I disagree quite a bit with Mr. Regular's assessment as to why Buell failed as a company. It's almost universally known that Harley Davidson fucked Buell at almost every turn, from forcing Buell to create the Blast, taking the V Rod motor out of Buell's hands so Harley could stuff it in to a bike that half of Harley owners still snub, and axing Buell's supercharged Firebolt motor, to taking over a $100 million dollar hit to dissolve Buell in 2010 to ensure Polaris (who put in a bid to absorb Buell) wouldn't be able to save the Buell brand. Seriously, fuck Harley Davidson.
And now Harley wants to enter the adventure bike and naked bike markets... you've had gems on your hands and you deliberately killed them off, why do you think that you deserve a second chance, this late in the game?
I own a Buell Uly and didn't want a Harley. I love the out of the box thinking, its quirky (I also ride Guzzi) it handles,it's comfortable , it gets good gas milage, its cheap to own,it's fun.
I also own a Buell Uly and I loathe the thought of selling it. Just straight spoiled me on other bikes. There's a reason so many moto journalists own XBs.
@@james_chatman Are they reliable and easy to work on? Maybe it was cheap to own 10 years ago, but by now, most of the parts must be impossible to find.
@@cesartapia610 There are still parts around and a big community who is even creating new parts here overseas in europe. check out twinmotorcycles nl, even americans sometimes get their parts there. They have common issues, but there are also solutions around for these problems.
Buell failed because Harley treated it like a skunkworks for their bikes instead of a place to make American Sportbikes. They also neutered their budget over and over again.
"Muscle bike" not "sports bike". A sports bike is a Yamaha R6, R1 or Honda Fireblade. A muscle bike is a Suzuki Bandit 1200 or 'Bussa. Think about it, which is it more like? Sports bike can do 160 to 180 mph and go round corners really well can the Buell do that? No, then it's not a sports bike.
@@bhaddock9277 Nah, what you described is a supersport bike. Sport bikes are a step down from there, with more relaxed riding positions, more street friendly (torquey) motors, and handling that isn't quite as sharp. I think Buell's fall well within the category of sport bikes, but they are not supersports. I think muscle bikes tend to be longer, heavier, and setup more for cruising than for handling. And Buell's certainly handle well.
It's because their dealers didn't want to sell anything that wasn't a hogfucker sofa with half a tractor inside the frame. I remember walking in wanting a thunderbolt and getting outright insulted by the staff. Told it was shit and I needed to look at a real Harley. That was the way Harley treated buell promised everything gave nothing. They could have changed everything but instead Harley saw them as a threat.
Owned a 2010 XB12scg. I agree with most of what you've said with exception of Buell owners wanting a Harley. I put Harley on the bottom of my want list. It was different than anything out there and it was a great all around bike. One of the best back road/around town hooligan bikes iv'e ridden. It's not a "numbers" bike, it's a smiles per mile bike and for me that's what riding is all about. I also agree with "This machine is from an alternate history America, like the Pontiac Fiero". I love it when companies have the balls to break away from the what will sell mindset to, let's make something that we think is cool. As a former owner of 2 Fieros, I can say that they were pretty terrible as were most GM products of that era. But the Buell was and still is a great bike.
I worked at a Harley dealership when I was 19 detailing bikes and we had this gorgeous red firebolt 1200 there that I was in love with. You also forgot to mention the exhaust being slung directly under the center of the bike for weight balance.
I have a 97 Buell M2 Cyclone, it was my starter bike and man do I love it. It's the only sport bike you can take to sturgis and get nods of approval from both sides of the fence. Also nice Rick and Morty reference.
I got two Buells a XB9SX Lightning and a Custom XB12SR Lightningbolt. You guys can see them in my videos. I was never a big fan of the Ulysses but Peter Egan one of the biggest motorcycle writers of all times, made the shocking announcement to his fans that his favorite motorcycle of all times is the Ulysses. Anyway. Buells are a lot of fun, some of the meanest street bikes out there when set up properly.. and great for making custom sport creations.
U Schwarzi depends on the bike you are talking about and the speeds you are talking about. The XB models in that 0-110mph range, will out handle just about anything besides a Supermoto..... my XB9S is damn near supermoto handling.. no CBR or ZX is going to be able to feel this way.
+Gloomshadow100 Eh I doubt you're buell outhandles modern RR japanese bikes.. Maybe on par with at best. My 15 year old cbr929 weighs less than that XB9s.
TheSchiddy yeah it does.. Ive had those too. I came off CBRs and ZX's and a stock XB9 or 12 is several pounds lighter than a dry 929.. the S is about 385 pounds, even with that fucking 20 pound stock steel exhaust. My S with race battery , fluids and empty tank probably weighs around 380-385.But at street speeds or on a tight track a modern supersport is never gonna turn with my 52 inch wheelbase.. NEVER
CBR929 weighs 379lbs dry in stock form, lot higher power to weight ratio. But yeah a bigger 55inch wheelbase. Don't think it would even matter at speeds 0-100 on tight turns for any bike in that range. Prob comes down to tire grip, max bike lean angle and rider skill.
If you love American failures then you need to find a Buick Reatta to review. My boss owns one and keeps it in perfect condition. Its the saddest representation of 80's futuristic America one can find. Its supposed to be a sports coupe but it has the sterile feeling of a high end walk-in clinic and CRT EVERYTHING!
