Author Archives: VTwin

The Saga Continues

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Sorry, for anyone following this, as I’ve been slightly out of commission for about the last year. I’m diabetic, and have had some complications as a result of the diabetes.

It’s once again getting temperate enough to work out in the garage, so will start once again on the tear down process. This last year sitting on the stand hasn’t done the bike any good, and while out of the weather, it has been submitted to the Florida humidity. In any case, I will be taking some more pictures as I get under way tomorrow or Thursday morning.

Engine Lockup

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Alternator Crud

This is what I found inside the side cover

Took more parts off the bike this past weekend, including the front lights, tach, and speedometer, the right side cover, the seat, battery, and a few other things. I also took the chain apart. When I got the side cover removed, There was all kinds of crud covering the alternator. I loosened the center bolt from the Alternator. I noticed some movement when this was loosened, so I removed the nut completely from the shaft. Lo and behold, the engine will now turn over. the back wheel is still locked solid, but at least now I know that the engine itself isn’t seazied.

The discard pile grows

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Exhaust System removed

Exhaust System removed

Removed the pipes on both sides this morning. I had been going back and forth on whether I should replace the exhaust system on the bike. Prices seem to start about 250, and go right on up past 500 for a black ceramic coated system.
Rusted exhaust pipe

Guess I've got to replace the exhaust system

When I got the pipes off, I found that one of the pipes has a hole all the way through, and the other is almost as bad ….. Guess I’m going to need a new system.
I also took apart the air box. The filter is a real mess. the foam is falling off the filter, so that will all need to be replaced as well.
I purchased some straps from Home Depot, thinking this would help secure the bike and stop it from rocking. I used the hold down strap rings on the jack, and found that their welding job wasn’t too good where these are concerned. Just using the strength from my hands, allowed the rings to come off.
Looked like a really cold weld. In any case, I also found the sir-clip for the chain on the right hand side. I didn’t have time to remove it from the chain. Since the chain is going to get replaced, I’m not too worried about the sir-clip.

Up on the jack stand

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On the jack

Bike is up on the jack.

Received the Motorcycle jack last night. At 85 lbs, it took both the wife and I to get it inside the house. No, I’m not weak, it’s just a bit bulky for one person to handle. I put it together this morning with very little difficulty. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to align the jack with the top bolt, but other than that, was a painless procedure.
I’m striving to have the disassembly done by April 18th (my birthday)
front fender with Hornet's nest

Front fender with Hornet's nest

The reassembly I’m trying to complete by my anniversary in August (28th)
This is the first part removed from the bike. Didn’t have a whole lot of time this morning, but am hoping to have a few hours over the weekend. Also need to get straps to go over the bike to ensure it’s stablility while on the stand.

First parts arrived

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Welding cart

Welding cart from Harbor Freight

The first parts (Front and Rear Fenders) have arrived. They were described as painted, which I translated to mean refurbed. Unfortunately, this was not the case. the outside of the fenders had been previously painted, and the undersides are still quite rusty.
I’m looking now for a Sand/Bead blasting cabinet for purchase or better yet to rent. For shop equipment, I have a small parts washer that should be delivered today or tomorrow, and also am still waiting on a motorcycle jack. This is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. I also purchased a mig welding cart. While I could have made it, it was less expensive to purchase through Harbor Freight. I had also ordered parts bags from Grainger’s. I ordered those on Thursday of last week, and they arrived on Saturday. They will make it much easier keeping small parts together. I sent back books for the Vulcan 800 and have ordered books for the XS 650. Hopefully they won’t take too long to get here.

Bike is home

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Instrument Cluster

Low Mileage for a bike in such poor condition

I must be living right today. Rented a 14 ft U-Haul truck, and drove to the seller’s house to pick up the bike.
The back wheel would not turn, and the front wheel was rather “sluggish”. Luckily there were 3 strong guys at the house, and we were able to hoist the bike up onto the back of the truck using a hand-truck and brute strength. I then drove home. Once I got home, I thought about using a dolly to help get the bike down from the truck.
oxidation on the engine

Oxidation

Again, it was my fortune to find Jorge (my next door neighbor) at home and working outside. Since he moves lots of items, I asked him if he might have a dolly. He found a small dolly in his garage, and we were off to the races. We were able to lift the back wheel enough to get it on top of the dolly. This gave us the leverage and control to move the bike off the truck and into my garage. We tried to put the bike up on it’s center stand, but were unable to do so. I’ve already ordered an hydraulic motorcycle lift, and expect delivery by the end of the week.
Once the lift arrives, I’ll be disassembling the front wheel and caliper.
Front Wheel and Caliper

Rusted Front fender, disk, and wheel.

1. The back story

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Picture from Motorcycle training

On October 4th, 2009 I was perusing Ebay during lunch and came across a dealer that was selling 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan Custom 900′s for under $6000 dollars, brand new.

