| Author | Message | ||
     Buewulf |
After an enjoyable day at the International Motorcycle Show in Dallas, TX, I began making my way back to Houston some time after dark. I stopped for fuel outside of Dallas in the small town of Palmer, still about 200 miles from home, and upon trying to get back underway could not get more than a a few clicks from the starter. I began to amaze myself by counting up the number of people who either do not carry jumper cables in their vehicles or cannot be bothered enough to admit that they do. After about 30 minutes of this, two 20-year-oldish guys pass by and turned around. It happened that they both worked at a local Yamaha/Kawasaki dealer and recognized the rider-in-distress signal - the seat was off. After a jump start fails, they called a mechanic from the dealership. We load the Uly up and take it to his house where we confirm the battery is toast. Neither Autozone or Walmart have a replacement, and nothing else is open. They call the owner of the dealership, and he tells them to open up the shop and do whatever was needed to get me going again. They happen to have a fully charged replacement on the shelf which we install and run some test on the charging system. The Uly passes all the tests, but they follow me for a while because they are still worried that the issue might be with the stator or VR despite passing the electrical tests. After 15 minutes of riding, everything seems fine: running well, the headlight is still bright, no hiccups. I wave my new-found friends off with a thumbs up as I approach the next town. About 5 minutes later, the gauges go out and the engine light comes on. I am passing an exit for a hotel and pull in for the night. The wife comes out early next morning with the trailer, and the Uly takes the ride of shame back to Houston. So on my trip to Dallas, I learned: 1) that 2013 is going to be a great year for new motorcycle models. 2) to never underestimate the kindness of strangers. 3) that I have apparently either lost the VR, stator or both. 4) that I am done with this bike. If it were just the battery, that would have been forgivable. You can't really predict when a battery will quit. But this is the third major failure with this bike, and the second time I will miss my annual trip with friends to the Texas Hill Country (I'll never have time to get it running by Thursday). This time last year, I was chasing ghosts trying to fix what I would eventually figure out was the ECM. The Uly is down again right as the nicest riding weather is coming in. I think my Buell experiment is over. It is always going to be something with this bike, even if it is just the stress of wondering what will go next when I need it most. I am glad 2013 has many new and interesting models to choose from. The Uly will be replaced as soon as I find the time to fix it.} | ||
| Ourdee |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/696061.html?1352762129 | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Buewulf, I'll bet it is something very simple. Check the relays, and 77 connector. Sounds like an intermittent charging issue. Put a multimeter on the battery and start the bike a few times and make sure it's receiving a charge while idling. Even if it checks out okay one time, the next time it might not and that could be the 77. Might be oily or corroded. | ||
| Buewulf |
Thanks EG. I don't have a 77 connector (removed it shortly after buying the Uly and reading through this forum). I switched the relays around during initial trouble shooting, and they are still in rearranged order. So I don't think relays are the problem either. We put a multimeter on it when we put the new battery on, and it seemed OK at the time. Hopefully the new battery is undamaged and will take a charge. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Let us know what you replace it with, lots of great bikes out there to choose from! Also point your buyer back here, we will help him or her get the Uly sorted. Good luck! | ||
| Buewulf |
I certainly will let you know. I have pretty much decided to replace it with two bikes. I took the Uly on a track day (my 1st time on a track) a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. But it also made me long for something a little more sporty with a higher rev range. I was thinking a sporty standard or maybe even a middleweight all-out sportbike which is something I never though I would consider buying. I am going to test ride a Daytona 675R tomorrow to judge if such a beast would be livable beyond the racetrack. Bike number two will likely be either Honda's new CRF250L, or perhaps a used BMW G650 because I need to be able to venture off-pavement.} | ||
| Kenm123t |
Ship it to me it just needs a little tlc | ||
| Ratbuell |
We put a multimeter on it when we put the new battery on What readings did you get, at what RPM's? | ||
| Ferrisanyoneseenferris |
