Buell ride

[XF650]

There's $5,000 off retail on Buells at the moment (everyone should know why), which for adv riders makes the Ulysses / XT models a very competitive $15,000. I know they are "soft" adv bikes with limitation of belt drive & 17" front wheel but for adv touring & hard pack gravel etc I think they represent bloody good value.
Anyway for just $13,000 a mate has just bought a new XB12ss & today I reluctantly ("yeah right") took it for a blat. I'm reporting my experience here because it shares the same engine & wheel base with the Adv Ulysses / XT versions. Note that this is the first Buell I'v sat on and I'v only ever ridden one other VTwin sports bike - a SV1000SR.

Typically Buell, the bike is awesome just to look at, especially with the translucent "tank". Seat height was fine (& I'm a short arse) but I believe 6ft + is better for the Ulysses. At idle & low revs the beast shakes & vibrates to the extent I suspect women would quite enjoy riding them around town (from what I understand the bottom end is Harley, the rest of the engine is Buell). However once the revs are up the motor is surprisingly smooth but still obviously a large capacity VTwin, with an intoxicating induction noise / exhaust note.

Seeing as the bike wasn't mine, is very new & the wife was waiting, my ride wasn't long. However I still managed to include a couple of laps of the northern motorway, wishing the whole time I had a radar dectector, cause shit it's got some stonk. In fact it's got so much torque I reckon it only needs 3 gears!
The seat & riding position is very comfortable & even at "overtaking speeds" that little fly screen actually works - I was wearing my adv helmet with peak & yet still no buffeting. Being the 'long" version, this Buell even has a half decent passenger pad.

Front brake works as good as it looks & the belt drive is smooooth. Slow speed cornering the bike felt heavy but became more nimble as speed increases. In fact "spirited cornering" is a blast (pun) & I would just love to ride this bike to Akaroa, through Trotters Gorge & the Catlins.
Straight line in some gravel road works the bike was fine & felt stable, but I wasn't up to looking for deep shingle corners.
Only negative of the bike was the clunky (HDish) gear change, although I assume this will get better over time. Also the engine radiated a lot of heat while riding around town.

Big Dave ownes the X version of the XB12, often referred to as " the adventure sports bike". I now understand why he likes it so much.

[dino3310]

i had a blat on a lightning a few years ago, fffaaaarrrkkkk what a awesome machine, too much bike for this nana but what a design from EB, i like the look of the Ulysses but to much donkey for little ole me to handle, shit the sound of that motor. would love to do a hardpack tour round the states on a Ulysses

[Max Headroom]

Only negative of the bike was the clunky (HDish) gear change, although I assume this will get better over time. Also the engine radiated a lot of heat while riding around town.

Reasonable assumption, but unfortunately it probably won't . . . .

The lovely Mrs Headroom has an XB12S which has now covered just over 20,000km. The 'box is just as clunky now as it ever was. Fortunately you rarely need to change gear!

Mrs Headroom has typically gotten bored with her bikes after a year or so, and traded them in. The XB12S has been around for 3 1/2 years so far, with no indications that it's leaving the fleet any time soon. It has the optional factory racekit fitted, which is also a big part of the appeal for her.

[oldrider]

Nice little write up Struan. Yes it's a pity "money" gets in the way when these little opportunities thrust themselves at us, isn't it!

[XF650]

Yes it's a pity "money" gets in the way when these little opportunities thrust themselves at us, isn't it!

Yip, I suspect my wife was more concerned about my wanting to buy one than caring about my ride impressions. Bang for buck they are awesome value at the moment. Bloody recession........

[Big Dave]

Agree - appreciate hearing about it too. Taaa. I have the X - the XT is the road touring version.

Not an issue if you have long legs or wear leather all the time - but there is a 'comfort kit' available to address the heat issues some folks have.

[Sidewinder]

Agree - I have the X - the XT is the road touring version.

Not an issue if you have long legs or wear leather all the time - but there is a 'comfort kit' available to address the heat issues some folks have.

how do ya mean about the heat? off the motor?

[Big Dave]

how do ya mean about the heat? off the motor?

The guys with shorter inseams leg sits pretty close to the exhaust headers. The kit has a shield that goes on the pipes and (I think) different ducting for the fan.

If you are tall - legs are far enough away not to need it. On a real hot, hot day in slow traffic I hang my leg out an inch. Job done.

[Sidewinder]

The guys with shorter inseams leg sits pretty close to the exhaust headers. The kit has a shield that goes on the pipes and (I think) different ducting for the fan.

If you are tall - legs are far enough away not to need it. On a real hot, hot day in slow traffic I hang my leg out an inch. Job done.

just make sure ya hang the old fella down the other leg on ya paints aswell lol