Ducati GT 1000, Buell XB12x Ulysses, Triumph Bonneville

CasterTroy · 10-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Today I ran down the hiway an hour south to mow my buddy Brian's grass

Brian was my buddy that died Sept 5th in an accident up in the mountains on one of our motard adventures.

I'm doing my part to take care of his wife, and that means yardwork and bike maint.

Brian has a BMW K1200RS and a 1960's something Honda 50 dream. PLUS while his neighbor was in Iraq Brian was babysitting/riding his neighbors Ducati GT 1000, Buell XB12x Ulysses &Triumph Bonneville.

So it's now MY job to keep them all running and charged till he gets back.

Tough job but someone has to do it

So I try to crank the K1200RS......battery wilted! So I set it to charge while I take my inaugural ride on the Ducati.

Brian always commented that the Ducati was a LOT like his 916 and loved to wheelie…but I’ve NEVER been impressed with the LOOKS of a GT1000..until I rode it.

Holy BALLS is this bike a HOOT!!!

MAN this thing is PERFECT in every way. Ergonomics, weight, turn-in and transition all RAWK. Too bad it looks like SUCH a stuffed shirt..because it’s a dream to ride.

To ME….this is the PERFECT commuter bike where you intentionally take the long way home every day.

It would bring the front up in 1st easily…and if you shifted to 2nd aggressively, WHOO HOOO it was SKYHIGH

Next was the buell…..started it up and it LITERALLY shook itself across the shop. Rode it for a bit but HATED every second….MAN that thing was a rattle trap. No power , and I found no usefulness in the bike at all. Transitioning was OK, and it did have a snap shifting into second…but the ducati would wax it’s ass all day in every way.

Last was the Bonneville. Whatta BRICK…this bike HAD to weigh 600 pounds….HAD too. No personality at all…NONE.

To sum it up, if you strapped a BMX bike to a treadmill firmly, then set the treadmill to 20mph, then sat on the bike and tried to lean…THAT’S what riding a Bonneville would be like. Leaning the strapped BMX bike AND treadmill would be easier.

Would not get out of it’s own way.

Got the RS started and rode it…seemed like a limo compared to the rest…but made for an interesting afternoon.

LOVE me some GT1000 now…..DANG

Sean · 10-10-2009, 06:41 PM

Was there air in the Bonnie's tires?

Dave · 10-10-2009, 06:57 PM

damn lol we just left the local duc dealer too. spent almost all my time there drooling over a black with white stripey gt1000 just needs clubman bars and maybe some higher cans and that sucker could be my perfect commuter bike. Place was closing so they had some interesting deals going. 5000 off a new 1098s!

CasterTroy · 10-11-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Was there air in the Bonnie's tires?

32/32 is what I put in them

To me....just had ZERO character and as much feedback as a jetway in the airport

Shame too, because I've always thought they looked so daggone cool

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

damn lol we just left the local duc dealer too. spent almost all my time there drooling over a black with white stripey gt1000 just needs clubman bars and maybe some higher cans and that sucker could be my perfect commuter bike. Place was closing so they had some interesting deals going. 5000 off a new 1098s!

I've always walked RIGHT by the GT1000 before....thinking IT was kinda plain and didn't scream SEX like the 1098, streetfighter, hypermotard and SOMETIMES the monsters...but now.......WOW....I may HAVE one of those in the future

Dave · 10-11-2009, 12:17 PM

so did i until i saw a burn your eyes out orange one in the city a few months ago, followed by reading a comparo with the thruxton where it completely pantsed the brit and a youtube video where the guy couldnt keep it down. if i go overseas again i'll probably look to snag one

Scot · 10-18-2009, 09:45 PM

Boo on you. The Bonnie is a sweet bike.

I guess I appreciate it because I started out riding a 68.

Once you ride the original, the latest one kicks ass!..

FT BSTRD · 10-25-2009, 12:06 AM

Don't understand the "lack of power" comment about the Buell.

Considering the Buell is logging 103 to the Ducati's 91 and 84lbft of torque to the Ducati's 67, I'd think you'll find the Ducati working feverishly to catch up the Buell.

Now looks.......

OneSickPsycho · 10-25-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT BSTRD

Don't understand the "lack of power" comment about the Buell.

Considering the Buell is logging 103 to the Ducati's 91 and 84lbft of torque to the Ducati's 67, I'd think you'll find the Ducati working feverishly to catch up the Buell.

Now looks.......

Well if you go into it convinced of what you will find...

