| Author | Message | ||
     1badhd |
Hi, How many miles have you ridden your Ulysses? I bought a Buell Ulysses for a big road trip this yr. I'm riding from Indiana to Alaska this yr. 8,500 miles round trip. My goal is the Dalton Highway(Deadhorse,AK). Has anyone made the trip up there? What is the best tires for high mile wear? Thanks | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Mike from Ohio (MikeF5000) made that trip a couple years back on his 09 XT. It can be done, but you may consider making sure you have all you bases covered as far as parts that go over time/under full loads. Things like the drive belt, etc. In all fairness to the Uly, I worked with a GS rider that made a similar trip and had nothing but problems with his steed. Coincidence or not, I think both Mike and my GS riding friend both ended up on Yami Super Tens afterward. | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
Epic, bring lock tight. | ||
| Djohnk |
I did about a 3500 mile trip last year ... to the Three sisters in the Hill Country in TX, to Big Bend National Park, to Arizona's famous Devil's hwy 666 (I think we were the first motorcycles through those mountain roads in the spring ... snow on the hill sides and even dodged some basketball sized rocks in the middle of the road), to New Mexico (where I saw a cougar run accross the road) and back to TX. Got anxious to get home and did 900 miles in one day (a one-day record for me). My '07 Uly with 50K+ miles at the time. It performed flawlessly, was extremely comfortable, and I had no issues at all. I carried a spare drive belt and various extra tools in a tool-roll. I also had extra front muffler clamps, front and rear wheel bearings, etc. just in case. Also would have liked to have spare throttle and clutch cables ... although I didn't need them. (Message edited by djohnk on March 27, 2014) | ||
| Djohnk |
Oh, I love my Michelin PR3's which I purchased for the trip. Still using them and don't see much wear. Here's a pic of my bike as I had it packed:  (Message edited by djohnk on March 27, 2014) (Message edited by djohnk on March 27, 2014) | ||
| Nillaice |
Coast to coast, one way east to west. I lost a rear wheel bearing in Chicago, and I fixed it myself at an advance autoparts store and still made it to my destination, all be it 3 hours late Just over 800 mi was the furthest I went in one day You can make it to your destination unless you never try (Message edited by nillaice on March 27, 2014) | ||
| Buellhusker |
I have made several tripe of 1,000 miles or more like a trip from North East Nebraska to Key West FL then up to Daytona for the motorcycle races then back home to Nebraska, Three trips to Home Comming at East Troy then up to Road America for the races. Three trips to Colorado and New Mexico for the SW Buell Rallys. And love to spend a few days two or three times a year in Central Arkansas running the hills & Curves. And or course there is always the Sturgs Rally. Living in Nebraska we always have to go somewhere else to ride some curves. And I might add there have been several 900 mile plus days on these trips. | ||
| Tankhead |
Mikef5000 eventually high sided his bike,the super tenere, off a cliff at the dragon. He rides a KTM adventure 990 now. I don't trust my Uly very much at all. Fuel pump, battery dead, wheel bearings, oil missing. All have left me stranded. Towing company four times through the years. Guess I will wait for the AX and sell it then. I am just keeping it for weekend jaunts now. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
its sad so many people are afraid to go far on this bike...I plan on riding mine everywhere and anywhere | ||
| Tankhead |
Oh, I took my 2006 City-x across our great country. 32000 miles and NO problems... at all. This bike..... not so much. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
DJohnK, How did you attach that manufactured home to your front end? | ||
| Djohnk |
Electraglider, Ha, I did try to bring everything else along didn't I? | ||
| Turf_moor |
My longest trip was London to southwest Portugal return, including just over 1,000 miles in that region, the total trip was 4,689 miles. No problems and the most comfortable Bike I've ridden long distance. The year is the 2006 model. Barricade orange with the high seat. Previous long distance trips have been on an XT500E, an Africa Twin 750 RD04, an R1100GS and a KTM950ADV. So other comfortable mounts, but the Uly was the most comfortable. | ||
| Turf_moor |
Tankhead, did you mean 32,000 miles?  | ||
| 7873jake |
Would regularly set out on 14 and 21 day work/business trips on my Uly knowing if I didnt make it somewhere, I could potentially lose my job if I didnt make it to my next destination for the tournament (televised golf tournaments). Never once missed an event. | ||
| Tankhead |
Yes I put 32,000 trouble free miles in two and a half years of ownership and not one problem. 7800 mile trip out west from NJ in the summer of 08. | ||
| Nillaice |
Every vehicle will have mechanical and electrIcal components and some of those components will fail. I'd rather know which spares to pack and be prepared instead of saying 'screw it all' and getting a different bike Its better the devil you know than the one you don't | ||
| Uly_man |
