Buell's Ulysses
I’m a bit biased in my opinions on anything with a Harley engine and I’m also a little inexperienced with motorcycles. But I’ve ridden adventure tourers like the F650, and the transalp and eventually purchased my own DL650 (Vstrom).
Take things that I say with a grain of salt.
My first opinion on this bike was that it was an unsuccessful attempt by Buell to get into the adventure-tourer class of motorcycle. I didn’t like the idea of the belt drive on gravel, or the tiny (5 kg) limit on the load rack Don’t empty givi top boxes weigh about 5 kg?
But when I put my leg over the bike the first thing I noticed was the comfort. The seat was a nice gel softness all the way around. The garish yellow material gripped at my pants tightly. I didn’t expect to be riding and was caught in suit pants. And there was more leg room than on the DL650. This was important to me because I’m very tall, as is my wife. The gear / brake levers were in a sportier position than on the DL650, slightly slanted down but they were also shorter and it took some getting used to the idea of changing gear or braking with my big toe rather then the arch of my foot.
Starting her up, there was a strange whine. This whine was also there for a few minutes after the engine was switched off when the previous rider parked. Some sorta timer for engine oil pump or a fuel pump perhaps? It didn’t matter; with the engine going you didn’t notice it. But a flick of the starter and the vibrations set in. My wrists were sore almost instantly, but I was gripping too tight. And it didn’t matter; the grin on my face was enough to make me forget about any pain. The exhaust note was a little mute for a Harley engine, but changing the muffler fixes this on the Buells.
Pulling away to 2,000 RPM the vibrations reduced to sprotsbike levels, and were fine up until the redline (was that 7,500 RPM?) and everything was comfortable, but when we stopped at lights the vibrations returned and I couldn’t see anything in the rear view mirrors. Speaking of stopping at the lights, STOPPING!!! Being 6’2 on a good day and used to the front weight of the V-strom … Where the fuck has the front of the bike gone? I felt like I was on a BMX bike, and touching the front brake had the weight shifting forward so fast (and me closing in down towards the tank) that the little screen was about nipple height. I was still riding the motorcycle in the seat, but I could almost see the headlight.
The bike tore off at the light like … like a bad boy bike. It went up to a hundred with no problem, and my own lack of experience was what kept me keeping slow and steady. Throttle response was telepathic, as was cornering. I didn’t even move my hand, just had to clutch and change gear and think about moving the throttle and everything slipped into place so well. This Buell Ulysses is capable of so much more than I can give. Maybe they should put a little dent in the front of the fuel tank for people with larger balls.
I think this motorcycle is male. A bad boy, the kind of 80s wild child who had a BMX and did donuts on the dirt track in a muscle car. Smelly, loud, uncouth but has girls (and some guys) swooning.
On the down sides: Belt drive. Everybody has been arguing, but I think the belt drive is soundly protected. Plenty of big plastic bits cover it to try and keep bad stuff out. I’d still carry a spare belt around though if I expected to be riding on gravel, but breakdowns are all part of the motorcycle experience. Even the DL got a flat the other day. A chain wouldn’t be bad and the conversion can be done easily.
There also ain’t much room for a pillion and luggage.
Getting back onto the Vstrom I noticed how much difference in room and riding style I had. And the lack of vibration and effort I had to put into response made me wonder if the strom’s soul had left me after seeing me on a yellow-skinned beauty. But tearing off at the lights at high RPM brought the soul back.. the strom is a high rev roaring beast. The Ulysses had the muscles there but just seemed so much more relaxed. All in all, this was a fun bike. The experience was great, I was grinning and giggling all afternoon. I’d love one in my garage, and I’d definitely take it out on the weekend to scare the locals.
I think a lot of you sports bike riders would enjoy the Ulysses. Not for speed, (although that is there in abundance) but just for sheer "play value" like the KTM superduke.
Big thumbs up for all the Buell / HD demo days around the country, and from McIver and Veitch for letting my put my leg over.
(PS according to my wife, lines of this review taken out of context sound very dodgy)
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Originally Posted by thehollowmen
that sounds like an improvement for the male riders anyway, not sure what the female equiv. would be tho?
yank tank at Glenorchy 2006 rally
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