buell v @ distance challenge

[miss P]

On Tuesday we got back from our 1800 mile trip from Santander to Roscoff.
I was on my 8 year old, washed once a year, army surplus panniered @.
Nick was on his 18 month old, perfectly fettled, matching panniered Uly.

Day 1 - chased for 30 miles over dirt up mountains in Rioja by a pick up truck. I am faster on the @ than Nick on the hard sprung Uly.

Day 2 - U-turn on off camber hill, full with luggage. The Uly's lack of turning circle leaves it shaking on the floor like an epileptic dog.

Day 5 - @ speedo stops working. Seems to help my cornering...

Day 6 - 250 miles Spain to Dordogne, over the pyrenees and through France on minor roads. 8 hours in driving rain & thunderstorms. Buell exhaust falls off! Silicone rubber seal between silencer and bracket has disappeared meaning roadside improvisation using shoe leather (later replaced with a belt and garden wire).

Day 9 - Nick noticed grease on the rear wheel of the Uly.

Day 11 - Confirmed, left rear wheel bearing gone on Uly.

Day 13 - catch ferry home with limping Uly and the lovely, still grubby @.

Both bikes make it home under their own steam. Uly straight onto the ramp for intensive care. @ in it's usual spot ready for work the next day.

[Steve T]

Defo 1 nil to @ I'd say.

[Tarka]

OEM wheel bearings are a known weakness on the Uly in particular,so if the failed one was an original,use of the term 'perfectly fettled' becomes rather debatable.

Is the Uly stock ??

It is highly recommended to fit a Free Spirits belt tensioner.....this makes life easier for the wheel bearings and helps belt life too,as the factory belt tension is ridiculously tight.

[miss P]

We knew that the wheel bearings were weak. Surprisingly it was the opposite bearing to the usual failure. I was a little surprised as the bike had done less than 5K from new. Belt tensioner next planned purchase (after a blind puller to get the knackered bearing out!)

Are you a member of UKBEG Tarka? If not I can recommend the forum.

Don't get too defensive, I'm not anti Buell by any means. I'm teasing Mr P who sold his Honda 6 years ago to buy his first Buell because the Honda was too dull. Whenever we go away we have niggles with the Buell, but that gives him something to do!

The Uly is a fantastic bike on the whole. Loads of fun but not for those who cannot handle a spanner - unless you live near a dealer (our closest is 4 hours away) and have deep pockets (they charge £75 + vat per hour).

[J]

SHAZZY had a engine Buel before she had the TA. Stunning bike starts it up and wake the street. but living in Britain you get a lot of rain type stuff and first the speedo transducer went then indicators, the engine management light came on. It was back and forth the dealers evey week. used the Buel forum and they told us how to read the flash codes told the dealer and bought a TA no probs in rain or snow bought a @ stunning bike shazzy loves it