| Author | Message | ||
     Advoutlander |
Is there anyone on here who is going to run their uly into the ground? I was planning on trading it in but seeing how dealers are not paying anywhere close to what these bikes are worth I'm thinking about keeping her. | ||
| Phelan |
I am. 74,000 miles and tons of mods currently. | ||
| Falloutnl |
Bought mine this spring. Just 9.5 k miles on the odo. So hopefully it'll be some time before it dies. Other than that, the only reason I will ever sell it is if I'm down to my last dime. (Message edited by falloutnl on November 22, 2015) | ||
| Steveford |
Yeah, me. I rode mine pretty much into the ground, put it up for sale for peanuts, a buddy bought it and I got to thinking about it. I bought the first Useless that our dealership got, I broke it in during the dead of Winter and I just loved that bike. To cut to the chase, I gave him his money back and am now getting the parts together so I can put another 93,000 miles on it. It's been a good bike (more or less). It deserves another lease on life. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I don't see any reason to get rid of my 06... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Yea, I figure I'll keep mine forever. It's pretty bastardized being an 07 with an 09 engine (plus an 06 low seat, 08XT rear shock, kickstand, and windshield, 10 rear wheel and comfort kit). The best thing is I pretty much know every inch of that bike and how to work on everything on it. Learning a new bike will be a PITA, so it'll have to be worth the effort before I buy another. | ||
| Tootal |
 Yup. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Me too. I have owned a bunch of bikes but this one is the best by far. If I can overhaul that old pan 4 times, I can overhaul my Uly. | ||
| Barkbuster |
No bucks to replace her , a KTM SA would be my bike of choice but many mods and 55,000 makes no sense to go in debt to upgrade. uly is a great commuter bike ,just could use more range , also an awesome two-up tourer . | ||
| Xbimmer |
104K I'm keeping it. also an awesome two-up tourer. Yes it is. When El Nino hits this winter I'll be parking it for a few weeks while I work on my XB12XRS project. Hopefully I'll create an awesome-er two-up tourer... we'll see. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I'm planning to keep it until something that costs more than 1/2 value breaks at least. Even with my new KTM1190, the Buell is enough different/fun/simple, and it just isn't worth enough now to sell it. Having a spare bike like that had got to be a good thing, I think. Especially now that my pinging seems to be resolved. | ||
| Teeps |
Advoutlander Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2015 - Is there anyone on here who is going to run their uly into the ground? Most likely yes unless I come into a windfall of $$$. Since H/D pulled the plug on Buell, I've entertained Ulysses replacement, considering many different bikes, of which, none have I bought. Here's how it breaks down for me: Any current bike that I can afford, are second to third rate, when compared to the Ulysses on all considerations. Though, some do get better MPG. Any current bike out there that meets or surpasses the Ulysses on the specs sheet*, I simply cannot afford. Affordability, further breaks down to all monetary considerations such as: purchase price, maintenance cost (both time and $$$), cost per mile in fuel and tires. * This assumes said bikes, not limited to just adventure bikes, handle as well or better than the Ulysses. Lastly what's up with all the 60 inch and greater wheelbase bikes? If I wanted a chopper/cruiser, I'd a kept my Honda VTX1300. | ||
| Ourdee |
I miss mine. Scg is just not the same even though touching the ground with my feet is kind of nice. | ||
| Arry |
I'll be keeping mine for a while. Like others, a replacement is too expensive. And, even though I've had some issues, it's pretty sorted out and running great, now. One of the things I like most about the Uly (unlike most people), is the lack of ABS, traction control, power modes... I actually like having some direct control, instead of a computer chip having all the fun. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I was planning on trading it in but seeing how dealers are not paying anywhere close to what these bikes are worth". You will NEVER get this on a trade-in anyplace. This is because of the dealers costs to sell stuff and of course they are in business to make money and not to do you a good turn. The idea of "running it into the ground" is only valid if something is already past the point of cost effective repairs. As best I can tell you would have to be a VERY bad owner to let it get into that condition or have the engine blow up. Oh and more gizmos cost more money. If you want scaring then just lookup what a BMW ABS rotor ring costs? (Message edited by uly_man on November 22, 2015) | ||
