Mods on my Vulcan 500

[burkbuilds]

Sold my GZ in March of 09 and bought the Vulcan 500 so i could handle the highway trips between Rossville, and Atlanta. Did a few "mods" to make it work for my needs, here's the summary. Slipstream windshield, Chrome front fender, heated grips, tachometer, floorboards, lockable trunk with extra brake and turn signal lighting, saddle bags and customized seat and a stem nut clock. I also added LED accent lighting and a plug in for my heated gear (vest and gloves). Otherwise, its stock! :biggrin:
http://s3.postimage.org/Zp7K0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqZp7K0)

http://s1.postimage.org/hu_f9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxhu_f9)

http://s4.postimage.org/JXAPS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVJXAPS)

http://s2.postimage.org/iUBbi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsiUBbi)

http://s1.postimage.org/hv1Ki.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxhv1Ki)

[alanmcorcoran]

Probably just the angle of the photo but your bags look awful close to the tailpipe. I like the seat and the trunk, but the backrest looks a little flimsy comparatively. Maybe your next mod?

[Water Warrior 2]

I like it. Looks like it will perform the needed functions with comfort and lots of utility. What more can you ask for.

[burkbuilds]

The bags are kinda close, about an inch, but I have aluminum shielding riveted to the bottom of the bags and it hasn't been a problem. The back rest is amazingly sturdy, I can lean back hard against it and it does just fine, and I'm not a little guy, 210lbs. I don't personally like the look of the seat as well as the OEM seat, but it sure is a lot more comfortable and nobody can see the seat when I'm sitting on it anyway, so who cares.

[dhgeyer]

That's quite a ride you have there! A lot of work, but it looks like it paid off, and will for years to come.

[burkbuilds]

I'm hoping this will get me back and forth through the next three + years of college at least! At my current rate it looks like I'll probably put somewhere between 15-18,000 miles on it a year, so I'm trying to be very conservative with maintenance and care. I'd love to see it go a couple of more years after that if possible before I replace it. I've read a few 500 owners have gone well over 100,000 miles on their bikes. I know a lot of folks say that they cost more to operate than a car, but what new car could I buy for Five grand? So far, with the GZ250 and this Vulcan 500 I can honestly say that they have been much less expensive to own and operate than any four wheel vehicle I've ever owned. Of course some of that is just that bikes are basically bare bones transportation compared to the average car. I mean there's no AC to go out, no power steering pumps or electric window motors to die and my bike doesn't have a CD player to go bad or any of that other stuff that seems to always crap out on cars and pick up trucks. The only thing I actually see that seems to cost significantly more than on a car is the tires. At my current rate of wear I'm gonna need new tires at about 18,000 miles and that's gonna run about $200 installed. Now I realize that's only two tires on a bike compared to four on a car or truck but even if you double my mileage to account for four tires that means it compares to replacement of 4 automobile tires at around 35,000 miles, so not an enormous difference if you usually averaged around 45-50,000 miles out of a set of car tires, plus, I don't have to rotate my bike tires every 5,000 miles and the front end never seems to need an alignment! :)

[alanmcorcoran]

Interesting topic for another thread. I don't think there is any question a GZ is a cheaper from of transportation than any car, new or used, but I'm less sure about the Strat. I would guess that it probably is still cheaper than a car, but it's a lot closer. The insurance on the Strat was initially more than my car, but it was a mistake and I forget how it stacks up now. I recently had the 8K service done (service intervals alone seem to be far more frequent on motorcycles!) and, to my surprise, they replaced the plugs already! (there's four of em!) Still, so far, almost every dealer service (and I go to kind of a candy-ass fancy dealer) has cost about $300 or so and a lot of car services cost more than that. My tires still look brand new at 8K, but I suppose I'll have to be dealing with them eventually. Might be an interesting study to compare TCO to a FIT or a Scion.

[Water Warrior 2]

Alan, next time put Iridium plugs in the bike and never do it again for 50 or 60 K miles. And then it might be just a check and reinstall. For some reason Japanese bike makers have a thing about new plugs. Even regular plugs should go 20 K.

[burkbuilds]

Amazingly, I think the manual for my Vulcan calls for new plugs every 5,000 miles or so. Still, they are only about $6 for a pair and it takes more time to get the plug wrench out of the bag than it does to swap the plugs, so no big deal.

