Well, the bike is moving on.

[sablesurfer]

Many years ago I went motorcycle shopping. My criteria was that I could fit my over six foot frame on it comfortably, that it was more cruiser than sport bike, and that she look sexy.

This was the pic that made me fall in love

I flew nearly clear across the country to my brother's house, he drove me across the state to the dealership. A 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 was to be mine. The first road trip was the one back home, nearly 14hrs straight through.

After many miles and a few years, I came to learn that the square states have a lot of straight roads. Like...A LOT.

She was a great bike, and could hold her own in any parking lot.

Even took lots of beauty shots over the years.

But like I said, lots and lots of straight roads around here...(well this one was rolly, so that was fun.)

She's been sitting in the garage now for two years. Extra tank and fender and lots of chrome bits all sitting around for the next step of personalizing her. And it never happened.

Since she has a very limited audience of riders, it turns out that can't give her to anyone as a project or as parts. So I had to call the junk yard for a pittance of what the parts will be worth. We had good times on the road.

 

[NothingRhymesWithCurtiss]

I don't ride motorcycles, so pardon my ignorance. I clicked the link thinking it was about bicycles, as I ride single-speed mountain bikes.

Anyways... you really had to call the junkyard to get rid of it? Like I said, I don't know crap about motorcycles, but I imagine that someone has to be interested. You could always put it on Craigslist for trade. Heck, contact a brewery, LHBS, hop grower... and tell them that you'll trade them the bike for some of their wares.

 

[slym2none]

I am sad to hear that, man... no bike should ever go to the junkyard if it still runs & works.

 

[harleybug88]

You're joking. ... Right?

 

[sablesurfer]

She's been in the garage for two years. It's a situation of 'was running when parked'. I went to pull her out of garage for some 'sales' pics and noticed weird blue/green build up around the heads of one cylinder. (You know, like that stuff on batteries, but it can't be.)

The are other mods that make her not mainstream. I pulled the turn signals and put on leds, I put on fatter bars because they fit the profile better, and I have her darksided. That means a car tire on the back of a bike. Lots of controversy, but it works like a charm and you get MANY more miles out of a tire.

Lastly, she has been down once, and I would have to reveal that to any buyer. (Its the reason I have a fresh tank from Kaw ready to go on since orig got a ding in it.) So she is only being offered for parts. It has been up for sale but....no takers in a month or so.

 

[CrimsonYeti]

You're joking. ... Right?

My thoughts as well.

 

[sablesurfer]

Here she is with the darkside, rear turn LEDs, and a lot of dust...

 

[BrooklynTom]

Don't junk a running bike, someone will want it. Straight roads still get your knees in the breeze.
Good luck.

 

[Zuljin]

$5,000 and let the dickering begin.

 

[sablesurfer]

My thoughts as well.

Someone wanna make me an offer and she's yours.

 

[hunter_le five]

Sorry about the bike.

I've a Can-Am trike that's been listed on CL for over a month now. I guess it's time to call the scrapyard. Just a $13k piece of junk, now.

At least the Harley's still kicking.

 

[sablesurfer]

Sorry about the bike.

I've a Can-Am trike that's been listed on CL for over a month now. I guess it's time to call the scrapyard. Just a $13k piece of junk, now.

YEP!

At least the Harley's still kicking.

I rented a Harley Fatboy in Colorado during college. That was a great ride, just off into the mountains to see what was what. Coffee in random town, lunch in another, fun stuff.

I'll ride again. I really enjoyed the BMW R1200 I rented in Spain to ride with family. That is one luxury bike that was great for the Pyrenees and plains of the northland there. (Still get sticker shock looking at even the used ones!!)

 

[hunter_le five]

$5,000 and let the dickering begin.

I'll counter-offer with $50 worth of mcdonalds gift cards and a fist-bump (or two high-fives, seller's choice).

Probably a better deal than what the scrapyard was offering.

 

[harleybug88]

Here she is with the darkside, rear turn LEDs, and a lot of dust...

View attachment 319739

How did the darkside handle on the corners?

I'm thinkin not so good...

 

[sablesurfer]

How did the darkside handle on the corners?

I'm thinkin not so good...

They handle wonderfully, at the right PSI.

That is one of the 'you're going to kill yourself' list items, that darksiders can't turn. You don't run them at full inflation of 40psi, each rider has to tune them to the bike and the rider's weight.

I was right around 34psi and it was great. Higher than that and I did get a hint of oversteer where the back end wanted to turn inside the front. For a cruiser that was never meant to be a high performance street corner it was good. Even with the dark side she kept up with some meanly tuned HD's in her day... (Knew a guy that used to make custom bikes, he tuned up a lot of the HD's around here, so naturally, somehow, by complete fluke, I ended up in a straight away run with one of them.) My >900lb little girl kept up with that bored out 883 till about 95 when my front wheel started to jitter.

 

[Zuljin]

Sorry about the bike.

I've a Can-Am trike that's been listed on CL for over a month now. I guess it's time to call the scrapyard. Just a $13k piece of junk, now.

At least the Harley's still kicking.

$200 and no touching.

