I originally scoffed at the Uly for it's belt drive, but nowadays I have an appreciation for the bike. I've recently watched videos of the XB12X being ridden off road, and it is quite capable of rough stuff. I too also like older technology, no TFT screens, ride modes, and LED lighting. My 2014 Honda CB500X may have a digital display, and ABS, but very basic tech is fine by me. May you enjoy your Ulysses for many years. 🙂🏍️ cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
True and very well stated, sometimes it’s great to have simplicity. I took my Uly out again this week and I’m always surprised at how good it feels to ride it. Mine only has 20k miles and I try to get it out every month for a spin, and it’s never let me down or left me stranded.
With the engine note and feel on these, it seems like you could easily just cruise around and enjoy the sound and feel without even going too fast! Beautiful character all round! Great review Sir.
The XB12X is a fantastic bike. I have one, a 2006 model. I short-shift between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, but I haven't used it in an age. I must get a new battery and put it back on the road. The longest trip I did was England to Portugal and back. No issues with it at all. I bought it to replace a written-off KTM 950 Adventure. The Buell is a better bike; more tractable and relaxing on tour. I remember reading, back in the mid-'00s that the president of The Iron Butt Association, bought one, ran it in in one day [like you do!], then did 1,000 miles in one day. He pronounced that it was more comfortable than his R1200GS, and when he got back on his GS, he realised that the Ulysses had more low-down shove.
I agree, the bike really is comfortable. I have also been on several Harleys over the years, and the Buell still has them beat, I really enjoy the bike, and like you, no issues, just periodic maintenance.
I agree Simon, not many videos so I thought I’d post this one. I feel the same way, the Uly is unlike anything I have ever been on, and you don’t see many of them.
How is engine vibration at actual running speeds? I've had a couple of Harleys and just could not stand the fact that my eyeballs would literally shake going down the road
It does smooth out once you get above 3000 RPMs, and it seems so lope along nicely in that 3 to 5000 RPM range. Sitting at idle though, it shakes really bad lol!
You should! Let me know how it goes. Like I said in the video, they are a bit different, which makes them very cool in my mind. A little bit quirky, but a good time!
I really haven’t done more than just gravel roads. I run Pilot Road tires on it, so it has great grip on the street, but not so great on the loose stuff. Many people take them off road, but I haven’t.
I bought the exhaust from Revision MOTO (www.rev-mo.com/) and they provided a remap file. I used the Buelltooth device to swap maps, and it was easier than I thought. It worked well and had a noticeable difference. Ride on!
@@Pats2Wheels I like my stock exhaust but I will check them out.. There is a place in the Netherlands that will reflash your ECU but I don't want to mail my ECU to Europe .
I expect and don't mind the vibes at idle, my BMW twin does that. How do you find the vibes at higher rpm and on the highway at say 75mph? While usually smooth I find my R1100 gets a bit buzzy in the bars at 75mph and when winding it out on backroads.
The 1200 motor tends to smooth out once it gets going, and it just cruises along. My R1100S also tends to get a bit buzzy. Anymore I’ve tended to like bikes with a little shake, and I don’t enjoy the ultra smooth motors. Some vibes give the bike soul! Lol
Interesting things I've learned about them is that Buell engineered it with vibration isolation rubber mounts. At idle it's all HD twin shake & vibrate - off idle it smooths out remarkably. Plenty comfortable at speed. I've always been a Euro bike rider and so that idle shake and vibrate took some getting used to. About 20 minutes did it ! *wishing they'd been on my radar much sooner. I look forward to some serious touring and wandering about on it. *The Germans, Austrian and Italians in the shop do sneer at it... Classic xenophobe vibe !
Interesting question, it stays down but it’s not “locked” in place like on other bikes. If the bike rolls even slightly forward the kickstand pops up. I always park in gear, push it forward, then put the kickstand down, then lean the bike over. As an extra check, I try to nudge the bike back and forth to make sure it’s not going to fall. It’s a quirky bike. 😀
It feels like it does, plus it is probably 10 pounds lighter and it is louder. Honestly I go back and forth, recently I put the stock exhaust back on because I wanted it quieter. Everyone has a different opinion for sure.
У меня был такой, 2006 года. Просто кайфя а не мотоцикл! Но в России они уже сломаны в гаражных сервисах. Бьюэлу нужно грамотное обслуживание, хотя бы по мануалу с специальными ключами.
Hey there, how tall are you, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m keen and got one lined up but I’m not too tall at 157cm tall🥺😂 do you think would suit one? Cheers
That’s a tough one because the Uly is a tall bike, I’m 186 cm and it fits me well. I would recommend sitting on it and see what you think, it may be a bit too tall for you. It is possible to turn down the preload and lower the seat a little bit but I’m not sure that will be enough for you. Cheers!
There's shorter saddles/seats available, i believe. It is tall ! I'm 6'4" so it suits me well. But I've a tall seat on, also. *Which gained approx 1" over stock height
I have not seen it in person yet, but I like what I've read about it. Any chance you've seen it yet? I really like niche brands like Buell, so I'd expect it to be a strong machine.
