THE BACKSTORY

When I first heard about Buell's contest to win a new Ulysses XB12X, dreams of adventure started flinging out like chunks of burnt rubber. It'd been more than a few years since I'd shopped for a bike, and last time around, I would've loved this bike... but it didn't exist yet.

I'm drawn to dual-purpose bikes, 'cause when the going gets rough, I like to be ready for anything. And that's what the Ulysses is all about. So I had to dream up an adventure that was as bold and defiant as the bike itself. Packing light and heading to THE EXTREMES OF AMERICA came to mind as the perfect match. Why not?

Taking this bike on a non-stop adventure, hitting the most extreme points of the 48 mainland U.S. states -- in the North, South, East and West -- was sure to put this machine to the test. And I knew I could find some serious trail riding along the way and get a taste of everything this bike was made for.