 

[Rhumbline]

You have to be sh$%%^ing me! Put it on craigslist for free, give it to that annoying neighbor kid, just to spool his parents up.

trade it for a six pack of beer, just don't send it to the dump!

 

[sablesurfer]

Not going to a dump. Going to a junk yard, ok salvage yard. They are paying $700 for the bike and picking it up. They will part her out, not going to be scrapped.

 

[Rhumbline]

take a look on ebay at what a gas tank and seat cost. The forks?
You're over a grand right there.

It's fine if you just want it gone, I understand that. But if you've got three months, you can get triple that money for it without breaking a sweat.

 

[sablesurfer]

take a look on ebay at what a gas tank and seat cost. The forks?
You're over a grand right there.

It's fine if you just want it gone, I understand that. But if you've got three months, you can get triple that money for it without breaking a sweat.

I am **** at getting stuff mailed out. Always have been. I am only offering it as a whole and local pick up. I could trailer near if necessary. There is a lot of money to be made in the parts. I am letting someone else have that pay day.

The seat is a custom saddleman too, so there is money for that. Lots of money in the chrome for this bike as it is unique.

 

[dkwolf]

Man, if I was nearby, I'd give you 700 for it. I've wanted a bike for years, especially since my buddy got divorced and goes for rides almost every weekend now.

But at the same time, my focus has kind of shifted to a Jeep Wrangler...and I kinda question if yours would be a good 'first bike'.

 

[Punity]

Where are you located. I'll come pick up the bike if you are close. Don't let it hit a scrap yard they don't deserve that money making opportunity.

 

[sablesurfer]

Man, if I was nearby, I'd give you 700 for it. I've wanted a bike for years, especially since my buddy got divorced and goes for rides almost every weekend now.

But at the same time, my focus has kind of shifted to a Jeep Wrangler...and I kinda question if yours would be a good 'first bike'.

Definitely not a good first bike. Heavy as a beast at 900 some lbs dry. Way too much power even for that big of a bike, and I should know because I reached scary speeds on street racers to point where I couldn't lean because of gyroscopic forces from the wheels....lol. The problem with that power and that weight was that she would lock up in a heart beat if you panicked, and twice I found myself having to remember how I slid to stops as a kid on bicycles 'cause that's what I was going to have to do with her when traffic slammed on it's brakes ahead of me.

 

[hunter_le five]

A 900lb, 2000cc+ bike is just about on the opposite end of the spectrum as a "beginner bike".

 

[motobrewer]

I should know because I reached scary speeds on street racers to point where I couldn't lean because of gyroscopic forces from the wheels....lol.

pfft lol.

 

[dkwolf]

A 900lb, 2000cc+ bike is just about on the opposite end of the spectrum as a "beginner bike".

Not arguing the point at all.

But at 6'0", 320 lbs...

...I'd look stupid on your typical "beginner bike". Which is part of the reason I don't have one.

 

[hunter_le five]

Not arguing the point at all.

But at 6'0", 320 lbs...

...I'd look stupid on your typical "beginner bike". Which is part of the reason I don't have one.

I'm not saying go buy a 250cc toy to start on. That was pretty much the advice I was given, and I ignored it.

I started off on a 750cc, which isn't by any means a "big bike", but I'm also half your size. For me it was a good compromise between a "real" bike, and something a beginner wouldn't kill himself on. If I had started on anything larger, I probably would have dropped it a lot, if not hurt myself.

Even if you're hell-bent on starting off on a "full-size" bike (which plenty of people have done successfully), a Vulcan 2000 is just a bad choice. Plenty of other "big V-twins" out there that are a bit more tame and newbie friendly.

 

[sablesurfer]

The biggest issue for new bike riders is....slow turns and stopping/starting. This is where just about EVERY new rider drops their bike. I came super close with my Suzi 750, but I wedged my leg under it to stop it. Imagine a nice warm 4cyl leaning up against your knee with just jeans on. I got her stood back up, but it was a struggle.

That learning allowed me to NEVER let the Green Damsel get anywhere near to tipping. There would be no saving her. You'd just have to let her lay down.

Slow turns are also very tricky for new riders, and it is part of the test. Turn too shallow and you never make it, turn to sharp and she goes down. Extra weight makes controlling the bars that much more difficult without any speed behind you.

Just saying. Hunter said a 750. I'd say go for a 900cc at least. That way you can also do some shorter highway distances if you needed too.

 

[harleybug88]

Definitely not a good first bike. Heavy as a beast at 900 some lbs dry. Way too much power even for that big of a bike, and I should know because I reached scary speeds on street racers to point where I couldn't lean because of gyroscopic forces from the wheels....lol. The problem with that power and that weight was that she would lock up in a heart beat if you panicked, and twice I found myself having to remember how I slid to stops as a kid on bicycles 'cause that's what I was going to have to do with her when traffic slammed on it's brakes ahead of me.

Welcome to the darkside, right?

 

[sablesurfer]

Welcome to the darkside, right?

Nooooo.....that was a CBR and it was way back in college in my crazy days. We had a loop of road outside of town that was always empty on weekend. Great place to just go straight!!! But then of course it did eventually turn...

...lean...nope
...LEAN...nope
...LEEEEEAAAANNNNN!!!!!.....

....."Oh, throttle, duh."