[dhgeyer]

For me, the really big difference is that almost all the maintenance on a bike is doable by the owner if he/she is willing to make the effort. My new BMW R1200R is in for its 600 mile service right now, and for just having the 3 oils changed (engine, transmission, and final drive) plus a tune up it's going to cost $250.00 or so. For warranty reasons it's smart to let an authorized dealer do the first one, I am told. Of course Max's BMW drove a truck 50 miles to pick it up, and will do the same to return it at no extra charge. But, I asked them to put together all the consumables and the special tools needed to do the next several services myself. Most expensive item is a Twin-Max vacuum gauge to synchronize the throttle bodies. Total extra charge will be another 150 or so. After that, service will cost me almost nothing. I keep my tires at a relatively high pressure for the warm riding season, and buy high mileage tires. I remove the wheels myself, so the labor charge for mounting them is very little. Insurance is way less for even a new bike than for a car, here in NH anyway. The 2 bikes I have now get as good or better mileage than even our Priuses (which are not subject to the brake recall, in case you were going to ask).

Bottom line is, I could never maintain a modern car, as they are too electronically sophisticated, and routine services run around $200.00 - $300.00 or so if I recall correctly. The average person, if they are willing to take the time to learn, can maintain a motorcycle, at least all the routine stuff. I think that if you do that, the bike comes out way cheaper in the end. If you don't, it's more like a toss up, and some bikes actually cost more to own and operate than some cars.

In a way it's a moot point. Most (not all) of us own cages, so all the overhead on the bike (depreciation, insurance, registration, taxes where applicable) is extra money that wouldn't be spent if we only owned a car.

[alanmcorcoran]

Well sort of but not really. Since I started riding the bike, I only use a car when it's raining or when I have to get something that won't fit in a saddlebag. Sometimes this is frequent, but I've gone weeks without driving a car. So I'm putting a lot less mileage on the car which means less insurance, less services, less tires, less brakes and less mileage (depreciation.) In fact, I traded cars with my daughter last September and gave her the more reliable one since I have alternatives. If you seen those bumper stickers that say "My other car is a piece of shit, too!" well, that would apply to me. My current car is my daughter's old '95 Camry coupe. Neither window goes down, the radio was ripped out of the dash, there are white butterfly decals all over the body and over 200,000 miles on the odometer. No suspension left to speak of and I think I can hear a pinhole in the exhaust manifold. I gotta jiggle the auto tranny handle to get the ignition to catch and the passenger window is yanked out of the door frame, so rain and wind can get in. Moonroof works fine, but I don't dare open it, cause you never know when it won't close anymore. But I hope to hold onto it until the Chevy Volt comes out and I see if I want to pay 40K for a potentially no gas vehicle.

Also, dh, if you have a crotch rocket (like a 1500cc Kawa) MC insurance in California will cost you a lot more than a KIA. It's damn cheap on the Geezer though.

[dhgeyer]

It's fun rationalizing our toys, isn't it Alan? I guess if you try hard enough, you can convince yourself that owning two (or three) vehicles is cheaper than owning one.

Your car sounds like the old beat up '63 VW Bug I had in my early 20's. Ah, those were the days!

I'm pretty sure that if you didn't have 2 motorcycles (including a very large one), you'd probably have a better, if not a fancier car, and less total expenses. But nowhere near as much fun. And, as you point out, you, like most of us, can't quite give up the car because there are times when you need one.

Of course, if World and national trends continue as they have been, we'll all have to give up our cars and trucks and big fancy motorcycles and consider ourselves lucky to have anything as functional as a GZ250 to get around on. You know, like about half the World is now. The rate of our descent so far has been quite impressive!

[Water Warrior 2]

Well sort of but not really. Since I started riding the bike, I only use a car when it's raining or when I have to get something that won't fit in a saddlebag. Sometimes this is frequent, but I've gone weeks without driving a car. So I'm putting a lot less mileage on the car which means less insurance, less services, less tires, less brakes and less mileage (depreciation.) In fact, I traded cars with my daughter last September and gave her the more reliable one since I have alternatives. If you seen those bumper cars that say "My other car is a piece of shit, too!" well, that would apply to me. My current car is my daughter's old '95 Camry coupe. Neither window goes down, the radio was ripped out of the dash, there are white butterfly decals all over the body and over 200,000 miles on the odometer. No suspension left to speak of and I think I can hear a pinhole in the exhaust manifold. I gotta jiggle the auto tranny handle to get the ignition to catch and the passenger window is yanked out of the door frame, so rain and wind can get in. Moonroof works fine, but I don't dare open it, cause you never know when it won't close anymore. But I hope to hold onto it until the Chevy Volt comes out and I see if I want to pay 40K for a potentially no gas vehicle.

Also, dh, if you have a crotch rocket (like a 1500cc Kawa) MC insurance in California will cost you a lot more than a KIA. It's damn cheap on the Geezer though.
Sounds like the Camry has a very secure future.......no one will ever steal it.

Money wise I am sure I would be $$ ahead with only the Ranger to feed and maintain. It is safe, newer and reliable. However there is absolutely no fun factor to driving it anywhere. The bike puts a smile on my face till it hurts. The added cost of ownership is well worth it. I feel younger, happier and ride almost everyday in the summer and as often as possble in winter. I ride for pleasure only and use the Ranger for grocery getting and the like. The Games begin today and will end eventually. Then Spring and more daily rides to wherever I want.

