| Author | Message | ||
     Indiana99 |
I haven't had a real bike in several years since I sold the Buell. I've test road a few things but man I never knew how unique that Ulysses was. It was lighter than a 600 Versys! at only 425 dry weight. I had hernia surgery and don't want to risk trying to pick up anything heavier than say 450 at most which rules out lots of bikes. The center of gravity does matter though. In short, I just really miss the feel of that big v-twin and light weight, and tall seat height and plush suspension. It was just soooo damn smooth on the highway. So any former Uly owners that found a bike with 80% of the feel of a Uly? Don't make me get the 300 Verysys  | ||
| Phelan |
1190 SX | ||
| Teeps |
I've been asking myself the same thing off and on for the last few years. I have yet to find a suitable answer. Currently I'm looking at a BMW F800GT. | ||
| Byrdock |
Have you looked at a Guzzi Stelvio? If you find a first generation the weight might be just right. Even the new models with the 8 gal tank are easy to lift off the stand since the motor is transverse. Rides and handles about like the Uly. As for the F800GT, my sweetie absolutely loves her's. Haven't had a chance to ride it myself yet because she's always on it. But it has really boosted her confidence level and she's getting hard to keep up with in the twisties! | ||
| Dr_greg |
Howdy, Many of us have struggled with that issue... BTW, my '06 Uly weighed 515 lbs. wet, still the lightest of the "ADV" bikes. And felt tiny. Sigh... After 85K miles on (two) '06 Ulys, I test-rode everything, finally put 50K miles on (two) Ducati Multistradas. Still not completely happy. Oh, I typically buy a bike, total it, then buy an identical replacement...that's why the (two). Hated pre-watercooled GS, but WC bike is MUCH better. Have put 80K miles on '13 and '16 GS/GSA. Still not completely happy...too heavy. Would have LOVED to try a Stelvio, but no dealers within reasonable distance. And sometime you need a dealer. My riding days are rapidly coming to an end...sure would've liked to end them on a Uly or a Uly look-alike (er, ride-alike). Oh, well...I'm afraid my next bike will be a car. --Doc | ||
| Teeps |
Doc, You could always get a Polaris Slingshot, Can-Am Spyder, or a Morgan 3 Wheeler. http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/polaris-sling shot-can-am-spyder-f3-morgan-3-wheeler All the disadvantages of a car vs a moto, with only one benefit. | ||
| Ourdee |
What bike for a former Uly owner? Another ULY! | ||
| Cyclone8u |
Ourdee - Another ULY!  I haven't figured out a better answer. The balance Erik & company engineered between sport bike, tourer, and adventure bike has never been replicated by anyone, period. Some have found that their riding abilities aren't up to the task of doing more than 80/20 on/off road and moved to a more adv specific platform. Others don't like or need the extra suspension and it's associated height and found something that was a better fit. But, if you're comfortable on this bike and with your capabilities on it and enjoy the balance it offers between sport, touring, & adv.... Your only choice is to keep rebuilding what you've got or find another one. At least until another manufacturer recognizes the void filled by a truly flickable 80/20 sport/tour/adv bike. One man's opinion. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'd tend to agree with the calls for another Uly. There are still plenty of good, low mileage examples out there, and the 2008-up models have some decent improvements over the other ones. If you're determined to move on to something different, I'd definitely suggest checking out a Moto Guzzi Stelvio. They have a fairly rabid following over on ADVrider. It seems to be the closest "new" bike that you can get to a Uly, although I believe it's been at least temporarily discontinued as a new engine is required to meet upcoming Euro emission standards. | ||
| Ftd |
I m planning on buying a Motus when my '06 Uly craps out. American made, fast, probably quirky (sounds familiar). A tad pricey but YOLO. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Older I get , I keep looking at smaller bikes. The t7 yamaha is on my radar. Swm is getting in the game with a 650 single that look's better than the Dr or klr. I'm not ready to give up riding for a long time and as such , I've got to adapt. All ready have a 96 road king, 07 Buell 12x , wife has a 96 sporster sport. Garage is full. Bikes weigh a lot. Even have looked at the cr250rl rally as a fun toy. Main thought , who here has a inseam to take care of a 37" seat height? Most new dirty bikes are 35 "+. Hoping Swm will bring that 900 nuda over. That would be awesome! | ||
| Odd |
not to highjack the thread but how do you like the sportster sport? | ||
| Tootal |
Main thought , who here has a inseam to take care of a 37" seat height? Sounds perfect to me!!  | ||
| 1313 |
This? Or this? Seriously, words like 'former Uly owner' are not recognized in my vocabulary  | ||
| Court |
I've pretty well come to grips that the Ulysses is one of the things my kids will have to sell when I go. I don't ride the thousands of miles a month I did when I was test riding and touring. But . . . well, I have a certain set of competencies I demand from a bike. The Ulysses excels in all categories. To that end, I picked up about $7k worth of spares, extras and replacements to make certain it lasts as long as I do. But . . . I confess . . .it's never so much as hiccuped. I don't screw around with it . . . don't need it to sound like a thundering herd of bikers coming into town, need no more power than it has and am delighted in every way. When I want to go . . . I get on and ride. It's fun. Off to Rhode Island today to see if I can add a vintage car to the barn to keep the Ulysses company. | ||