I had a BMW F650, which if you're considering, I'd advise against it. Its not like the 1200's its a different bike. I had to get at the carb and it was a huge job- remove the exhaust to access it? Crazy. Not the best performer in a lot of ways. My 2002 Tigger is a much better bike in all ways- and I paid less for it. Bought it in 2007 for 2500 bucks with 14000 miles on it. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Sorry to hear that your at ends wit but I understand. I hope the voltage warning light I installed on my bike would have at least given some indication things were going south. Being stranded is unacceptable. Did they happen to have any KTM's at the show? | ||
| Gringo |
beo, understand your frustration, might well have a little bit to do with Texas heat. i had to jump start my uly not long ago and the first startup it ran two blocks and fizzled kinda like you describe, not enough volts i gathered. second startup i ran it longer at fast idle and no problem since. wierd. had a great hamburger in Palmer nov 2, didnt see you there. | ||
| Buewulf |
What readings did you get, at what RPM's? Another guy was reading the meter so I don't know the readings. But he had me go in 1K RPM increments from idle to 5K. Held each for about 10 seconds or so. I had to get at the carb and it was a huge job Life is too short to own a bike with carbs, otherwise I would opt for one of the Japanese large-bore thumpers without blinking. The F650 and now G650's have been fuel injected for the better part of a decade now, so finding a used one would not be difficult. It doesn't need to be a top performer in any category, just be adequate in many. Its primary purpose will be to ride on pavement until the pavement ends then keep going. I am not fond of BMWs, but it is one of few options for a highway worthy, somewhat light-weight, fuel-injected DS bike. Ship it to me it just needs a little tlc No, it needs a new stator and VR. And a literal kick to the curb. That may sound a little harsh, but my initial thoughts involved fire and explosions, so I'm being merciful. | ||
| Buewulf |
Did they happen to have any KTM's at the show? Unfortunately, they did not have any KTMs. No Guzzis this year either. Bummer. I like Guzzis. Ducati also opted out of the Dallas show this year, and Aprilia was a no-show as well. One of the good things about living in a large city like Houston though is that I can see any bike any time at the dealership. | ||
| Kenm123t |
dont kick ship stator VR no problem just a pleasant evening in the garage. Badwebs Daytona bunch built a 1125rr in the pits and had to chase down electrical issues etc and prep a 1190rs at the same time | ||
| Buewulf |
dont kick ship stator VR no problem just a pleasant evening in the garage. I agree it is not a huge ordeal to replace the two items, though I am sure it will take me more than an evening. And if it is time spent fixing, then it is time lost riding. And that is not pleasant to me at all. Time is something I have precious little of, especially for myself. Most damning to my relationship with the bike was the stranded evening, hotel stay, the lost day trailering home and missing a very needed extended weekend annual getaway of twisty road riding with my peeps for the second time due to issues with this same bike. If the bike had 75K miles on it, I'd be more forgiving. It has less than 15K. I need something I can count on to go more than 30 miles from the house. | ||
| Froggy |
Time to trade it in for an 1125R | ||
| Motorbike |
Time to trade it in for an 1125R Froggy, you missed the whole point that Buewulf is trying to make. He prefers to spend most of his free time riding, not replacing burnt out stators, adjusting valves etc.  | ||
| Buewulf |
Time to trade it in for an 1125R A beastly bike no doubt, but my confidence in Buell reliability is shaken. Plus, while I can usually forgive a bike for being ugly (I have a Uly after all), there is something about the look of the Rotax-powered Buells I just can't come to grips with. Froggy, you missed the whole point that Buewulf is trying to make. Haha. Well no matter what I get, I'll be adjusting valves. I don't mind so much for scheduled maintenance because, well, I can schedule it. I test rode a Triumph Daytona 675 yesterday and really liked it. I forgot what good brakes were like. I also expected it to be pretty flaccid in the sub-8K range but was pleasantly surprised by the grunty motor that could also wail to 13K rpm. | ||
| Froggy |
Yea, get a 08 1125R that never had and never will have the overheating stator issue, or a 09 newer with the 1190RS components. You can't find a XB that doesn't have electrical gremlins. Also, adjusting valves on the 1125R is easier than changing the plugs on a XB. The whole frame was designed to come off in a few minutes with only a handful of fasteners and wire clips, giving easy access to both jugs. Not to mention that overall the 1125R has less scheduled maintenance, and longer intervals between services than the XB, so you do spend more time riding.
