 |
TRIPLE TAIL: The luggage rail (here with the top box mounted on it) folds through three positions to function as a luggage rack over the pillion seat, an upright backrest for the passenger or as a luggage rack over the tail light. |
 |
COLOUR CODED: Buell says top boxes and panniers will be available to match the new bikes – but these are black, on an orange bike. |
 |
LONG-LEGGED STANCE: Erik Buell's first dirt-digger has more than 160mm of suspension travel at each end. |
 |
HIKING BOOTS: The XB12X is shod with specially-developed Dunlop D616 open-tread tyres. |
 |
DUAL-PURPOSE BUELL: High 'bars and hand guards add to the "adventure tourer" styling. |
Buell gets dirty with new off-roader
July 26, 2005
Buell's 2006 line-up, announced this week, includes the company's first dual purpose bike, the Ulysses XB12X, with longer-travel suspension and Dunlop trials universal tyres.
It uses the same fuel-in-frame chassis as the rest of the current Buell range, with a slightly longer swing-arm in the interests of stability, powered by a 75kW fuel-injected version of the 1203cc Sportster engine from parent company Harley-Davidson.
Chief technical officer Erik Buell explained: "When you ride the back roads there always seems to be a different adventure waiting for you beyond the black stuff.
"We've built a capable off-road bike that will also perform well on the city streets and rural twisties.
"The XB12X takes our core design principles of frame rigidity, low unsprung weight and mass centralisation in an entirely new direction."
Buell claims a dry weight of only 193kg for the XB12X, allied to a broad spread of power and a new, quieter, quicker-shifting transmission (funny how they all say that).
The bike is also fitted with enduro handlebars and hand guards while the footpegs have been moved forward to a neutral position directly under the nose of the saddle.
The swing-arm has been lengthened to increase the bike's wheelbase 50mm to 1370mm – still tiny in comparison to the doyen of the genre, the BMW R1200 GS, at 1520mm.
A textured seat, wider than on the Buell's sports machines, and a neat two-piece fairing round off the styling – what little there is of it.
As before, the hollow aluminium frame doubles as the fuel tank. Buell claims it'll hold 16.7 litres.
The XB12X runs on a fully adjustable Showa suspension with 165mm of travel in front and 162mm at the rear. Rear spring preload is remotely adjustable via a knob below the left side of the seat and seat height is a manageable 841mm.
The Buell retains the 17" six-spoke, cast aluminium wheels of the street models, complete with the signature inside-out front disc brake but shod with specially developed Dunlop D616 open-tread tyres.
The "triple tail" luggage rack folds through three positions to function as a luggage rack over the pillion seat, an upright backrest for the passenger or as a luggage rack over the tail light.
The XB12X has two 12-volt accessory power sockets - one on the instrument panel, another under the seat - and a large under-seat storage compartment.
A colour-matched top box and panniers will be available for the Ulysses, as will an optional satnav system. The bike will be offered with orange or black bodywork, graphite grey frame and swing-arm and magnesium-coloured wheels.
Harley-Davidson Johannesburg is expecting its first shipment of XB12X Ulysses in the first week of October 2005. Prices will be announced mid-August.
- I wonder if Erik Buell or his marketing mavens are aware that Ulysses is the trademark of a worldwide association of over-40 riders whose motto is "Growing old disgraceful
|