I hadn’t ridden a bike in a long time (back in college in 1978), but it had always been on my todo list. I emailed my wife telling her of the incredible deal and asking her if I could purchase one – We always discuss major purchases. Long story short, she said perhaps I should rent one before purchase to make sure I still liked riding.

On November,15 and 16th 2009 I took the Florida required Motorcycle training course  through Motorcycle Training Institute Inc (MTII). I passed the test on the 16th and slated the next weekend to rent a bike.

On November 19, I went to the DMV, and got the additional endorsement making it legal for me to ride motorcycles.

2. The Ride

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Yamaha 650 VTwin

Alabama Jack's - Yamaha 650 V-Star

On November 20, I rented a Yamaha V-Star 650 from New Rider Rentals in Hollywood, FL. They delivered the bike around 7:30 PM, a very nice service. On Saturday, the 21st, I rode the bike about 14 miles, and got used to the way it handled. I took it on State Road 84, and found at 60 mph, the helmet they provided turned into a sail and just about ripped my head off.  Since I have gotten somewhat used to my head and am somewhat fond of it, I stopped in at the Harley dealer right there. I looked at the helmets they offered, but found that the cheapest thing I could find was a half face helmet at $248 dollars. The Harley emblem sure is expensive.

I drove the bike home, and went out in the car in search of a helmet. I wound up at Broward Motorsports on Davie Road Extension (Just off Stirling), and purchased a half face helmet for $95.00..

Sign at Alabama Jacks
This is me in front of Alabama Jack’s sign

The next day, Sunday, a friend from work stopped by early for a prescheduled ride. We stopped at Lester’s diner on 136th Street in Sunrise for breakfast, then on to State Rd 84 toward Route 27. I’m happy to say that with a proper fitting helmet, the sail effect was non-existant. 

We headed down Route 27 South, across over to US 1 in Florida City.  Somewhere between 27 and US 1, I ran out of gas. I was able to put it on reserve and get to a gas station to fill up. We then traveled to Card Sound Road and stopped at Alabama Jack’s for lunch. This is the best place to stop on your way down to the keys. The fish is fresh, the service great, and very casual. You’ll always find lots of bikers here, but you are just as likely to find RVers, and the retired
After lunch, we headed across Card Sound Road, then picked up US 1 again on the other side. We headed North, and retraced our steps back home. We ran into rain somewhere around homestead, and it stayed with us until we were well on RT 27 .
In the end, I drove 225 miles in two days.

Guess you could say I like it.

3. The Discussion

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1998 Vulcan 800 - Craigslist Pictures

Original Craigslist pictures 1998 Vulcan 800

After my ride, I started looking again in ernest to purchase a motorcycle. I went to my local dealers, but they all believed that I was born last night and didn’t have a clue. Their prices were outrageous, given the incentives that Kawasaki was offering. I contacted the original dealer, and they were willing to honor the prices that they had done previously.

I then started a discussion with my wife. At that point, she had an incredible case of amnesia, and did not remember our previous discussions. She balked at my spending 6000 dollars for a bike even thoiugh one of her co-workers ( a lady) had just spent upwards of 22K for a Harley. I thought that I was being quite reasonable asking to spend 6K (Ok a little more after Taxes/Title/Tags).  She really wouldn’t give me an amount that she was willing to let me spend, so the next bike I suggested was a used Suzuki S50 (love the split muffler design) – a 2006 with 1057 miles (garage kept) for 4200 dollars. Again she balked.  The same day, there was an Ad on Craigslist for a “”Custom” Kawasaki 800 for Sale $1500 negotible:

1998 Custom Kawasaki Vulcan 850cc lowrider…..green and white with pin stripes…..”dade county” murrial under back brake light…..white wall tires……….30,000 miles….no problems at all…loudest pipes in town…. runs perfect…..just have no time to ride anymore….has white engine led lights to show off chrome at night! asking $1500 willing to negotiate! call if interested,ask for smitty xxx-xxx-xxxx

I went down to Miami to take a look at the cycle with “no problems at all”. The only two things about the ad that were true, were the model year, and the “loudest pipes in town”.
I offered the owner $1000 dollars, and that was probably a bit generous. This bike is just this side of a complete basket-case.
Will be picking up the bike on Wednesday the 30th.

4. The Saga Continues

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December 30th – For the last 3 days, I’ve been trying to contact Smitty, to arrange for transfer of the motorcycle. I double- checked the number – he called my cell phone last Saturday, so I’m sure the number is correct. Every time I call, it would appear he sends the call to voicemail, then never returns the call. I guess he’s decided that he doesn’t want to sell the bike to me. We had made a Gentleman’s agreement last Saturday. I would have picked up the bike right then, however my bank was closed. I brought $350 with me (all that I had at home) to put a deposit on the bike, but Smitty said that would not be necessay, and that he would hold the bike for me …. guess he lied there too. In any case, I guess I will probably be changing the Tag line, to something other than a Rebuild of a 1998 Vulcan 800, but I’ll update this page when I find another motorcycle.