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-   -   Buell XB12X (Ulysses) (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/other-bikes-tech/buell-xb12x-ulysses-10815)

Tathagata 28 Nov 2005 07:12

Buell XB12X (Ulysses)
 
I am considering buying one of these. My main issues with it are the fuel capacity (300km) and the fact that its the first of its type.

Does anyone have any experience with this bike? Any thoughts?

How would this bike compare to the BMW 1150 Adventure?

Would we have any problems with maintenance of this bike in South America? How would it compare for spare parts and stuff in SA against the BMW 1150 Adventure?

Thanks very much for any help.

Bill Ryder 28 Nov 2005 10:19

It's a cold snowy night here so I'll give you my personal experience. I work in a bike shop in a town that doesn't have a harley shop. I have worked on a few buell's and talked to owners. My personal opinion is ride a buell-- carry your hiking boots cause you will end up walking. Just my opinion so don't take it to seriously. Personally I would rather trust anything from japan or germany.
Bill the mechanic in montana where only 25% of the roads are paved.

Tim Cullis 28 Nov 2005 14:34

I was going to test ride a Ulysses but after reading the comparison against a 1200GS in Dec05 issue of RIDE magazine I won't bother.

The 1200GS beat it for town riding, distance riding, country roads and off road.

Tim

Matt Cartney 28 Nov 2005 16:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Ryder:
Bill the mechanic in montana where only 25% of the roads are paved.[/B]
I wanna go to Montana!


Tathagata 29 Nov 2005 03:02

Thanks guys,

Bill, Im hoping its still snowing there...so that you can expand a little bit http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif
Would you mind giving me a bit more info? Are the Buells notorious for breakdowns and what kind of breakdowns do you see with them?

Thanks muchly
Stu

Mike Stone 29 Nov 2005 03:46

I haven't seen the Ride Magazine report, but Motorcycle Consumer News www.mcnews.com did a comparison with the BMW R1200GS, and the Ulysses beat the bimmer in most categories except for pure off-road use. Obviously, it is a brand new bike, so noone is going to have any real answers about longterm use and reliability for a while.

In this category, don't overlook the Triumph Tiger, and there are some low mileage Ducati-powered Cagiva Gran Canyons available if you search.

fullpower 12 Jan 2006 05:45

Tires,oil, filters, and occasional fork seal replacement should suffice, just like any other brand. The Ullyses is based on the XB12, which is about as reliable as an anvil.
I ride a lot of gravel, and way out in the sticks, so changed mine over to chain driv, which is easy and inexpensive. now i just change tires, oil, and regular maintenance.

ekaphoto 17 Feb 2006 09:50

I did a test ride on one about a week ago and was impressed. It handled well, very good low end grunt, and smoother than I expected. I liked the belt drive, no chain lash. I didn't like the fact it is air/oil cooled, but it does have fans to kick in and cool it. It has some really great innovative featurs. I think the sporster engine is not right for a sport bike and they need to replace it in the Buell line, it works very well in the Ulysses since that low grunt is important for this type of bike. BTW other may like the fact it is air cooled since it is simple. Also Harley dealers all over the world have parts for it in case of problems.

brettsyoung 17 Feb 2006 10:42

Just my bit:

Pro: There are Harley shops every where! If there is one thing your can assure is that just about every city in the world has a Harley shop.

Con: The muffler mounted under the engine looks like a disaster waiting to happen, and for mine disqualifies it as a serious off-roader.

jkrijt 17 Feb 2006 17:28

I did a test ride on a Buell too. I agree that it is a very nice bike to ride, but make sure you make a testride yourself to see if the bike physicly fits you because it is very high. I am not small but I could hardly touch the ground.

BuellFan 7 Mar 2008 15:55

Buell recently released a lower version of the Ulysses
 
FYI: Buell recently announced the release of a new version of the Ulysses that provides a more typical street bike height. They call it the Buell Ulysses XB12XT, where the "T" is indicating "touring". If you are interested and want some feedback from Ulysses riders, check out the fairly extensive Ulysses Forum at BadWeB.

I'm 6'-3" and totally dig the taller/original Ulysses, especially now with the major engine upgrades that the 2008 models got. A bigger crank pin, much improved direct drive (versus helical gear driven) oil pump, and an improved drive sprocket connection scheme.

