Has anyone ridden the new Buell Ulysses? We need a review! I just got my issue of Cycle World - they seemed to like it. :tour

I like it but ,I like about anything with two wheels and a motor.

There is a really in-depth review of this bike here. (http://www.sacborg.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=013152&p=5)

It needs a few things to really go play in the ruff stuff, but it's a good start.

1. USFS-approved muffler with some protection, like a nice fat bash plate.

2. Folding shifter.

3. Real handguards with 1/4" thick aluminum protecting the levers.

4. Higher bars for posting up on the pegs.

5. Pegs with some teeth on 'em so ya don't bust a nut on the seat when standing up in the mud.

I think it's a good start though!

Sorry .... :toungelau :help1 :not :nocomment :censor :roflblack

I love it! A sport bike/dirtbike/Harley combination with a good dose of power - very cool. And perfect for all those dirt roads I won't ride my Sportster on near my cottage.

Lets get something straight.

Its a streetbike that can handle an occasional dirt road. It's not a motocross/dirt bike or even close.

In a few days Jerry Haughton is going on a 10 day trip (~1000 mls a day!!) with a Ulysses. He'll start in Wisconsin (Appleton HD) and end in California National park near a HUGE tree called Ulysses. I'm looking forward to reading his story.

See http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/131167.html?1123074988.

I'd consider one if it had conventional brakes and a chaindrive and NO CAST wheels.

That thing looks sweet! I got the new Cycle world in the mail yesterday, they gave it a pretty good review. It's not intended to be a dirt bike, but it's made to handle the occasional off road fling. If I only had 12K sittin around :smoke

I like the look of it (I don't normally like big trailies).

If I was 10 years younger I'd certainly be tempted. I enjoy some off-road riding, but my body can't take a lot of it these days. Very cool that Harley (Buell) is doing this finally.

The more I think about it, the more that bike needs a chain drive, IMO.

Seems like mud would build up in the pulley, stretch the belt and.... SNAP! Then you'd have quite the heavy load to push/pull/drag outta there.

BUT - for light dirt roads and everyday driving, I still think that bike is cool.

The more I think about it, the more that bike needs a chain drive, IMO.

Seems like mud would build up in the pulley, stretch the belt and.... SNAP! Then you'd have quite the heavy load to push/pull/drag outta there.

BUT - for light dirt roads and everyday driving, I still think that bike is cool.


It's a new type of belt that's supposed to be practically indestructable. I read somewhere that you can shoot a bullet through it and it will still pull the bike under load. Erik supposedly considered a chain drive for it, and found that this new belt was superior in every way.

JMHO

Cool, I wonder if we can get this "super belt" for our Sportsters? :bananinj

It's a new type of belt that's supposed to be practically indestructable. I read somewhere that you can shoot a bullet through it and it will still pull the bike under load. Erik supposedly considered a chain drive for it, and found that this new belt was superior in every way.

JMHO

Well I fit's good enough for Eric Buell, it's good enough for me! That cat knows his stuff.

Anyone got pics?

Nevermind, there's some kick ass pics and an article over at: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=2368

http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/616064765.jpg

I buy a brand new sporty and THEN they go and build a Buell l can fit on..........SPEWING.............

My cousins getting one when they get to Oz so I'll be cadgin a ride as soon as pos..................I hope I dont like it cos if l do I'm gunna have to sell the missus and kids for a down payment..........

I know exactly how you feel - and my wife told me the kid is not going up for sale!

Am I the only bloke round here crackin a fat over the new Buell?...

That thing would be just about perfect for Oz conditions.....I've always liked Buells but could never own one cos they are so small.........but after looking at the specs on the new bike I reckon they got it spot on...............cant wait to get a ride.......

Am I the only bloke round here crackin a fat over the new Buell?... I've always liked Buells but could never own one cos they are so small.........but after looking at the specs on the new bike I reckon they got it spot on...
Ulysses definitely fits the full size rider... Saturday 13 August was my first "try it on for size"... brought it home the same day!

http://home.alltel.net/flipr/images/XB12X_01.jpg

Phil
Live Oak, FL

Excellent Phil..............How about a bit of a review once you put a few miles on her..

I took a Ulysses out for a short test beating today. I've been eyeballing this bike since I read it in Cycle World. It's a different animal, that's for sure. I'm 5'10" with a 34" inseam, and I was on my toes! Really reminds me of my dirtbike days. It was around 85 degrees when I took it for a ride. It's a cold blooded beast, EPA most likely the culprit. But it warmed up fast......it wasn't long before I felt a lot of heat getting dumped on my right foot. My ride was only about 20-30 minutes long, so I can only imagine how hot it might get stuck in Chicago traffic on a 95 degree day.

