Feedback on Lightning Long and Ulysses, Please

[Clive]

WellHeeled, any decision yet?

Still agonizing.  I've been back to the huge HD/Buell dealership, under the guide of taking my young son on a "manly man" outing together.  I've tried to resolve to keep the Sprint and just invest in fixes for the lighting and abrupt off-idle ... but then an image of the Lightning Long or Ulysses pops into my head, and I'm off and daydreaming again.  And visiting this Buell forum every day doesn't help matters, either.  

The lack of hard/securable cases (for the XBSs, at least) is a definite negative.  I used to be bike-only for several years, and I really enjoy leaving the car at home every possible chance in favor of the motorcycle.  Having a lockable top case or side cases makes it really convenient to stash a helmet, get a purchase home, transport two cases of beer from store to rally site ... you get the idea.

I ought to get my Triumph spiffed up and listed somewhere -- if it won't sell, there's no Buell in my immediate future.

[Pragmatic]

The lack of hard/securable cases (for the XBSs, at least) is a definite negative.  I used to be bike-only for several years, and I really enjoy leaving the car at home every possible chance in favor of the motorcycle.  Having a lockable top case or side cases makes it really convenient to stash a helmet, get a purchase home, transport two cases of beer from store to rally site ... you get the idea.

Has anyone tried these

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/3699/473/

and does anyone know if they can be modified to work with Givi cases?

[Mastros2]

I haven't yet but will be purchasing the case and mounts if I pick up an xb.

Check www.advrider.com,  the members usually know what cases would match what mounts.

[dgunther]

Has anyone tried these

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/3699/473/

and does anyone know if they can be modified to work with Givi cases?

I don't think they will work without some serious modification.  The H&B bags have a pretty different mounting system than the Givi bags.  You might be able to cobble something together with using the SW Motech Givi adapter plates.  

[Pragmatic]

I don't think they will work without some serious modification.

I'll wait for Givi.  I have Givis on the Bandit and hoped to use occasionally them when I get the Lightning

[Mastros2]

Can't beat that!  Exchange the panniers when riding the other bike.  I guess it's the best of both worlds and you save money too!

[Clive]

Inching closer ...  


I went by my Triumph dealership this past weekend, and they had a 2007 Ulysses they'd taken in trade!  Full luggage setup, too!  So I get to talking a sales guy (after I'd wandered through and sat on a bunch of different Triumphs, BMWs, and Ducatis).  He tells me, all conspiratorial-like, that the front brake on the Buell is a known problem.  Something about this month's issue of Motorcyclist saying that it delivers all the torque to the left fork because of how it's affixed to the rim.

I ask how that'd be any different from all the Bonnevilles inside that have single front rotor systems.  He had no answer, but nonetheless steered me away from the Ulysses.  And, oddly, not toward any bike in particular, although he did say something complimentary about the F800ST demo bike I'd just sat on before the Buell.

I have read absolutely nothing about any Buell front-brake liability or front suspension failures.  I thought I'd turn to my fake Internet friends, though, and give you a good laugh, if nothing else.

[AusTexBueller]

That is the biggest pile of horse manure I have ever heard.    There have been zero issues with the ZTL brake system AFAIK.    Reliability on some of the older tube frame Buells (from what I read) sure, but that for the most part has been taken care of.  That he was not able to give you a straight answer should tip you off.  Sorry but if that's the type of salesperson you're dealing with I'd shop somewhere else.  I was always told a good salesman shouldn't have to trash someone else's product to make a sale.

[Mastros2]

That was just a sales guy steering you away from a sale I guess.  I don't know why really.  If he was selling shower curtains or motorcycles, it still is a sale.

I have a tuber and front brakes have been reliable, weaker than the ZTL but none the less reliable.  I have demoed the XB's (CityX, TT, and Uly) and really like the front brakes.

The back brake on my tuber is for looks only, IMO!  

[Clive]

That was just a sales guy steering you away from a sale I guess.  I don't know why really.  If he was selling shower curtains or motorcycles, it still is a sale.

Well, the dealer keeps its webpage of used bikes very up-to-date, and the Ulysses as gone as of Monday afternoon.  My guess is he either wanted the bike for himself or had a sure-thing buyer coming (maybe a friend, I don't know) and didn't want me in the way.

Oh well.  It's not like I can buy until my bike sells, anyway.

[Kootenanny]

...He tells me, all conspiratorial-like, that the front brake on the Buell is a known problem.  Something about this month's issue of Motorcyclist saying that it delivers all the torque to the left fork because of how it's affixed to the rim.

Somehow, I'm more inclined to believe Erik Buell knows how to design a braking system than your salesman (or the journos writing for Motorcyclist for that matter).  And my personal experience includes a good number of stoppies (some performed at speed under emergency conditions), without ever noticing any problem with the front brake due to it's one sided mounting--or anything else (and BTW, it's attached to the right fork).

As you mentioned, there are many other bikes out there with single-side braking on the front.  These systems do not cause any difficulties--in fact, they solve some.