Although I've not ridden one, that was the impression I got too, thanks for confirming it.dgs49 wrote:I took a specimen for a long ride last night and concluded that it weren't for me. As best I can describe it, when I'm riding a motorcycle (esp. a cruiser) I have a sense that I am part of the vehicle - at least as concerns the balance and control of the vehicle. With the Burgman, I couldn't get past the "feeling" that I was balancing myself on top of the vehicle. It might have had something to do with the riding position, which places your knees closer together than on a MC (in a "secretary position"). It was not a comfortable feeling.
Motorcycle Issues
Re: Motorcycle Issues
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Motorcycle Issues
I took an '02 VTX-R for a ride last night. Very nicely equipped. In fact, a little bit more chrome trim than I personally would like. It had straight-shot pipes which were also a bit "much." The power of the VTX is amazing. It's not like crotch-rocket power, but it is instantaneous and fun. This particular bike had an aftermarket clutch which the seller told me was a "racing" clutch. I thought it was a bit abrupt, with no apparent benefit. Nice bike overall. The one complaint that I've seen is that the rear suspension is a little harsh for the passenger, but it didn't seem all that bad when I was riding around on it.
I'm taking out a Royal Star this evening, with about the same equipment. I'm just curious to see the difference of performance between the V-2 and the V4. The Royal Star is equipped a little more to my liking, but it is older (a '96). I don't see that as an issue since it only has 16k miles on it. And I note that the Royal Star bikes have unlimited mileage warranties, which I find quite impressive. You see them around with more than 100k miles.
There is a well-equipped 2001 H-D Road King (FI) for sale in Philadelphia for $6,000. This is at least $3k below a normal private-party asking price for this bike, and I know that a H-D dealer would have no hesitation asking $11k or $12k for it, even with 50,000 miles on the odometer. I've sent an email to the seller asking why it is so cheap. I'm no H-D fan, but this price is so good I could resell it tomorrow at a handsome profit. And it is beautifully equipped. Mustang K&Q seats, etc.
I'm taking out a Royal Star this evening, with about the same equipment. I'm just curious to see the difference of performance between the V-2 and the V4. The Royal Star is equipped a little more to my liking, but it is older (a '96). I don't see that as an issue since it only has 16k miles on it. And I note that the Royal Star bikes have unlimited mileage warranties, which I find quite impressive. You see them around with more than 100k miles.
There is a well-equipped 2001 H-D Road King (FI) for sale in Philadelphia for $6,000. This is at least $3k below a normal private-party asking price for this bike, and I know that a H-D dealer would have no hesitation asking $11k or $12k for it, even with 50,000 miles on the odometer. I've sent an email to the seller asking why it is so cheap. I'm no H-D fan, but this price is so good I could resell it tomorrow at a handsome profit. And it is beautifully equipped. Mustang K&Q seats, etc.
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quaddriver
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Re: Motorcycle Issues
Generally (unless this bike has a different technology and no I have not looked it up) this means along the line of Vesrah springs (heavier rate) and kevlar driven plates in the place of the organics. More grab, less skip and float. Some people like a more solid hookup but on a motor with lots of low end, if chain driven, this puts more wear on the chain and countershaft sprocket if they like doing hard launches.dgs49 wrote:I This particular bike had an aftermarket clutch which the seller told me was a "racing" clutch. I thought it was a bit abrupt, with no apparent benefit. .
a 'go back to what I had' kit is usually under $100 and takes about 1/2 hour of your life - again unless this bike is non-traditional
Re: Motorcycle Issues
The VTX-R looks like a nice piece of kit Dave, though I must say I've never been enamoured of the "cruiser" style of bike.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Motorcycle Issues
Odd set of events.
I took a couple of bikes for rides on Thursday and Friday of last week, and although neither one really inspired me, I was about to commit to a nice, blue 1800 VTX when I decided Saturday morning to check craigslist one more time to see if anything more interesting had popped up.
My eye caught an ad for a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000LT with 1,400 miles on it (not a misprint). The guy was getting divorced and wanted $6,750 for it. The MSRP in 2006 was $14,500. For the uninitiated, this a huge, 2-litre bike with windshield, leather bags, driver and passenger floorboards, and so forth, designed for highway touring. The only modification was that he had installed 3" straight pipes to take advantage of the deep sound of the engine.