| Griffmeister |
It was a unique planetary alignment that allowed me to buy my Uly back in 09 and I don't foresee that happening again anytime soon. Guess I'll be keeping it running as long as I can. | ||
| Mnrider |
Keeping mine.I bought my 06 new in 08 and even though it only has 19K we've had some great adventures.No reason to stop now. I bought an 09 KLR so the Uly could stay mostly on tar roads and I could keep it nicer. | ||
| Yo_barry |
09 Uly, XB12S..bought in 2011 with 2,300 miles. This will be the last bike I buy, I'll ride it until I can't ride anymore. Great bike, best I've ever ridden. Barry Hollister, CA | ||
| Teeps |
Arry Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2015 - One of the things I like most about the Uly (unlike most people), is the lack of ABS, traction control, power modes... I actually like having some direct control, instead of a computer chip having all the fun. Testify! If I ever get to the point that I need such foolishness. I'll get new MX5 Miata. Yo_barry Posted on Monday, November 23, 2015 - This will be the last bike I buy, I'll ride it until I can't ride anymore. Great bike, best I've ever ridden. Same here, at least that's what my wife told me. Yeah, the Ulysses most bang for the buck of any bike I've owned. | ||
| Etennuly |
Ride it into the ground? Nah, but I have a plan to hang it into a wall in my office when I retire it. Hopefully it will have crossed over 100,000 mile mark before I am done riding it. One of the most useful, fun machines I have ever owned. | ||
| Djohnk |
I'm never selling mine. Last year I rode my Uly to a used motorcycle dealership here in Tulsa. I test drove two recent-year used motorcycles: a Aprilia Caponord and a Triumph Explorer. Although they were both great bikes, I rode my Uly home and said to myself no thanks I'm happy with what I have. There may be a time in the future were I add another one to the stable, but I will keep my Uly. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I plan on my ULY being my last ICE powered bike and will ride it as long as possible. Electric from here on out. Tired of gas burning and oil changes and will only put up with it with my current stable of bikes. Will eventually be ElectronGlider_20XX (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on November 25, 2015) | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
I plan on keeping and riding.. It still holds a special feeling when I ride it.. Just feels great. I'm halfway to 100,000 mile mark and running strong as ever.  | ||
| Sagehawk |
Eg97, now that was funny! At least that what my grandson would say. My uly was bought because of no catalytic converter, no charcoal cannister, no valve adjustments, no belt replacements (lifetime?), no ride by wire, etc. Simpler the better, right? Funny thing, 07 xb12x met 2010 epa standards without all the extra crap. Just sound engineering to make this motor do what it needed. I can so appreciate these factors. Anything to give me more trouble, I have removed and/or modified. Make it your own is what the motto is I believe. | ||
| Al_lighton |
I have looked for a motorcycle that could replace my highly modified Uly, and it just isn't made. What brought me to Buells to begin with was the combination of a sport standard with SIMPLICITY, and that only got better with the release of the Uly. It wasn't perfect out of the box, but was a really good starting point. Mine is now just as I want it to be, perfect ergos, decent wind protection with the 1125R fairing, and easy to carry lots of stuff on. I don't need more power, I LIKE the belt (and despise chains on street bikes), the handling and utility of the bike is great, and it's VW bug simple to work on with no valve adjustments, no throttle body synching, no radiators to drain/fill. What's not to like? But time marches on, it's getting close to 50K on the clock, and parts aren't going to get easier to find in the future. So I've been looking at potential alternatives. I do NOT want a chain, and I'd just assume have a motorcycle that doesn't require disassembling the entire bike to do a valve adjustment. That makes for only a few choices. I test rode a BMW R1200RS about a week ago. The magazines cream all over the new BMW waterheads, and I can see why. They are fabulous motorcycles in so many ways. Smooth, powerful enough, sophisticated, really comfy, the ergos were just about perfect for me. But there are three things that just don't work for me: 1) Cost (about $20-21K out the door). I could buy 4 used