Planning XC trip on my Uly

[BuellyBagger]

Belt may need it, mines at 11400 miles and looks a bit haggard. Will be replacing it as soon as it shows up at harley dealer, same with wheel bearings and plug wires. Bought them all from harley, right or wrong.

 

[jl551c]

to each his own but seeing as how your bike only has 11,500 miles on it would be highly unlikely that you need front mount insulator, new rotors, new drive belt. if the lever and pedal do not pulse under braking the rotors are fine. visual inspection of the drive belt for cracking or fraying threads confirms if it needs replaced. highly unlikely @ 11,500. i would definitely flush F&R brake systems and refill with dot-4 and replace the wheel bearings when installing new tires. i have bearing sets new here if needed.

Lunatic, thanks, I'll take those bearings. Let me know how much and how to pay. I just got back from a ride up the California Coast for lunch. 72 and sunny here.
Rotors have no pulse. Seem good to go. I flushed front brakes. Still a little vague but MUCH better. Not as good as my Lightning's brakes. Probably the pads. Belt looks ok, but I'm gonna change anyway. 10 years in the Arizona furnace worries me a little. I'll carry old one as a spare. Just a little confidence when in the middle of nowhere in Nevada, and I mean middle of nowhere.
I think I'd like to get a cruise control of some sort. Anyone out there have a recommendation? I"m riding thru some LOOONG straightaways.

 

[jl551c]

Belt may need it, mines at 11400 miles and looks a bit haggard. Will be replacing it as soon as it shows up at harley dealer, same with wheel bearings and plug wires. Bought them all from harley, right or wrong.

Mine looked a little worn. I like my local Harley dealer in Santa Maria, I have an Ultra Classic for when the ole lady wants to ride with me, but I miss ASB already. I can't believe that their business wasn't sold to some enthusiast on the forums.

 

[UMDterp13]

Have all necessary parts to rebuild a uly in southern md. Just for peace of mind. Also have some cool buell **** sitting around anyone can check out if they show up on an XB.

I can & have overnighted parts to several Ulysses/buell owners on trips.
Jeff

 

[BuellyBagger]

I've thought about one of these
http://m.ebay.com/itm/321932592229
For cruise control. Google "go cruise" for other retailers

 

[Tbone]

Ditto on the Madstadd windshield, I originally had a 20inch, now have an 18inch, I am 5'7" so the 18" works just as good for me. Actually will be getting one for my other bike, 07 Tiger.

 

[user_deleted]

just email me and i'll get you fixed up with the wheel bearing sets and pads if you need them. sell alot to board members.
[email protected]

 

[riverotter]

I have the Kako throttle lock on my Uly and it's fine, but not worth the $100+ (came on the bike, so not my personal pain at least). I think I'd maybe prefer the ones that cancel out immediately when you hit the brakes. The Kako looks really nice and blends in to the bike, though.

 

[UMDterp13]

I have a $5 "throttle boss" or throttle palm somewhere accessible incase I do long highway runs. If you're cruising through mountains or curves they are usually in the way and could cause rider error...

 

[DualSportDad]

I'm surprised no one said fuel pump. On my my 05 xb9sx and my 06 Uly both had fuel pumps that were bad. Other than that just changed the plugs and rear wheel bearings and was good to. Uly had 10,000 miles on it has around 30,000 on it now. I sold my xb9sx to my buddy and he just sold it with around 30k on it as well.

We both did a 2500 mile trip from south Florida to deals gap and back.

 

[BuellyBagger]

Would it be possible to do a road side fuel pump change? I've never done a pump. ...

Oh, have you thought about a gps or phone mount? Something I've been needing to do, I hate not knowing where I'm going when I'm trying to get somewhere, don't mind being lost when I'm just out riding around lol.

 

[user_deleted]

ward: received your email and sent return. let me make another suggestion here on your trip: suggestions have been made to freshen up/replace everything from the fuel pump to the ecm to the rotors. IMO no basis whatsoever to those suggestions and a waste of both time and money. buells are pretty tough machines if ridden sensibly. go thru the perishables as you've mentioned several times now and i can assure you after having logged over 40,000 miles on 18 different XB's that you are not going to have monumental problems. what i WOULD DO is compile a list of the factory part numbers for your 3 cables...your O2/ITS/TPS/OIL/NEUTRAL sensors as well as the automotive part numbers those sensors correspond to....including your fuel pump. all those numbers available on this site. make a short list of those numbers...their cross references to automotive...bulb and battery numbers...things of that nature. stash it in your tank bag or whatever. in the event of a break-down which will be very rare, you'll have those numbers and can immediately track down the parts.

 

[neilrl79]

ward: received your email and sent return. let me make another suggestion here on your trip: suggestions have been made to freshen up/replace everything from the fuel pump to the ecm to the rotors. IMO no basis whatsoever to those suggestions and a waste of both time and money. buells are pretty tough machines if ridden sensibly. go thru the perishables as you've mentioned several times now and i can assure you after having logged over 40,000 miles on 18 different XB's that you are not going to have monumental problems. what i WOULD DO is compile a list of the factory part numbers for your 3 cables...your O2/ITS/TPS/OIL/NEUTRAL sensors as well as the automotive part numbers those sensors correspond to....including your fuel pump. all those numbers available on this site. make a short list of those numbers...their cross references to automotive...bulb and battery numbers...things of that nature. stash it in your tank bag or whatever. in the event of a break-down which will be very rare, you'll have those numbers and can immediately track down the parts.