Watched this video last year. Thought it was a cool bike, did my homework and fell in love. Now I’m a Buell Lightning owner!!! Had to rewatch this! Ps. Mine pulls hard to redline but mine does have some upgrades Edit! I’m also a Fiero owner!
+Ianna Matney Ever heard of Zero motorcycles, the world's leading electric bike manufacturer? Also watch out for Victory, I think they're on the verge of doing some interesting stuff.
+Ianna Matney That's because Harley-Davidson was the only major motorcycle brand in America had for a long period after the war, until Victory(Polaris) came along.
I think Lightning and Firebold are pretty good names. Also they had special edition bikes with stars and stripes and the subtitle of the company was "American Sportsbike". The failure of Buell was more or less induced through Harley as they where not allowed to do certain things ect. In Europe and other Countries Buell sold pretty well. And I hope the latest resurrection will last.
Basically yes, but more so because Harley missed the chance to explore the side of the market they are still trying to break into. The side of the market that offers them the most room to grow; the more youthful sport and naked market. Buell didn't need chrome gizzies or the smell of leather jackets in the showroom. When I road my S-1 Lightning with our HOG Chapter more than one member asked why I rode such an ugly bike, my usual answer was if I cared about how I looked I would get there 1st and comb my hair. I never needed to find a group of guys in black t-shirts to follow around!
the Buell/Harley people were assholes... actually know a HD-Buell dealer that had factory, corporate Buell people threaten to interfer with his inventory of HD's if he didn't play along with them... he told them to get their f'n bikes and other Buell crap and leave. Quit selling Buells right then and there
I still have, ride, and love my '09 uly. I say, to each his own and everyone has a right to their opinion, and although this vid is kinda entertaining, the people who produced it obviously know little about this wonderful machine. I have owned a dozen motorcycles and ridden dozens more, and to this day, not many others can compare when it comes to comfort, reliability and versatility. My biggest problem is finding riding buddies, my Harley friends can't keep up, my sport bike friends can't go the distance, and my dirt bike friends have to trailer theirs to the trail-heads. The Ulysses is not the best cruiser, racer, or offroader, but nothing else can do all three as well. And, btw, I am as American as it gets... I always ride with a gun and a bag of ball bearings.
Mr. Regular. As I commented today in your review of the Electra Glide, I talked with a gentleman at the Black Hills on 08/09/17 who was on his return leg of a trip to Prudhoe Bay Alaska from the Pittsburg area. His bike? Wait for it..... Buell Ulysses. He said it ran like a champ, ate up the miles and handled the Alaskan roads very well. He went though three sets of tires on the trip so far. First set shot by Alaska, put on nobbies, rode them to Barrow and back to South Dakota, wore those out and put on third set a few days ago. All on a damn near stock Ulysses. Don't sell that bike short.
If Erik Buell had the backing of a huge manufacturer like Honda, Yamaha or BMW, and all of their engineering facilities, the Bimota Vyrus would look like a cute kindergartener project. Erik had so many unconventional and genius ideas for building highly enjoyable motorcycles that unfortunately, he was never truly able to implement in any wide scale production. Thanks in large part to the complete lack of cooperation on Harley's part.
Ulysses owner here. The Ulysses will eat up the miles, has loads of power, handles very well, maintenance is minimal, does quite well offroad, and you won't see yourself at every stoplight or bike meet. In no way did I feel that I wanted a Harley but had to settle.
I had a 2006 Buell Ulysses XB12X and sold mine, granted I loved it for 2 years, But the reason I sold mine was: Lack of top end and replacement parts were getting harder to find, 2018.. Great Bike Vtwin !! Brrrap !!
+Niggalodeon I'm seeing Rick and Morty references everywhere. Everyone seems to universally love the show. It's like a not-pretentious version of Dr Who that everyone can enjoy.
Never been into motorcycles at all, but you always manage to make them interesting when you review one, so I watch the videos regardless. Great job as always. And nice Rick & Morty reference.
I have a Blast sitting in my parent's backyard, hasn't turned over in 6 or 7 years, but I drove it once when I was learning stick shift and I loved it. For some reason it makes me happy to know Mr.Regular likes the Blast, too.
+mrsuperbuckets Slow down slugger. I have a XB12R and while it is a superb handling bike, I won't say its the best. I have rode a few bikes that contend well with it, perhaps better.
Stanton Barbas The 1125 series is better than the xb series handling wise, as was noted by everyone who rode them back to back. have ridden more bikes than I can count, and not a single one has every bested the confidence, and preciseness of the 1125r.
mrsuperbuckets I have rode the 1125R as well. It's a great bike. I too have rode more bikes than memory can recall. So far though the best handling bike i have rode was the BMW S1000RR. After that it's a toss up between the GSXR750 and Buell.
+Stanton Barbas I rode an xb9r and other than the crazy vibrations and more upright riding position (I've got clip ons) it felt pretty similar to my sv650 once I got into it. The handling, specifically the turn in doesn't feel as sharp as some supersports but it felt predictable and had no problem getting low.