The engine felt de-tuned from other Buells I've test ridden, yet looking down at the speedo I was at 80 mph in a flash. Coming out of a few slow corners, I dropped the hammer and......the front end came right up. My Sporty never did that! It was cool to have that much power on tap, yet the bike did not feel fast. I'm confused by this. Perhaps the bike is so stable, at speed I was decieved? The exhaust note is not traditional Harley at all. You'd never be able to tell a Sportster engine was lurking below by the sound.

I had a chance to take it off road, if only for a hundred yards or so. I ripped down a dirt path at around 30 mph and took in some nice bumps with nary a complaint from the Uly. The seating position is comfy, the seat large. At the end of the dirt path, I had to do a 180 degree turn around, and I did not feel at ease because of the height of the seat. There's no foot stabbing at the ground.....because it's not there!

The trans was smoother than my '04, so they improved that for sure. Clutch pull was also lighter. I wish they would put fatter grips on the bars though. They were really Jap bike thin. The controls are different too. If you're used to traditional Harley controls, you're gonna have to think about turn signals, horn, and lights. Nothing big, just an adjustment in your thinking.

All in all, I'd have to ride it again, or probably rent one for an entire weekend before I would decide to buy one. I was thinking it would be a great bike in the City, with long range touring capabilities. But the heat issue has me concerned about city riding. And I have to see the bags installed, and if it effects handling. Looks wise, I think it's butt ugly, not at all the racing look of other Buells that I admire. But it's a purpose built bike, and thats how it looks. I can say it was FUN to ride.

Finally got to ride the new Buell Ulysses yesterday.........Its a nice bike with a couple of glaring faults...........
Bad stuff : Very high seat........if your under 6" ft your gunna be on tippy toes......The suspension isn't that long nor the ground clearance that great so the seat shouldn't be that high.........

There's not enough steering lock either............tall seat plus lack of steering lock means alot of people are gunna drop these things at low speed.......

Good stuff : It's a great bike to ride........excellent brakes.......solid handeling .......great sitting position and big comfy seat...........and it loves to wheelie........its a fun bike.........

For it's intended purpose its not a patch on a bmw gs.........its more of a ducati multistrada type of bike...........we are going to try and get a multistrada and a ulysses for the day and see how they compare...........

Keep the reviews coming guys, I'm really excited about the direction this could take the MoCo.

had a look at one yesterday... I think it's the most practical buell since they went to the XB's..... I wouldn't wanna do much off road stuff but it'd be ideal for the goat tracks we have here that they call roads

Agreed. It's not a dirtbike. It's one tough looking little beast though.

When will it get the V-Rod motor in it? That's what I really wanna know.

I Want One.............:banana

Mark

Cool, I wonder if we can get this "super belt" for our Sportsters? :bananinj

It's on all 06 models

If I was 10 years younger I'd certainly be tempted. I enjoy some off-road riding, but my body can't take a lot of it these days. Very cool that Harley (Buell) is doing this finally.


I think Harley (Buell) has been doing this a while now. A year or two ago I saw a Harley ( it was in a Harley Dealers showroom anyway) full blast dirt bike in full military OD dress. Knobbly tires very deep suspension travel the whole deal. Had what looked like a Buell Blast engine in it. I think Harley has been making these for the Military. Would love to rad test one.:)

I think Harley (Buell) has been doing this a while now. A year or two ago I saw a Harley ( it was in a Harley Dealers showroom anyway) full blast dirt bike in full military OD dress. Knobbly tires very deep suspension travel the whole deal. Had what looked like a Buell Blast engine in it. I think Harley has been making these for the Military. Would love to rad test one.:)

That would be the ill-fated MT-500. The MT-500 was a design that the MoCo purchased from a Canadian company named Armstrong. They have been around awhile. The motor is a 500cc Rotax single, although I'm sure the frame could be modified to accept the Blast motor.

They lost the Marine contract to a bike that had better suspension (mid-80's tech vs. mid-70's). And an all-around better bike, IMHO. If you want to find out how an MT500 rides, try out a late 70's Honda XL500. Should be pretty close to the same thing. Much better in the dirt that a Sportster, but nothing incredibly impressive.

Here is the website:

http://www.dieselmotorcycles.com/military.htm