Erik Buell sure has designed some interesting motorcycles during his career, and the Buell Ulysses XB12X is right up there. The quirky adventure tourer has all the Buell hallmarks: a fuel-in-frame chassis, perimeter disc brakes and a stonking Harley-designed motor. And it makes for a pretty interesting custom donor, too.
This Ulysses has been transformed into a menacing street tracker by brothers Filippo and Giacomo Tagliabue at FTG Moto in Milan. ?The Buell Ulysses is a hulking bike,? says Filippo, ?a powerful American twin wrapped in an imposing frame.?

FTG’s client picked the Ulysses over the smaller XB9-series Buells for its bigger motor, longer wheelbase and improved comfort. So when he dropped it off at the workshop, he delivered strict instructions for the guys to maintain some level of comfort, and to not alter the rider triangle. ?For the rest, we started with a clean slate,? says Filippo.

FTG opted for a full redesign of the Buell’s bodywork?starting with the airbox cover that sits where a fuel tank normally would. A new cover was hand-formed in aluminum, with a cutout for an oversized K&N filter. The filter itself isn’t a Buell-specific part; FTG fabricated a custom manifold to install it.
The metalwork extends to the front fender, and a redesigned cooling duct on the left side of the bike.

Out back is another custom aluminum piece: a boxed tail unit that bolts straight to the main frame, with no need for a subframe. The suede-covere...