Not exactly. Erik Buell works at Fuell making electric bikes. EBR is NOW renamed as Buell again but it has no connection to OG Buell and neither did EBR. Erik starts these companies usually then sells them off and starts another
I own a 2007 Ulysses and it kicks ass! Buell it’s an experience! I’ve also owned a 2002 Buell M2 Cyclone both amazing bikes. Harley had a gold mine and ruined it.
I'm definitely in that car-geek-yet-but-knowledgeable-about-bikes classification. I appreciate them to be sure, hell, my best friend runs a really small bike shop... they just tend to elude me. When I was younger I lived in a rural part of my state and did a fair share of dirt bike & ATV trail riding, but the thought of getting on the street or interstate with one terrifies me... not so much because of the act of riding itself, but the fact is that people on my commutes (fellow car/truck drivers from Hammond, LA to either NOLA or Baton Rouge) are absolutely reckless. I witness at least two wrecks a month, and see the aftermath of even more. Having said, I appreciate the different bike cultures I've been exposed to as well as the individual riders I know, not to mention the insight you provide about the bikes themselves. Your clips are always a treat and I always walk away learning something after having a good laugh. Tangentially, I imagine you to look like Michael from Vsauce while sounding like a younger Alan Alda.
I forget which magazine it was, but one regarded the Ulysses as the kind of bike most people should be riding...a try all round bike able to handle, tour, commute and do a bit of exploring. Even if it wasn't as up to of road as suggested, HD missed an opportunity to allow Buell a breakout bike that moved the company into real non-cruiser contention.
This video made me go and buy one. I found a yellow one with only 13,000 miles for only 2k the only things I've had to fix so far is the front motor mount front fork seals and a new clutch cable.
I personally own a Ulysses. I would say the only thing I hate about it is the Harley engine. It's a geeky bike with all the innovative ideas it touts. I love mine. Sticks like glue to the road and keeps me safe. Thanks for finally doing this review rcr. Thanks for listening to my request from many months ago!
Had the XT which was the same bike without hint of offroad influence. It opened me up to v-twins and was by far the easiest thing to wheelie i ever owned, got me hooked. I did move on to much better/faster sport vtwins though...TLS and TLR, RC51 etc. I`de still own another one though, lots of fun downtown, halfway decent commuter.
Mr. Regular, you missed something important. Erik Buell was actually an engineer for Harley (designed the FXR frame) before he built purpose built race bikes, with Rotary engines. believe it or not. I owned a S2 thunderbolt, it was great in a bizarro screwball kind of way. I met the man ("I like men....") several times, he's a character.
I own a Buell Xb12ss 2006. Its the most fun ride of all bikes I´ve had, and I´ve had a few. The feel of this bike, or character or whatever to call it, has no comparison. Its just crazy fun. the torque, the power delivery on twisty roads is just so much fun. Its not about the top speed, its about everything else that makes riding a real bike !
One thing I found interesting is that the BMW R1200GS, which this bike is often compared to, has slightly more torque, despite the fact that this uses a Harley-derived engine.
Best Buell review of all time! Hilarious but on point. Yes yes I once owned a XB, loved it and still yearn for another. The song at the end deserves a Grammy.
Clever annotation at the end! What are your thoughts on the new EBR bikes, d you think that is what Buell was always meant to do, build racing bikes for the street?
Thanks for this. I'm not really a motorcycle guy but I was always interested in Buell because they were effectively Harley-Davidson trying to do something very, very different (V-Rod aside). When they shuttered (2011 I think?), I was pretty sad. Where I live, there's this one-dimensional way of thinking that American motorcycles were automatically Harleys and nothing else, and this was a big middle finger to that kind of thinking. Oh well.
I'm sad because I loved the entire design philosophy behind the Buell bikes. Right when I was about to buy a new bike, Harley killed Buell. I could even have a found a great deal on one, but was very hard to justify an 8,000 dollar purchase (with my wife) from a company that no longer existed.
Wow coming from a GS to a way older Buell XB12X and I don't have any of that iffy vomit feelings which you keep on implying. As for the plastic parts... What adventure bike has steal blinkers and hand guards, please do tell?
Buell didn’t die by itself, in fact in 2008 they were doing better than ever, they had just released the 1125cr, but the then CEO of harley, Keith Wandell really hated buell for spending so much money on R&D and his “racing hobby” ( actual Wandell quote), so the first thing he did when the economy started to collapse and Harley had a very bad sales year was blame it on Buell and kill the company
I don't even care about bikes, but your way with words makes me want to watch all of your reviews, even if I don't give a shit about whatever you're reviewing.
I wanted a Ulysses in 2006 but riding two up I had trouble keeping the front wheel down. I guess adventure bikes are not built for two up riding. Great concept. Harley should bring the Ulysses back instead of the Pan American.
I miss my buell scgxb12 lightning. Looked awesome. I would have people stop and take pictures. I thought it was cool how the gas tank was built in the frame rails
Don't mess with Simon and Garfunkel. That ain't cool. I used to own a Pontiac Fiero. Bought it brand new in 1987 and absolutely loved it. I finally sold it to buy a 1976 Corvette, my ultimate dream car. Buell motorcycles, while intriguing, just didn't have the quality I demand in a motorcycle. But neither does BMW or Ducati. I have ridden Japanese and Harley. Harley makes the best cruisers hands down. They also make the best touring bikes. I wound up trading my smooth, quiet, plastic covered Goldwing for a Harley Davidson Electra Glide standard. Now I'm riding something with character. It feels good to ride something where you can hear and feel that big internal combustion engine hammering away down there, especially in this world of electric and hybrid cars.
