| Author | Message | ||
     Kag |
2008 Buell Ulysses...lucked into one So I took my wife up to a Nebraska yesterday am to a Harley dealer, 200 miles away because they had a bike my wife wanted. She was wanting to trade in Her Crossbones for something else. So she was looking around and I just wandered....this place has Yamaha, Triumph, Suzuki, and Honda. I was looking at all their different adv bikes they had and they had quite a few. I was impressed with the Triumph Explorer, it was sweet but I can not help it I am an American Iron guy for the most part. I am planning an Alaska trip next year but was just going to ride my Ultra up there. I have driven it twice before when I lived there but never ridden it. So the salesman comes and find me after my wife picked out what she liked. He started giving us the nickle tour after I commented on all the bikes they have and he then took us in to the back part of the warehouse.In the very back of their used bike area (100 bikes)....there she was. A 2008 Buell Ulysses......I asked him about it and he said a guy came in and bought it from them new and then last week came in and traded it in on a Harley. So we turn the key and it has 5526 miles on it and New tires on the front and back and had Heated grips. Looked brand new.......I asked what they wanted for it....he went and asked, told me, I counter offered as we were buying a bike for my wife and I thought that warranted a little slack. They said ok, loaded the wife's bike in the truck and I road the Uly home 200 miles. There at the dealer I met a tech named Monte to that owns and rides his Uly daily and he really helped me out with set up and base knowledge, just wanted to give a big thanks to him. I do not plan to farkle it up too much but I have always been a gear head. So it's going to get pipes, a K&N filter, EBR ECM , and maybe a set of cams to bring the power band down some. The other thing I may do before my Alaska trip is put a 2010 rear wheel on it. I am very familiar with the 1200 sportsters and the engine in them. The way the powerplant runs was no surprise with the power to me to be between 3-6k. I already adjusted the suspension front and back for me and it handled well. The 5th gear seems to be an overdrive and I only used it once I passed through 70mph. The front brake works great but the rear brake to me is more of drag brake than actually having true stopping power. I need different grips because the stock ones are too small for my hands and I will probably fill the bars with silicone. I also plan to see whats available for a throttle lock. I rode last night on a night ride and the bugs just ate me up, So a taller windscreen is in its future and as much as I hate them a full face helmet. I like brighter lights for night riding so HID bulbs are also in its future. I did do quite a bit of gravel rode riding last night and it handled well but I ride gravel roads all the time on both my Harley and my Yamaha TW200 Endo's. Already love it and its going to Alaska next June, the Ultra is staying home.   (Message edited by kag on June 24, 2012) (Message edited by kag on June 24, 2012) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Congratulations on the Uly. I found that my rear brake got a lot more effective after it got some miles on it. If yours doesn't get better, you might try EBC or other aftermarket pads. Looks like your bike already has a larger, aftermarket windshield. You might look into the Palmer or Madstad aftermarket adjustable brackets to go with it that allow it to be raised and/or tilted like you want. One thing about changing your grips- the heating elements are built into them. To keep the stock heating elements you could add Grip Puppies over the stock grips; otherwise you'll have to get separate heating elements and wire them into the stock harness. Interesting idea about changing the cams- AFAIK you'll be the first Uly rider that's tried that if you do it. The only problem I see will be tuning. I'd suggest you call EBR and discuss with them to see how their ECM would react with different cams. It might be no problem at all, but you'd hate to go to all that trouble and then find out you can't tune the ECM where it'll run right. The 2010 rear wheel is a good investment, American Sport Bike is a good source for them and Al will install the bearings for you prior to delivery for a nominal charge. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Glad to see you found the thread! Welcome | ||
| Buelldualsport |
You might also look at the Buell Rider Comfort Kit Good Investment in heat control. | ||
| Uly_man |
Grip Puppies work well if you have big hands. I have just fitted them. Cams? Try the bike for a while. Bugs? Its a naked bike. Helmet? An open one is a risk. Rear brake? Works great with the right pads. EBC or SBS Sintered. | ||
| Kag |
I am running semi-metalics on my others bikes and I like the predictable results I get from them in the rain. I do a lot of rain riding. The rear pads presently on it do look new. I will take a look at the grips mentioned. Till then I plan to wrap the grips with colored coban to bulk then up a little, might take some of the transferred vibration out also. I will look into the different windshield options, the wind just howls here in Kansas and as I have a 50 mile commute to base a functional windshield helps. Yep, bugs are yummy. I already picked out a dual sport full face helmet....might be a "learn to live with it thing". I will do some more checking on the cam issue. It would be a winter project anyway. Thanks you....off to ride it. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Kag,, glad to see you made it over here from advrider. I put on ebc hh all around. I like how grippy they feel and have used them on all my bikes. You could do the headlight mod and have both lights on with hi beams, it helps. I ended up adding hellas to my bike. | ||
| Pons |
I put the Palmer windshield adapter on mine. Iain Palmer is a pretty good guy to work with. I've bought several products from him. He makes driving light brackets as well and is actually beefing up the mounts since one of mine cracked. He's making new ones and sending them to me to replace the others. Pretty good guy | ||