I agree with John. Replacing fuel pumps, motor mounts and rotors when they are perfect working order is just wasteful. The only thing i would add, aside from the advice John has previously given, is to carry an assortment of spare fuses and a spare relay. You likely won't need them but considering the minimal cost and storage space, it won't hurt to have them.

 

[jl551c]

Have all necessary parts to rebuild a uly in southern md. Just for peace of mind. Also have some cool buell **** sitting around anyone can check out if they show up on an XB.

I can & have overnighted parts to several Ulysses/buell owners on trips.
Jeff

Good to know, thanks. If I get in trouble I'll cry out for help on the forum!

 

[Cooter]

I'm with Lunatic. You are going cross country in the good ol' U S of A, not Antarctica. Parts will be available, and whatever annoying delay or detour they create will only lead to a new adventure! It's more important to pack cash, water, energy bars, and a first aid kit, than carrying parts you can get shipped to your hotel from e-bay.

My neighbor just got back from a year on the road with his dog, surfing the entirety of both coasts and sleeping in National forests. He did it with super minimal cash and had an AMAZING time...

It sounds like you're a reader too, so here's a suggestion:
I met Glenn Haagstaad at the Miami Intl MC show. He authored his own true story "Two wheels through terror". Yes it's a horrible title...
He is a giant man with Viking in his blood and a life long Jiu-Jitsu trainer. A few DAYS after The 9/11 he rode from Palm springs, CA to the tip of South America and got captured by rebels along the way!

If you are interested, I'll send you my copy of the book. PM me.

 

[jl551c]

I agree with John. Replacing fuel pumps, motor mounts and rotors when they are perfect working order is just wasteful. The only thing i would add, aside from the advice John has previously given, is to carry an assortment of spare fuses and a spare relay. You likely won't need them but considering the minimal cost and storage space, it won't hurt to have them.

I should have thought of fuses myself. Last summer on my SS I blew a horn/tail brake light fuse in a rain storm. Drove half way down Vermont and into New York before I realized it when beeping the horn with no joy. My buddy on his Busa behind me must have thought I was some talented rider not needing my breaks thrust all those twisties! Fuses and relay on the list.

 

[jl551c]

I'm with Lunatic. You are going cross country in the good ol' U S of A, not Antarctica. Parts will be available, and whatever annoying delay or detour they create will only lead to a new adventure! It's more important to pack cash, water, energy bars, and a first aid kit, than carrying parts you can get shipped to your hotel from e-bay.

My neighbor just got back from a year on the road with his dog, surfing the entirety of both coasts and sleeping in National forests. He did it with super minimal cash and had an AMAZING time...

It sounds like you're a reader too, so here's a suggestion:
I met Glenn Haagstaad at the Miami Intl MC show. He authored his own true story "Two wheels through terror". Yes it's a horrible title...
He is a giant man with Viking in his blood and a life long Jiu-Jitsu trainer. A few DAYS after The 9/11 he rode from Palm springs, CA to the tip of South America and got captured by rebels along the way!

If you are interested, I'll send you my copy of the book. PM me.

Definitely interested. Ill send PM. I got the reading habit in the Navy. Not much to do but work, workout and read on ships.

 

[jl551c]

Excellent advice from all. Thanks all. I'll compile a list and post before I shove off in May.

 

[jl551c]

ward: received your email and sent return. let me make another suggestion here on your trip: suggestions have been made to freshen up/replace everything from the fuel pump to the ecm to the rotors. IMO no basis whatsoever to those suggestions and a waste of both time and money. buells are pretty tough machines if ridden sensibly. go thru the perishables as you've mentioned several times now and i can assure you after having logged over 40,000 miles on 18 different XB's that you are not going to have monumental problems. what i WOULD DO is compile a list of the factory part numbers for your 3 cables...your O2/ITS/TPS/OIL/NEUTRAL sensors as well as the automotive part numbers those sensors correspond to....including your fuel pump. all those numbers available on this site. make a short list of those numbers...their cross references to automotive...bulb and battery numbers...things of that nature. stash it in your tank bag or whatever. in the event of a break-down which will be very rare, you'll have those numbers and can immediately track down the parts.

Ill get the part numbers and store them on my phone. Take a snap shot.

 

[jl551c]

ward: received your email and sent return. let me make another suggestion here on your trip: suggestions have been made to freshen up/replace everything from the fuel pump to the ecm to the rotors. IMO no basis whatsoever to those suggestions and a waste of both time and money. buells are pretty tough machines if ridden sensibly. go thru the perishables as you've mentioned several times now and i can assure you after having logged over 40,000 miles on 18 different XB's that you are not going to have monumental problems. what i WOULD DO is compile a list of the factory part numbers for your 3 cables...your O2/ITS/TPS/OIL/NEUTRAL sensors as well as the automotive part numbers those sensors correspond to....including your fuel pump. all those numbers available on this site. make a short list of those numbers...their cross references to automotive...bulb and battery numbers...things of that nature. stash it in your tank bag or whatever. in the event of a break-down which will be very rare, you'll have those numbers and can immediately track down the parts.

Ill get the part numbers and store them on my phone. Take a snap shot.