With special Dunlop tyres optimised for both street and off-road performance and longer-travel suspension, the XB12X is one sport motorcycle that’s not afraid of a little dirt. Under this rugged new profile beats the heart of a Buell with the willing torque of the Thunderstorm 1203 V-Twin engine and a chassis tuned to tame the tightest turns.

“If you ride the back roads, there always seems to be a new adventure waiting beyond the pavement,” said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. “I think we’ve built a bike that’s very capable off the pavement, but will perform well on urban roads and rural twisties. The Ulysses XB12X is a motorcycle for any road that takes our core design principles of frame rigidity, low unsprung weight and mass centralization in an entirely new direction.”

A dry weight of just 184kg combined with the 103-hp output of a Thunderstorm V-Twin engine gives the Buell Ulysses an outstanding power-to-weight ratio. The engine’s broad power band, with abundant grunt at low rpm, suits the demands of low-speed, off-pavement travel. A new transmission provides smooth, quick shifting and quiet operation.

To enhance control and comfort in all riding conditions, the Ulysses XB12X has a 54-inch wheelbase, which is two inches longer than other XB models. The longer wheelbase, high and wide handlebars, and neutral footpeg location combine to provide a comfortable riding position. The wide, textured seat is designed for all-day rider and passenger comfort. Handlebar-mounted deflectors and a two-piece windscreen designed to limit buffeting also enhance the ride. The hollow aluminum Ulysses frame doubles as a 4.4-gallon fuel tank. Seat height is 33.1 inches.

The Ulysses is supported by fully adjustable, premium Showa front and rear suspension components with 6.5 inches of front travel and 6.4 inches at the rear. Rear spring preload can be adjusted instantly by turning a dial located just below the left side of the seat.

Ground clearance is 6.75 inches. A dual front mudguard system provides good debris protection for the rider and the bike. The 17-inch, six-spoke, cast-aluminum wheels are designed for durability. Dunlop D616 tyres created specifically for the Ulysses have an aggressive, open tread pattern for excellent performance on paved and unpaved surfaces. The touring versatility of the Ulysses is enhanced by the Triple Tail system. The Triple Tail folds through three positions to function as a luggage rack over the rear seat position, as an upright backrest/grab rail for a passenger, or as a luggage rack over the full-coverage rear mudguard. 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. Colour-matched panniers and top box will be available for the Ulysses, as well as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver.

The Buell Trilogy of Technology principles – frame rigidity, mass centralisation and low unsprung weight – are applied to great advantage in the Ulysses XB12X design. The lower center of gravity achieved by carrying fuel in the frame, oil in the swingarm, and locating the silencer below the engine makes the Ulysses extremely flickable on paved roads and inspires rider confidence when riding off road.

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

The Buell Ulysses XB12X Adventure Sportbike is designed to deliver capable performance on unpaved roads while retaining Buell handling and thrust on road. Long-travel suspension, specific tyres, an upright seating position and innovative Triple Tail luggage and passenger accommodations make the Buell Ulysses one of the most versatile sport motorcycles available today.

CHASSIS: The Ulysses chassis was designed specifically to work well on paved and unpaved roads. Fork rake is 22 degrees, while the wheelbase is 54 inches, a combination that provides nimble, playful handling and a roomy cockpit for the rider and passenger. As on Buell Lightning and Firebolt models, Ulysses carries fuel in its rigid aluminum frame, while the lightweight aluminum swingarm doubles as the oil reservoir. Fuel capacity is 4.4 gallons. The engine-air intake vent is integrated into the fuel cap cowling, and a left side vent feeds cooling air to the rear cylinder.

ADVENTURE SPORT SUSPENSION: The Buell Ulysses features premium Showa suspension components front and rear. A 43mm Showa inverted fork has adjustable compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload. Front suspension travel is 6.5 inches. A Showa coil-over mono-shock on the rear has a remote, under-seat reservoir and adjustable compression damping and rebound damping. Rear spring pre-load can be adjusted without tools using a control dial located below the left side of the seat. Rear suspension travel is 6.4 inches. Ground clearance is 6.75 inches.

CATEGORY-LEADING POWER AND WEIGHT: The Buell Ulysses has a dry weight of just 425 pounds. Its design centralises mass and lowers the center of gravity to help the Ulysses feel nimble and responsive on paved and unpaved roads. The air/oil/fan-cooled Buell Thunderstorm 1203 V-Twin engine leads this category with 103 peak horsepower and 84 ft. lbs. of torque. The engine features Buell DDFI II fuel injection and Buell InterActive Exhaust for instant throttle response and a broad powerband.

SPECIFIC WHEELS AND TYRES: New Dunlop D616 tyres designed specifically for Ulysses feature an open, aggressive tread pattern that performs well on paved and unpaved roads. Front tyre size is 120/70R-17. Rear tyre size is 180/55R-17. Six-spoke, cast-aluminum wheels feature a durable rim design to handle the unique challenges of adventure-sport riding.

ADVENTURE SPORTBIKE ERGONOMICS: The Buell Ulysses offers the rider a roomy seating position and roomy bar/pegs/seat relationship for outstanding control and all-day comfort. The wide, upright handlebars feature a crossbrace. Alloy footpegs are placed in a neutral position and are wider with an aggressive surface. The wide, comfortable seat features a two-tone, textured surface and is shaped to offer ease of rider movement for sport riding on pavement. Seat height is 33.1 inches.

NEW TRANSMISSION: A new transmission design offers improved shift quality, reduced noise and extended service intervals. This transmission replaces moving/sliding gears with thin steel “dog rings” that slide to effect gear changes, a design commonly used in automotive racing gear boxes. Shifting is quicker because the dog rings have less mass than gears. New helical-cut gears are smoother and quieter than straight-cut gears. The new transmission enables reduced clutch effort. New Formula + Oil extends the service intervals for the primary/transmission lubricant to 10,000 miles. Finally, a durable new Goodyear Hibrex 135-tooth final drive belt with Flexten Plus technology designed specifically for Ulysses requires no scheduled service or replacement.

TWO-PIECE WINDSCREEN: Designed to minimize air turbulence in the rider cockpit area, the Ulysses features a clear windscreen mounted over an opaque flyscreen. The gap between the windscreen and the flyscreen directs a limited amount of air into the cockpit area, effectively reducing turbulent air for a more comfortable ride. The clear windscreen features a quick-release mounting system so it can be easily removed. Additional rider comfort is provided by handlebar-mounted deflectors.

BUELL TRIPLE TAIL: The three-position Buell Triple Tail may be configured as a luggage rack or a passenger backrest. In its first, mass-centralized position, the Triple Tail folds forward over the rear-seat position to become a luggage rack that can be used with integrated tie-down hooks. In its second, vertical position, Triple Tail becomes a flexible passenger backrest with grab rails. In its third position, Triple Tail is a luggage rack extending toward the LED tail lamp and full-coverage rear mudguard, with the grab rails also available for a passenger.

CONVENIENCE/FUNCTION: In addition to the Triple Trail, the Buell Ulysses features a generous under-seat storage compartment and an integrated helmet lock. A 10 amp/12 volt accessory power outlet is located on the dash, with another placed under the seat. colour-matched side cases and top case will be available for the Ulysses and a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver will be available in Autumn 2005.