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Buell XB12X (Ulysses) Buell XB12X (Ulysses)
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Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #1  
Old 28 Nov 2005
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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.
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Old 28 Nov 2005
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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.
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  #3  
Old 28 Nov 2005
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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
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Old 28 Nov 2005
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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!

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Old 29 Nov 2005
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Thanks guys,

Bill, Im hoping its still snowing there...so that you can expand a little bit
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
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Old 29 Nov 2005
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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.
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Old 12 Jan 2006
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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.
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Old 17 Feb 2006
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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.
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Old 17 Feb 2006
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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.
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Old 17 Feb 2006
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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.
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  #11  
Old 7 Mar 2008
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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.
Last edited by BuellFan; 7 Mar 2008 at 17:14.
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  #12  
Old 7 Mar 2008
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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
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"Bad Weather" as in Buell's Thunderbolts, Lightning, Cyclones, Blast, err... Firebolts? and err... didn't Ulysses encounter some really bad weather?
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Old 7 Mar 2008
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Ye Olde ULY Threade!!!
Check on ADVrider for more, current info.
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 09:41.
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  #14  
Old 17 May 2010
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Smile 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.
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  #15  
Old 8 Jul 2010
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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.
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