2008 Buell Ulysses Review

The 2008 Buell Ulysses can be thought of as a multi-purpose motorcycle. It’s a dirt/adventure bike, a touring motorcycle, and a super moto all in one. Named after the Greek mythology hero Ulysses, the king of Ithaca and a Greek leader in the Trojan War, it was introduced to American motorcycle enthusiasts in 2006. It was manufactured by Buell Motorcycles, then a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson but which Harley closed down in 2009. The 2008 Ulysses comes in two models, both aimed at experienced riders: an XB, which is targeted at dirt bike riders, and an XT, which is targeted at sports riders who like to tour. Another difference between the two models is tires. The XT has Pirelli Diablo Stradas that are better for cruising down the freeway while the XB has Pirelli Scorpion Sync tires that are better for off-road riding.

The Ulysses is classified as a naked bike because the engine is visible, but the XT comes with a lot of goodies that belie this designation. The Ulysses XT comes standard with two hard side cases as well as a rear rack with a storage case made of hard vinyl; XB riders will need to buy this extra storage as an accessory. The Ulysses has underseat storage, a power outlet, and heated hand grips for the driver. If this isn’t enough storage for the rider and passenger, optional storage bags, such as a tank bag, a triple trail backpack, and a Stow N Go bag, are available. Other original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accessories include different seats, air box covers with Buell decals, and carbon fiber chin fairing. The instrument panel includes a clock, fuel level warning light, speedometer, tachometer, and odometer. Completing the sports bike look are 17-inch aluminum wheels and dirt-bike-style handlebars.