Considering 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic

Message

jeff_connors · Wed May 25, 2005 1:16 am

Looking at an 04 Vulcan 800 Classic. Anyone out there have one that is familiar with them? I was looking at those and the Suzuki's, all in the same 700-800 class. Some of the newer bikes have shaft drive and fuel injection but many of those are new '05 and can't afford those. I thought by saving some money now, I can always purchase another chain later on. This bike only have 500 miles on it. I'm on a Rebel now and have been riding about 2 months...so I'm very experienced!!

Thanks..

poppygene · #2 Unread post by **poppygene** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:09 am

I used to have an 800A model, same bike except for some styling differences. I'd probably still be riding it but for the fact that an old back injury wouldn't let me ride a cruiser for long distances. It wasn't the Vulcan's fault - all cruisers have a similar riding position that is uncomfortable for me.
The Vulcan 800 is an excellent cruiser and I prefer it over the other middleweights. If you like performance, the motor and transmission are the jewels in this bike. Unlike the other metric cruisers, its V-Twin motor has a single-pin crank (like Harleys) so you get that characteristic loping sound. It's amazingly quick, too, for its size... no stock Shadow 750 or HD 883 stands a chance, stoplight to stoplight. For that matter, there are quite a few cruisers twice their size that can't turn a low 14-second quarter mile. The A-model would do 14 flat, the Classic just a bit slower. The 800 motor also has a gear-driven counterbalance system, so you don't get any annoying vibrations on long rides. Very reliable and handles well, too. What can I say? You should give one a test ride.

Gummiente · #3 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:20 am

I say go for it! My girlfriend Angie has put over 50,000km on her '01 800 Classic without any problems. You'll find that the stock seat can be a pain, though - literally - on long rides. Angie went to a Mustang solo seat and is very happy with the comfort. She also went 1 tooth down on the rear sprocket to lower the rpm's at highway speeds; her and I do 12 hour days in the saddle and she never complains.

I've ridden her bike more than a few times (it was a major factor in my decision to return to the cruiser scene after my Triumph Tiger went sour) and find it a quite capable ride with enough power to keep ahead of traffic in town and cruise comfy at 110-115kmh all day long. And there's a TON of aftermarket stuff available for them... I'll try to post a pic of hers here later so you can see all the shiny bits we've added to it.

jeff_connors · Wed May 25, 2005 1:44 pm

Thanks so much for the information. I read a review from Cruiser(?) magazine last year. They said the Vulcan 800 was their pick several years in a row. Last year they choose the Suzuki Volusia but not by much. I was seriously considering the Intruder 750 with shaft drive. I guess everyone complains about that seat and the regular 800's seat. I sat on one and it was very uncomfortable. Why does a manufacturer make a good product and put a cheap seat on it? I asked the seller about the 800 Classic's seat and he said it was good. He may not have had a long ride on it yet either. If the cycle is as represented and we agree on a price, I going to buy it. Thanks for the help!!

Gummiente · #5 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:55 pm

Here's a pic of Angie's bike taken last year after the paint job, which was my Xmas present to her (the colour is from an '04 Ford Thunderbird):

poppygene · #6 Unread post by **poppygene** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:45 pm

jeff_connors wrote: Why does a manufacturer make a good product and put a cheap seat on it?

We've been asking that question for as long as I can remember. Not just Kawis, either. There are loads of models from all the Japanese manufacturers that came with crappy seats. I don't know about H-Ds... maybe they have better saddles. I sure hope so.
Plan on upgrading to a Mustang or Corbin if you want to run a full tank of gas through without stopping for a "butt break."

You'll be amazed at the difference in comfort.

Telesque · #7 Unread post by **Telesque** » Wed May 25, 2005 4:27 pm

Gummiente wrote:Here's a pic of Angie's bike taken last year after the paint job, which was my Xmas present to her (the colour is from an '04 Ford Thunderbird):

The photo is a little stick-eyed, but that looks like a pretty high rake, ja?

Gummiente · #8 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Wed May 25, 2005 9:59 pm

Stock rake, it's just the angle of the pic that makes it look like it's been changed.

#9 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed May 25, 2005 10:12 pm

If I was you, I'd invest in a little of This Stuff. It's basically chromed hose with a split at one side that will push onto the rim of the gas tank. There's glue mounted inside already, though it can be removed cleanly.
It really cleans up the lines of the tank, and makes it look a lot better, at least to me.
I'm sure you can pick it up at nearly any motorcycle shop. Might be worth it. I'm in the process of pulling the sidepanels off my bike to apply it to mine.

High_Side · Thu May 26, 2005 2:13 am

Sevulturus wrote: I'm in the process of pulling the sidepanels off my bike to apply it to mine.

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooo.......... DON'T DO IT SEV!

You can take the boy off of the cruiser, but you can't take the cruiser outta the boy!

(This has been a warning from the tacky police)