The original was great; the '08 version is excellent.

BuellFan 7 Mar 2008 16:10

Ulysses Muffler Is a Bash Plate with Exhaust Running Through It
 
Quote:

Con: The muffler mounted under the engine looks like a disaster waiting to happen, and for mine disqualifies it as a serious off-roader.
The Uly isn't intended to be used as "a serious off-roader", only a bike that can handle very well the fire roads and other rough road scenarios that would give other more pavement-only oriented machines pause.

As to the muffler, we were initially wary of that too, but that muffler and its mounts have proven themselves over and over again. The muffler is heck for stout (thick steel not thin aluminum) and has endured incredible abuse. Think of it as a bash plate with exhaust running through it. :)

Blake
BadWeatherBikers.com/Buell
"Bad Weather" as in Buell's Thunderbolts, Lightning, Cyclones, Blast, err... Firebolts? and err... didn't Ulysses encounter some really bad weather? :blush:

mollydog 7 Mar 2008 18:18

Ye Olde ULY Threade!!!
 
Check on ADVrider for more, current info.

Buell Forum 17 May 2010 22:53

Buell Forum for more
 
See the Buell Ulysses XB12X Forum for more info on this excellent Buell motorcycle. The Big, Bad, and Dirty crowd there is excellent.

farmer palmer 7 Jul 2010 23:35

Buell Ulysses!
 
As above check out ADVrider and Badweb.....!

I've had an F650GS, R1150GSA and BMW HP2 Enduro all equipped for touring in northern Scandanavia/Iceland/Scotland and felt like a change so bought a Uly last summer.

I wouldn't compare the Uly to my GSA/HP2 as the Uly for me is more road orientated. It does ride well though and with the Hepco Becker luggage and heated grips as well as other Touratech accessories makes an interesting bike with character.

Although Buell stopped building bikes last November there is still a lot of interest in the Ulysses as an adventure tourer and i'm told Harley Davidson will supply spares for the next ten years or so........!

FP.

bobthebiker 8 Jul 2010 02:56

Honestly, I've not had a chance to really experience any buell beyond the blast(which is a complete ad utter pile of vibrating crap suitable only for making your lady orgasm, and not much else)

honestly, their V twin bikes are built with a sportster 883 and 1200 motor essentially, and as such have INCREDIBLE low rpm torque from idle up, and the HD engine is pretty bulletproof with regular maintenance. long as you change the oil in em regularly, and dont expect them to rev to 12k, you're good.

seantully 27 Nov 2010 17:54

I currently own one and am thoroughly impressed with it (as a road going bike with off-road capabilities). However, I'm planning a trip through Central and South America and I keep hearing that the forged wheels (in particular the small front) will just get eaten right off the bike on some of the legs of the trip. I really want to find a way to make the trip work on the Uly because I love the thing but also don't want to have a more arduous trip purely because I wanted to go with my "best friend" rather than a burly old work horse (like an Africa Twin or some GS).

On the flip side though I also hear about people going RTW on full blown tourers and Harley's so who knows. Guess I just have to keep asking questions until I'm satisfied one way or the other.

Road Hog 28 Jan 2011 05:59

Not sure if you have left on your trip yet but thought I would add my 2 cents. Been all the way south on a XB12X (50,000 miles so far, 23,000 south of the boarder and 8000 in Australia, great bike but has its limits. I have had no problems with cast wheels mentioned above. So far two drive belts (carry a spare), clutch bearing, kick stand bolts (if yours has only two bolts machine block and switch to three bolt), and wheel bearings (fixed in 2010 I have been told, if earlier change every other tire).
Buell did everything I thought I wanted to do, but when I got down there I found there were some really great places up dirt/gravel roads and the wide rear tire floats up on gravel. I put it down four time but not sure I wouldn't have put down others brands as often for other reasons.
If I had it to do over would take a bike better on gravel and dirt if for no other reason just to try something different. Hope to head to Africa next year and will trade bikes before I go.
Any bike will make it (met a guy on a WWII Harley 45 who had be out 20 months). If you like the Buell go for it.
RJT:scooter:

