07 vs 08 Ulysses

[GS1100GK]

Folks, I need your help with a tough decision.

I'm really close to buying an 08 XB12X.  Dealer wants full retail which I'm not inclined to pay.  Here is the deal on that one:

$12,005 bike
$-225 freight =11780 bike
$1041.17 accessories - top and side cases, and tall windshield at 15% off
$407.12 - title, tag, lien filing fees and install labor (labor at 15% off)
$775.74 sales tax for MD
$14,004.03 grand total

He has a leftover 07 with full bags (Buell promo is giving bags away free) and $1500 off sticker.  Here is the deal on the 07:

$10,495 - after $1500 off
$407.12 - title, tag, lien filing fees and install labor (labor at 15% off)
$654.12 - sales tax for MD
$11,556 - grand total

So the difference is $2.447.78 or so.  The 08 has heated grips ($240 option for the 07), larger diameter forks with smaller turning radius, larger oil cooler, larger crank pin with larger oil pump, and 300 additional RPM.  Also, the bike should never lose timing with a magnetic ignition pickup vs a manual one.  

The larger oil pump and larger oil cooler interest me since my thinking is the bike will run cooler because of those upgrades.  

So, what is the opinion?  Is it worth getting the 08 or the 07.  By the way, money is always an object, however I can still afford the 08.

[garry]

I would shop around for a more motivated Buell dealer and buy an 08 at a discount. I'll bet you can find the bike at $1000 off and still get the accessories at 15% off too. Can't do much about title/plate/tax fees.

[GS1100GK]

I would shop around for a more motivated Buell dealer and buy an 08 at a discount. I'll bet you can find the bike at $1000 off and still get the accessories at 15% off too. Can't do much about title/plate/tax fees.

So, do you feel the upgrades to the 08 from the 07 warrant spending the extra for an 08 then?

[littlefield]

To tell you the truth, none of the improvements would make the bike that much more fun for me to ride. You'll have to set the TPS on the 07 occasionally but if you like tinkering with bikes it's kind of fun. Having a bigger crank pin, better oil pump and higher red line is nice but how much are you going to be riding it that hard? The 08 also has a lower alternator output.

[atadaskew]

So, do you feel the upgrades to the 08 from the 07 warrant spending the extra for an 08 then?

There's a reason Buell made those upgrades!  I would opt for the 08 BUT I'd shop around to get at least some discount.  Trying to get you to pay full MSRP on the 08 is just the dealer's ploy to move the 07.  Tell him you have no interest in the 07 but want some $$ off the 08.  Once he knows that, either he makes a sale or you find a shop that will.  Just my opinion.

[garry]

So, do you feel the upgrades to the 08 from the 07 warrant spending the extra for an 08 then?

Given a choice, I'd rather have an 08 than an 07. I think Buell made some worthy upgrades. How much those upgrades are worth to you is subjective. I'm a sucker for a screaming deal on a leftover, but I'm thinking you have lots of room to narrow the gap by getting a dealer to negotiate a bit on the price of a 2008.

[GS1100GK]

There's a reason Buell made those upgrades!  I would opt for the 08 BUT I'd shop around to get at least some discount.  Trying to get you to pay full MSRP on the 08 is just the dealer's ploy to move the 07.  Tell him you have no interest in the 07 but want some $$ off the 08.  Once he knows that, either he makes a sale or you find a shop that will.  Just my opinion.

I've priced the same package at another dealer and they would take $500 off the Uly but it is a bit farther away from my house.  I'm going to try and work him a little harder (have cash in hand and see if he takes it usually works.)  

[GS1100GK]

Given a choice, I'd rather have an 08 than an 07. I think Buell made some worthy upgrades. How much those upgrades are worth to you is subjective. I'm a sucker for a screaming deal on a leftover, but I'm thinking you have lots of room to narrow the gap by getting a dealer to negotiate a bit on the price of a 2008.

I've been reading up on this bike and a big complaint is the heat coming from under your right leg plus the noisy cooling fan.  The 08 comes with plastic plugs (will fit an 06-07 as well for $21) to keep the heat at bay and I could tell the difference when test riding the 08 and 07.  But, I can't help but think the bigger oil cooler and larger capacity oil pump will keep the bike cooler and reduce the times the fan comes on when riding.  Also less heat should translate to greater engine life and reduce the time the fan comes on when the bike is turned off.  That is at least what I'm thinking.

[Kootenanny]

Take this for what it's worth...

