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Whosyodaddy
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 09:53 am: |
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I've been jonesing for Uly since they were first announced in '05 but with me being 5'6" and 30" inseam, even the new lower seat still looks too tall. Are there any other options for me short of changing out the suspension? I currently ride a 1200GS and I don't really have a problem with its 31.9" low seat option. I'm wondering why the Uly looks so much taller when the seat is spec'ed at 31.8".) (Note that I've not actually tried to get on a Uly - I'm afraid I'd drop it trying to get off.) Are there any other "vertically challenged" Badwebbers riding Ulys? |
Ulywife
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:08 am: |
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Here a comparison on all three seats. M2nc is 5'8" and has a 29" inseam. He's got 16,000 miles on his Uly. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=142838&post=760948#POST760948 |
Old_mil
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:10 am: |
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I'm 5'8 with a 30 inch inseam. Try the 2007. I wanted a 2006, but there was no way. The seat redesign on the 2007 changed the geometry enough to where I can ride it. There's no way that I'll be able to flatfoot both feet without changing the shock, but I can get one down, and get both toes down. It makes a big difference. If you are okay with the 1200GS, you'll be fine with the 2007 Uly. It's also well balanced and much lighter compared to the 1200GS, so that will work in your favor. Incidentally, if you want to lower the bike further, Trackside Engineering in Wisconsin will redo the shock if you ship it to them. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:12 am: |
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The '06 has a low seat option. The '07 has a lower stock seat that is a little narrower at the front to help with that problem. I'm 6' with a 31" inseam, I have learned to ride with the stock '06 seat because it is awesome for long rides. Once you get used to it you either just stop with the bike vertical and touch your toes, or set up for your stop and flat foot on one side. It comes real natural after a few thousand miles or so. I use my low seat for local around town stuff and the stock seat for everything else. I've done 12,000 miles in 7.5 months. I love it! |
Teeps
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:38 am: |
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Whosyodaddy Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 <snip> me being 5'6" and 30" inseam, even the new lower seat still looks too tall. <snip> Are there any other "vertically challenged" Badwebbers riding ? I have a 30" inseam, and have no problems riding my '06 Ulysses, on the street. Dirt is another story... But then, I didn't buy the Ulysses with the intent of taking it "off road." It's all about, your skills, confidence and strength. I posses the first two but lack the later, with regard to "man handling" the beast in the dirt. I think, in the case of off-roading a Ulysses, rider size does mater. Simply put, (my opinion) for the dirt, the Ulysses is too heavy and the C*G is too high. |
Thunderbox
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:44 am: |
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You have to know that lowering the bike must be done with care. You have to lower the entire bike the same amount to not change the geometry if you only lower the rear shock it will handle very poorly. Even then lowering the bike will change the wheel base a little. |
Whosyodaddy
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:48 am: |
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You have to know that lowering the bike must be done with care. You have to lower the entire bike the same amount to not change the geometry if you only lower the rear shock it will handle very poorly. Even then lowering the bike will change the wheel base a little Right. I won't buy a bike that would require me to lower the suspension just so I could fit on it. |
Whosyodaddy
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:52 am: |
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Dirt is another story... But then, I didn't buy the Ulysses with the intent of taking it "off road." I haven't taken my GS off road and would have no intention of taking the Uly off road. I just like the extra featuers of the Uly over the 12Ss. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 11:02 am: |
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Teeps
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 11:11 am: |
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Whosyodaddy Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 I haven't taken my GS off road and would have no intention of taking the Uly off road. I just like the extra featuers of the Uly over the 12Ss. Well, there you go... Next stop, test ride and check book. |
Etennuly
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 11:15 am: |
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Now THAT is the CURE!!! I see it comes in super shiny black or the black leather look. I'm seeing a need for a different shift lever. |
Electraglider_1997
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 12:18 pm: |
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Maybe look into purchasing the Buell TT. It's already lower and 1 grand cheaper. |
L_je