Thefastone 28 Jan 2011 21:04

Buell
 
Hi mate,
I have a pair of buells, xb9r which i track and ride it hard and change the oil and i bought my partner a xb9s which has done 3000 miles approx and has 4 sets of rear wheel bearings as you cannot adjust the chain. Buell is a great bike if you can fix them easily but rear wheel removal is ummmmm difficult. If you go for the buell talk to the guys at Trojan Horse they race in the thunder class and really know there stuff. If you want any tech help drop me a mail.
steve

Lagos Nick 4 Feb 2011 15:42

Ulysses
 
I was at the Buell dealership I had gone to for the rear wheel bearings to be renewed in se England. Black Bear, I forget the town, and my attention was attracted by a well worn looking Ulysses on the forecourt, complete with Metal Mule panniers festooned with S Ameria stickers. It turned out the guy who owned the Buell had bought it off a guy who'd ridden it from Alaska to Ushaia in southern Argentina. He'd experienced no problems whatsoever. The model was the 07. Mine is a 06 1st registered in 02/08. Their great bikes.

Lagos Nick 4 Feb 2011 15:44

Correction
 
tHEY'RE NOT THEIR. dAMN COMPUTERS. i PREFER A PEN IN MY HAND

seantully 6 Jan 2012 19:00

Thanks for all the replies! I have since also picked up a 04 KLR and farkled it out quite a bit :mchappy: and am thuroughly pleased with my choice. I still have the Buell and still love it for what I use it for but I wanted something slightly less conspicuous and something that would perform better off road since I definitely like to get off the beaten track.

I would have replied earlier but I'm just now becoming active on these boards (HUBB, ADV, KLR.net, etc) and hadn't worked out getting email replies. You'd think that as a youngster this tech stuff should have been bread into me already but apparently not.

Haven't left yet but I'll be heading to Alaska in June (swinging by Dust 2 Dawson meet up first) then heading South to Argentina in the fall. Soooooooooo excited. Thanks for the first replies to some of my first (and I'm certain not my last) posts here in the overland motorcycling world!

Algarve Nick 4 Feb 2012 21:39

I have still got my Ulysses (formerly Lagos Nick) and use it daily down here. I am planning to ride from here to Japan, via Siberia and Vladivostok, but I have to say I wouldn't trust the Uly to make it...although it probably would. A new belt and recent headrace, wheel and swingarm bearings and a service and, who knows? It's only about 8500 miles from here and the road isn't bad. The grunt means it's not tiring to ride long distance. But when you talk to people who really know XBs (as in a mechanic I know in Manchester, England) and read owners' forums, you start to have serious doubts.

jimonabuell 13 Dec 2013 01:54

jimonabuell butts in ...
 
doh Buell XB xt 2009. Last model.
My ownership of a last model I have done nothing in 40tho ks! They have an extra wheel bearing, also a 'comfort kit',an extra fan cooling exit duct fitted Stock. I like stock, so find a 2009. Its all been done at the factory. Ok?
Panniers @ Top Box free! HEPCO so Gobi’s fit. Racks are solid.
Fuel: Touring 220-240 Kms= 17-18 ltrs. every tank. Bike pluss 250 kilo load @ 120kph Low grade. Oil filter $16? Ebay. Brake Pads just order my first 2 sets (40th ks) $100? EBay.
The muffler IS the jacking point x2.
197kilos and approx. 100Hp think about That?...a Tourer with a Gp frame is not a Dirt bike! But, saying that better in the dirt than my old Bm Gs 800, 1100, 1200.
Last of all, loaded panniers I can Lay mine on its side and 'through' it up by one Handle Bar. Dont need to turn around bumb on seat and all that. Oh, I'm 54yo! jimonabuell. :freezing: gone...

Just popped back in nearly 10 years on that Buell now. Yes services etc In 10 years Not one problem NOT one! "Just rode it like I stole it" is in the Buell Ownership manual btw! jimonabuell Outback Aus. The dirtiest ugliest Bike and Rider in the world. lols.

Algarve Nick 19 Dec 2013 12:12

Hope you like it. It's certainly the most comfortable bike I've ridden long distance (London-southwest Portugal return). A lot better in that respect than my old BMW R1100GS (1995-2010) or my KTM950ADV (2005-2007, written off). Not bad on fuel and mine, at least so far, is reliable. It has had a Free Spirits belt tensioner, an airbox mod and a grease nipple to help the gearbox output shaft. The only other mod has been an A&E air filter.


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