| Author |
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Arry
| | Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2013 - 11:28 pm: | 
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"Didn't bother cleaning the plugs, since it hadn't been missing very badly at all." The problem could still be as simple as a fouled plug, as someone else suggested. I wouldn't bother cleaning plugs, when standard NGK's are only about $5 for a pair. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, July 15, 2013 - 09:08 am: |
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Wish I were closer. |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 10:46 am: |
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It sounds like you need a vacation from overcomplicated modern bikes.
KLR650 or something with a carb.
Sorry to hear that the bike finally wore you down.
Here's a guy who finally gets it! My "new" commute bike is my good ol' reliable 1991 Honda Hawk NT650 (pic in a couple days). I can finally get my feet on the ground again!
And "wore down" is exactly the right term. I've been thru a lot with the Ulys (considering they've only existed around 7-8 years); some of you guys who've been around a while oughta know that.
--Doc |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 11:11 am: |
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$3000 for the pair. That's a smokin deal, Doc. Personally I think you are crazy and will rue the day you let those bikes out of your grasp. You ARE an engineer so figure out the miss problem and ride the darned thing. For you to give up on that ULY because of some electrical snafu is pretty weak for such a learned guy. Just sayin. If you were an accountant or male nurse you'd have an excuse but you are a professor of Engineering for pete's sake. |
Electraglider_1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 11:12 am: |
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http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/mcy/3935653581.h tml |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 11:57 am: |
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I understand just not being able to stomach another job on a particular bike. I have had three different Kawasaki's that fell in that category. It was only a mistake to bail in one of those three cases (the KLR-250, which I had to sell in order to afford it's replacement KDX-200, which was the right move, but I wish I still had the little KLR).
Time is finite, and a vehicle should engage emotion. If it's time to move it's time to move.
If those Uly's were within a 300 mile radius of me, they would be in my garage already.  |
Uly_man
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 12:15 pm: |
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One of the things that it has taken me a long time to learn is the need to go with what "feels right" for that person. Sometimes you can have a "diamond in hand" but it can still seem like a lump of wet, cold coal.
Dr Greg. I hope you find what you are looking for but if nothing else the Hawk is still a great bike. Enjoy. |
Red450
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 12:32 pm: |
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Sometimes, after a bike/car/etc has given you so much grief, you can't enjoy or trust it again. Always waiting for the next problem.
Enjoy the Hawk DrGreg and good luck with the sale. |
Teeps
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 12:44 pm: |
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I'm with Doc.
The last thing I want to do is work on my bike.
In 7 years it's only been washed a few times... The not working on the Uly is what I like best.
To have that taken away would make me want to dump it, too. |
Buellerxt
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 09:02 pm: |
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I understand thoroughly, Greg. Motorcycling is to be enjoyed and problems get OLD! Enjoy the Multi and please tune in occasionally. |
Buewulf
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 09:15 pm: |
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I totally understand where you are coming from. There was a time when I enjoyed working on bikes. Now with time being so scarce, I just expect the bike to work. The Uly is definitely a bike for hobbyists. Mine has been collecting a lot of dust, lately.
Good luck with your Hawk. Life is too short to dink around with carburetors IMHO, but that is a solid bike. |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 04:50 pm: |
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OK, ok, I cry UNCLE!!
This weekend I'm gonna swap the CPS from my "parts" Uly over to the "good" bike and see what happens. Heck, maybe I'll clean the plugs while I'm doing it.
Since I'm resurrecting the Honda Hawk NT650, I've been back in "wrenching" mode for a couple days. Man, I used to LIVE in that mode. Felt kinda good to take a break for a while.
But I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least swap out the CPS. Heck, I've even drilled out the rivets on the "parts" bike back when I was fiddling with the timing.
As usual, I'll let you know the results. And this time I'll give him a thorough testing before I conclude that he's fixed (BTW, Ulysses is a "he").
FWIW, only had ONE person look at the Uly(s) so far. They'll be as hard to sell as my 2010 Multistrada 1200S.
