| Author | Message | ||
     Ratman |
Ive lusted after a S3T for years and being 99% of my riding is on the street I am curious if anybody owns(ed) both. The more I romp my Uly the better I like it, but being the ULY is of the "newer breed" how does power,handling,ergo's if your 6'2" and brakes compare. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm 6'2" and had an M2 and now ride a Uly. The M2 is a classic like an old mustang or camaro, and will always have a place in my heart. But the Uly is a better bike by every measure I can think of, except maybe ease of changing spark plugs. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I love the way the old bikes look but I love the way the newer bikes run. | ||
| Mhevezi |
Reep, I sold my 1999 M2 to get my Uly. Love the Uly for sure, and for all the things it does better than the M2, but that M2 ran perfect, handled better than my Uly, pulled a little harder, and looked bitchen in black on black. Plus the V&H SS2R can was the PERFECT sound for these bikes. The Uly is more evolved and should be less trouble in the long run, but I will always miss my M2. Maybe when I have room and time for a 2nd Buell, I'll pick another up. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I had an S3 before I got my Uly. The power was virtually the same, and the handling was close. The main differences are in the ride and vibration levels. The S3 suspension is notably stiffer than the Uly (also note there is no spring pre-load adjustment on the forks). The difference was minimal on smooth pavement, but when the road got rough, the S3 would beat me up pretty bad. The Uly is MUCH nicer on rough pavement. I experienced a lot more engine vibration with the S3 as well. It wasn't a problem for short trips but by the end of a long trip (~300+ miles) my hands would be aching like a toothache. The Uly is much better in that regard. On the plus side the 5+ gallon gas capacity of the S3 allows you to go ~250 miles on the highway without refueling, and the tube frame shows off the engine nicely whereas the engine's pretty much hidden up in the XB frame. I'd love to build a tube-frame Buell with an 08-up engine with XB type engine isolation. I think that'd give you the best of both worlds. | ||
| Bpt |
I had a 99 S3T before I bought my 08 XT. I love the feel of the tube frames, seem to have a warmer feel to them. Handling is not as hard edged as the XB bikes. But, once I got the XT the S3 sat in the garage. The XT is just more refined and easier to ride everyday. I do miss having a tube frame. Maybe one day...... | ||
| Ratbuell |
I bought an S3 Defender last fall, but it's had a broken engine mount so I haven't had a chance to ride it yet (it's a back-back burner project right now). I do have an S2 that I've logged quite a few miles on (it has bags and the dropped touring pegs), as well as an 06 UlyX with bags. I love them both...for different reasons. The S2 is dead-sexy. The S3 is close, I like the look of all tubers, but the S2 is a cut above. I feel like I sit IN the S2 more than on it; I'm more ON the Uly (with the stock tall seat). I lean forward more on the S2 (and on my S1W...and on my M2); I sit upright on the Uly, catch more wind, get more turbulence on my body and head and it's a little more ab-work to keep upright on the highway on the Uly. Not "I don't like this" turbulent, but noticable. The Roma forks on the S2 DO have preload adjust; I can tweak both suspensions just about perfectly for the way I'm loaded and want to ride. Power wise, they are nearly identical (I have Thunderstorm heads, pistons, and X1 cams in my S2). I do like the added range on the tubers - part from a larger tank, part from better fuel mileage. More HP drinks more fuel, and I'm OK with that. The Uly is more apt to lighten the front end, though... Handling, I can push the Uly harder. It is a stiffer package; when I push the tubers, I can feel them flex. It's not disconcerting, it's just...a little "english", the bike talking to me. Tuber brakes require a bit more lever effort...but ultimate "whoa" power seems about equal. Either one will float the rear tire if needed. I've done a Homecoming 2-up on the S2, including the legendary "parade lap" at Road America. A quick preload adjust on the Works rear shock, and I was passing on the outside...with a passenger. The only real problem I had was, I couldn't hang off because her legs were in my way. I've also done a Homecoming on the Uly, also 2-up. No parade lap, but we did do a Res Run and that might as well have been on a track. The from-the-seat preload adjust on the Uly is nice for mid-course corrections, but either one handles "abuse" just fine. If you've always wanted an S3...I don't think you can go wrong. I don't have to adjust my riding style when going to or from a tuber, to or from an XB - neither is glaringly different from the other. Going from an aircooled to the 1125, on the other hand....  Oh, and I'm 6'4", 34" inseam, titanium in both legs. No "fit" problems on any of the bikes, although when fully armored and insulated for winter riding the S1W can get a little tight. (Message edited by ratbuell on April 09, 2013) | ||
| Byrdock |
I have a XT and a S3T and couldn't get rid of one if I had to. The S3T does feel more "a part of you"(in)than the XT (on). I just need to get some drop pegs for the S3T for a perfect ride. I'm 6'1" w/36" inseam. | ||
| Mhevezi |
Interesting topic. Comparing my old M2 to my Uly is interesting. The Uly feels more like it was milled from one, chunk of aluminum, whereas the M2 would move when pushed and you felt it. I took the M2 from SF to LA more than once, and a properly sorted tuber, with the updated isolators can be VERY smooth. 600 miles in one day was my longest and it was surprisingly comfy. And that was with no windscreen at all. And whoever mentioned the 250mile range was spot on. I could easily go 200miles on the highway, before switching over to reserve. My Fuel light on the Uly comes on at 138-150, depending on how hard I ride it. Braking, hmmmm, that too was different. The M2 was happy with trail braking, but if you touched the front brake mid-corner, it loved to STAND UP, which is something that the Uly is less prone to do. The rear brake on the M2 wasn't good for much, but it helped to stomp on the rear brake before entering a corner to 'set' the front suspension. The M2 had less fork dive if you hit the rear first. The simple elegance of my M2 is missed. Wish I could have kept both. | ||
| 7873jake |
Recently added a **PRISTINE** 2002 S3T and I can only agree with Hughlysses and Byrdock's comments. The previous owner was kind enough to even keep all of the body parts and pieces so, as best as I can tell, the bike is complete albeit not stock (box-o-parts, all in perfect shape!) Both bikes (Uly and S3T) run like scalded dogs although the S3T plays the part of a loud mouthed pugilist with its V&H pipe. It 'feels' more aggressive because of its sound. Above 4000 rpm it howls. My father describes it as "aggression, restrained". It handles well and when I ride it, I recognize the handling characteristics as being Buell DNA: balanced, trustable, intuitive, sure-footed, athletic. I have other bikes that leave me wanting my Buells on certain roads. I enjoy them but I know they aren't Buells when I ride them aggressively...it isn't the same. The S3T doesn't handle two-up as well as the Uly but it does pitch less under braking than the Uly, which is to be expected. The only downside? The Corbin seat is a tremendously hard seat and while it looks better than the stock one, which I have, it rides like a 1947 Farmall tractor seat. I'd like to find a 1992 Ducati 900 SS (two valve head) to complete my pursuit of beautiful sounding engines but that's another story for another day. | ||
| Ratman |
Yes.... the sweet sound of a Ducati. Few things are as intoxicating as a Ducati with some nice slip ons, even the rattling dry clutch at idle gives me wood A Guzzi on the Bucket list and I hope their as lovely as the Ducs and Buells in the mechanical music department. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I never ever rode a S3T but I think it was the best looking motorcycle Buell made. I owned a 1998 M2 cyclone before I purchased my 2006 Uly. although I miss the Cyclone's rough rude attitude, the Ulysses is light years ahead of the M2 in every aspect. Comfort, handling, and power. | ||
| Dennis_c |
I had 1998 S3T and 2008 ULY. ULY wins hands down. |