It was a bit of a drive to this guy's area, so I called him and said that if I liked the bike I would offer him $6,300 for the bike with the factory pipes (he could keep and re-sell the aftermarket pipes). He said that for $6,300 I could have both sets. So the price was agreed in advance.
I went out and took it for a ride and really liked it. It is about as un-sporty as you can get on a MC, but very comfortable and the engine is a torque-monster. As you would expect. It is very heavy and wide, so I will have to be careful not to get into situations where I have to push it uphill, backwards, because that will be a serious challenge.
So we decided to do the deal immediately. I would go to the bank and get a cashier's check, call my insurance company to arrange insurance, and we would meet at a Notary Public to transfer the title and pay the state taxes and fees.
When he arrived (the engine rumble announced his presence from far away), I watched him from inside the notary's office. He got off the bike and stood next to it, staring at the bike for a long time. He then raised his arms as though speaking to it. I was wondering what the hell was going on.
He came into the office and told me that he could not sell the bike to me. I asked why. He said that a gasket had failed, and there was oil spewing out all over the cylinders and onto the ground. The bike was not even ride-able.
Long story shortened: he trailered the bike to the local Kawasaki dealer to get the problem taken care of (and also to have them re-install the factory pipes), and I'll buy it when it is sorted out. I was extremely thankful to the Motorcycle Gods that the failure had occurred on his short trip to the Notary's office, and NOT on my highway trip home - which could have been a disaster.
I feel I've got a tremendous deal on a fantastic bike. It is not exactly what I'm used to, but it serves the purpose of putting me on two wheels and providing an excellent platform for riding in the Fall with my wife. The passenger seating is very comfortable - though not in Goldwing territory, obviously.
I suppose there are still a few things that could go wrong with this, but I'm 90% sure it will go through as planned. By next Saturday I'll have it in my garage.
I took a couple of bikes for rides on Thursday and Friday of last week, and although neither one really inspired me, I was about to commit to a nice, blue 1800 VTX when I decided Saturday morning to check craigslist one more time to see if anything more interesting had popped up.
My eye caught an ad for a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000LT with 1,400 miles on it (not a misprint). The guy was getting divorced and wanted $6,750 for it. The MSRP in 2006 was $14,500. For the uninitiated, this a huge, 2-litre bike with windshield, leather bags, driver and passenger floorboards, and so forth, designed for highway touring. The only modification was that he had installed 3" straight pipes to take advantage of the deep sound of the engine.
It was a bit of a drive to this guy's area, so I called him and said that if I liked the bike I would offer him $6,300 for the bike with the factory pipes (he could keep and re-sell the aftermarket pipes). He said that for $6,300 I could have both sets. So the price was agreed in advance.
I went out and took it for a ride and really liked it. It is about as un-sporty as you can get on a MC, but very comfortable and the engine is a torque-monster. As you would expect. It is very heavy and wide, so I will have to be careful not to get into situations where I have to push it uphill, backwards, because that will be a serious challenge.
So we decided to do the deal immediately. I would go to the bank and get a cashier's check, call my insurance company to arrange insurance, and we would meet at a Notary Public to transfer the title and pay the state taxes and fees.
When he arrived (the engine rumble announced his presence from far away), I watched him from inside the notary's office. He got off the bike and stood next to it, staring at the bike for a long time. He then raised his arms as though speaking to it. I was wondering what the hell was going on.
He came into the office and told me that he could not sell the bike to me. I asked why. He said that a gasket had failed, and there was oil spewing out all over the cylinders and onto the ground. The bike was not even ride-able.
Long story shortened: he trailered the bike to the local Kawasaki dealer to get the problem taken care of (and also to have them re-install the factory pipes), and I'll buy it when it is sorted out. I was extremely thankful to the Motorcycle Gods that the failure had occurred on his short trip to the Notary's office, and NOT on my highway trip home - which could have been a disaster.
I feel I've got a tremendous deal on a fantastic bike. It is not exactly what I'm used to, but it serves the purpose of putting me on two wheels and providing an excellent platform for riding in the Fall with my wife. The passenger seating is very comfortable - though not in Goldwing territory, obviously.
I suppose there are still a few things that could go wrong with this, but I'm 90% sure it will go through as planned. By next Saturday I'll have it in my garage.
Re: Motorcycle Issues
But you may as well have got a car.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Motorcycle Issues
I work with a guy who has a Goldwing. After he showed me the intercom, heated riding suit plugs, satellite radio, cruise control, intercom with Bluetooth, GPS, auto-shift transmission, more storage than several cars I have owned, and the 1600cc(?) SIX-cylinder engine, I made the same point.