| Buelldualsport |
HIDs in the headlights and Leed Spot and Flood Lights will add a lot of xtra light at night. Most use the 35W in the 5000 range. Do a search on the forum for HID lights | ||
| Buellhusker |
Don't change the cams just get a 9 primary setup. That will help in the slow speed power running. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
The most important thing you can do to that bike is relocate the ECM there's a ton of information on that here. | ||
| Kag |
Already all over the ECM relocate. I checked the current ECM and seat looking for cracks and rub marks before I ever signed the paperwork. Grips, windshield, Rox risers, brake pads, and rear cargo rack are the first things then I will move on to other things. Put almost 400 miles on in the first 2 days. Very fun ride. Great forum and I have been searching and reading when not out riding. I actually have lurked off and on for a longtime but since I did not own a Uly at that time I never joined. Wealth of experience here. } (Message edited by kag on June 24, 2012) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
If you're a big tall guy, I would suggest getting yourself a 2006 seat. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I have (well, had) a set of grip puppies in the garage somewhere. If I've managed not to loose them, you are welcome to them. Just message me a shipping address. | ||
| Prowler |
Noticed your comment on silicone in the handlebars......I did that and found that it really didn't do anything but ooze out the cable guide holes and make a mess. No improvement on vibes at all. I've since switched to a set of Renthal aluminum bars and it's a little better. | ||
| Kag |
Reepicheep...pm sent, thank you Prowler...thanks for the heads up on that as I was just getting ready to do it. I am looking into anti-vib risers from Rox, I want the handle bars to come up anyway. I want to save the heated grips or I would change out the handle bars also....may end up doing so anyway after I ride it while with the new risers. The only strange thing about the bike so far is I have to hit the starter button twice for it to crank over. The first time the it engages but does not turn over, tap it a 2nd time and it cranks. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My 2008 was sold to me with a weeny battery. I cleaned the grounds and tightened the battery cable but they only made it slightly better. Recently, I finally replaced the factory battery and it cranks over pretty much normally. (still not as fast as my X1 though) | ||
| Eaglerider |
Welcome. I've got a tall seat for trade if you are interested. | ||
| Uly_man |
"The only strange thing about the bike so far is I have to hit the starter button twice for it to crank over. The first time the it engages but does not turn over, tap it a 2nd time and it cranks." That is "sort of" normal but it should, more or less, only happen with a cold engine. Most Vee Twin engines can have a hard time turning over and the "old iron" of this one is the same. If you start to get a "clicking" noise while trying to start the bike do NOT try further as it is a low battery. "the rear brake to me is more of drag brake than actually having true stopping power." The right rear pads will give you stopping power, drag and good control. They need to be the sintered type. I use EBC or SBS and have no problems at all wet or dry. "I will take a look at the grips mentioned. Till then I plan to wrap the grips with colored coban to bulk then up a little, might take some of the transferred vibration out also." Foam grips help but this engines "lumpy" vib is not like a four. Its the nature of the engine. For me its just to bulk out the small grips for my big hands. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Check Oury Grips they are nice and good price, a friend uses them and he really likes them, i prefer my traction but those are way difficult to find and if you find them they are way expensive for just a set of grips. | ||
| Uly_man |
Hi Pont. Good to hear from you. | ||
| Buewulf |
The only strange thing about the bike so far is I have to hit the starter button twice for it to crank over. The first time the it engages but does not turn over, tap it a 2nd time and it cranks. Welcome aboard. Mine can hesitate for a split second depending on where the piston happens to be in its cycle, but it always fires up on the first press. You may just need a new battery. Or if you are truly just "tapping" it, you may just need to hold it down for a second to get it through that massive stroke. | ||
| Tootal |
Welcome. If your engine stops on a compression stroke then when you hit the starter it has a big job to push through without getting a run at it. I just hold it down until it fires. No big deal. As mentioned, changing to the XB9 primary ratio will raise your rpm 400 rpms at 70 mph but will make it so much better at slow speed riding. I was going to change cams but changed the primary first and then I didn't feel I needed to do the cams anymore. | ||
| Brijasher |
If handlebar vibration is a problem, check out the HVMP heavy bar-end weights. They have become a must for several of us. And ditto on the cooling kit, makes a big difference. -Brinton | ||
| Djohnk |
Welcome. That's a nice bike you just picked up. | ||
| Kag |
"And ditto on the cooling kit, makes a big difference. " I must of missed the part about a cooling kit. I know they make a right side scoop but the Buell Ulysses tech told me he has one and it pushes the heat right up his @ss and he told me to not to get one....but I have no idea. I had planned to wrap the pipe like I have done on a couple of my other bikes and it helped quite a bit.} | ||
| Rdkingryder |
After checking the temperature on my pipes, it may be time to wrap at least the upper half of the rear pipe. The rear pipe about 4" past the head read 500deg F, the front read 313deg F, running, after my commute on the freeway. Wow! No wonder my frame gets hot even with the heat shield on the inside of it. I may need to get better coverage to the back of the frame next time I have the engine rotated. |
