We’ve said it before, adventure motorcycles are all the rage at the moment and in a time when every device and app is designed to keep you connected, getting off the grid on two wheels is about the best place to be. It’s a category that really took off with inspiration from the Dakar and just about all of them, then and now, are powered by a twin. So it seems odd that it took Harley-Davidson, the V-Twin king, until 2021 to release the Pan America and get in on the action; even more so as their offspring at Buell had made such a model almost two decades earlier. But while Buell endlessly flounders, one Italian maestro has been building brilliant bikes utilising their various platforms. And it’s adventure time for GDesign’s Giacomo Galbiati, who has taken a 2006 Buell XB12X Ulysses and turned out an industrial-inspired machine to take you anywhere and everywhere.
The Buell brand is a frustrating topic, its namesake Erik and the bosses at HD, never quite agreeing on where it should head. Launching the XB12X Ulysses, the head honchos wanted it known this was a true adventure tourer, Erik considered that inaccurate and dubbed the bike a ‘touring supermotard’. If only they’d employed Como’s Galbiati, who has used his GDesign studio to produce an endless array of beautiful Buells and left you with no doubt about each machine’s intention. This build is no exception, and the bike he calls ‘La Bulla’ didn’t have to be found, it arrived as if by destiny right at his front door.
“The project of this street-legal bike comes from my passion for the Buell brand, combined with off-road travel. In my mind, it means being able to grind out kilometres on asphalt or dirt without limits. All the changes made to ‘La Bulla’ go exactly in this direction”. Sitting down in his studio to draw up a design, one thing was obvious, it would be as unconventional as all of his previous builds. But part of his genius is to forge a unique form and still vastly improve function and this had him stripping as much weight away as possible, pencil and eraser in hand. Although at 195kg dry, the Buell Ulysses is not a heavy bike by American standards.
“One of the focus of the project was lightening. We took off approximately 30 kg of weight by removing the superfluous and replacing some parts with simpler and more minimalist solutions”. To ensure this was taken to its full extent, the bike was taken back to its frame, so that only the absolute necessities would be bolted back on. As it was all in bits, the opportunity was taken to blast the frame and swingarm, before it was coated for protection in a clear finish. The textured, almost rough effect this created then inspired many of the other visual aspects of the build. This includes the light olive green that is used sparingly across the bike, to highlight certain elements.
Next on the list was to create the aluminium bodywork, that keeps the weight low and lets the GDesign builder infuse the bike with his personality. The front fender is all about function, a beautifully shaped high-mount unit which is affixed to the lower tree. The faux tank cover however throws convention to the curb, with tight straight lines and neat cutouts forming the first of the industrial elements. The luggage rack is no different, solid, straight and to the point, it can hold your camping gear, is cleverly designed to accept Buell factory accessories and hosts a 12v socket to supply power to a small compressor for tyre filling needs.
To finish out the bodywork, a raw metal bash plate has been formed under the engine to supply maximum protection and a neat vent funnels fresh air into the oil cooler, with some of the green paint purposefully applied. In addition to these two very neutral hues, a little of Giacomo’s flair is seen in the custom orange badges and decals, all 3D printed to combine the HD and Buell logos into one and to display his company logo on the tank. The seat helps to tie the look together, with the twin sections of foam neatly covered and stitched in a colour-matched green for full effect.
Having completed the bulk of the bike, it was time to give more than a little love to the V-Twin engine. In fact, so as not to get stranded in the sticks, the whole thing has been entirely overhauled and you can hear it breathe through the DNA filter that pokes up from below. “The fuel and exhaust system are completely new. This last one becomes high and lateral, to gain space and ground clearance, and is fitted with an HP Corse exhaust. In the pursuit of more weight reduction, the factory mag wheels were tossed and a set of spoked rims were wrapped in aggressive TwinDuro rubber.
To make the most of the new tyres, the whole bike is lifted two inches, and Giacomo turned to Hyperpro for the suspension components. Then to combine the raw mechanical nature and purpose-filled approach, the front gauges are ditched for a rally-inspired front end. The twin headlights are grilled out, with information provided by a small digital gauge and a waterproof smartphone holder for navigation.
The turn signals and rear lights are all LED pieced into hand-formed aluminium casings, and a twin USB socket provides charging capabilities. ‘La Bulla’ is another blast of a Buell from Gdesign and Europe’s show judges agree, with it recently winning trophies at the Italian Bike Week and Big Twin Bike Show in Holland. If you want to ditch the apps for adventure, the bike is on sale at GDesign in Como, Italy.
[ GDesign – Photography by Mattia Negrini Fotografo ]