--Doc |
Nillaice
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 05:21 pm: |
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i'm glad to read that you are gonna give it one more 'go'
I hope you can trouble shoot it and get it back on the road.
even if you still decide to sell it you can get more $ for a working bike than 2 broken ones, and maybe fixing it before you sell it will give you some closure. |
Thesmaz
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 06:56 pm: |
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Dr greg,
I'm toying with the idea of making the drive to come get your Uly's, if you dont get it fixed that is... |
Steveford
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 07:11 pm: |
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Do one other thing - check the TPS.
My 06 was doing the weirdest thing with the voltage fluctuating all over the place for no apparent reason.
Nothing was loose or broken, it just needed a TPS reset and it runs perfectly again, just like it always did. |
Red450
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 08:19 pm: |
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Same here. My bike acted crazy, idle all over the place, stalling and just ran like crap. Then I noticed an exposed wire on the TPS. After replacing it, my bike has been great. |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 09:03 pm: |
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Thanks, fellas. I haven't done a TPS reset in a coon's age. Pretty much forgot how (almost).
With the Honda Hawk NT650 (great bike) almost ready, I'm not quite sure what to hope for...But I'll swap out the CPS and try one last time...
--Doc
PS. Not ridin' the Ducati MTS1200S anymore; too fast for my advanced age. It's up for sale also. |
Cyclonedon
| | Posted on Friday, July 19, 2013 - 10:34 pm: |
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Doc, I've often thought if I could find a good used Harley-Davidson XR1200R with the mid controls on it, I would get rid of my Ulysses. I find my bike too hard to work on and it's starting to get harder to find replacement parts for it.
I was so mad at it just prior to the 2010 Buell Homecoming because it wasn't running on one of the cylinders. I worked on that dam thing for a couple of hours before accidentally discovering it was a plug wire that would short out only when in the frame.
Now I don't have patience to work on it, I just take it back to the dealer. $80 per hour labor! Ouch!
O'well, the joy of owning a motorcycle. |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2013 - 07:13 pm: |
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Well, spent the better part of the day swapping out the CPS with my "parts" bike...
Somehow I knew it wasn't going to make any difference. And within 1/4-mile from home I was right. Miss, miss, miss. Since I've done this much, tomorrow I'll clean the spark plugs (this bike and its predecessor have NEVER fouled a plug) and do a TPS reset (if I can get my ancient PC laptop to boot).
Then, after that's been unsuccessful, I'll begin commuting on my beautiful 1991 Honda NT650 Hawk:
Since there's been almost ZERO interest from my CL ad, looks like the Ulys will be going to charity. It's been fun...
--Doc |
Red450
| | Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2013 - 08:13 pm: |
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Try the TPS from Autozone. Duralast TPS213. If it doesn't work, you can return it. |
Steveford
| | Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2013 - 08:42 pm: |
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It's supposed to be reset every 10,000 miles if I recall correctly.
I can attest that it's a real bad idea to just ignore that service interval. When I worked at a dealership I did it religiously but now I have to pay a tech to do it.
So it goes. |
Natexlh1000
| | Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2013 - 11:49 pm: |
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I was so close to getting one of those hawks back in 1991.
The only thing stopping my was the money thing.
That chain drive crap will never catch on |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 11:24 am: |
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Well Doc, it is like this.....If I did not have a still perfectly fine '06 in the shed to ride, I would be in the truck on the way to buy up your problematic piles of Uly parts. Save for that, and my desire to obtain a new EBR whenever that happens.
I have truly enjoyed your work here on BadWeB over the years. I'm glad we have these Buell Motorcycles to that end. We would have never 'met' you and followed your great stories of adventure on your Ulysses. Here is to hoping you still drop in to let us know how it is going!
Thank you Dr. Greg .....and please convey a tip of the hat to the Misses! |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 11:32 am: |
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I was so close to getting one of those hawks back in 1991. The only thing stopping my was the money thing.
That chain drive crap will never catch on : )
I have a 1983 Honda VT500FT Ascot, which is basically the father of the Hawk. Fortunately , the Ascot has shaft drive.  |
Dr_greg
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 11:44 am: |
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Try the TPS from Autozone. Duralast TPS213. If it doesn't work, you can return it.
