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That would be the vulcan 750cc. The cam chain is also self adjusting.

Kawasaki Concours - 1 liter inline 4. Shaft drive. They've been making them for over 20 years. They come with hardbags and a fairing. They don't have the greatest gas milage, but they do have large fuel tanks. You'd have to research the valves yourself, but on a spec page I read "screw and lock-nut valve adjustment" for whatever that's worth. A new one can be had for around $8000.

scanevalexec wrote:Kawasaki Concours - 1 liter inline 4. Shaft drive. They've been making them for over 20 years. They come with hardbags and a fairing. They don't have the greatest gas milage, but they do have large fuel tanks. You'd have to research the valves yourself, but on a spec page I read "screw and lock-nut valve adjustment" for whatever that's worth. A new one can be had for around $8000.

and they sure are comfy, and surprisingly light. I sat on one yesterday. Didnt get to ride it though.

jmillheiser wrote:any of the 1100cc Honda shadows fit all your guidelines, they are shaft drive, liquid cooled, have hydrulic lifters and are over 750cc. The Honda Goldwing and Valkyrie also fit this same bill. The goldwing has been around for over 30 years and the Valkyrie is based off of the goldwing

if are willing to budge on a few things you could also look at an airhead BMW, aircooled and needs valve adjustments, but known to be VERY reliable and the valves are easy to adjust.



Most metric cruisers are known to be quite reliable and usually have shaft drive.

I'll have to disagree a bit here on the point of the Valkyrie being based on the Gold Wing. It is a common misconception.

The Valkyrie frame is totally different from that of the 1500 Gold Wing. The Valkyrie frame is much stiffer. The Valkyrie has massive inverted forks. The engine, while based on the GW 1520 block is different enough to be distinctive and more powerful. The Valkyrie has 6 CV carbs as opposed to the GW's 2 automotive style units. The Valkyrie exhaust is a true six into six from the headers right to the outlets. The Valkyrie engine has hotter cams than the Gold Wing engine. The Valkyrie has solid lifters as opposed to the GW's hydraulic lifters. Valkyrie valve adjustments are rarely required and very easy to do since the engine is a boxer layout.

The Valkyrie was a creation of the now deceased Joe Boyd of American Honda. Too bad they are not still producing these rolling wonders.

scanevalexec wrote:Kawasaki Concours - 1 liter inline 4. Shaft drive. They've been making them for over 20 years. They come with hardbags and a fairing. They don't have the greatest gas milage, but they do have large fuel tanks. You'd have to research the valves yourself, but on a spec page I read "screw and lock-nut valve adjustment" for whatever that's worth. A new one can be had for around $8000.

If there is a screw and lock-nut adjuster, then it isn't self adjusting. You adjust the valve clearance with the screw and then use the locknut to keep it in place. Hydraulic valve adjusters are the kind that are 0 maintenance.

Chose the Kawasaki Vulcan 750 which has all those features and has
a Gas Gage. The Honda Shadow Spirit 1100cc has all the features but
doesn't have a Gas Gage..

Also the Kaw Vulcan 750 has been made virturally the same since
1984-85 with only very minor touches to make it the best bike
ever built.

Riders I have chatted with tell me that there are a couple of things
that need to be done to improve the bike and that is to install a Maintenance Free Battery, and do the simple Mod of moving to R-R (rectifier) to the side of the bike where it will get some wind to keep it cool ( this Mod doesn't require any spiceing).

Yea I agree the Honda Shadow 1100 is the near perfect street bike, only one flaw is its really S-L-O-W for 1100 ccs'

I just did the gambit of road testing, looking for the same criteria. I say the Honda Shadow Spirit. Handle bars can be adjusted or changed. Hydraulic lifters are zero maintenance, bike is very nimble foe a 1100cc cruiser, rated as top cruiser to buy, Honda makes bulletproof engines. As for speed, that not what I am after, if I was, I would have a sport bike, however, having said that, I cruise home on the interstate 5 from Irvine to San Diego every working day of the year and I stick it a 90mph and it purrs. It won’t win the 0-60 category, but once used to the gearing, it can take off quite nicely.

I have had close to 15 bike from sport, enduro to cruisers, this is the one I am happiest with and plan on keeping till it dies (I will first knowing Honda).

Happy trails.

P.S I change my own oil every 3500 miles and it take me ten minutes and I DON’T get dirty doing it, very well designed for that.

I like the 1100cc Shadow Spirit, even though it doesn't have a
Gas Gage.

Does it have a Center Stand like the Kaw Vulcan 750 does?
Have to insist on a Center Stand.

What kind of mileage does the Honda 1100cc Shadow get?

Yes, I like the Honda and I too don't need 0-60 blinding speed,
just a reliable bike that can do 2 UP over a long distance inclucing
long mountain grades. What is the HP for the Shadow 1100cc?

The Kaw Vulcan 750 has 68 HP coming out of the engine which is
about twice the HP of a VW Beetle of the 1950's and early 60's.

norsseman wrote:Would like to buy a road bike that is easy to work on (easy access to oil filter, battery, and plugs).

Needs to have four major features
1. Shaft drive
2. Liquid cooled.
3. Hydraulic lifters (no valve adjustments)
4. At least around 750cc.

Oh yeah and the bike should have been on the market with few
changes for at least 20 years.

Is there such a bike?

Yup. BMW Boxer engine.

1) shaft drive
2) oil cooled
3) Flat twin makes valve adjustments a PIECE OF CAKE (I've done my own 6k and 12k service) because the cylinder heads stick out both sides.
4) 850cc to 1200cc

Look for the R850R (older, a bit tough to find), R1100RS, R1150R

The newest line is the "hex head," 1200 cc engine. The GS (dual sport) has been out for a while, the more street ready line has just come out.

Pam