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 01:07 pm: |
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Would you be selling your GS? Just curious. I'm 5'6" with a 30" inseam, and love my 12X. I have an '06 with the '07 seat. I don't find the height to be an issue, though I will freely admit that I am NOT a parking-lot-hero on this bike. I have 8000 total miles on it, with about 100 miles on FS roads. I guess as long as I can keep the dirt/pavement ratio above 1%, I'm not doing too bad. Somebody pointed me to this video for some pointers on low speed maneuvers in tight spaces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWaq0zOaAVU |
Whosyodaddy
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 04:27 pm: |
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Would you be selling your GS? Just curious. If I decide to pull the trigger, I've already got a buyer lined up. But to be honest, I love the GS. My primary complaint is with my BMW dealer. (Yes, there are dealer networks weaker the Buell's.) |
Warbaby
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 04:44 pm: |
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This link might shed some light (and height): http://zenfire.ws/buell.htm |
Madduck
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 06:04 pm: |
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The complaints we have over how our Buells are treated at primarily Harley dealers pale in comparison to how BMWNA treats it few and dwindling dealers. I am lucky to still have a quality dealer within 45 miles, but it is a growing concern for traveling. |
Old_mil
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 07:12 pm: |
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Hey Whos - I know what you mean about that. The BMW dealer network is imploding, and the ones that are around here (separated by half a thousand miles in every direction) seem to think that this relieves them of any responsibility to handle customer service on these high priced bikes. Did the K thing myself for one extremely frustrating year and am glad to be free of the roundel for good. |
Whosyodaddy
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 09:07 pm: |
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Hey Whos - I know what you mean about that. The BMW dealer network is imploding, and the ones that are around here (separated by half a thousand miles in every direction) seem to think that this relieves them of any responsibility to handle customer service on these high priced bikes. Did the K thing myself for one extremely frustrating year and am glad to be free of the roundel for good. Yeah... BMW's dealer network is pretty strong on the East and West coast. And I'm "fortunate" enough to have a couple of dealer within a relatively short distance from me. (One of those dealers however, doesn't seem to really want to be in the BMW business - they push Triumph and Ducati and the don't have a standalone BMW service department.) I keep telling myself that each of my BMWs would be my last - yet I appreciate that engineering, performance and handling of the bikes too much to walk away. But that said, if I could get comfortable with the height of the Uly, I would probably make the switch - at least for a little while. |
Lorazepam
| Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 10:34 pm: |
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I left BMW and I am not looking back. Had some oilheads, the last one a 2004 R1150RS, and the Uly makes it feel like a pig. I still have an airhead, but the Uly is my main ride, and will be for quite a while, I love this bike. |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 02:59 am: |
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5-6 with a 29 inch inseam. I can ride the uly, but I feel more comfortable and confident on my CityX with the Scg seat. Riding the bendy and dirty and high rates of speed every chance I get. Warning, your ground clearance is severely diminished with the XB9SX. I am sure the engineers never intended the bike to be ridden the way I do Pic in Profile. |
Wildwilly
| Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 12:03 pm: |
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I am 5'10" with a 30" inseam. Have the 06 low seat and can just get the balls of my feet on the ground. Thought I was going to drop it yesterday, (stupidity on my part), but the bike was easy to hold upright. This is the closest I've come to a bike built for me. (have owned 22 bikes)Plan to ride to Prudhoe Bay this summer. |
Gotj
| Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 01:39 pm: |
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I've read many of the "lowering a Uly" threads and this thread has the latest post. I'm getting prepared to lower my Uly using an XB12 shock and raising the forks in the triple clamps. My question has to do with the shock replacement. The FSM says to remove both the ECM and battery to remove the shock. Just looking at the layout, neither removal appears necessary. On the other hand I don't want to get halfway through the removal to find out the FSM was right. Any experience out there? |
Javadog
| Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 - 06:07 pm: |
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I just took apart and removed everything behind the airbox cover and above the rear tire to yank the evil rear shock. It made things very accessible and easy. I'm not sure how much stuff you would have to get out of the way, if anything, to reach all the bolts. |
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