You may be confused. The "TPS reset" we're referring to is a software procedure.
Well Doc, it is like this.....If I did not have a still perfectly fine '06 in the shed to ride, I would be in the truck on the way to buy up your problematic piles of Uly parts. Save for that, and my desire to obtain a new EBR whenever that happens.
Well, pardon my cynicism, but I've received numerous "qualified offers" of that type. "If I lived closer...etc. etc."
Yours is genuine, I'm sure, but...the dearth of response to my Uly(s) ad on CL is part of the reason I'll be donating them to charity.
We all tell ourselves what great bikes they are, but when it comes time to put our $$$ where our mouths are, all of a sudden we get quite thrifty.
Pardon my attitude, it's been a very disappointing summer for me so far.
--Doc |
Red450
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 12:22 pm: |
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I did multiple TPS resets but they only helped for a short time. That's why I replaced mine with the Duralast and it has been trouble free every since. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 12:32 pm: |
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Doc- He meant a new TPS (the actual part) may cure your symptoms. A TPS reset can correct issues like weird throttle response or popping back through the throttle body. A bad TPS can produce missing/weird running issues like you describe. |
Buellerxt
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 12:38 pm: |
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Cheer up and look at the positives Greg. You're healthy, you have a great, supportive wife, and a very nice Honda motorcycle. Life is good, Man, and there is a lot of it left to live!
I agree with Etennuly's sentiments. Thanks for sharing so much with us and please keep coming by and updating us. Best of luck. |
Uly_man
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 03:14 pm: |
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"My ULY has run flawlessly (quote from another member) for over 23K miles?
That's not enough. Call back when you're over 50K miles. I had a number of "issues" during the 30K-50K mile period. With 22K on '06 Uly #564 I'm interested in what the next 25K miles brings (assuming I have him that long).
I was looking at 100K, 200K miles on the Uly, I like him that much. Had my legs sawed out underneath me when Buell went belly-up. Like I said, when I retire I'll average 30K miles/year and I need a bike that will handle that. Don't give me the Commando act; how many Commandos do 30K/year and are in backcountry?".
I wish I could find a bike that could do 30k miles a year without any issues. That is "pushing the limit" even for a big four cylinder Bemmer? And while I understand what you want those sort of numbers are just not going to happen. Would you think that can happen with the NTV? A 660cc 1991 bike @ 30k miles per year. That is 660,000 miles? That would be 95 belts on my Uly, LOL.
Have fun Guy. |
Motorfish
| | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 10:03 pm: |
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Hey Dr. Greg I feel your pain. After buying my 06 new, Buell getting dumped, then having the oil pump drive gear eating itself be because of a crankshaft that was not true, I now have a money pit. I'm sticking with it since I have done just about all the upgrades. I have to relocate the ECM, and get a '10 back wheel. It still can break though. Dealer support stinks and is hard to come by. Not a good thing for a bike to tour on. I really don't get to ride like I used to, and only get real far from home about once a year. I'm a family man. I don't know what I would buy next if I was buying something. I really hope you get it fixed and stick around. I enjoyed your posts & and trip pictures, except the nude ones!! You have been a big help to this board. If you do leave I wish you the best of luck with whatever you ride, safely. Stop by and say hello if you can. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Monday, July 22, 2013 - 11:33 am: |
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People are getting 100k out of VStrom 1000s, and they are pretty affordable.
Go get one of those new and ride it into the ground. I've ridden one, and it was not nearly as much fun as the Uly, but it was a lot more fun than "no motorcycle". |
Motorfish
| | Posted on Monday, July 22, 2013 - 09:04 pm: |
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Yeah Reep, I've heard that about V Stroms. Reliable, but kind of low on the fun factor. I have never rode one, but was starting to consider it when my Uly went boom. I would like to ride one just to check it out. Sorry, getting of topic. |
Buellerxt
| | Posted on Monday, July 22, 2013 - 09:21 pm: |
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nm
(Message edited by buellerxt on July 22, 2013) |
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