There are upper and lower bolts for the saddlebag mounting brackets that go into the frame. That seems like a strange question, I’m just curious why you are asking.
It’s a Madstad set of brackets (www.Madstad.com) combined with a ZeroGravity sport shield. The provided windshield from Madstad was big and strangely enough the zero gravity shield for the stock bike fit on the Madstad brackets. I liked the look so kept it on.
Save your fan shroud if the fan goes bad. There are fans out there that can be put in the old fans place. Also expect to have intake seal leaks. You will know when it starts running like sh*"t
Thanks Alan, I had an issue a few years ago where I started blowing fan fuses, I sprayed a bunch of carb cleaner into the fan and that seemed to solve the issue, I think there was oil mist gunk in there. On a recent ride the fan didn’t kick on though, makes me wonder if it quit working.
Look up ECM droid (free ) there is a blue tooth device for about 50 dollars. This will allow you to have a bi directional ECM reader tool . Can check engine codes and turn fan on or off. Also many other functions etc...
Thanks Alan, yes, I picked up one of those BuellTooth devices and it works great. I used it to install the new ECM map. I also have had the Check Engine light come on a few times and it lets me see the error code, that little device was well worth the money, especially since I enjoy doing all the work on can myself.
@@Pats2Wheels where the grounds are grouped together in front of the fuse box. If you start getting o2 codes ? Remove that screw and clean the aluminium on the frame with green "only" Scotch Brite, aluminum is a bad metal for electric stuff .
I like the scenery you're going through and the fact that every second vehicle passed or standing by a house is a pickup truck.
I originally scoffed at the Uly for it's belt drive, but nowadays I have an appreciation for the bike. I've recently watched videos of the XB12X being ridden off road, and it is quite capable of rough stuff. I too also like older technology, no TFT screens, ride modes, and LED lighting. My 2014 Honda CB500X may have a digital display, and ABS, but very basic tech is fine by me. May you enjoy your Ulysses for many years. 🙂🏍️
cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
True and very well stated, sometimes it’s great to have simplicity. I took my Uly out again this week and I’m always surprised at how good it feels to ride it. Mine only has 20k miles and I try to get it out every month for a spin, and it’s never let me down or left me stranded.
I love my Uly I've had since new in 2006. So fun to ride.
With the engine note and feel on these, it seems like you could easily just cruise around and enjoy the sound and feel without even going too fast! Beautiful character all round! Great review Sir.
I completely agree, it’s great therapy!
The XB12X is a fantastic bike. I have one, a 2006 model. I short-shift between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, but I haven't used it in an age. I must get a new battery and put it back on the road. The longest trip I did was England to Portugal and back. No issues with it at all. I bought it to replace a written-off KTM 950 Adventure. The Buell is a better bike; more tractable and relaxing on tour. I remember reading, back in the mid-'00s that the president of The Iron Butt Association, bought one, ran it in in one day [like you do!], then did 1,000 miles in one day. He pronounced that it was more comfortable than his R1200GS, and when he got back on his GS, he realised that the Ulysses had more low-down shove.
I agree, the bike really is comfortable. I have also been on several Harleys over the years, and the Buell still has them beat, I really enjoy the bike, and like you, no issues, just periodic maintenance.
Long time Buell guy here, I love my various Buells ,they work for me!
I agree, something just special about them!
How is the reliability on these?
Like anything else prior ownership is the key. Neglect it and you may have problems. Simple and easy to maintain.
Thanks for sharing. Not so many Uly videos out there now. Still enjoying my 2008. Nothing else quite like it!
I agree Simon, not many videos so I thought I’d post this one. I feel the same way, the Uly is unlike anything I have ever been on, and you don’t see many of them.
What a great engine note...
I went for a cruise on my Buell when I first got it. 2 hours of riding rural roads and dirt roads my wife was starting to worry.
Yep! The Buell is like that, so great on the backroads!
How is engine vibration at actual running speeds? I've had a couple of Harleys and just could not stand the fact that my eyeballs would literally shake going down the road
It does smooth out once you get above 3000 RPMs, and it seems so lope along nicely in that 3 to 5000 RPM range. Sitting at idle though, it shakes really bad lol!
Love it! Ima get one too!
You should! Let me know how it goes. Like I said in the video, they are a bit different, which makes them very cool in my mind. A little bit quirky, but a good time!
Always liked the Ulysses, have you done any off road travel with it?
I really haven’t done more than just gravel roads. I run Pilot Road tires on it, so it has great grip on the street, but not so great on the loose stuff. Many people take them off road, but I haven’t.
@@Pats2Wheels thanks
Great vid... tks for sharing. I'm considering to buy one of those.
You should! They are unique and I was glad to find a good used one.
You should! They are unique and I was glad to find a good used one.
