Vulcan 800 Classic Black or Wait for 900?

[WalterRC]

Hi there Forum.

This is my first post here, glad to be part of such an active community

Well I have a question for you guys.

I am about to order the Vulcan 800 Classic Black in colour for a good price over here in New Zealand and my only concern would be the resale value now that the 800 series is going to be discontinued.

Once I wanted a Car that was only produced in 89,90 and 91 and so I hunted high and low for the 91 model I found lots of 89 and 90 models but was not interested, I wanted the last produced model, ie the 1991 model.

Is my theory correct that the Vulcan 800 Classic will retain its second hand value better due to the fact that it will be the 2005 model???

Or would all Vulcan 800's be similarly sought after in the future?

Now the question is also, do I wait for the newer 900 model?

Confused guys, please help me decide what to do. I dont plan on selling the bike soon, I wont be needing a bigger bike as the bike will mostly be used for commuting to work in a 2-up configuration and occasional Sunday cruises for 1-2 hours max duration also 2-Up.

The bike will always be stored in a garage, so how much of an upgrade will the fuel injection be on the 900 model?

Hope to hear many a response especially from the resident 800 GURU woodchuck

Cheers

Walter

[Ed Cregger]

I hesitate to buy the first year of any bike or automobile. I'd give them a while to work out the inevitable batch of bugs that come with new models. Besides, what is this belt drive that is driven by a chain drive all about?

Ed Cregger

[WalterRC]

Good point, but isnt that more of a Microsoft Windows safety feature?
hahaha

[rebls]

You are spending your hard earned money so get what you want not how much the bike is gonna be worth years down the road. Buy the bike that fits your style and needs.

[bikeaholic]

no metric bike holds it value all that well,if resale value is a big concern
forget it,just get the bike you love and want and ride - the 800 is a great bike
and you should not sell it anyway-just buy another bike

[Phatboy]

From the sound of it around here, people are going to be looking for the 800A model soon since the 900 will be the classic ie looks like a 800B. Bike is right though that metrics don't hold their value, but those 800A guys are diehard and those might go for more down the road.

If it were me I'd want the 900- 1st year model or not =P

[Ladyluck]

Hi, I am looking to upgrade to a bigger big. After checking out all of the models out there. I can't wait to see and ride the new 900cc. I hear they will be out in March of next year and I will be sitting on the front steps of the Kawasaki Dealer waiting. Just my input. Thanks

[2WheelFun]

The 800 is an awesome bike for sure and no reason you would not be happy with. Now...that being said...if your holding out for a 900...then you already know the answer to your question.


Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Features

Engine
- 903cc V-twin SOHC engine tuned to deliver lots of torque from low rpm
- Smooth and reliable
- Gear-driven balancer allows use of single pin crankshaft without heavy vibration
Four-valve Cylinder Head(KP)
- Better breathing for more power and low-end torque
- Provides maximum valve area for optimum flow
- Single overhead cam design is simple, lightweight and practical
- Extremely efficient intake tracts feature ports that narrow near the combustion chamber to increase intake flow speed for more efficient filling and increased torque
- Long intake tracts for great low-end response
Liquid and Air Cooling(KP)
- Finned cylinders and head combine with liquid cooling to provide exception thermal control
- Maintains consistent engine temperatures for long engine life and sustained power
- Automatic fan keeps things cool even in traffic
- Includes temperature warning light
Concealed Automatic Cam Chain Tensioner(KP)
- Maintains precise valve timing with maintenance
- Assures greater reliability
- Hidden from view to preserve the engine's clean, basic look
Rubber-Mounted Engine(KP)
- Eliminates engine vibration at all speeds
Dual Slash-Cut Mufflers
- Big slash-cut mufflers look great and contain honeycomb catalyzers to reduce emissions
Positive Neutral Finder(KP)
- Just life the shift pedal from first gear at a stop to find neural easy, every time
- A Kawasaki exclusive
Electronic Fuel Injection
- Dual throttle bodies(KP) with sub throttles provide optimum performance and rideability
- The sub throttles, located behind the main throttle valve, are controlled by the ECU so that the DFI system retains more precise throttle response, similar to a constant velocity carburetor
- Fine-atomizing fuel injectors produce a fine fuel mist for better acceleration, combustion and fuel consumption
Belt Drive
- Lower unsprung weight than shaft drive to improve ride quality and suspension action
- More efficient so more power reaches the rear wheel
- Low maintenance and low noise
Double Cradle Frame (KP)
- Large-diameter box section backbone is very rigid, allows use of a larger fuel tank, and helps contribute to high stability and lightweight handling at low speeds
- Triangular swingarm appears to be a hardtail design, but acts on a single shock hidden beneath the seat
- Long and low for minimal seat height, maximum visual impact
- Fork offset and frame geometry combine for light, low-effort handling at ultra-low speeds
- Long wheelbase adds to highway stability
Low Stepped Seat
- Ultra-low 26.4-inch seat height allows riders to easily plant both feet on the ground at stops
- Laid-back riding comfort for two
Tank-Mounted Speedometer with Turn Signal Indicators and Caution Lamps
- Gives you the information you need at-a-glance
- Compact design complements the bike's clean look
Push-to-Cancel Turn Signals
- No fumbling, just a simple push on the switch cancels the turn signals
41mm Front Fork
- Excellent rigidity and 5.9 inches of travel
- 32 degrees rake angle for excellent straight line ability
- Wide fork pitch for classic look
Front and Rear Disc Brakes
- A 300mm front and 270mm rear disc have twin-piston calipers for some of the best stopping power in the class
Spoke Custom Wheels
- Chromed steel rims and spokes
- “Spool-style” polished aluminum front hub
Wide Rear Tire
- 180mm rear tire provides added stability while projecting a powerful image
- Wider tire than that found on most large-displacement cruisers

