Buell's dual sport.

[texas taco]

What do you guys think of Buells new Ulysses?

[Hltoppr]

Motor Cyclist magazine recently had a comparo between the Buell U, KTM 990 Adventure, and the BMW 1200 Adventure. It's worth a read.

It confirmed what I had thought. The Buell is really a street bike. On all but nice fire roads it'll be outclassed pretty fast by both the KTM and BMW....

Add that to the fact that you can find a barely used 1150 GS or KTM 950 for less than the Buell, unless the styling just "does it" for you, I think there are better all around big dual sports on the market.

-H-

[mountainpete]

My impression is only from sitting on it:

Very cramped riding position and overall too small. The riding position was just, well, totally wrong for me and I could only imagine how sore I would be after just a few miles. It would fit short torso riders best.

Pete

[Flounder]

I think it entirely missed the mark. I would maybe put it in the same class as a 1000cc VStrom or a 1000cc Veradero (which isn't in the US, I think) or even a Triumph Tiger. The KTM Adventure bikes and the two GS bikes from BMW really are nicer rigs.

[mountainpete]

Turns out there is a local demo day for this bike later this month... I'm going to see if I can get in on it schedule permitting.

Pete

[Flounder]

I imagine sale of Buells are so low because every time I go to a Harley/Buell dealer the Buells are stuck in a dark corner by themselves and the sales guys cringe any time you ask about them.

There's a Ulysees at one of our local HD dealers and they have no interest in trying to sell it. They just knock the price down and hope it walks out on its own.

[texas taco]

Thanks for the replies. The reason i started this thread is because earlier this week i talked to two very seasond overland riders(one is a motorcycle instructor). Both said the KTM has reliabilty issues.They used the same words" KTM You better buy LOCTITE." The instrctor said the BMW GS has drive line failures. He has ridden with guys with the BMW. He was thinking about buying the buell after retireing his Honda. I am just doing reserch. What do ya'll think???? I would like a bike thats big enough for my trusted copilot{wife} and me to ride together.

[Flounder]

Depends what you plan to do with this ride. I've had a few "Adventure bikes" although to me a bike is a bike, what you do with it is the adventure. I've logged a lot of miles in far off places and I wouldn't buy a Buell for any unusual riding to far off destinations and please, oh, please tell my you will never see dirt. That bike looks like a true fright off pavement.

For the record, I logged 5500 miles in one trip on my GS 650 BMW and it didn't have a moments trouble. I know a fella who rode a GS 1150 from Argentina to Alaska back to Argentina. Drive line troubles??? Not for him. I have heard KTMs have some quirks, but boy oh boy have they proven themselves to be capable of any outing.

Buell? Not for me. If you can find one, my favorite of my bikes was a Honda Africa Twin 750. What a great bike. I sure miss that one. Google it.

[jerdog53]

Motor Cyclist magazine recently had a comparo between the Buell U, KTM 990 Adventure, and the BMW 1200 Adventure. It's worth a read.

It confirmed what I had thought. The Buell is really a street bike. On all but nice fire roads it'll be outclassed pretty fast by both the KTM and BMW....

Add that to the fact that you can find a barely used 1150 GS or KTM 950 for less than the Buell, unless the styling just "does it" for you, I think there are better all around big dual sports on the market.

-H-

What month issue was that?

[Hltoppr]

Maybe February 2007? I'll check when I get home...

BMW Drive line failures...yeah, I've heard of folks having issues, but I personally haven't had any and don't think they're that common. I have put into my 60,000 mile service the rear drive gasket....and I just change the rear gear oil every 7500 miles or so...cheap insurance. The GSs can be thrown down cliffs and won't let you down....

The KTMs were known to have water pump issues, as well as some loose bolts in the charging system...The old joke was that KTM stands for Kan't Take Mexico....

Any bike is an adventure bike....heck, my last trip through Mexico one of my buddies was on a 1973 BMW R90S streetbike, and was the only one of us not to drop his bike off road!

If the Buell fits you well and you like it, then no problems. I think there are better bikes, even slightly used, for the $11K the Buell is going for; however. But then again, to each his own...get the bike you like!

-H-