About Buells...

[scumdog]

fag..........

No thanks, just put one out.

[Hailwood]

My 2c worth. I have only had my Buell since Jan but it does everything I need it to. It corners well enough for me, it handles well enough for me, it has enough power for me and its comfortable for me...and I guess since I bought it, I really dont give a rats arse what anyone else thinks.

Parts are nowhere as expensive as HD parts that I have seen so far anyway and, if my dealer doesnt have it, well internet shopping is easy.

Ride all the models of Buell as each one is different (it would be like saying I rode a GSXR and it was uncomfortable therefore all suzukis are uncomfortable). If you are tall, have a ride on a Ulysses. If you are not, then maybe not a good idea as shorter people seem to struggle touching the ground.....

[Big Dave]

Aye.
Just got mine out after a long lay off whilst I've been doing other bikes.
Man I still dig it.

[scumdog]

Amazing how many negative thinkers assume their opinion = fact on this (and other KB) threads.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Are They Reliable?

They are reliable as any modern bike or as reliable as you want it to be... if you do the maintenance and look after it you should get 1000's of km's out of it... if you don't do the maintenance and services etc then well who knows, you still may get the 1000's of km's.

That being said, things do break down no matter how well it is maintained.

As for the rest of this thread, if you like the style, if you like the powered out put performance, if you find it comfortable and if you like its handling then don't worry what every one else says...

[warewolf]

Amazing how many negative thinkers assume their opinion = fact on this (and other KB) threads.

Yeah, just like the positive thinkers...

[dangerous]

Are They Reliable?

having not read the thread ill answer you as you posted... the buell has changed so drasticly since the thunder bolt to the 1125.

tubers, the early buells are hotted up harley 1200's reliable yes, hell thay are part jap, hwever 110 hp is the most you would want from one.

XB's purpous built, the 12 being a stroked 9, reliable yes... as with any beast you will have issues with some.

rotax powered, well time will tell, once again i cant see any more reliable issues than any othe bike.

[scumdog]

Yeah, just like the positive thinkers...

The + thinkers seem to not be of the 'ram-it-down-your-throat' line of approach, unlike most of the - types.

[warewolf]

Honda were going down that wrong track themselves on their gp bikes in the 90's with trying to lower the placement of mass... putting the fuel tank underneath the engine and such things.

There were two major flaws with the underslung fuel tank: firstly, as the fuel load reduced, the bikes CoG raised (note this is the complete opposite effect of the more usual configuration); secondly, the top-mounted exhausts were problematic (think chestnuts in the fire and also lack of cooling air). Per Kevin Cameron in his "Sportsbike Performance Handbook" IIRC.

Until they realised a higher centre of gravity actually helps a bike to go around a corner when it is leaned over.

'Helps'?

I don't know how/why, but many bikes these days boast in their marketing material that they have the engine mounted higher in the frame for better handling, eg '09 Kwaka ZX-6R per Kiwi Rider review. Dirt bikes are doing the same thing.

You guys need to stop confusing centre of mass and centre of gravity.

Not as long as we are all on the same planet...

See above. A bike's centre of gravity is completely different depending on angle of lean or negative or positive acceleration, and is one of the reasons why you can balance a bike while leaned over. The centre of mass doesn't change.

I have trouble reconciling that. The CoG can only separate from the CoM if gravity is not consistent across the masses in question. Orientation is not important.

Even if you factor in suspension compression on acceleration/braking/turning G's, the CoG will change - but only because the CoM has also changed, so again it is moot.

On further thought, it sounds like you are confusing gravity with centripetal/ centrifugal forces which balance gravity when the bike is leaned in a fast turn.

[GMcC]

My 50cents as well
Have had various bikes over the past years and did own a 07 Ulysses and found that to be an OK bike
Excellant for pillion with a very comfy seat ( 2 up whatever felt good )
Seat height was an issue for me - short legged - but we still did 11000ks and had 1 off due to a slow near walking pace turn - ego buggering !
Power was as one would expect
I found the engine mangement system to be basic ( I shagged with the stock exhaust and developed a lean misfire ) [ in pursuit of noise ! Ha ! ]
Still that said It cured itself after returning the pipe back to standard !
Headlights had limited range for paced night riding ( not many bikes out there that have - altho me Speedy aint bad )
Did a few ks on the gravel and never an issue with the belt - a great idea I rekon
Good allround riding position and didint mind a crosswind even with all 3 hardboxes attached
Front suspension a tad soft but could have been the longer travel the Ulysses had over the other X bikes ?
What else ????
Bike cruised or sprotted and real easy to get out and go with
Oh yeah - that annoying fan noise.......................
Have looked at the new 1125s and although not keen on the manta ray type front could be worth a gander ( perhaps the 1125CR ? )
Few of mates with later HDs and they aint had issues with them other than usual dealer fog-offs
Sometimes ride with dude on a Firebolt and he still loves that baby
Its about being different from the masses and wherever you are the Buell will get noticied
A great bike for those so inclined

[nallac]

having not read the thread ill answer you as you posted... the buell has changed so drasticly since the thunder bolt to the 1125.

tubers, the early buells are hotted up harley 1200's reliable yes, hell thay are part jap, hwever 110 hp is the most you would want from one.

XB's purpous built, the 12 being a stroked 9, reliable yes... as with any beast you will have issues with some.

rotax powered, well time will tell, once again i cant see any more reliable issues than any othe bike.

The 900 is a destroked 1200 not the other way round..the 9 can be bored to just over a thou..not to 1200 as a 883 sporty can be.

[dangerous]

The 900 is a destroked 1200 not the other way round..the 9 can be bored to just over a thou..not to 1200 as a 883 sporty can be.

HUH... same thing really altho the 9 was released 1st telling me the 12 was a stroked version... and the 9 is actually a 1000cc anyway.
883 and 1200 sportsters are entiley different engines.

[nallac]

HUH... same thing really altho the 9 was released 1st telling me the 12 was a stroked version... and the 9 is actually a 1000cc anyway.
883 and 1200 sportsters are entiley different engines.

the 9 is a destroked 12
you can stroke a 9 to 12 but can't bore a 9 to 12 as in a 883 to 1200
the 9's not quite a thou .but can be bored to just over a thou.

the buell engines are based on the sporty with a few mods that can be retro fitted to the sporty engines. And a few improvements such as oil jet cooling which was done to the sportys.

And the heads which are a big improvement if you want to chase power espically with a 1450 kit fitted.

[Big Dave]

the buell engines are based on the sporty with a few mods

Say that at a Buell factory event and you can hear a pin drop.
'There are very few shared components'.
'Oh' says David.

[dipshit]

I don't know how/why, but many bikes these days boast in their marketing material that they have the engine mounted higher in the frame for better handling, eg '09 Kwaka ZX-6R per Kiwi Rider review.

Exactly. The Japs have been there and done that and moved on. It's not too surprising that Buell is a couple of decades behind.