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Buell Ulysses Sportbike



Lower Standard Seat Height and Pirelli Tires New For 2007

When twisty pavement turns into dirt, most sportbike riders head back for town. But aboard the Buell Ulysses XB12X, the adventure can continue. Supported by long-travel suspension, rolling on tires optimized for street and off-pavement traction, and powered by the muscular torque of a Buell Thunderstorm V-Twin engine, the Ulysses XB12X can carry its rider places mere sportbikes fear to tread.

The Buell Ulysses is an Adventure Sportbike of almost unlimited versatility. Its broad, V-Twin powerband and rigid chassis make it a capable performer on urban streets and winding backloads. Comfortable, upright ergonomics, a roomy cockpit, and a wide seat provide all-day comfort for rider and passenger. Available hard-shell sidecases and top case transform Ulysses into a long-range touring mount, ready to roll from Interstate to back road to fire road and anywhere in between.

New Seat Design
For 2007, the Buell Ulysses is a better fit for more riders, thanks to a new seat shape that’s both narrower at the front and lower overall. Seat height is reduced by 1.3 inches, to 31.8 inches. Seat comfort and durability is further enhanced by the elimination of seams on the side of the seat and an improved coarse texture.

New Tires
Another change for 2007 is a switch from Dunlop D616 to Pirelli Scorpion Sync tires. Through testing by Buell it was determined that when fitted to the Ulysses, the Pirelli tires deliver better pavement performance and similar performance on unpaved roads, thanks to an aggressive, open tread pattern. Tire size is unchanged, at 120/70R-17 front and 180/55R-17 rear.

New Fork Springs and Airbox Cover
Revised front fork springs improve handling and rider comfort, while a revised functional airbox cover optimizes air flow potential without affecting intake noise.

Touring Accessories
Touring accessories available since the introduction of Ulysses include Top Case and Side Cases, the Buell Quest Portable Navigation system, a Triple Tail backrest pad, and a Ulysses Tall Windscreen that is four inches taller than the stock windscreen.

Designed to Play Dirty
While not designed for true “off-road” riding, the Buell Ulysses does give its rider the ability to travel over dirt, gravel and other unpaved road surfaces with confidence. To enhance control, Ulysses has a high, wide handlebar with a cross brace. Aggressive alloy foot pegs are placed in a neutral location. Handlebar-mounted deflectors and a two-piece windscreen designed to limit buffeting also enhance the ride. A dual front fender system provides good debris protection for the rider and the bike.

Designed to provide both passenger comfort and touring versatility, the innovative Triple Tail system folds through three positions to function as a luggage rack with tie-down hooks over the rear seat position, as a cushioned passenger backrest with grab rails, or as a luggage rack extending toward the full-coverage rear fender and LED tail lamp. The Ulysses has two 10 amp/12-volt accessory power outlets (one on the dash, another under the seat) and a large under-seat storage compartment.

Premium Showa front and rear suspension is fully adjustable. Rear spring preload can be adjusted for passenger and luggage weight simply by turning a dial located just below the left side of the seat. Suspension travel is 6.5 inches in front and 6.4 inches at the rear. Ground clearance is 6.75 inches. The 17-inch, six-spoke, cast-aluminum wheels feature a durable rim design.

The Buell Trilogy of Technology principles – frame rigidity, mass centralization and low unsprung weight – enhance the performance of the Ulysses on paved and unpaved roads. The lower center of mass achieved by carrying fuel in the frame and oil in the swingarm enhance rider confidence off pavement, while limited unsprung weight helps keep the tires in contact with uneven road surfaces for improved control. Ulysses dry weight is just 425 pounds.


The broad powerband and abundant torque of the 103-hp Buell Firestorm 1203 V-Twin engine gives the Ulysses the ability to charge through twisty pavement sections or proceed at lower speeds over uneven, unpaved roads with less gear shifting.

The Buell Ulysses XB12X will be offered with Barricade Orange or Midnight Black bodywork with Graphite Grey frame and swingarm and magnesium-tone wheels.