New Ulysses rider

[Uly05]

Hi everybody,

I wanted to introduce myself as a new Buell owner in the UK. I've just picked picked up an '05 XB12X Ulysseys with 22k miles on the clock. Having traded up from a FZS600 Fazer the Buell is a very different machine. I love riding it and it certainly feels a lot more special than the Fazer. Being 6'6" means its much more comfortable and being in the UK I haven't seen another one on the road.

I've already taken it into my local HD dealer and had the TPS sensor reset as the bike shuddered a bit. It's not as smooth as the Sportster 1200 they loaned me, so I think I'll try and get hold of the ECM cable and ECMspy software as TPS resets seem to be common practise from what I have read.

Can anyone offer any advice on recommended/must do mods, as far as I can tell the bike is completely stock.

Cheers, Ads.

 

[UMDterp13]

Yay a uly rider! [cool]

Welcome to buell world

 

[user_deleted]

welcome aboard ads. if you haven't done it already i would...for simple peace of mind....dump the fluids and check condtion of brake fluid front and rear. dot-3 will do....dot-4 preferred. the 2007 toyota yaris/scion oil filter fits all XB models including your uly. 20-50 quality synthetic in motor (i prefer castrol act-evo) and amsoil 20-50 in the primary if they have it over there on the " big rock". ulys do "shudder" as you put it if heavily throttled at anything below 3000rpm. they also tend to surge and fuel unsteadily at lower rpm's in stock configuration. something to consider when you buy your own cable and software is simply installing a "race map" and saving your stock EEPROM. it's simple to do and alleviates alot of that annoyance.

 

[Alien]

I thought the first year for the Uly was 2006.

 

[user_deleted]

^^^^ it is. i suspect the DVLA in the UK issues their paperwork based on displayed date on frame sticker. probably his uly manufactured in 11/05 or something similar.

 

[StarWolve]

Any mods to the bike? I found my Firebolt to be lacking power under 3000 rpm, until I put the Drummer exhaust on there. It was like a whole new bike, with power much lower in the RPM range than the stock muffler.

My Uly has a Drummer on it too, but I'm guessing would probably have the same issue with a stock exhaust.

Congrats on the new bike - you'll love the Ulysses. I'm planning on taking mine into the mountains this Sunday for some dirt and gravel riding. My friend has a new KTM Adventure 1190, and he's always looking for other "big bikes" from our ADV group to go ride with him. We'll probably have a few V-stroms and KLR's join us for the ride.

 

[Tbone]

Congrats on the Uly!!
My experience with a STOCK 09 ULY consists of 20K miles of mostly commuter driving. A very inexpensive Mod that has Greatly helped with low end acceleration is adding a ground wire to the top of the motor directly to the battery. When adding the ground wire I also did the ECM relocate to keep from cracking it at the connectors. The breather re-route helped some with idle and acceleration. During the re-route also cut and placed thermal material under the Base of the Air Box while it was removed. These Mods are found here on this site and very easy, inexpensive, and fun to do. Enjoy your ULY!!

 

[Uly05]

Thanks for all your replies.
Hadn't heard about moving the ECM, so I'll do a bit of research. Bike has got good history, serviced at HD main dealer but due now, so appreciate the oil recommendations. A friend of mine is a bike tech and opens his new workshop servicing next month, so I'll take it to him and hopefully get my hands dirty and do a few of these mods at the same time.
I thought the year was odd, date stamp is JUL05 and registered AUG05 on the logbook but all seems to check out, it must have been one of the first demonstrators.
I'd thought about a aftermarket exhaust to make the most of the v twin sound, but I've been told they are really loud and if I understand correctly the interactive valve keeps the dB's down when idling?
Thanks again! Ads

 

[UMDterp13]

Woah what's the last 4 vin? Is it one of the first 100?

 

[Uly05]

VIN is 0367 so I don't think that makes me one of the first 100, first 500 perhaps

 

[Tbone]

Usually try not to fix something that is not broke, but I would do all the MODs I mentioned above regardless.
My Uly came with a modified stock looking muffler, not sure where it came from, but appears it was cut open and gutted and then welded back together? Also I have the stock muffler and I have ran each one.
Some differences I notice: At idle the mod muffler is not really much louder, the engine lopes slightly, but sounds really nice. When accelerating the Mod muffler is Definitely louder with some nice thumping and Grunting sounds.
With the stock muffler even though the engine idles more evenly, it is Annoying with chatty mecahnical sounds. I ask myself why did I put this stock muffler back on the bike when I listen to the idle, but remember why when I get 3 to 4 mpg more at gas pump. I am hoping an ECM tune can bring these too closer together so I can run a modified exhaust and still get good economy. I really like commuting a work week on one tank of gas.

 

[vman858]

I did this to my 2007. I really like it and may save my Stator if regulator goes out.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142838/384622.html

Congrats and enjoy!
Vince

 

[Uly05]

OK thanks for all your help so far.
Still loving the Uly but frustrated by the motor [mad] Like a muppet I left the parking light on overnight and the battery was completely flat 0amps....
I carried out the breather reroute a week or so ago and that seems to have helped a little. I'm still getting surging from the engine when at constant speeds, and yesterday I opened the throttle at low revs and instead of taking off it just chocked and spluttered, then took off...
I've got all the bits to add a new ground cable, so I'll get that done, the bike is going into the workshop tomorrow for a service, oil and filter change, air filter and plugs. I'll get the grounding checked then to see if this makes a difference.
I got my ECM cable, and no fault codes, carried out a TPS reset, this didn't seem to change much. I read that the front and rear fuel maps should be similar, but they look quite different, once I figure out how to post pictures here I'll add them and hopefully someone kind will be able to tell me if the map has been modified.

 

[Uly05]

Fuel map from my '05 XB12X
Can anyone let me know if these look like the standard maps?

 

[axegrinder]

The hesitation off idle could be your throttle cable needing adjustment. I've had this problem on a Virago 1100. I bought my xb 12 xt in spring 2014. I changed to a D&D muffler and bought the appropriate ECM from EBR (Eric Buell Racing) which you can find online. They make ECMs for many different mufflers. My bike runs extremely well and I get 48-50 mpg with this set-up. The sound is awesome but I like them a bit loud. People don't know what the hell to make of a "crotch rocket" that sounds like a suped up Harley. Damn it's fun!