Originally Posted by
Kurlon
Initially the plan was the other bike was going to be it, get it, revive it, race it at COTA, and a good time is had by all. Well, reviving it properly is going to require more effort than the owner thought, and knowing a bit more detail about it’s current specs it’s not something to rush through. The other fun is the bike has been apart and moved between storage spaces a few times over a long span so, just locating all the bits and pieces is taking time, I don’t know when I’ll actually have my hands on it to start turning wrenches.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, COTA is the last round of the year for SH, and the rumor mill says this may be the last year MotoAmerica runs there? Prior to the 4th of July I had never sat on or rode a Buell, last time I rode a Sportster was college, so I decided the best thing I can do is get a B bike to at least get some seat time and see if I’m going to even like the platform while I wait. Well… couldn’t find any race bikes for sale, and the few street Buells on the used market were either the factory lowered ones, questionable histories, Firebolts which aren’t legal, etc. On the other hand, lots of Ulysess out there for reasonable prices, and the Ulysess is just a Lighting Long with a longer shock and forks. The XT, or ‘Ulysess Touring’ slots in nicely by only being 1in taller than the Lighting Long, and the basic geometry ends up looking an awful lot like my FZR… Cheap, available, it’s an 08 so it’s got the improved crank and some other reliability gains over prior years in the engine, seemed like a good fit. I’ll be down on power compared to the top bikes, and I’ll be gearing limited on top speed if I can’t find a chain drive conversion setup that I trust, but it should at least get me out there this year I hope.
Two possible outcomes for it, I either race it and love it, or I race it and decide it’s going back to street mode as my solo fun toy. I’ve already had a ball on it on the street so I won’t be upset keeping it in the garage. It’s got an agricultural motor, but unlike other bikes I’ve made that accusation of it’s ALSO got tons of character and charm. I don’t love the pain that is unmouting and remounting the front wheel with the ZTL brake system, but I’ve got ideas on that too…