The Fiero thing makes sense, as Buell apparently is to Harley what Pontiac is to GM. Interesting designs, much potential, a different sportier take on the product being offered even when working with the same parts bin, but f'd over in the long run by corporate.
I think you are wrong with your review. Anybody can buy a Harley! Who doesn't?? But, not everybody understands a Buell and the tech behind the design from Erik Buell. This bikes are great bikes and you don't really need to have a "Made in America" stamp to feel the Harley Power. I love my Buell Uly. Too Bad Buells are only for those Special sophisticated riders experienced on dealing with a hight tech machine that made history. Go to Germany or Europe. Big community. Educate yourself.
Shame you didn't let us hear it, because that's probably the best thing about it. Nice bike to ride on real roads, plenty of torque, it feels alive. Gearbox wasn't good on the one I rode though.
I disagree quite a bit with Mr. Regular's assessment as to why Buell failed as a company. It's almost universally known that Harley Davidson fucked Buell at almost every turn, from forcing Buell to create the Blast, taking the V Rod motor out of Buell's hands so Harley could stuff it in to a bike that half of Harley owners still snub, and axing Buell's supercharged Firebolt motor, to taking over a $100 million dollar hit to dissolve Buell in 2010 to ensure Polaris (who put in a bid to absorb Buell) wouldn't be able to save the Buell brand.
Seriously, fuck Harley Davidson.
Big facts. Ride the Firebolt and you will instantly tell there is no reason they didn't other than getting completely fucked.
Fully agree. I had a xb9r and 1125 r, both were fantastic both were Smart American engineering.
And now Harley wants to enter the adventure bike and naked bike markets... you've had gems on your hands and you deliberately killed them off, why do you think that you deserve a second chance, this late in the game?
Couldn't agree with you more.....
Well Buell came back aaand it's gone. Yeah I don't think it's all HDs fault.
"Like the Pontiac Fiero, Buells are from an alternate America." That line sums it up best for car guys who don't know motorcycles.
I own a Buell Uly and didn't want a Harley. I love the out of the box thinking, its quirky (I also ride Guzzi) it handles,it's comfortable , it gets good gas milage, its cheap to own,it's fun.
56cote I too have a uly. And love it. cheers
I also own a Buell Uly and I loathe the thought of selling it. Just straight spoiled me on other bikes. There's a reason so many moto journalists own XBs.
I have an 09. Great bike
@@james_chatman Are they reliable and easy to work on? Maybe it was cheap to own 10 years ago, but by now, most of the parts must be impossible to find.
@@cesartapia610 There are still parts around and a big community who is even creating new parts here overseas in europe. check out twinmotorcycles nl, even americans sometimes get their parts there. They have common issues, but there are also solutions around for these problems.
Buell failed because Harley treated it like a skunkworks for their bikes instead of a place to make American Sportbikes. They also neutered their budget over and over again.
"Muscle bike" not "sports bike". A sports bike is a Yamaha R6, R1 or Honda Fireblade. A muscle bike is a Suzuki Bandit 1200 or 'Bussa. Think about it, which is it more like? Sports bike can do 160 to 180 mph and go round corners really well can the Buell do that? No, then it's not a sports bike.
@@bhaddock9277 Nah, what you described is a supersport bike. Sport bikes are a step down from there, with more relaxed riding positions, more street friendly (torquey) motors, and handling that isn't quite as sharp. I think Buell's fall well within the category of sport bikes, but they are not supersports. I think muscle bikes tend to be longer, heavier, and setup more for cruising than for handling. And Buell's certainly handle well.
@@bhaddock9277
I’m sorry what…
All the buell bikes had exceptional handling even to this day.
@@bhaddock9277 well the Buell 1125r can do those things, and the xb12r can get damn close to it too
Buell failed because HD didn't support it, promote it and eventually killed it. Not because it wasn't American enough ....
Perhaps it wasn't American enough for harley to promote
TheTomco11 it's because Harley with their obnoxious ego... only looked at Buell as just a sporty stepping stone up to their cruisers.
It's because their dealers didn't want to sell anything that wasn't a hogfucker sofa with half a tractor inside the frame. I remember walking in wanting a thunderbolt and getting outright insulted by the staff. Told it was shit and I needed to look at a real Harley. That was the way Harley treated buell promised everything gave nothing.
They could have changed everything but instead Harley saw them as a threat.
And now Harley is coming a around with their new line of adv and electric bikes. They could use Buell now.
@@Clickmaster5k
Harley must die so Buell can retake the throne.
Morty! *buuurp* We've got to go to the alternate America where Buell still makes motorcycles, and *buurp* Fieros roam free!
+QuikSlvr223 that freakin show man.
+QuikSlvr223 "I-I-I-I don't know Rick...I mean it's not like we can jump into a portal and make everything better."
+Geron Kizan "Qui- quit *bbuuurrrrpppp* being a lil weenie. For fuck'sssssaaaakkkkkeeeee Morty."
+QuikSlvr223 The same alternate America where Al Gore became president.