Ulys for the cost of ONE BMW. 2) Simplicity - if they break, you pay. BIG. Good luck servicing one if it isn't a simple mechanical failure. And there is much to go wrong, they are very complex machines. I have read many a horror story about BMW support as well. 3) Character- a quote from one of the magazines about one of the recent BMWs that won high praise went something like "it'll do EVERYTHING you ask of it exceptionally well, but you won't feel one way or the other about it". That just about summarizes my test ride. It was just about perfect, and yet, it didn't stir my soul at all. Bottom line, I'm not ready for my motorcycle to become an appliance like my refrigerator. The closest thing to my Uly that I've found is a Moto Guzzi Stelvio. Loads of character, not loaded down with tons of electronics, fairly simple engine design, very maintainable. But it's heavy and long, and while the company is still in business, it still has a thin dealer network. For now, my Uly is just easier to support than a Moto Guzzi would be. But If I had to buy a replacement tomorrow, I'm pretty sure it'd be the one. But for now, and until HD makes parts an unsolvable problem, I think the Uly stays. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Sagehawk, no belt replacements (lifetime?) Total fallacy, not even close to true. Buell never said that it was a lifetime belt, though I'm sure it was misquoted as that on many occasions. What they said was that it had an indeterminate life. That is, there was no specified mileage or time replacement interval. You replace it when it needs to be replaced, not because of some arbitrary mileage or time value. Keep it long enough and you WILL replace a belt on your nickel. Mine went on my 08 at 12K with 6 stripped teeth (a fairly unusual failure, but hardly unheard of). Plenty have popped sub 20K, but there are also plenty with 50K and going strong. There are plenty of threads on this so I won't belabor the point. But all that said, I LOVE the belt, especially with the idler system that removes all final driveline lash. I HATE driveline lash and many chain drive bikes, and especially ones with lots of suspension travel, have boatloads of driveline lash.} | ||
| Buellerxt |
Thanks for your thoughts, Al, they give me comfort. I'm definitely holding on to mine as long as I have a good Buell tech nearby. I'm no tech and don't want to be. | ||
| Teeps |
Yeah, Life Time Belt means the life of the belt. Had to replace my '06 Ulysses' belt at 28k due to rock puncture, found during tire replacement. Keeping the puncture belt as emergency spare. | ||
| Sagehawk |
The reason to include lifetime in () was to isolate it as a parody of all the good things buell, that would be the one of most replacements and maintenance issues, yet touted as an item of least maintenance on these bikes. Just trying to be lighthearted in an otherwise humorless world. | ||
| Crempel |
I am planning to stick with mine a long time as are many others. I also like the belt; no lash, no lube, no cleaning gunk off the chain and rear wheel and luggage. Handles better than any bike I have ever ridden which is due to at least two of my favorite characteristics in a bike which are high quality suspension and light weight. I love no valve adjustments too. The unbelievable smoothness at cruising speed is amazing. No numb fingers. What would make it perfecter for me? First thing would be a better seat, but I could spend $300 and fix that. This would be true of almost any other bike too. My biggest issue is that I would like it to be less of a toaster. The aforementioned seat gets pretty warm in summer after you ridden a while and parked, not to mention the frame. I actually wish my fan would run more when I'm moving; it gets to knocking and the fan isn't running. (yes the fan works) It has all the power I need, sure I would take more if it was free, but not at the cost of mileage, more heat, less reliability, more tire wear, more tickets. I am sure that I like mine more than some of you others at least in part due to the fact that mine has been incredibly reliable. If mine had left me roadside several times I'm sure that the taste in my mouth would be different, but it hasn't. Just rolled over 38K and the rear wheel bearings are original reds. As you saw in a recent post, just replace the fronts. I've thought about an FJ-09 to be honest. I like the price and relative simplicity, light weight, power, looks (mostly). It's kind of like a slightly (OK, a lot) more modern Uly. But the seat would have to go, the screen has to be better, I hear it's a little buzzy, gotta lube and adjust that chain. I guess I've got the right bike for me. Here's to many more miles before I sleep. |