I think that's one reason Liz sold her old 'Zuki...it was a big, bulky 1000cc touring bike. She took a brief ride on my mother's Suzuki Savage and liked it.
I think that's one reason Liz sold her old 'Zuki...it was a big, bulky 1000cc touring bike. She took a brief ride on my mother's Suzuki Savage and liked it.
Treat Gaza like Carthage.
Re: Motorcycle Issues
Gob, there is truth in what you say.
The bigger bikes do take some of the joy out of riding. I look at the Goldwing and other bikes in that category, and think, this is just one small step removed from driving a Miata.
But I think the point is, it is a continuum. On one end (street bikes only), you could be riding a UJM or a Bonneville, get the bugs in your teeth and have that experience. You could build a cafe racer or ride a crotch rocket and have the ability to lift the front wheel off the pavement at 60mph. You could ride a "cruiser" like I bought and have the relaxed experience of riding with floor boards and highway pegs, windshield, and no helmet. Or buy a Goldwing, K1200LT, E-Glide Ultra, or something like that and be one-step removed from a car.
The true solution is to buy multiple bikes, to ride as the mood strikes you, but I don't have the space and don't want to put any more money onto two wheels.
I'm likely to get tired quickly of this monstrous cruiser, but unless I abuse it, I should be able to sell it in a few years for at least what I paid for it. And in the meantime, it takes care of my needs and wants in a MC. I can ride single or two-up in comfort and "style." To buy a comparable car would cost at least $30k.
The bigger bikes do take some of the joy out of riding. I look at the Goldwing and other bikes in that category, and think, this is just one small step removed from driving a Miata.
But I think the point is, it is a continuum. On one end (street bikes only), you could be riding a UJM or a Bonneville, get the bugs in your teeth and have that experience. You could build a cafe racer or ride a crotch rocket and have the ability to lift the front wheel off the pavement at 60mph. You could ride a "cruiser" like I bought and have the relaxed experience of riding with floor boards and highway pegs, windshield, and no helmet. Or buy a Goldwing, K1200LT, E-Glide Ultra, or something like that and be one-step removed from a car.
The true solution is to buy multiple bikes, to ride as the mood strikes you, but I don't have the space and don't want to put any more money onto two wheels.
I'm likely to get tired quickly of this monstrous cruiser, but unless I abuse it, I should be able to sell it in a few years for at least what I paid for it. And in the meantime, it takes care of my needs and wants in a MC. I can ride single or two-up in comfort and "style." To buy a comparable car would cost at least $30k.
Re: Motorcycle Issues
..and my wife won't let me...dgs49 wrote:
The true solution is to buy multiple bikes, to ride as the mood strikes you, but I don't have the space and don't want to put any more money onto two wheels.
Not a bad plan then really. Just don't drop the bloody thing.dgs49 wrote:I'm likely to get tired quickly of this monstrous cruiser, but unless I abuse it, I should be able to sell it in a few years for at least what I paid for it. And in the meantime, it takes care of my needs and wants in a MC. I can ride single or two-up in comfort and "style." To buy a comparable car would cost at least $30k.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Motorcycle Issues
Well, I have had my new bike for about a week now. It is a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000LT. It is one monstrous big and heavy machine, but it is powerful, comfortable, and pretty. I had the previous owner take off the straight pipes and put the factory ones back on, but it is plenty loud enough with the factory pipes.
When I took delivery the bike had 1,500 miles on it, and I paid $6,300. The only downside I've seen so far is that it is very heavy, and I will have to be extra careful in places like driveways and parking lots. If I ever get in a situation where I have to push it backwards up a grade I'm in trouble. It's over 800 pounds.
When I took delivery the bike had 1,500 miles on it, and I paid $6,300. The only downside I've seen so far is that it is very heavy, and I will have to be extra careful in places like driveways and parking lots. If I ever get in a situation where I have to push it backwards up a grade I'm in trouble. It's over 800 pounds.
Re: Motorcycle Issues
No reverse gear? Some of the super heavies have a trick with the starter motor I believe. (Though I may have been having my leg pulled.)
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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quaddriver
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Re: Motorcycle Issues
engage a small lever while in gear and not using the clutch and most big hondas will back upGob wrote:No reverse gear? Some of the super heavies have a trick with the starter motor I believe. (Though I may have been having my leg pulled.)