+QuikSlvr223 Hi! I'm Mr. Meeseeks, LOOK at me!!!
Owned a 2010 XB12scg. I agree with most of what you've said with exception of Buell owners wanting a Harley. I put Harley on the bottom of my want list. It was different than anything out there and it was a great all around bike. One of the best back road/around town hooligan bikes iv'e ridden. It's not a "numbers" bike, it's a smiles per mile bike and for me that's what riding is all about. I also agree with "This machine is from an alternate history America, like the Pontiac Fiero". I love it when companies have the balls to break away from the what will sell mindset to, let's make something that we think is cool. As a former owner of 2 Fieros, I can say that they were pretty terrible as were most GM products of that era. But the Buell was and still is a great bike.
its hard to argue with a well modded 12S on a back road, stop light to stop light they can be mean as hell.
I worked at a Harley dealership when I was 19 detailing bikes and we had this gorgeous red firebolt 1200 there that I was in love with. You also forgot to mention the exhaust being slung directly under the center of the bike for weight balance.
Completely lost it at "Softail" XD Good job, Mr. Regular!
+Krunal Rindani Indeed !
Same here.
+Krunal Rindani Spat out my milkshake and farted at the same time.
shaalis Can relate to this^^
+Shallibodhran I farther twice in the morning. I farther twice in the day . I farther twice in that old clay . I farther twice when I play
I have a 97 Buell M2 Cyclone, it was my starter bike and man do I love it. It's the only sport bike you can take to sturgis and get nods of approval from both sides of the fence. Also nice Rick and Morty reference.
Troa Barton a 2000 m2 cyclone was my first bike too! Still have it and will never get rid of it!
I want a m2 so badly
buell was amazing. the only bad thing about buells were they were never marketed correctly. and never had a good home. dont count them out
I got two Buells a XB9SX Lightning and a Custom XB12SR Lightningbolt. You guys can see them in my videos. I was never a big fan of the Ulysses but Peter Egan one of the biggest motorcycle writers of all times, made the shocking announcement to his fans that his favorite motorcycle of all times is the Ulysses. Anyway. Buells are a lot of fun, some of the meanest street bikes out there when set up properly.. and great for making custom sport creations.
I got a S1 and XB12S love them, best handling bikes around besides Supersports of today.
U Schwarzi depends on the bike you are talking about and the speeds you are talking about. The XB models in that 0-110mph range, will out handle just about anything besides a Supermoto..... my XB9S is damn near supermoto handling.. no CBR or ZX is going to be able to feel this way.
+Gloomshadow100 Eh I doubt you're buell outhandles modern RR japanese bikes.. Maybe on par with at best. My 15 year old cbr929 weighs less than that XB9s.
TheSchiddy yeah it does.. Ive had those too. I came off CBRs and ZX's and a stock XB9 or 12 is several pounds lighter than a dry 929.. the S is about 385 pounds, even with that fucking 20 pound stock steel exhaust. My S with race battery , fluids and empty tank probably weighs around 380-385.But at street speeds or on a tight track a modern supersport is never gonna turn with my 52 inch wheelbase.. NEVER
CBR929 weighs 379lbs dry in stock form, lot higher power to weight ratio. But yeah a bigger 55inch wheelbase. Don't think it would even matter at speeds 0-100 on tight turns for any bike in that range. Prob comes down to tire grip, max bike lean angle and rider skill.
for some reason I really like the look of this bike. it's really different looking from other bikes you see all the time.
Chandler Boan the more you look at it the sexier it is. Just look at my profile pic. also a 2006 buell ulysses. Hella good bike
"This is a Buell Ulysses, and it’s a failure."
My name is also Ulysses!
And I am also a failure!
If you love American failures then you need to find a Buick Reatta to review. My boss owns one and keeps it in perfect condition. Its the saddest representation of 80's futuristic America one can find. Its supposed to be a sports coupe but it has the sterile feeling of a high end walk-in clinic and CRT EVERYTHING!
+snappy452 Also the bodies were hand-built in Italy then *flown* on 747s to Detroit for final assembly. Talk about 80's excess.
+snappy452 Also the Cadillac Allante. One of the only American cars designed by Pininfarina!
+snappy452 THE TOUCH SCREEN THOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
nknasi I guess that explains why every body panel weighs 7000 pounds.
+snappy452 cool looking Buick though
Watched this video last year. Thought it was a cool bike, did my homework and fell in love. Now I’m a Buell Lightning owner!!! Had to rewatch this!
Ps. Mine pulls hard to redline but mine does have some upgrades
Edit! I’m also a Fiero owner!
I'm neither a bike guy or an American, but I respect them. Both of them. Thanks for the lesson - I'd watch a feature-length version of this video.
Too bad the American motorcycle industry focuses too much on Cruisers and barely anything else beside Buell.
+Ianna Matney Confederate seems to be building great alternative stuff, but otherwise, yeah.
+Ianna Matney Ever heard of Zero motorcycles, the world's leading electric bike manufacturer? Also watch out for Victory, I think they're on the verge of doing some interesting stuff.
+Ianna Matney That's because Harley-Davidson was the only major motorcycle brand in America had for a long period after the war, until Victory(Polaris) came along.
IcruisE
They focus on what sells.