| Ourdee |
DIBS! Court, When you amend your will; Please, Put my number in it as a contact for the kids when they go to sell it. | ||
| Tootal |
I concur! My brother picked up a 09 a couple of years ago with only 4500 miles on it for $4000.00. They are even cheaper now! | ||
| Steveford |
I have a 955i Tiger which is too heavy for what you want as it's pretty much of a gigantic whale but I've heard a lot of good things about the new 800 Tigers. http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/bikes/adventure- and-touring/tiger/2016/tiger%20800/variants/tiger% 20800%20xcx | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I was impressed by the Tiger 800 that I rode. If I did not have the Uly, I think that the Tiger would be the most likely replacement. | ||
| Etennuly |
Well if you go looking for used Ulys mine won't be listed. There was a time I felt the need to get the newest type best of all category machine that the mags were raving about. Since '06 i have not seen or read about any MC that would replace my Uly. It is the compromise that satisfies! | ||
| Ourdee |
08XB12XT was the best bike I have ever owned. Mistakenly sold it at 42,000 miles. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
My 2006 Ulysses is not for sale but if I was going to add another motorcycle it would definitely be a Triumph T120 Bonnieville. I like everything about that bike and I took one for a test ride last summer. It was the only motorcycle I've ever ridden that even comes close to my Uly! If Woodstock Harley would ever get a white T120 in stock, I might bite on it! | ||
| Dr_greg |
Doc, You could always get a Polaris Slingshot, Can-Am Spyder, or a Morgan 3 Wheeler. Thanks, but no thanks. Dynamics completely different; would always be frustrating. RE keeping Uly (a la Court): I do several XC rides a year (blogs on ADVrider.com), and need a reliable bike. Some of you old-timers might remember my '06 Uly stranding me FOUR TIMES in a row. Poor Mrs. Greg and her pickup-rescues... I, too, loved my '06 Uly(s), and put a ton of miles on them. But my rose-colored glasses are fading... --Doc | ||
| Court |
I have to say . . . for all the quirks, foibles, curiosities and so forth . . . my Ulysses has never done anything but run, run more and run more. I'm supposed to be laid up for 8 weeks . . . but "disappeared" for a bit this morning to check out the mountain top at sunrise. The Ulysses to me is a good (no where near perfect) combination of a lot of the attributes I seek as an infrequent, but demanding, rider. If I'd been stranded once . . . I'd be on a Triumph. | ||
| Tootal |
Well my 06 had it's share of problems. Stator and VR both went. Once it was repaired it never had another problem with charging. The fueling was off but ecmspy and some seat of the pants work paid off. The muffler valve actuator failed twice but the new style one works fine. It uses oil on the front jug. You can hear the piston slap, even when warm but it runs great! I don't change oil anymore, just keep adding. The idle cable rusted so I had to remove it, clean it and with some anti seize on it, it's cured. Spark plug wires shorted out so I got some aftermarket wires and raised the coil up to take out some slack. No more problem. Right fork seal leaked. Rebuilt both forks and put fork socks on it, no more problems. Did a lot of other things to improve it. Some day I'll do a top end rebuild so it quits using oil. I will fix it since there's just nothing out there that fits me like my Uly. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Tootal, You are probably just jesting but just adding oil will end up ruining your engine. I did that with my first motorcycle because I didn't know anything about engines but that was back in 1970. Ruined that motor on a 64' Honda S90. | ||
| Tootal |
I have changed the filter on time and that's what's important. The additives in oil are what really break down and with constant additions they are just fine I'm sure. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Odd: haven't been on Web till now. Had a blower motor burn up Friday in furnace in attic. No ac here in south Texas right now totally sucks. Priorities i guess. Wife really like the sport. At 5' 2" she does allright. For me , seat too low to pegs. Uncomfortable. That's why I got the 12x. Does everything well for me. Her sport , being a 96 , she has the adjust able suspension which I've never fooled with. She''s happy with it. Typical 90''s sportster, two hands to operate brake , clutch. Vibration etc. The bike also came with single plug heads and screaming eagle ignition. It does ride pretty good tho. I've gone to a Dunlop 491 tire on rear and stayed with the 591 front. In our 43 years together, it has been the most trouble free machine we've ever bought. 4 wheeler or two. It has had its issues but none that were truly a deal breaker. Just age related. I've thought about finding me a 98 or newer and having a daily rider but uellymae would bitch about it. | ||
| Portero72 |
I have owned two ULYs and currently own an XB12SS and a Tiger 800XC. The Tiger is an amazing bike but nothing at all like riding the Uly. Something about that V-Twin really gets in your soul and soothes the rider going down the freeway. Triumph make some incredible machines, mine included (and I ride the piss out of it), but I cannot recommend them as a company. Just my personal experience. | ||
| Portero72 |
As an aside, I dream of getting another Uly almost daily. |
