Are Buell's pretty reliable?

TrackRider54 · 01-06-2009, 03:21 PM

I've had my Ulysses since Nov. 2005. Other than the year one gremlins Fatty B mentioned (which were all corrected under warranty), it's been the best bike I've ever owned. Only one big failure, a blown voltage regulator and stator, to report (that was a warranty repair too).

I've owned BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Ducati....and none of them had the level of factory support Buell has. I've met and spoken with Erik Buell on two different occasions. I've toured the factory and seen them build a bike like mine. BadWeb is the best brand specific forum on the planet. Occasionally, a factory insider will post up anonymously to answer questions or give "unofficial" fixes to issues.

I can name several people at Buell HQ I've actually spoken with, but not one person from any other make I've owned. You simply can't put a price on that. You can buy a $20,000 Ducati or BMW and you won't be rubbing shoulders with the guy who designed or built your bike. For those of you who don't know what Erik Buell looks like, here's a couple of pics from when I've met him. He's just a "regular guy" who LOVES to talk bikes. Never acts like a big shot or like he's the CEO of a company. He's like a kid at Christmas when he's talking about his bikes. The folks who work there are the same way. They are very proud of the bikes they design and build. The guy behind Erik in the black shirt with his arms folded is Abe Askenazi (sorry if I spelled it wrong). He's one of the lead engineers at Buell. A VERY fascinating guy to talk to.

Even Buell's 500lb adventure touring bike will still rail down a twisty road:

marko138 · 01-06-2009, 06:03 PM

I really wanna meet Erik...I have a ton of respect for him.

tached1000rr · 02-22-2009, 12:43 PM

How is the power delivery of the 984 cc lightning? With the short wheelbase does it have a tendency to wheelie? Is throttle response smooth, instant, or more abrupt?

marko138 · 02-22-2009, 03:23 PM

Power delivery is pretty smooth. Builds nicely right off idle all the way to redline. There is a bit of a stumble from closed throttle to open...an aftermarket pipe smooths it out a bit. ECMspy gets rid of it completely. The XB9's aren't as wheelie prone as the 12's...and even then it's not like keeping the front down is a chore. It will stay down...but if you want it to go north it will.

01-06-2009, 03:21 PM	#1
TrackRider54 Track Whore Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Moto: 2006 Buell Ulysses, 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600, 2008 Kymco Agility 125 Posts: 24	I've had my Ulysses since Nov. 2005. Other than the year one gremlins Fatty B mentioned (which were all corrected under warranty), it's been the best bike I've ever owned. Only one big failure, a blown voltage regulator and stator, to report (that was a warranty repair too). I've owned BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Ducati....and none of them had the level of factory support Buell has. I've met and spoken with Erik Buell on two different occasions. I've toured the factory and seen them build a bike like mine. BadWeb is the best brand specific forum on the planet. Occasionally, a factory insider will post up anonymously to answer questions or give "unofficial" fixes to issues. I can name several people at Buell HQ I've actually spoken with, but not one person from any other make I've owned. You simply can't put a price on that. You can buy a $20,000 Ducati or BMW and you won't be rubbing shoulders with the guy who designed or built your bike. For those of you who don't know what Erik Buell looks like, here's a couple of pics from when I've met him. He's just a "regular guy" who LOVES to talk bikes. Never acts like a big shot or like he's the CEO of a company. He's like a kid at Christmas when he's talking about his bikes. The folks who work there are the same way. They are very proud of the bikes they design and build. The guy behind Erik in the black shirt with his arms folded is Abe Askenazi (sorry if I spelled it wrong). He's one of the lead engineers at Buell. A VERY fascinating guy to talk to. Even Buell's 500lb adventure touring bike will still rail down a twisty road: Last edited by TrackRider54; 01-06-2009 at 03:26 PM..

02-22-2009, 12:43 PM	#3
tached1000rr WERA White Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NC Moto: 2009 GSXR 1300 Posts: 2,448	How is the power delivery of the 984 cc lightning? With the short wheelbase does it have a tendency to wheelie? Is throttle response smooth, instant, or more abrupt?