New Ulysses

[bajaraider]

glad you did a few checks on the bike then. That could have turned out really bad. hope it all works out right.

[blackie1491]

Hope it is all sorted out for you Tim.

[intimid8er]

Thanks Bob and Drew.

Bike is still in the shop. I haven't heard hide nor hair from them.

I called over to them late yesterday, to see what is going on. One guy was nice enough to track down the Tech and get the low down. That leak around the bolt was a Primary Gasket that was faulty. The gentleman happened to catch the Tech in the parts room getting the gasket for my bike. Hmmn.....should've heard from them by now.

I did ask, that if the Tech took the Primary cover off to replace a gasket, he would inspect the moving parts for damage, because lord knows how long it was leaking, and running below what the factory recommends. Right? <Insert crickets chirping here.> I asked again, and was told that he would. So my belief in the Tooth Fairy is restored, and I believe the Tech is going to go back and inspect the mechanicals. Hopefully, if all don't look right they replace whatever is wrong.

[intimid8er]

I called the shop yesterday afternoon to see what is going on. It hasn't even threatened to rain around here, and of course, I ain't got no motorbike to ride.

I spoke to the service writer that took care of me. He had some encouraging things to say about the mechanicals, but didn't have the specifics. We got sidetracked talking about my set of hardbags that no one in the dealership seems to know anything about. (I've been saving my story of the purchase to see if these guys can turn it around by doing the right things after the sale. Again, at Harley, one expects the Neiman Marcus experience. I however, managed to draw the Wal-Mart experience.) I tried to ask for what is known as a "Due Bill". A written statement of what is owed to a customer so there is no misunderstandings. My salesperson refused to give me one the day of the sale. A week later with my wife as witness. I again asked for a Due Bill. The salesman became cross with me, and told me that it was a matter of trust, and that I had to trust in them. My retort was that they are a business after the consumer dollar, and as such, I don't trust anyone, and a money making enterprise isn't looking out for my best interest. However, stupidly, I've ended up trusting them.

Anyway, my service writer was supposed to call me back with a synopsis of what was done to the bike after he sorted out who's responsible for the Hard Bag Luggage Set. I haven't heard from him, but if the bike is done. I just want that back for now, and I'll worry about the bags when they come in.

[Danr]

Hey Man I am sorry if I busted you over this, seeing as how your getting kind of a run around, I would be so pissed that they would not want me in their show room right about now. Of course my wife's cooler head would prevail and prevent me from making a scene. I have heard that "SOME" HD dealer's treat the Buell side of the business as a necessary evil or step child if you will. It will work out, besides the damn love bugs are out now any way

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by Danr

Hey Man I am sorry if I busted you over this,

Don't worry sir! You should know by now, that stuff don't bother me!

[intimid8er]

Received a call from someone at the dealership.

She gave me a run down of the work done, and said that she will call tomorrow (today Friday) when the bike is done. I was confused. I asked if the work was done. She said yes. But there was something about some saddle bags. She knew more than what she was letting on, but I let it go.

Yesterday, in my conversation with the service writer. I had asked him if the bags were holding up the release of my bike to me. If that was so...I could've gave a rats ass, and I let him know it. I just want to ride my bike, and I'll worry about the little things later. This surprised him.

He then went on to tell me that no one knew anything about any bags whatsoever in the dealership. He said he went on a pseudo-treasure hunt looking for whomever was responsible for getting it done. Everyone pointed a finger elsewhere except at themselves. As I listened to the chain of events unfold, I stopped him politely, thanked him for his hard work. Told him it's not his fault. Nor is it his job to be chasing this down. If he would just prepare my bike for my arrival, I'd be happy as hell, and "I will straighten the other asshats out when I get down there."

He was still apologetic. I was still polite. I again reminded him that it's not his job to sort through the bull snot of people passing the buck, and I'll take care of it.

Strangely enough, the phone call from the polite girl arrived within' ten to twenty minutes of me hanging up. My bike would be ready today. Bags and all.

So far what I know is this:

The TPS was reset. (Throttle Position Sensor). I believe affects idle and driveability.

The AFV was reworked. I believe it's the Air Fuel Value table in the ECM. Maybe there was a new map for the '06's authorized by Buell.

