Buell Ulysses XB12X.....WOW !!

[Andy Hird]

Just come back from the BMF Rally and had a look at the Buell Ulysses....I'm giving serious thought to getting rid of my GS to get one of these Buell's.

Has anyone ridden one ? or know what they're like ?

 

[Davy F]

A former workmate has bought one. It's already gone back 'cause it's broke. :flush

 

[Aurelius]

A former workmate has bought one. It's already gone back 'cause it's broke. :flush

Let me guess... failed final drive?

 

[Sleepy]

Haven't heard/read a decent word about the Buell 'Useless'

 

[dave hendy]

Reports all seem poor against the GS/KTM but if you like the look of it give it a test ride and see as we all want different things from our bikes

 

[Zoton]

I liked it .dont think i'd buy one though.
Do a search there was a few who rode the thing when it first came out.
here is one to start ya off.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50000&highlight=buell

 

[Twotter]

I didn't get as far as a test ride as the seat height was too much for me and my inside leg measurement. They certainly look the part but only seem to do well in the reviews in American mags - funny that

 

[Tarka]

I like them but in essence they`re only a street Buell dressed up as an Adventure bike.

Observe the street bike amount of steering lock,the very flimsy plastic beak stuck on the front,the cast wheels and the limited suspension travel allied to the small amount of ground clearance........

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if it was a Buell/Harley engine in a GS chassis - with GS build quality and GS reliability (1100) - i'd have one tomorrow.

jolly sooper engines ( same goes for a firestorm though really )

 

[Aurelius]

if it was a Buell/Harley engine in a GS chassis - with GS build quality and GS reliability (1100) - i'd have one tomorrow.

You had me going there until you mentioned GS build quality and reliability.

 

[Tarka]

You had me going there until you mentioned GS build quality and reliability.

You missed the fact that he said '1100'


The last BMW to actually have build quality and reliability....

 

[Aurelius]

You missed the fact that he said '1100'


The last BMW to actually have build quality and reliability....

Weren't the 1100's the ones which needed the Touratech brace to keep them from breaking in half?

 

[Rob Farmer]

 

[Sikorsky]

I know two guys who had them over on this side of the pond. The first had his 2 months before getting raped by a dealer on trade-in, the other guy is still trying to get rid of his. Reason for selling? The bike being nowhere near the manufacturer's promises as far as performance and "dirt-ability".

And that paradigm of motorcycle news in the US, Cycle World, ranks it as one of the Ten Best. Interesting.

 

[Aurelius]

I know two guys who had them over on this side of the pond. The first had his 2 months before getting raped by a dealer on trade-in, the other guy is still trying to get rid of his. Reason for selling? The bike being nowhere near the manufacturer's promises as far as performance and "dirt-ability".

You mean its a lot like the GS, then.

And that paradigm of motorcycle news in the US, Cycle World, ranks it as one of the Ten Best. Interesting.

Motorcycle Consumer News ranked the Ulysses superior to the 1200GS, and its not hard to see why. The only category in which the GS proved clearly superior was in its off road capability. But as the reviewers reminded us, marketing studies show that dual sport owners rarely do any serious off roading - many in fact, never take their bikes off road at all. And those who do require a serious off-road motorcycle have much better options than an overpriced 550 lb BMW 1200GS.

 

[sharribee]

I had a Buell for less than 2 months, it spent most of the time (6 out of the eight weeks) back at the dealership because it had electrical faults. They would fix it and then something else would go wrong, so it wasn't as if it was a recurrent single fault. It didn't run properly in the wet and was very twitchy to ride. I took it back and got fleeced by the dealer who gave me £1500 less that what I bought it for. Wouldn't touch one again unless I had loads of money and didn't mind taking it out just in the sun, and didn't mind it breaking down.

Gone back to Honda now have a transalp which I love, mainly because it is reliable and I use my bike every day to commute to work so can't afford to have it off the road.

On a positive note there are some that swear by thier Buells and use them all year round - it depends if you get a good one or not as with most bikes, also it was great fun to ride when it went and I have never giggled so much when I was riding it (and it was going)

As it is unlikely I will ever earn enough money to have the luxury of 2 bikes (I am a nurse - not the best paid profession) I would have to say never again

 

[Sikorsky]

You mean its a lot like the GS, then.



Motorcycle Consumer News ranked the Ulysses superior to the 1200GS, and its not hard to see why. The only category in which the GS proved clearly superior was in its off road capability. But as the reviewers reminded us, marketing studies show that dual sport owners rarely do any serious off roading - many in fact, never take their bikes off road at all. And those who do require a serious off-road motorcycle have much better options than an overpriced 550 lb BMW 1200GS.

The fellows that bought the Ulysses were into off-roading. The first guy replaced it with a WR450 so now he is at the other end of the spectrum.

As for MCN ranking the Buell superior to anything speaks for the value of advertising dollars to me. Just finished a coffee and bs session with someone who showed up on an XB9R ........ also for sale. Fit and finish that is sub-par, handling politely described as "interesting", and anemic power were the reasons for trying to get rid of it. I see plenty of bikes passing through town but have only seen 2 Buells in this neck of the woods. They are more of a fashion statement than a motorcycle, both the street machines and the 'off-road' version.

Buell, bringing you yesterday's technology tomorrow.