[alanmcorcoran]

The rate of our descent so far has been quite impressive!

Yeah, I'm really hoping the third world discovers toilet paper before we level out.

As far as toys go, some day I will share the obscenity that is my musical instrument collection. Suffice to say, I have spent considerably more on that than I have on the bikes... and most of the cages. There's maintenance on those too, and if you want to talk about overpriced farkles, hoo-boy!

[alanmcorcoran]

Sounds like the Camry has a very secure future.......no one will ever steal it.

Used to think that about the piece of shit JVC radio that was in it until some a-hole popped out the window to pull it out of the dash. Right in front of my effing house! And, while not swanky, I don't exactly live in the hood.

WTF can you do with a fifteen year old crap radio that couldn't have gone for more than $70 new? Antique Road Show for Meth Heads?

Even more bizarre: When my wife called the cops they sent out CSI: Car Audio to (I am not shitting you) DUST FOR PRINTS.
More Bizarre Still: Got a perfect palm print where dickhead had pressed against the glass to flex the window.
The Capper: They caught the guy about two months later from our print.

Sadly our radio was neither returned or re-installed and we didn't even get to kick him in the balls or anything which I had thought was the least justice we ought to get.

"Um, are those fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view?" "Not exactly..."

[dhgeyer]

The rate of our descent so far has been quite impressive!

Yeah, I'm really hoping the third world discovers toilet paper before we level out.

Ya, No Shit! :retard:



As far as toys go, some day I will share the obscenity that is my musical instrument collection.

Let's see, some of my past foolishnesses: Guns - I mean, does anyone really need 4 Colt Single Action Army Revolvers, and about a dozen assorted Smith and Wessons? In 50 years I've owned close to 200 guns of various sorts, although never an "obscene" amount at any given time. I have a system for that one. I have a fairly small but very secure safe, and when they won't all fit in it, something has to go.

I have over a hundred yoyos. Um, 4 digital SLR's in less than 2 years? Antique woodworking tools - why exactly do I need 3 Stanley combination planes? There was a perfectly logical reason at the time, I'm sure, but I can't remember what it was.

If I had the money, it would be biplanes - you know, WWI fighters - I want a Fokker DR1 soooooooo bad. That ain't gonna happen! :cry:

[Maggie]

"Um, are those fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view?" "Not exactly..."[/quote]

Spew warning next time, please!!! :lol: :lol:

<wiping screen>

[alanmcorcoran]

Forgot there were ladies on this thing. FYI, you got to keep both ends of the quote HTML marks for it to display properlike.

"Not exactly..."

Did I mention I have a Yamaha Stratoliner? It's currently missing its right eye, but I have a lens on order.

[Maggie]

FYI, you got to keep both ends of the quote HTML marks for it to display properlike.

Did I mention I have a Yamaha Stratoliner? It's currently missing its right eye, but I have a lens on order.

Okay, trying the proper quote thang. Hoping it worked.

As for the Stratoliner, have you posted a pic somewhere? I sure would love to see it. Fell in love with the Silverado the minute I saw it on Craig's List. I really got a beauty.

[alanmcorcoran]

This one makes me appear to be, shall we say, intellectually disabled, but at least the bike doesn't look like a douchebag. Hopefully it will be good chum for audience participation. Flame on!

http://s3.postimage.org/bkDqA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqbkDqA)

[Maggie]

Hopefully it will be good chum for audience participation. Flame on!

Heh heh. The bike is absolutely beautiful. Isn't it fun to get off of something that big and then hop on the GZ...so zippy!

I am going to be kind and restrain myself from making any comments about your riding gear :neener: and, of course, I look forward to the peanut gallery comments to come....sitting back now :popcorn:

[alantf]

This one makes me appear to be, shall we say, intellectually disabled,

Yeah ....... I noticed the velcro on the trainers! Much easier than tying knots for us intellectually disabled. :whistle: :neener:

[alanmcorcoran]

Hmmm, that is the least douchebaggiest thing I'm wearing...

Those are alpinestar Ridge Waterproof Touring boots and are Seriously Awesome. Also? There is a zipper on the other side.

http://www.alpinestars.com/Ridge_Waterp ... 44207.html (http://www.alpinestars.com/Ridge_Waterproof_Boot/pd/c/113/np/113/p/244207.html)

[alantf]

Those alpinestar Ridge Waterproof Touring boots and are Seriously Awesome.

Not as awesome as my Outstars Technologies, Impraperm® waterproof boots! :tongue:

http://s4.postimage.org/WJo5J.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVWJo5J)
These have got LOTS of velcro, & not a zip in sight.
(and DEEP treads for when I have to put my feet down on the slippery cobbled streets)