I loved my Ulysses XB12x, XB12s, XB9r. Thoooooo every Buell I owned was finicky. Erik is back in action though with EBR. The 1190sx looks amazing.
Mk2Mike I LOVE my EBR 1190rx. It is the best bike I have ever ridden.
Is that Mk2 as in, the bay of Plenty?
I just got home from work.. in my Fiero. This video was great until it made me sad.
I love my 07 Ulysses, Will likely get another one when this one wears out. Torque = fun
I love the occasional bike reviews!
I think Lightning and Firebold are pretty good names. Also they had special edition bikes with stars and stripes and the subtitle of the company was "American Sportsbike". The failure of Buell was more or less induced through Harley as they where not allowed to do certain things ect. In Europe and other Countries Buell sold pretty well. And I hope the latest resurrection will last.
So basically it's a good bike but it failed due to poor marketing
Basically yes, but more so because Harley missed the chance to explore the side of the market they are still trying to break into. The side of the market that offers them the most room to grow; the more youthful sport and naked market. Buell didn't need chrome gizzies or the smell of leather jackets in the showroom. When I road my S-1 Lightning with our HOG Chapter more than one member asked why I rode such an ugly bike, my usual answer was if I cared about how I looked I would get there 1st and comb my hair. I never needed to find a group of guys in black t-shirts to follow around!
the Buell/Harley people were assholes... actually know a HD-Buell dealer that had factory, corporate Buell people threaten to interfer with his inventory of HD's if he didn't play along with them... he told them to get their f'n bikes and other Buell crap and leave. Quit selling Buells right then and there
omfg "this is not a katana" idk why but that triggered me I'm fucking dying omg that was hilarious.
I still have, ride, and love my '09 uly. I say, to each his own and everyone has a right to their opinion, and although this vid is kinda entertaining, the people who produced it obviously know little about this wonderful machine. I have owned a dozen motorcycles and ridden dozens more, and to this day, not many others can compare when it comes to comfort, reliability and versatility. My biggest problem is finding riding buddies, my Harley friends can't keep up, my sport bike friends can't go the distance, and my dirt bike friends have to trailer theirs to the trail-heads. The Ulysses is not the best cruiser, racer, or offroader, but nothing else can do all three as well. And, btw, I am as American as it gets... I always ride with a gun and a bag of ball bearings.
I bought my 09 Ulysses with 0008 miles on it. Have 18,500 now. It shares duties with my 96 Sportster 1200 S and my 01 dyna Superglide Sport
Mr. Regular. As I commented today in your review of the Electra Glide, I talked with a gentleman at the Black Hills on 08/09/17 who was on his return leg of a trip to Prudhoe Bay Alaska from the Pittsburg area. His bike? Wait for it..... Buell Ulysses. He said it ran like a champ, ate up the miles and handled the Alaskan roads very well. He went though three sets of tires on the trip so far. First set shot by Alaska, put on nobbies, rode them to Barrow and back to South Dakota, wore those out and put on third set a few days ago. All on a damn near stock Ulysses. Don't sell that bike short.
I own a 07 and love it we rode over 600 miles a day on it
If Erik Buell had the backing of a huge manufacturer like Honda, Yamaha or BMW, and all of their engineering facilities, the Bimota Vyrus would look like a cute kindergartener project. Erik had so many unconventional and genius ideas for building highly enjoyable motorcycles that unfortunately, he was never truly able to implement in any wide scale production. Thanks in large part to the complete lack of cooperation on Harley's part.
Ulysses owner here. The Ulysses will eat up the miles, has loads of power, handles very well, maintenance is minimal, does quite well offroad, and you won't see yourself at every stoplight or bike meet. In no way did I feel that I wanted a Harley but had to settle.
Buell was outselling BMW at one point in their history. And this is the American motorcycle for those of us who do NOT want to ride a Harley.
Just bought an xb12x ulysses, sounds great and comfy. Super ride..
I had a 2006 Buell Ulysses XB12X and sold mine, granted I loved it for 2 years, But the reason I sold mine was: Lack of top end and replacement parts were getting harder to find, 2018.. Great Bike Vtwin !! Brrrap !!
I have an 09 Ulysses but I'd cry if I ever sold it. Parts are rare so I drive carefully😊
Was that a rick and morty reference at the end?
Yeah lol
+Niggalodeon a very obvious one, ha.
+Niggalodeon I'm seeing Rick and Morty references everywhere. Everyone seems to universally love the show.
It's like a not-pretentious version of Dr Who that everyone can enjoy.
The second one this season 👍🏽
+Niggalodeon Indeed it was, Sir. Indeed it was..
Never been into motorcycles at all, but you always manage to make them interesting when you review one, so I watch the videos regardless. Great job as always. And nice Rick & Morty reference.
Long time Buell owner here. Absolutely agree with this video.
I have a Blast sitting in my parent's backyard, hasn't turned over in 6 or 7 years, but I drove it once when I was learning stick shift and I loved it. For some reason it makes me happy to know Mr.Regular likes the Blast, too.
If it's a Buell the badge of honor is wearing down the edge and getting rid of those chicken strips.
+Ethanmeister Buells are the best handling motorcycles ever, thats why I will never get rid of my 1125r!
+mrsuperbuckets Slow down slugger. I have a XB12R and while it is a superb handling bike, I won't say its the best. I have rode a few bikes that contend well with it, perhaps better.
