMV but I personally have zero interest in an 1125 for me, excellent machines but not for me. At my age wadded up over an airbox is not my preferred way to motorcycle the days away. | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Quote of the year so far! | ||
| 7873jake |
Orangejulius, After living in Sandy Eggo for 7 years back in the 80's and 90's, I can't go back there now without a side trip to El Indio (http://www.el-indio.com/). A trip to SD without some "EL" is a wasted trip. Taquitos, tamales, breakfast after a morning of surfing. Everything I eat there goes to heaven because I eat the hell out of it! Sorry, back to the topic again which wassss... | ||
| Pnw_uly |
I'd say buy the Uly - - I'd recommend a year or two, but that's kind of like opening the "which oil?", "which tire?", "Coke or Pepsi?" debate... Everyone has a different opinion (and we all know what those are like...), but you've had Buells before and seem to know what you want. Parts have not been a serious issue (although I've been waiting a month on a back-ordered 2010 Uly wheel), but would state that's not out of the ordinary for many motorcycle brands still in production... Common maintenance items (belt, isolator, cables, pads, etc.) should be stockpiled, but believe we're all still about 5-8 years out from having to buy the proverbial "parts bike" for some of the difficult items that will fall out of production. I have a cruiser (FXR), a CR, and the Ulysses; if I could only have one motorcycle - - for me, easy choice: Uly. | ||
| Vospertw |
All, thanks much. Froggy helped me many times with good advice in the past and I'm sure the CR is a great bike - but I'm clsosing in on 50 (and after 20 years in the Marines, my back often feels like it's closing in on 70...) and especially after having the Ss - which I loved - I'm pretty sure the Uly is the right option. OJ - I think they might even have some kind of deal meal with those items together! Won't do my waistline any good but I'll take one for the team and do it. | ||
| Mnrider |
Great thread guys-we love ya Froggy. Welcome back V | ||
| Froggy |
Datsaxman, I believe I know what you are talking about, and my opinion still stands. The Ulysses is just a taller version of the Lightning Long, there is nothing special about the X that makes it better off road. Both bikes and the 1125 use the same wheel, and they are still limited to the same not so great dirt tire selection. The extra travel suspension would come in handy for soaking up the bumps, and the extra 2" of ground clearance will help climbing over thick logs, but I have never found a situation that the SS or 1125 would get stuck that the Uly wouldn't. If I planned on doing regular offroad excursions on my 1125CR, the only thing I would change is the front fork springs, and put something in much lighter than the track optimized rock solid ones it came with. I disagree about the Ulysses being more comfortable after an hour. After an hour on the Uly, my ass hurts, my arms hurt, my neck hurts, and my back hurts. The seat is uncomfortable, the stock egros put your limbs at terrible angles, and the wind wants to decapitate you. The 1125 stock puts my arms at legs comfortably at roughly 90° angles just like sitting in a recliner, then the R fairing keeps me out of the air reducing fatigue. Another hidden perk is that my torso rests on the airbox cover and that takes the weight off my back and arms. The stock seat however does suck, but the accessory touring seat has proven itself on regular multistate ventures. Here is an example of what I look like when riding sport and touring on my 1125R:   I tried to get my XB out of the garage, but it wouldn't start (as usual), so here is an accurate simulation of what it looks like when I am on the Uly:  I understand everyones body is different, but I've seen big, tall, short, fat, skinny on 1125s over the years, and it fits most great. Chad Hargis is probably the tallest mofo on this planet, he loved his 1125CR after just changing the handlebars and pegs to match his gigantic frame better. Regarding bags, only the XT/XP came with bags, the standard X did not. That means out of the nearly 10,000 Ulys built, only about 20% of them have bags. There are accessory bags available for the 1125 too. I personally run the Ventura pack system, it gives me two 51 liter bags, which combined gives me 102 liters of space, which puts it right in between the Uly with just sidecases and a Uly with all 3 bags. I can still add more luggage in addition to that if needed, but I haven't had too yet. I do have plans on getting a set of brackets to fit my old Uly side bags, that would bring my total storage to about 182 liters. I don't need to photoshop, those pics before, I do have video proof that I'll post up if desired. I did take a quick shot of my GPS for you though:  H2opatrol, thats very sweet of you! You deserve a kiss!  Vospertw, just knowing you based on your past here, you probably will be happiest with a nice XB12XT, but given the situation it would of been just wrong to not at least give the 1125 a serious consideration. Enjoy, it is 35°F out, I'm going out for a ride  | ||
| Motorbike |
Froggy, that simulation of you on the Uly is hilarious! If that's what you look like riding a Ulysses, then you are doing it all wrong. You are supposed to be on top, not hanging from underneath the bike! Can someone please photoshop a Uly into that picture? | ||
| Froggy |
Ok, here is an actual photo of me on my XB and on the road, nothing simulated here!  | ||
| Motorbike |
Well there's the problem...someone mounted your footpegs on the lower triple tree! | ||
| Datsaxman |
Great post, Frank! Appreciate you owning your previous post...And a well reasoned argument on your part...that looks like a 20-minute sprint race posture on the 1125...notice the ridiculous posture that had to be adopted in order to lampoon the (superior) Ulysses? You make my point... I DO agree that the Ulysses is not any more suited for offroad use than a Cadillac, though...mine is an all-weather, all-distance, all-the-gear-I need-for-weeks touring and sport bike. I use much smaller tools for dirt. BTW, I wasn't posting the GPS shot for the top speed, but for 1070 miles in 3/4 of a day. Hope you aren't riding that fast on public roads...my top speed was captured out here in the desert where there are NO driveways, NO cross streets, NO traffic, and sight lines are miles long in either direction. 100% of my XB12X came with the factory bags, so (as is so very often the case), the theory becomes less relevant than the specific situation when you are only going to be riding 'em one at a time. saxman | ||
| Datsaxman |
BTW, if the cop shot with you at full tilt WAS authentic, you would have to be some kind of irresponsibly foolish hooligan to pull a juvenile stunt like that. I resemble that remark...remind me to tell you about the time... Right. Not on the net. Now sit up and hold on, youngster. saxman | ||
| Pnw_uly |
Ok, here is an actual photo of me on my XB and on the road, nothing simulated here! Is that an 1125 front caliper on your Uly??? Me likey! I'd usually apologize for a hi-jack like this, but this thread is so far off topic already. . . (Message edited by PNW ULY on February 10, 2012) |