The key to doing a big trip/ touring is KNOWING your bike, Uly or otherwise, and how to deal with any problems. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have done many 1400 to 2400 mile trips. Several would have been longer if not for time constraints. Riding around home a 400 mile day is just warming up. So far at 60,000 miles only been towed home three times. First was a broken clutch cable, then a rear bearing, then for a blown up rear tire. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Uly Man, Could not agree with you more. I prefer to tour usually only with my wife, she rides her own, because I do the maintenance on all our bikes. I can not tell you how many times our plans have been blown my someone else's bike battery dying, transmission grenading, etc.. In all of our miles, the only thing to happen on any of our bikes is a broken throttle cable on my Deuce. (Knock wood) Limped to the dealer and had it fixed in a couple of hours. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
I also agree...I have two other bikes...neither known so much for reliability...A 1990 EX 500 and a 1995 Yamaha Virago 1100...I would not hesitate a second to jump on either and ride cross country...I have done just this on both bikes...Unless i have major motor problems...i know how to fix them to get where i'm going. The Uly is new to me ...but i will feel the same way about it in time | ||
| 7873jake |
In the "know your bike" vein: While I wouldn't encourage everyone to undertake an engine rotation for the fun of it, and it isn't that taxing, I can say that it has been illuminating to see how deep dark recesses look once the engine has been 'moved' out of the way and the mental picture of the complete bike fills in, for me anyway. I thought I knew my Uly before rocker box work, having done so many other things to it (bearings, tires, forks, fan, ECM work, electrical mods). Nope. Can't imagine how well Hughlysses knows his, inside and out. | ||
| Smac |
A friend and I did a 6,700 mile trip from Detroit to San Diego & back in 2009. I purchased a '08 Ulysses XT specifically for the trip and had an absolute blast! The only issue was a worn back tire on our way back in Iowa. We averaged ~500 mile per day and took the scenic route to find the twisties. As long as you take the fail-safe spare parts with you, I wouldn't worry one bit! (Message edited by smac on March 31, 2014) | ||
| Jamba |
Last summer 12 days, about 300 miles per day, no issues but rear tyre. | ||
| Desert_bird |
NM to Argentina in 2011. 12,000 miles. Great bike for the distance. Needed lots of pre-emptive attention, tires, stator, VR, and man, lots of beer! DB | ||
| Buelet |
My wife & I are heading from Kansas City to Alaska this summer. Leaving July 4th for 24 days to Prudhoe Bay and back. She'll be riding her '09 XT and I'll be on my '06 X. By the time we leave, her bike will have close to 40,000 miles on it and mine will have almost 70,000. In the past several years we've taken a couple 2 week long bike trips; first to the Grand Canyon and then the next summer we went to Moab, UT and on to Yellowstone. Bike vacations rank at the top of the list for me! Better than any cruise or other trip (anywhere) that we've ever taken. Can't wait to get started! Still need to settle on a tire choice. It looks like we'll be logging between 9,000 - 10,000 miles total and I really don't want to fool with a tire change along the way. I'm wondering if the new Pilot Road 4 would make it the whole trip... Our tires usually last anywhere from 5,500 - 7,000 miles before they hit cords. | ||
| Untamed |
Interesting. I've been pondering making the Alaska trip on my '08 XT in June and tire mileage is one of my concerns. I'm running Pilot Road 2's and need a rear tire now. The rear is into the wear bars and front has 3/32 in the center. Both have 15,252 miles on them so I'm almost certain I'll be getting a set of PR 2, 3 or 4's this time. Although, I'm considering Tourance NEXT and Scorpion Trails but I'm unsure they will go the 10,000+ miles needed for this trip. I too don't want to fool with a tire change along the way. 1badhd, when are you leaving? Camp or motel? Buelet, based on my PR 2 experience, I have no doubt the PR4 would make it. What tires have you been running? | ||
| 1badhd |
Hey Guy's thanks for all the good feed back. I'm glad I bought this Buell!! This is going to sound kinda strange but I ride Harley's and my goal is to ride all 50 states on a Harley so that's why I bought a Buell to ride to Alaska. I have rode 43 states so far. I didn't want to buy a Jap bike and I was looking for something with big CC's and comfortable in the saddle for hrs. The Ulysses is the perfect bike for the Dalton Highway too. My departure date is set for June 20th. I have 14 days to get there and back. I'm a bit of a endurance rider I guess. I'm going to try to camp most but have a few days set for hotels. I have been prepping for this trip for months. My biggest concern is tires. I'm looking for the best high mileage tire I can get. Thanks again!! | ||
| 1badhd |
Oh btw, my bike is a 2008 Ulysses with 19,00 miles. Is there any issues I should be concerns with this yr of Buell before I leave for this trip? I know some of the early yrs had some issues. Thanks | ||
| Buelet |
Looks like the PR4's it'll be. Currently running Shinko Raven 009's on my Uly. First set though, so it's too soon to tell how long they'll make it. They're doing well, but I don't want any surprises if I can help it. Before the Shinko's I'd been running the BT-021s, Scorpion Syncs, and the original D616s. Average mileage on those were usually somewhere between 6,000-7,500 miles until they hit cords. 1badhd - Looks like you'll just be getting back when we're headed out! Good luck and safe travels! Untamed - Depending on when you depart / return, we might cross paths. Good luck to you as well! Can't wait to hit the road! | ||
| Big_island_rider |
1badhd - Have you ridden Hawai'i yet? If so, what island? If not, which island(s) are you planning on? |
