| Author | Message | ||
     Tennisjohn |
Greetings from sunny So Cal. I'm a DR650 driver and looking to add something with longer legs to the garage. Looking to purchase a Uly asap. I've lurked and read and re-read. So, the question is: would those of you who have been around this model longer than I have recommend AGAINST buying an 07 due to the crank issues? As background, I work on my own machines. Timing a bike every few thousand miles to me is not and issue and actually... I'd enjoy it  and the extra steering lock...nice but I don't really care to be honest. Would you steer a newbie to spend the extra $$ and buy only '08 and newer? Lastly if you've got a Uly that needs a new home and you're selling cheap, shoot me a pm. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
If you buy a bike with lots of miles, it would have blown up already if it had a time bomb installed. 2008 bikes aren't perfect either. Nor are 2006 or 2009! Still good bikes. Remember that not all 2007 bikes were blighted in this way but basically everyone that does have one, posted here! | ||
| Teeps |
Tennisjohn Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 So, the question is: would those of you who have been around this model longer than I have recommend AGAINST buying an 07 due to the crank issues? It's a crap shoot with the '07s. Some have not had problems... Would you steer a newbie to spend the extra $$ and buy only '08 and newer? Yes Additionally, Buells in general require very little maintenance beyond oil changes. 2 holes, engine and transmission/primary. Hardest part is removal of the lower body work to get the oil filter off. Clean or replace air filter once a year(?) or more as you like. Spark plugs 10k miles I think is recommended, though the first replacement set of plugs in my bike have been in for 25k miles with no problems, starting or otherwise and still gets 50 mpg consistently. | ||
| Tennisjohn |
The 07 I'm considering is over 20k miles and running well. Safe bet that if its passed the 20k mark then it must have an OK crank? I will consider an 08+ bike based on the advice im getting here. The oil pump, bigger oil cooler, better crank pins, etc do make practical lomg-term sense... | ||
| Reepicheep |
Nope. Many are failing around 30k if they fail. Definitely look for an 08 if you can, or an 06 if you find one. But if there is a screaming good deal on an 07, not all fail, and if they do fail, you can rebuild for something like $3k and have the new bigger crank pins and run it forever. Here is the raw data. Somethign was for sure wrong, but not all have the problem. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/648773.html?1374261251 | ||
| Fotoguzzi |
09 XT will run forever.. in Minnesota- hurry up and you can fly ride before winter.  http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/ 768175.html?1439814556 | ||
| Phelan |
I might sell mine, even deliver it, if you're close to American Sport Bike. I'm in Colorado, but could ride it to you and buy Al's XB9S the next day on my my way home  . Mine is an '06 that is quite a runner. High miles, but almost everything has been updated and/or replaced. A stock '06 Uly makes 75-80 RWHP, mine makes 104 with the stock exhaust. I work at NRHS and have done all the servicing to the bike on or ahead of schedule. | ||
| Phelan |
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| Tennisjohn |
Hi phelan: I bought an airhead a while ago off of a member of imbwr. I went out to Boulder to pick it up and made my first ride on the bike a Saddle Sore 1000 to the Reno area via Wyoming, SLC etc. Great ride once you get to Nevada and things get curvy with desert on both sides. Your bike looks amazing. Yes Lots of miles; but... Fotoguzzi: I did see your ad earlier. Looking more for an X but I'll take another look. (Message edited by Tennisjohn on September 30, 2015) | ||
| Big_island_rider |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/759446.html | ||
| Toddlmr |
I would say dont buy a 2007 because I did. Mine is •••••• and I am bikeless... | ||
| Vman858 |
Haven't had any problems from mine. Replace plugs and wires, changed oil etc. Bikes been great only got 14k on it. Took a 2500 mile trip into Canada this summer and was the only one who had no problems. Wasn't there a theory that oil pump gear was contributing to crank fail and it could be examined for premature failure?  | ||
| Hughlysses |
^ Oil pump gear is a different issue that happened on tubers and maybe some early XB's. The teeth on the gear would wear to a knife edge and eventually break off, stopping the oil pump and sometimes wrecking the cam gears. 2006 XB's changed to a bronze oil pump drive gear which fixed that. Uly crank problem is failure of the crank pin surface and/or connecting rod big end roller bearings. I believe someone from Buell posted long ago that the problem was with the surface hardness of the crank pins. I don't know anything you could do to lessen the chances of failure. Avoiding lugging the engine seems like it might lessen loads on the crank which could help. You might be able to predict if/when the failure will occur with regular used oil analyses. The only fix is to replace crankshaft/rod assembly or specialty shops can rebuild your old crank. | ||
| Phelan |
Just buy the 08 crank and rotor from Surdyke while it's still available, and replace the crank as a pre-emt. That's what I would do. I don't even hve cranky issues and I want to get an 08 crank... albeit the 3.125" stroke version  . | ||
| Vman858 |
Hughlysses-Thanks for the run down! Phelan- I have read conflicting reports. Is it just a swap out if you get the 08 crank and rotor?" | ||
| Hughlysses |
I believe the left side crankcase bearing must also be changed, and the 08 crank doesn't have a static timing mark so it's a good idea to make one before you install it. Dark horse Crank works assisted Buell in developing the 08 crank and can give you details on the swap. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
I believe it's just the crank and the primary sprocket and bolt that I used when I change mine from an 07 to 08. | ||
| Tennisjohn |
Thanks for the input everyone. Decided on a clean 2009 model. On it's way to California as I type this :-) Thrust blue of course; because, we all know that's the fastest color. | ||
| Teeps |
Cheers, see you at the Rock Store... | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Thrust blue of course; because, we all know that's the fastest color. Black is the fastest color  Toothless is not amused | ||
| Daddio |
Mine was Thrust Blue from the dealer, but it picked up 3 or 4 hp and lbs/ft when I changed the plastics to black. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
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| Arry |
Congrat's on finding an '09. Is it an X or XT? | ||
| Tennisjohn |
2009 xt with 13000 miles. Drummer (rare wtf-wow-is-that-loud! version). Journey bags. Brand new metzellers. As I said, I've been talking up this bike so much over the past few months that a buddy also went out and bought one. A 2007 X with similar miles to mine. After a week of test riding a few needs came up. Turn signals were intermittent. I traced to a bad ground at steering head aea. Mom is a retired aerospace engineer and she said the crimps and wire lengths would never have passed muster at NASA lol. So we soldered all of that with a much more spare wire. Problem solved. That weak Harley pause start bothered me so I removed batt tray and I cleaned all grounds and changed batt to one with more CCA. Result: just look at the start button and it starts RIGHT NOW! Pics from run up to Toro Peak. A ride this bike was made for. Miles of fast mountain switchbacks (MVAgusta owning friend declared the Ulysses "brilliant" in the twisties) followed by 20 miles of off-road trails to and from the 8000 foot peak. The Buells looked proper parked at the famous Paradise Valley Cafe.       | ||
| Daddio |
Looks like you mighta lost your tennis rackets along the way... Welcome. |