I had a similar decision when I bought a "leftover" 03 XB9R in January 05.  I could have had an 05 if I'd wanted...and there were quite a few upgrades made between 03 and 05 (including different final drive, larger diameter fork tubes, improved neutral sensor, different kickstand with no interlock, lowered passenger pegs, longer rear-view mirror stalks, and I'm sure many more that I can't remember offhand).

I've been totally happy with my 03, and I'd do it again!  Sure, the later bikes may be "better," but...I'm loving my original year Firebolt!  

[Brad1445]

I vote get the 08

[Rogue]

If you can afford the newer one, get it!  The upgrades are worth it.

If money is tight, the '07 is the better deal.  Good luck.  

[atypical1]

Miles and I had this exact same conversation last night. Tell us what you decide...

I don't know if the upgrades are that worth it but you aren't talking about a huge $$$ difference. I never noticed a problem with the turning radius but never did any tight u-turns. How much cooler would the bike run? That would be a big deal as the 07 that we tested was an oven. That might make it worth it as the rumor is that taping the pipes is a bear.

Good luck on your decision.
james

[GS1100GK]

Folks, I've posted the same thread on Badweatherbikes.com and much to my surprise the 08 gets much poorer gas mileage than the 07's.  Not sure why, but it appears to be the case.  With a bike with only a 4.4 gallon tank the difference between 36 mpg and 45 mpg becomes huge.

[Thunderbox]

There's a reason Buell made those upgrades!  I would opt for the 08 BUT I'd shop around to get at least some discount.  Trying to get you to pay full MSRP on the 08 is just the dealer's ploy to move the 07.  Tell him you have no interest in the 07 but want some $$ off the 08.  Once he knows that, either he makes a sale or you find a shop that will.  Just my opinion.

The whole reason the engine got all those upgrades was because they increased the redline and needed to upgrade the oiling performance and crank pins.  The oil cooler wa sincreased because the bike can be ridden at higher RPMs for extended periods only because the redline has been increased.  There has never been any engine problem with the XB Buells so these were not put in to correct any deficiencies.  I don't know of any complaint in these areas prior to the 08s being released.  They were done to add strength when they increased the RPM period.

The turning radius improvement is a good improvement but would I pay 2500.00 for it, no.

[sprint EX]

I'm thinking of buying a used 06, that said I would go with the 08, but come on its a Buell, no one pays sticker. At least not at the two dealers near me.

[atadaskew]

  There has never been any engine problem with the XB Buells so these were not put in to correct any deficiencies.  I don't know of any complaint in these areas prior to the 08s being released.  They were done to add strength when they increased the RPM period.  

I'm sorry, I did not mean to suggest there were problems.  Just that with the new refinements if you will, changes needed to be made.  Like as you pointed out, with the changes to the rev limit.

[atadaskew]

A bit off topic GS1000K, but I thought a while back you were looking at the Guzzi Norge?

[GS1100GK]

A bit off topic GS1000K, but I thought a while back you were looking at the Guzzi Norge?

You are exactly right!  Problem is paying $17K is a bit over my budget right now for that machine.  Lately, I've also been feeling the need to do a little fire road riding as well and the Norge would not be the best choice for that.  The XB12X would be ideal in that environment for me.  Good memory atadaskew!

[atadaskew]

Hmm, the worse gas mileage is weird for the 08.  The engine is the same, apart from a raised redline.  I'd guess the timing is the same. Maybe the map for the FI is different?  But if it was leaner it would theoretically get better mileage.
Is it just heresay or have people run the 08 back to back with the 07?  Different riding styles, tyre pressures, temperatures, quality of gas all affect fuel consumption.  Also a brand new tight motor is going to behave differently than a broken in one.

[Rincewind]

Just out of curiosity, did you consider the new Ulysses XT model?  I just finished reading the latest Rider magazine, which features the XT. The XT MSRP w/luggage was less than what you were quoted for the 08 X.  Regarding the fuel economy, they listed about 37 mpg and just over 170 mile range.

I hadn't heard that the 07's are coming with free luggage - that to me sounds like a great deal.  And if it is true that the 07's have better fuel economy, I would definitely choose that over an extra 300 RPM in the powerband.  I'm sure the 7100rpm redline is nice as the powerband can seem short, but I don't think 300 is a huge increase.

I don't know where you are in MD, but two dealers in Southern PA to consider calling would be Lancaster HD/Buell and Iron Valley HD/Buell.