Stanton Barbas The 1125 series is better than the xb series handling wise, as was noted by everyone who rode them back to back. have ridden more bikes than I can count, and not a single one has every bested the confidence, and preciseness of the 1125r.
mrsuperbuckets I have rode the 1125R as well. It's a great bike. I too have rode more bikes than memory can recall. So far though the best handling bike i have rode was the BMW S1000RR. After that it's a toss up between the GSXR750 and Buell.
+Stanton Barbas I rode an xb9r and other than the crazy vibrations and more upright riding position (I've got clip ons) it felt pretty similar to my sv650 once I got into it. The handling, specifically the turn in doesn't feel as sharp as some supersports but it felt predictable and had no problem getting low.
That Rick and Morty reference ;-)
buell re opened as EBR and produced some kickass sport bikes.
Not exactly. Erik Buell works at Fuell making electric bikes. EBR is NOW renamed as Buell again but it has no connection to OG Buell and neither did EBR. Erik starts these companies usually then sells them off and starts another
I own a 2007 Ulysses and it kicks ass! Buell it’s an experience! I’ve also owned a 2002 Buell M2 Cyclone both amazing bikes. Harley had a gold mine and ruined it.
I have a xb12x 2007. with tkc-80 tyres it's become a great racing tractor. long live erb
I'm definitely in that car-geek-yet-but-knowledgeable-about-bikes classification. I appreciate them to be sure, hell, my best friend runs a really small bike shop... they just tend to elude me. When I was younger I lived in a rural part of my state and did a fair share of dirt bike & ATV trail riding, but the thought of getting on the street or interstate with one terrifies me... not so much because of the act of riding itself, but the fact is that people on my commutes (fellow car/truck drivers from Hammond, LA to either NOLA or Baton Rouge) are absolutely reckless. I witness at least two wrecks a month, and see the aftermath of even more.
Having said, I appreciate the different bike cultures I've been exposed to as well as the individual riders I know, not to mention the insight you provide about the bikes themselves. Your clips are always a treat and I always walk away learning something after having a good laugh.
Tangentially, I imagine you to look like Michael from Vsauce while sounding like a younger Alan Alda.
This was my very first motorcycle and I LOVED it! Such a great bike
I forget which magazine it was, but one regarded the Ulysses as the kind of bike most people should be riding...a try all round bike able to handle, tour, commute and do a bit of exploring. Even if it wasn't as up to of road as suggested, HD missed an opportunity to allow Buell a breakout bike that moved the company into real non-cruiser contention.
I still think the Firebolt XB12r is one of the most beautiful bikes, and is my #1 bucket list bike
This video made me go and buy one. I found a yellow one with only 13,000 miles for only 2k the only things I've had to fix so far is the front motor mount front fork seals and a new clutch cable.
I personally own a Ulysses. I would say the only thing I hate about it is the Harley engine. It's a geeky bike with all the innovative ideas it touts. I love mine. Sticks like glue to the road and keeps me safe. Thanks for finally doing this review rcr. Thanks for listening to my request from many months ago!
Had the XT which was the same bike without hint of offroad influence. It opened me up to v-twins and was by far the easiest thing to wheelie i ever owned, got me hooked. I did move on to much better/faster sport vtwins though...TLS and TLR, RC51 etc. I`de still own another one though, lots of fun downtown, halfway decent commuter.
Mr. Regular, you missed something important. Erik Buell was actually an engineer for Harley (designed the FXR frame) before he built purpose built race bikes, with Rotary engines. believe it or not. I owned a S2 thunderbolt, it was great in a bizarro screwball kind of way.
I met the man ("I like men....") several times, he's a character.
I own one, is a very good bike, and fun to ride very reliable !
I own a Buell Xb12ss 2006. Its the most fun ride of all bikes I´ve had, and I´ve had a few. The feel of this bike, or character or whatever to call it, has no comparison. Its just crazy fun. the torque, the power delivery on twisty roads is just so much fun. Its not about the top speed, its about everything else that makes riding a real bike !
Cool bike & review. Hey what brand Hi-Vis jacket is the rider wearing?
Just bought a Blast two days ago. Your review was like 85% of my decision-making process.
Rick - Portal!!! did I just hear that?!
btw love Buell so thanks for doing an episode on the XB12 instead of the "weirder" named ones.
god i love your motorcycle videos please do more
One thing I found interesting is that the BMW R1200GS, which this bike is often compared to, has slightly more torque, despite the fact that this uses a Harley-derived engine.
I'm looking to get a bike next summer, this was, and still is pretty high on my consideration list... haven't ridden one yet, excited to.
It's not named after a book, it's named after Ulysses S Grant. Damn fine name for an American bike.
They're build for balance and handling. All tbe mass is centered. I love my Ulysses.
As an European, not American enough is just silly.
Now that cover at the end gave me chills. I was all smiles. Good job RCR.
Best Buell review of all time! Hilarious but on point. Yes yes I once owned a XB, loved it and still yearn for another. The song at the end deserves a Grammy.
Love the Rick and Morty reference!
Clever annotation at the end! What are your thoughts on the new EBR bikes, d you think that is what Buell was always meant to do, build racing bikes for the street?
