Does Size matter?? Vulcan 800A too small?

[Gummiente]

a picture says a thusand words.

Normally true, but Moto already says a thousand words without saying anything. A picture of him would be just be piling bullsh*t on top of more bullsh*t.

[qwerty]

I don't run across many Harley, Iron Horse, Boss Hoss, etc., riders. They have their circle, I have mine. When one asks when I'm going to get a real bike, I reply, " ." I say exactly the same thing to the supersport riders with attitude, too.

[Caveman]

Size does matter. I ride a Vulcan 2000 and when I get the inevitable snide comment from some HD rider about my 'japanese" bike I ask them how they like their midsized bike. It drives them crazy. 125 c.i. 'Nuff said.

BTW, your 800 is an excellent motorcycle. It's enough bike for all of us that ride sanely. You'll only really notice the relative lack of HP when you are riding two up, but it's still plenty powerful enough to ride two up all day long. If you enjoy it don't let some needledick ruin it for you. I ride a bigger bike because I enjoy it, not because of some size matters complex. I owned a 750 Honda back in the day and I rode that thing all over the country.

Ride what YOU want, not what someone else thinks you should ride.

[Chip Beazley]

Ride your 800 and be proud of your bike. It does what you want and need it to do. The most important thing is that you are comfortable on it. I would refuse to be intimidated by some pinhead who says you need to get a bigger bike. That choice and decision should be made entirely by you and for your own reasons that you are completely comfortable with.

When I started riding back in the early 60's an 800cc bike was a "big" bike with the only bigger bikes being a Harley 74 or an old Indian. Big bikes back then were commonly 650cc. When I graduated from highschool in 1963 I rode a Triumph 650 Bonneville to the Pacific coast and back and had a wonderful experience.

You do not need a monstrous bike to have fun or enjoy the ride. A couple weeks ago, I was out putting my Sportster around the back roads and pulled into a gas station to take a break and get a drink of water. There I encountered a young fellow riding a GZ250 Suzuki. I struck up a conversation with him about his bike and he said how he enjoyed riding it and the freedom it gave him. I told him he had a good looking bike and that it should give him many miles of dependable service.

I inquired where he was headed and he said that he was just out riding and headed to nowhere in particular so I asked if he wanted to ride along with me. He said he doubted that he could keep up and I said that his bike will easily go 45 to 50 MPH and that was the speed I was riding. He agreed to ride along and we tooled around the backroads around Montgomery over 100 miles. I believe he had a good time and I enjoyed his company. I told him he was welcome ride with me anytime.

I am looking forward to the next time.

[intotherain]

atleast your bike doesnt get called a kitten

[Wrider]

atleast your bike doesnt get called a kitten

It's alright, soon enough you'll get yourself a full-grown housecat! lol Just kidding with ya Dohun...

Anyway, I rode two-up with two different people today... the smaller was a woman that weighed 115 soaking wet and I barely even noticed her on the back... The other was a guy who really needed a ride home from school, and weighed about 150... Noticed him, but didn't really mess up the balance at all! And before you all go to town, I had my backpack on between us... alright? And for those of you who watched Wild Hogs, no, he didn't smell my cologne!
Wrider

[roscowgo]

If You think its too small. get something bigger.

If Other people think its too small. Drive away.

Simple.

[MajorGator]

Ride your 800 and be proud of your bike. It does what you want and need it to do. The most important thing is that you are comfortable on it. I would refuse to be intimidated by some pinhead who says you need to get a bigger bike. That choice and decision should be made entirely by you and for your own reasons that you are completely comfortable with.

When I started riding back in the early 60's an 800cc bike was a "big" bike with the only bigger bikes being a Harley 74 or an old Indian. Big bikes back then were commonly 650cc. When I graduated from highschool in 1963 I rode a Triumph 650 Bonneville to the Pacific coast and back and had a wonderful experience.

You do not need a monstrous bike to have fun or enjoy the ride. A couple weeks ago, I was out putting my Sportster around the back roads and pulled into a gas station to take a break and get a drink of water. There I encountered a young fellow riding a GZ250 Suzuki. I struck up a conversation with him about his bike and he said how he enjoyed riding it and the freedom it gave him. I told him he had a good looking bike and that it should give him many miles of dependable service.

I inquired where he was headed and he said that he was just out riding and headed to nowhere in particular so I asked if he wanted to ride along with me. He said he doubted that he could keep up and I said that his bike will easily go 45 to 50 MPH and that was the speed I was riding. He agreed to ride along and we tooled around the backroads around Montgomery over 100 miles. I believe he had a good time and I enjoyed his company. I told him he was welcome ride with me anytime.

I am looking forward to the next time.

Gee, Chip, there you go breaking the stereotype of all us H-D owners who sneer at anything made overseas. MotoF and the others will be very disappointed. Hey Moto, I have a suggestion for you. First, finish high school, then go to college. Afterwards, go into a profession that pays well. That way, you can afford a HD, and if you choose to purchase a great bike from Japan, Germany, Italy or Great Britain instead, you can do so, knowing you could get any bike you want. You will no longer have the class envy that seems to be eating you alive. For every HD rider that sneers at "rice burners," there are a hundred HD owners that respect ALL bikes. There are as many, if not more, sportbike snobs out there than HD snobs. I know because before I reached adulthood, I was one myself. Then I grew up.

The 800 is a great size for a bike. If not, Kawasaki would not have made so many styles of the vulcan 800. The bike is dependable and bullet-proof. If given the choice of a Vulcan or my Dyna for an international ride, I'd take the Vulcan in a heartbeat. If you have short inseams, it may be best. If you are over 6' tall, however, perhaps something larger would be more suitable.

[Geo71oh]

Yeah, I took the bike out for the first time this year on Tues. My Girlfriend and I went for a ride to the lake and while I was on it I realized it is a pretty neat "little bike" and it did feel good to be on it and riding all day with the GF on the back. I also realized that the bike does well with 2 people. Now perhaps If I was doing a cross country trip I would prob go for something bigger but Im still young so I could do a a long trip if needed on the 800 its not that bad. Anyways point being I do like the bike and I am happy with it.

Oh and to all these people bashing diff styles and tastes of bikes COME ON geeezzzz. I mean evry bike has its good/bad points. I myself prob one day may buy a HD then again maybe not. Theres nothing wrong with alittle ribbing and having fun but when people serriously can't stand or put down someone elses choice in rides or whatever come on grow up people.

Ok that being said thanks for all the input so far and I dunno about you all but it's starting to get warmer here in tropical Ohio so I know why some of you will be arguing about whos bike is better I will be riding HA

[Skel3tor1]

800cc bike should be enough for anything...

I can haul my 250cc rebel all over the planet with my 135 pound self, and I can ride around with my fiancee on the back (she doesn't ride often cause the "passenger" seat is very small and is rather uncomfy for longer than 20 minute rides). I know she weighs more than I do. But, point is, if a 250 cc bike can do it, then I find the point of all these "Is my 250+ cc bike big enough for [insert task here]. The answer is YES IT CAN! If it can't, then your bike has problems.

/dismount from soapbox.