I’ve owned every model up to the 1190’s, but somehow have never owned a Ulysses. I might have to change that this spring
Used ones are out there for a good price these days, they are a lot of fun…..
I am glad I have the lower to the grount XT model ..
Yea these bikes are tall for sure!
How / where did you get it re-mapped? I did not think mine is too lean .. It did blurp and backfire a lot before I put new spark plugs in it ..
I bought the exhaust from Revision MOTO (www.rev-mo.com/) and they provided a remap file. I used the Buelltooth device to swap maps, and it was easier than I thought. It worked well and had a noticeable difference. Ride on!
@@Pats2Wheels I like my stock exhaust but I will check them out.. There is a place in the Netherlands that will reflash your ECU but I don't want to mail my ECU to Europe .
I expect and don't mind the vibes at idle, my BMW twin does that. How do you find the vibes at higher rpm and on the highway at say 75mph? While usually smooth I find my R1100 gets a bit buzzy in the bars at 75mph and when winding it out on backroads.
The 1200 motor tends to smooth out once it gets going, and it just cruises along. My R1100S also tends to get a bit buzzy. Anymore I’ve tended to like bikes with a little shake, and I don’t enjoy the ultra smooth motors. Some vibes give the bike soul! Lol
Interesting things I've learned about them is that Buell engineered it with vibration isolation rubber mounts. At idle it's all HD twin shake & vibrate - off idle it smooths out remarkably. Plenty comfortable at speed.
I've always been a Euro bike rider and so that idle shake and vibrate took some getting used to. About 20 minutes did it !
*wishing they'd been on my radar much sooner. I look forward to some serious touring and wandering about on it.
*The Germans, Austrian and Italians in the shop do sneer at it... Classic xenophobe vibe !
Quick question: does you kickstand remains open or it self-closes when you get the bike straight up?
Interesting question, it stays down but it’s not “locked” in place like on other bikes. If the bike rolls even slightly forward the kickstand pops up. I always park in gear, push it forward, then put the kickstand down, then lean the bike over. As an extra check, I try to nudge the bike back and forth to make sure it’s not going to fall. It’s a quirky bike. 😀
Does the Revision Moto exhaust have more power than STOCK?
It feels like it does, plus it is probably 10 pounds lighter and it is louder. Honestly I go back and forth, recently I put the stock exhaust back on because I wanted it quieter. Everyone has a different opinion for sure.
Nice bike.. i have one from 2006..
У меня был такой, 2006 года. Просто кайфя а не мотоцикл! Но в России они уже сломаны в гаражных сервисах. Бьюэлу нужно грамотное обслуживание, хотя бы по мануалу с специальными ключами.
Hey there, how tall are you, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m keen and got one lined up but I’m not too tall at 157cm tall🥺😂 do you think would suit one? Cheers
That’s a tough one because the Uly is a tall bike, I’m 186 cm and it fits me well. I would recommend sitting on it and see what you think, it may be a bit too tall for you. It is possible to turn down the preload and lower the seat a little bit but I’m not sure that will be enough for you. Cheers!
There's shorter saddles/seats available, i believe.
It is tall ! I'm 6'4" so it suits me well. But I've a tall seat on, also.
*Which gained approx 1" over stock height
Have you seen the new Buell super touring?
I have not seen it in person yet, but I like what I've read about it. Any chance you've seen it yet? I really like niche brands like Buell, so I'd expect it to be a strong machine.
The buell makes you feel super human
It really does, always puts a smile on my face!
Question, What size screws do you have for the saddlebag mount?
There are upper and lower bolts for the saddlebag mounting brackets that go into the frame. That seems like a strange question, I’m just curious why you are asking.
What windshield is that?
It’s a Madstad set of brackets (www.Madstad.com) combined with a ZeroGravity sport shield. The provided windshield from Madstad was big and strangely enough the zero gravity shield for the stock bike fit on the Madstad brackets. I liked the look so kept it on.
Save your fan shroud if the fan goes bad. There are fans out there that can be put in the old fans place. Also expect to have intake seal leaks. You will know when it starts running like sh*"t
Thanks Alan, I had an issue a few years ago where I started blowing fan fuses, I sprayed a bunch of carb cleaner into the fan and that seemed to solve the issue, I think there was oil mist gunk in there. On a recent ride the fan didn’t kick on though, makes me wonder if it quit working.
Look up ECM droid (free ) there is a blue tooth device for about 50 dollars. This will allow you to have a bi directional ECM reader tool . Can check engine codes and turn fan on or off. Also many other functions etc...
Thanks Alan, yes, I picked up one of those BuellTooth devices and it works great. I used it to install the new ECM map. I also have had the Check Engine light come on a few times and it lets me see the error code, that little device was well worth the money, especially since I enjoy doing all the work on can myself.
@@Pats2Wheels where the grounds are grouped together in front of the fuse box. If you start getting o2 codes ? Remove that screw and clean the aluminium on the frame with green "only" Scotch Brite, aluminum is a bad metal for electric stuff .
Sounds like Tommy Chong. Lol