| Author | Message | ||
     Skifastbadly |
I'd been lusting for a new bike for a couple of years. My 07 Uly suffered what I believe is a crank failure, but I got a deal on a used 08. But the 08 stranded me in Missoula with a cracked ECM, and that was just the start. With 30K on her, I'd replaced leaking fork seals, replaced the failed stator (and voltage regulator), replaced the head bearing, a set of rear wheel bearings, and the starter. So almost exactly a year ago, when Triumph was offering close out deals on their 2014 models, I picked up a 1200 Explorer. I've put about 8K on her in the past year. The Uly sat in the garage, because it's not costing me much and I'm sure as hell not going to get much for it. Also, when I replaced the starter, I didn't set the drive chain tension correctly, so on the few short rides I took, it was a bitch to shift. Well, yesterday was a beautiful day and I had nothing going on so I pulled her out, adjusted the drive chain, and went for a ride. I had forgotten how well this bike handles. It makes the Triumph feel like a Harley. I need to tell myself that most stuff that can go wrong has, and put some more miles. It's like I have a new bike again. | ||
| Arry |
We all love our Uly's for the way they ride. So, it's good to hear from someone who has a newer "adventure bike", to compare, and still gives their Uly a favorable ranking. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Really?!?! I love my Uly, but figured the Triumph would be a nice handling bike also. It's not like Triumph doesn't know how to build a good sportbike. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Reep, The Triumph handles well enough but it's got a longer wheelbase. It isn't as 'snappy' as the Uly, if that makes sense. On the other hand, every time I hear a noise or feel a bump on the Triumph, I'm not thinking "now what?" Bikes are like kids, I guess, they all have their own personalities, none of them are perfect, each can disappoint you in ways, but if you accept them for what they are, they're all great. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Makes perfect sense. And given mine is making unhappy noises that might be "cranky" in nature, I totally get it. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Clearly, you just need to put the triple from the Triumph into the Uly frame, and you'd have the ideal bike.  | ||
| Steveford |
True, the Useless does handle better than my 06 Tiger but not by a tremendous margin. One thing I do notice right off the bat is how good the Buell's forks are compared to the Tiger. You hit a bump and the Buell just sucks it right up where the Triumph kind of bounces off of it. | ||
| Slacker83 |
I just recently sold my tiger 800 because I wasn't happy with the ergos or the suspension and kept the old beater uly with 40k miles. | ||
| Buellerxt |
So good to hear from you ski, and see that you're back on your Uly. I brought your name up last Sunday at local motorcycle races to two other Buellers, as the king of belt changers and funny posts.  They agreed. I agree with you on Uly's, completely. As the slogan went, Buells own the corners. | ||
| Etennuly |
If I had started this thread I would have titled it "I was reminded". After ten years of Uly ownership I think it will be a really long time before I forget how it rides and handles. Given that, I have not been riding much the past few years. Today I rode. I was reminded why I cannot face selling my Uly. One being it is a useful vehicle. Then there is the sound. Then that vibrating lump turning into such smoothness as it goes. Then the torque and acceleration. The front tire coming up in first gear and then it's just skimming little bumps in the asphalt through second. Several times on the local back roads today I found myself so easily doing 70 coming into a corner. It just leans and grips. Over 62,000 miles, almost ten years, and it still runs, handles, and entertains me like it did nearly ten years ago. | ||
| Tootal |
Put the battery charger on last night just to be sure. 46 now and 64 later. Looks like it time to see if she starts. I have no doubt! |
