| Author | Message | ||
     U00bgg2 |
Gentlemen, I am new to this board but no means new to motorcycles. My question is related to the XB 1200 motor, bike line and specifically the Ulysses. I have been reading about the bike for some time and was pretty sure that it was going to be the next set of wheels. Well I had the chance to test ride one this past week and I was very disappointed. I don't want to sound like i am raging on the bike so I am reluctant to spell out the different details that I had a problem with but I am looking for some help. Did any of you folks have a bad first impression with the bike or motor? The motor seemed to have nothing on the bottom-----at all. I was thinking that this might be due to a new bike, not broken in, stock exhaust and intake, etc. Because of the type of demo ride it was I as not allowed to try it out if you know what I mean. I was supprised by the forward slope of the seat and cheap handle bars, this did not inspire confidence. If desired I can provide the full detail riding and bike back ground if anyone believes it will help. Thank you, Brian | ||
| Froggy |
What year and model did you ride? | ||
| Ttags |
nothing on the bottom???? have you ridden jap bikes? my xb has a ton of low end... maybe you're right about the not broken in thing... i dunno man, dont give up. maybe try again on a similar buell, or same bike @ a diff dealer | ||
| U00bgg2 |
Gents, I believe it was an 07, a dealer left over. It had about 39 miles on the bike when I got on it. I have ridden and owned several jap and italian bikes and to me this just felt weak on the bottom. When we took off I left the bike warm up a little before I gave it the beans. The test for me is how well it pulls from a roll on situation, 5 mph, etc. Doing this the bike would barely lift the front wheel, I tried about 4 times with the same result. I then gave it a shot with the bike at about 3K, and I must say it caught me way off gard, the bike stood straight in the air. Just so it is understood, I recognize that a well balanced machine should move forward and not stand up, but the fact that would barely pull the wheel was disappointing. THe italian bikes that I have owned of late would pull very strong from the bottom gradually lifting the wheel as you move forward, nothing scary, just a nice progression. I was thinking about it and I am not sure what the stock gear ratio is on this bike but this might be part of it. The multistrada I owned was geared very tall from the factory in order to pass noise emissions and I was wondering if this could be part of the issue. How does the group feel about the clutch feel and lack of adjustment? How hard is it to get use to the shift lever being reversed, did not seem like a it had a lot of positive engagement. At the end of the day I would like to ride another one because I did and I do have high hopes for this bike. It is right in line where were I want to be with a bike going forward. Brian | ||
| Froggy |
In stock form the bikes are a bit weak under 2k RPM, mostly because of EPA and noise and crap like you mentioned. Airbox mods and rerouting the crank breathers help smooth it out and it will pull a bit better. Also could be a few other things including idle set incorrectly, TPS not set correctly, or spark plugs partially fouled | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Wow, having owned several Ducati desmodue-powered bikes, I am totally confused by your experience. In comparison to the XB motor, the dual-spark desmo lump has no bottom end! Ducati twins are renowned for being very weak at low rpm- needing to be "spun-up" like an I-4 to get into the power (mainly due to lightweight flywheel). Something about your experience does not add up. | ||
| Boltrider |
Not a Uly but with the same 1203 motor, I've always thought of my Firebolt as more of a mid-range bike over anything else. Bottom end is good, but she really wakes up above 3K rpm's. | ||
| Firstfamily |
I have ridden several different styles of bikes and by far my Buell has the best low end out of all them. Like they have been saying, the stock exhaust on them really sucks and changing that out makes all the difference. Don't give up on Buells yet, maybe you just had a bad experience with one. | ||
| Earwig |
U00bgg2, either you are trolling or the bike you tested was seriously messed up. | ||
| Seattle_bueller |
If you can Brian I would recommend trying another Buell with a 1200 in it. Although I agree with Froggy about the exhaust issue, the Ulysses you tested still should have more get-up-and-go then you mention. I would put my money on the fact that you test rode a a bike that needs some TLC. | ||
| U00bgg2 |
Gents, I appreciate all the in put, and my intent is to try another bike. I hope to be able to try one that has been broken in and has any updates or upgrades completed. Most of the desmo bikes I have ridden and owned need some TLC to get them to their full potential. If the Buell is like this, I am ok with that, to me it is part of what helps you get to know your bike. Just so you guys know, the last year I have spent on a KTM 530 supermoto which may be skewing my opinion in the acceleration, bottom end department. I sold the Multistrada when I bought this bike so I do not have a good side by side comparison, just a seat of the pants memory. By the way, if any of you folks are interested in KTM 530 supermoto let me know. Brian | ||
| Zatco81 |
Got any pics of the KTM? | ||
| U00bgg2 |
  A couple of pictures of the 530 for those that asked. The bike is fully street legal from the factory with blinkers, lights, horn, etc. Brian | ||
| Froggy |
Awesome! I see you even pour a whole bottle of NOS Energy drink in with every fill up to make it run great!  http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2265 70 | ||
| U00bgg2 |
Damn right!! That was funny post you attached. Brian | ||
| Etennuly |
If you were trying to get it to pull from 5 mph the clutch wasn't even out yet. The stock gearing idles at 11 mph in first gear. A left over '07 is likely to have partially fouled plugs also. They like to be started, warmed up, and then cover at least 10 miles before shutting down. Five or six cold starts in a row, with some throttle blipping will kill the plugs, and who knows, the gas could be two years old. |