I understand, but the 1125 has little in common with the Uselesses. Wheels, airbox cover plastic, and a few random pieces, but other than that it is an entirely different bike that doesn't have all the issues the Ulys do.
To be honest I've always felt the Ulysses to be the ugliest motorcycle ever made, even more so than the Hayabusa. My lobster 1125CR holds a place in my heart as the most beautiful. But whatever floats your boat | ||
| Buewulf |
The whole frame was designed to come off in a few minutes That is very cool. ALL mfgs should figure that one out. . I just put a pic of an 1125R on my screen. Sometimes a design I hate at first will grow on me if I look at it enough. Often times they look better in person, too, but I have yet to see one on the road in the past four years since the model was introduced. You can pick up a pristine example pretty cheap these days, and I hate to write it off completely due to some Buell bitterness that may fade in a couple of months. Maybe I'll do a little homework on it and try to find one for sale around here that I can see in the flesh. It would make a pretty good tourer/commuter/track toy. How is the updated brake on the 1125s? I hate the perimeter brake on the Uly. (I can't believe I am starting to consider this.) | ||
| Buewulf |
Oh, my eyes! That 1125R is hard to look at. I won't give in yet, though. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Froggy, My 06' ULY has not had any electrical gremlins. Way back when, I modified as per http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/295156.html and my bike has been without the gremlins you and others lament about. I've always felt that the dead ended heat build up of the stock under the seat design is detrimental to all the electrical components stuffed there. My mods keep the air flowing under the seat and maybe that is a reason that my components keep working. I believe that the 1125 bikes do something similar to keep the air moving under the seat. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on November 15, 2012) | ||
| Froggy |
The ZTL2 is great, I have it on both my 1125s, and one XB, but not the other. I do miss it on the other, it does contribute nicely to braking. Fresh brake fluid does wonders too, and I've heard great things about using the disk, mounting bolts, and pads from EBR to really improve thngs, but I find the stock setup with Motul brake fluid to be great. | ||
| Buewulf |
My mods keep the air flowing under the seat and maybe that is a reason that my components keep working. I think the heat is an issue, and the ECM and BAS failures I've experienced may be partially attributable to that. But I think the engine runs too hot in general, especially during summer spring and autumn temperatures in this part of the country. It also shakes too violently as well. In any case, reducing heat under the seat would have done nothing to counter the other failures I've had. | ||
| Kenm123t |
What lube is in the transmission ? If you have something other than stock it could have killed your stator | ||
| Buewulf |
What lube is in the transmission ? The HD juice has been in there for the past few thousand miles, though it was Mobil 1 for the 6000 miles before that. While I certainly appreciate your perspective on the matter, I have to say that I am not one of those people who buys into the "Brand X oil killed your stator" hypothesis. The vast majority of motorcycle stators are exposed to oil, and there is nothing unique about the construction or coating used from one make to another. If the stator were only safe with stock HD oil, then Hondas would be shipping with Syn3 in the cases, too. Unless somebody were using some type of oil that wasn't designed for bikes, I just can't see how this belief could be true. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wansn't either Beuwulf, but over time there really did start to seem to be a correlation about Mobil 1 gear oil eating stators. But gear oil formulation is WAY different than motor oil formulations. So if the mobil 1 in your transmission was mobile 1 gear oil, maybe it was a factor. If it was mobil 1 motor oil, then I agree with you completely. | ||
| Buewulf |
Reepicheep, it was M1's motorcycle oil. Like I said, "Unless somebody were using some type of oil that wasn't designed for bikes..." Gear oil definitely falls into the "not designed for bikes" category in my book. When engineering gear oil, the producer is not concerned with testing additives and modifiers on electricals or clutch plates, so I am not surprised by failures that may correlate to its use. Not sure why someone would even think it was a good idea to try it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
That part is easy. We thought it was better because the tubers needed shifting help, and it helped. It made my 2000 M2 shift noticeably better, and didn't hurt the clutch. | ||
| Buewulf |
We thought it was better because the tubers needed shifting help Tubers shifted worse than XBs? That is no small feat! |