BAS recall completed. Bank Angle Sensor. Much like the wiring recall with the M50, some Buells had an issue with the wires chafing due to their placement in the frame. A Buell has a Bank Angle Sensor that detects when the bike is tipped past 55 degrees, and cuts out the engine so it doesn't grenade itself or starve itself of oil. When the wire chafes it sends a false signal to the BAS, usually in a corner, and the bike will cut power. According to Buell, this may or may not lead to the rider losing control, and possibly causing serious injury or death.

Of course the gasket was replaced.

All critical bolts, nuts, and screws were given the once over and tightened if needed.

Bolt that holds the faux gas tank on rattled loose and was missing. Now replaced.

[blackie1491]

I assume you are out riding.

How is it??

Hope all is good.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

I assume you are out riding.

How is it??

Hope all is good.

Didn't get to ride a lot this weekend. Enough to tell it rides great. I'm getting ready to go out now for a while.

[JmalB]

You're scaring me off of even trying a Buell...

[intimid8er]

Didn't mean to Jmal...I'm just trying to be honest and hopefully objective.

Things happen.

The bike was/is running flawlessly since I picked it up.

[bajaraider]

After reading a few reviews (granted about the lightning, not the Ulysses) say that it may actually be too nimble of a bike.
Your thoughts???

I still have my eye out for a lightning.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by bajaraider

After reading a few reviews (granted about the lightning, not the Ulysses) say that it may actually be too nimble of a bike.
Your thoughts???

I still have my eye out for a lightning.

Eh.....I'd go with the suspension settings on that one. Some of the articles I've read, the riders are just cranking some preload in and out of the shocks.

Sometimes, I feel like it's too twitchy or eager to turn in. However, the bags were installed last week, and I took my wife out riding over the weekend. I cranked the preload all the way up to adjust for the added passenger weight. I've neglected to reduce the preload because solo, I like the way it's been attacking corners. That eagerness to "fall in" to a corner is gone. High speed stability seems to be compromised though. I'm not sure if that's a function of the bags, the adjustment, the high wind gusts we've been having the last couple of days, or a combo of some or all of the above. I'm going to experiment either way.

One thing I can assure you of, suspension adjustments notwithstanding, it is a FAST bike through corners. Whether you the rider are fast or not, the bike will make you a better faster rider in the corners.

[stp1971]

So the stumbling at low speeds is gone now? No more cranking the throttle up to get her stable?

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by stp1971

So the stumbling at low speeds is gone now? No more cranking the throttle up to get her stable?

Nope...it's all cured!


And the high speed stability issue......it was environmental....weird gusty winds.

[65460]

Sorry to hear about your problems. My Lightning hasnt given me a bit of trouble. As we've both said, there truely are few bikes that can corner like a Buell. Sure there not a crotch rocket, but they were never meant to be as you know.
Im glad to hear your again enjoying your Uly, remember, "Own the corners"

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by 65460

Sorry to hear about your problems. My Lightning hasnt given me a bit of trouble.

It's not that big of a deal. The '06 Ulysses' had some issues. I was aware of them going into it. I got a deal on the bike I couldn't refuse. Some batches of bikes had A, B, & C wrong with them. While the next batch had D, E, & F wrong with them. Funny part was each set of defects were mutually exclusive (or so it seemed). If say "E" went wrong with your bike, you should be looking at "D" and "F" because if they hadn't failed, they will, but you can be assured that "A", "B", or "C" will not be an issue on your bike. And vice versa.

I went looking for an '07. I know they've ironed all the kinks out of the '07's, and it's basically a brand new bike.

[Rickster]

The thing I found interesting, is when I did a test ride on both bikes, the only real difference between the two is the Uly has a taller seat height than the Lightning. Even the seating position wasn't that much different. The Lightning felt a bit cramped when I was sitting on it in the parking lot, but once I was mooving it was fine, I was only on it for about 20 min, but it felt like it would be good for at least an hour at a time. The two bikes felt exatcly the same in the twisties.

[stp1971]

Hmmmm,,,,,very interesting.

[intimid8er]

Rickster is correct.

So I'm told. Even with the tallness of the Uly, there is no discernible difference in the Uly.