Particle Man · 10-26-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Well if you go into it convinced of what you will find...

Shush - talking about a Uly vs a TLR is like comparing a paper airplane to a SST.

Does the Uly really rattle that much or did Troy encounter one that just isn't tuned all that well? I've heard nothing but good things about 'em.

marko138 · 10-26-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

Shush - talking about a Uly vs a TLR is like comparing a paper airplane to a SST.

Does the Uly really rattle that much or did Troy encounter one that just isn't tuned all that well? I've heard nothing but good things about 'em.

The XB's WILL walk across smooth pavement at idle. Once moving there is very little rattle involved.

10-10-2009, 06:14 PM	#1
CasterTroy ................ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 3,028	Ducati GT 1000, Buell XB12x Ulysses, Triumph Bonneville Today I ran down the hiway an hour south to mow my buddy Brian's grass Brian was my buddy that died Sept 5th in an accident up in the mountains on one of our motard adventures. I'm doing my part to take care of his wife, and that means yardwork and bike maint. Brian has a BMW K1200RS and a 1960's something Honda 50 dream. PLUS while his neighbor was in Iraq Brian was babysitting/riding his neighbors Ducati GT 1000, Buell XB12x Ulysses &Triumph Bonneville. So it's now MY job to keep them all running and charged till he gets back. Tough job but someone has to do it So I try to crank the K1200RS......battery wilted! So I set it to charge while I take my inaugural ride on the Ducati. Brian always commented that the Ducati was a LOT like his 916 and loved to wheelie…but I’ve NEVER been impressed with the LOOKS of a GT1000..until I rode it. Holy BALLS is this bike a HOOT!!! MAN this thing is PERFECT in every way. Ergonomics, weight, turn-in and transition all RAWK. Too bad it looks like SUCH a stuffed shirt..because it’s a dream to ride. To ME….this is the PERFECT commuter bike where you intentionally take the long way home every day. It would bring the front up in 1st easily…and if you shifted to 2nd aggressively, WHOO HOOO it was SKYHIGH Next was the buell…..started it up and it LITERALLY shook itself across the shop. Rode it for a bit but HATED every second….MAN that thing was a rattle trap. No power , and I found no usefulness in the bike at all. Transitioning was OK, and it did have a snap shifting into second…but the ducati would wax it’s ass all day in every way. Last was the Bonneville. Whatta BRICK…this bike HAD to weigh 600 pounds….HAD too. No personality at all…NONE. To sum it up, if you strapped a BMX bike to a treadmill firmly, then set the treadmill to 20mph, then sat on the bike and tried to lean…THAT’S what riding a Bonneville would be like. Leaning the strapped BMX bike AND treadmill would be easier. Would not get out of it’s own way. Got the RS started and rode it…seemed like a limo compared to the rest…but made for an interesting afternoon. LOVE me some GT1000 now…..DANG __________________ “Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.” Viktor Frankl

10-11-2009, 12:17 PM	#5
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	so did i until i saw a burn your eyes out orange one in the city a few months ago, followed by reading a comparo with the thruxton where it completely pantsed the brit and a youtube video where the guy couldnt keep it down. if i go overseas again i'll probably look to snag one __________________ TWF Post whore #6

10-25-2009, 12:06 AM	#7
FT BSTRD Tractor Driver Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Franklin, TN Moto: Buell XB12X Ulysses Posts: 1,007	Don't understand the "lack of power" comment about the Buell. Considering the Buell is logging 103 to the Ducati's 91 and 84lbft of torque to the Ducati's 67, I'd think you'll find the Ducati working feverishly to catch up the Buell. Now looks....... __________________ "I do get tired of reading,'my buddy is a racer and says the Buell will never work' I always want to say 'Who the FCK is your buddy and is he faster than Shawn Higbee?" --Erik Buell*

10-10-2009, 06:41 PM	#2
Sean giggity Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: socal Moto: street, sumo & dirty Posts: 1,071	Was there air in the Bonnie's tires?

10-10-2009, 06:57 PM	#3
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	damn lol we just left the local duc dealer too. spent almost all my time there drooling over a black with white stripey gt1000 just needs clubman bars and maybe some higher cans and that sucker could be my perfect commuter bike. Place was closing so they had some interesting deals going. 5000 off a new 1098s!

10-18-2009, 09:45 PM	#6
Scot Kneedragger Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Va Moto: varies Posts: 227	Boo on you. The Bonnie is a sweet bike. I guess I appreciate it because I started out riding a 68. Once you ride the original, the latest one kicks ass!..