That's the way I sort of thought they were supposed to do. But Buell did make some pretty impressive motorcycles.
so if you extend the tail a little, and lower it you have a Buell done right?
I love my Buell Ulysses. No, it's not a dirt bike, but I do try to get at least a few miles of gravel roads in on my yearly road trips.
Best bike I've ever owned.
"Thsoft Thail!!!" I spat out my coffee and nearly died laughing.
What town were you driving through at 4:15? Looks like a cute place.
Thanks to this video I now own a Buell M2 Cyclone.
i fuckin love the old M2... you can make a good street rod out of one.
Thanks for this. I'm not really a motorcycle guy but I was always interested in Buell because they were effectively Harley-Davidson trying to do something very, very different (V-Rod aside). When they shuttered (2011 I think?), I was pretty sad. Where I live, there's this one-dimensional way of thinking that American motorcycles were automatically Harleys and nothing else, and this was a big middle finger to that kind of thinking. Oh well.
And now Harley D is hanging on by a thread. LOL. They deserve it.
Loved the list of "A Buell is for..." at 2:21. Perfect descriptions.
Man your motorcycle videos are amazing , learned a lot as a car guy to be honest
I'm sad because I loved the entire design philosophy behind the Buell bikes. Right when I was about to buy a new bike, Harley killed Buell. I could even have a found a great deal on one, but was very hard to justify an 8,000 dollar purchase (with my wife) from a company that no longer existed.
would you pair books to all your reviews from now and is a chance you do a electric bike in the future?
Wow coming from a GS to a way older Buell XB12X and I don't have any of that iffy vomit feelings which you keep on implying. As for the plastic parts... What adventure bike has steal blinkers and hand guards, please do tell?
Ulysses was also the name of the famous american general who won the civil war and then became president. Seems pretty american to me.
Buell didn’t die by itself, in fact in 2008 they were doing better than ever, they had just released the 1125cr, but the then CEO of harley, Keith Wandell really hated buell for spending so much money on R&D and his “racing hobby” ( actual Wandell quote), so the first thing he did when the economy started to collapse and Harley had a very bad sales year was blame it on Buell and kill the company
I don't even care about bikes, but your way with words makes me want to watch all of your reviews, even if I don't give a shit about whatever you're reviewing.
Simon and fucking Garfunkel....did not see that coming.
Didn't Ronin motorcycles make their 47 Ronin from buells? If so that's the only buell we would want to own. Can't afford one though.
An ideological analysis of a bike. I like it. Also, I like how the song at the end is America by Simon & Garfunkel.
05 XB9R Most fun I ever had on a bike since my dirt bike days.
Love that these guys are car guys, bike guys, and Rick and Morty fans
I'm not much of a bike person, but I do like all the stories that go with them.
I almost traded my 2002 Suzuki DL1000 for one of these back when you could still buy them new. Sometimes I still regret not doing it.
Out of all your fun awkwardness, it worked 110% describing the buel brand. It was a truly cultural video. Well done!
I wanted a Ulysses in 2006 but riding two up I had trouble keeping the front wheel down. I guess adventure bikes are not built for two up riding. Great concept. Harley should bring the Ulysses back instead of the Pan American.
I miss my buell scgxb12 lightning. Looked awesome. I would have people stop and take pictures. I thought it was cool how the gas tank was built in the frame rails
I absolutely love my buell 1125R. You should have mentioned how Erik buell made EBR after.
Don't mess with Simon and Garfunkel. That ain't cool. I used to own a Pontiac Fiero. Bought it brand new in 1987 and absolutely loved it. I finally sold it to buy a 1976 Corvette, my ultimate dream car. Buell motorcycles, while intriguing, just didn't have the quality I demand in a motorcycle. But neither does BMW or Ducati. I have ridden Japanese and Harley. Harley makes the best cruisers hands down. They also make the best touring bikes. I wound up trading my smooth, quiet, plastic covered Goldwing for a Harley Davidson Electra Glide standard. Now I'm riding something with character. It feels good to ride something where you can hear and feel that big internal combustion engine hammering away down there, especially in this world of electric and hybrid cars.
I really enjoy your bike reviews.
The Fiero thing makes sense, as Buell apparently is to Harley what Pontiac is to GM. Interesting designs, much potential, a different sportier take on the product being offered even when working with the same parts bin, but f'd over in the long run by corporate.
Love the Rick reference :D I need season 3! Also, Buell are great, I like the naked bikes more. Lightning XB12Ss for example :)
Would you be able to do an MGB GT review. Either the 1.8 or the Rover V8.
+1 for The Roman's wonderful take on Simon & Garfunkel's America!
I think you are wrong with your review. Anybody can buy a Harley! Who doesn't?? But, not everybody understands a Buell and the tech behind the design from Erik Buell. This bikes are great bikes and you don't really need to have a "Made in America" stamp to feel the Harley Power. I love my Buell Uly. Too Bad Buells are only for those Special sophisticated riders experienced on dealing with a hight tech machine that made history. Go to Germany or Europe. Big community. Educate yourself.
former Buell Blast owner checking in, they rock
Shame you didn't let us hear it, because that's probably the best thing about it. Nice bike to ride on real roads, plenty of torque, it feels alive. Gearbox wasn't good on the one I rode though.