[WalterRC]

Thanks for the input guys.
The other bike I am considering is the Suzuki M50. It has fuel injection, looks also nice, but down here for some reason is about 1300USD more expensive.

I would love the KAWA 900 but cant wait until March as I dont have a bike at the moment so I need it NOW!!

Are the extra features like Fuel Injection on the MC50 worth the extra price tag??

I am really not technically minded, and Ive been reading alot about the setup and issues around Fuel mixtures and leaness etc etc, so I really like the fact the M50 has fuel injection.

I live in New Zealand where it neither gets very hot or very cold as we are almost totally surrounded by sea. So would the choke and carburator on the Vulcan be ok for me or would fuel injection be better?

Help!!

[vanb]

If it were me Walter and wanted a 800cc bike now.I wouldn't hesitate to get the Vulcan 800.I've ridden mine 23000 miles in 2.5 yrs and we have winters in S.D.You probably would want to re-jet the carb though as Kawi has it set lean.

[Frankt07]

walter
in my limited knowledge and experience, the pros to having a carb bike is that you can rejet for alot less than a FMU for fuel injection. however, carbs do go out of sync and need to be syncronized every so often. i dont know the legth of time in between.
the pros to fuel injection is theres no need of syncronizing, and throttle response is supposedly smoother than carbs. however, to add more fuel you need a fuel managment unit that runs a couple hundred bucks.
those are my 2 cents on to carb or not to carb

[Paco]

I would wait for the 900. I know thats 6 months of wait, but
you can save some money to get the doo dahs for the
900. No messing with carburators, no messing with chains.
Wait.

[woodchucks800]

Well Walter since you asked me to chime in on this thread I will. First it's gonna cost about 1500 bucks more than the 800 classic, so is fuel injection and a belt drive worth that much more (oh yea the extra 100cc also) thats up to you. A carbed bike is just as reliable an maintance free as a FI bike ( I rejetted at around 1500 miles an have 20,000 now no problems yet). The belt drive will look good an be a little less hassle compared to a chain,but only if kawi has the kinks worked out of the belt system(only time will tell on that one) but a chain isn't that big of hassle an you don't need to oil them anywhere near as much as people think (clean it around every 3,000 miles,thats it). When it comes to the extra 100cc ,this will only be benificial in performance if kawi kept the weight down to what the 800 weighs now ,because if it weighs 40 or 50 pounds more this will eat up any extra power(horsepower an torque)that the extra 100cc adds. When it comes to looks ,well I'm an "A" type of guy so the 900 lost me an other"A" riders already on this site. Here's a couple other things to think about ,When Kawasaki came out with the 1600 in 03 ,how many 1500 riders went running to the dealer to trade for the 1600 (not to many). Ladyluck mentioned a release date of March 06( I heard Jan.). I'm betting that this pertains to the states an not the rest of the world, so when you finally get one in New Zealand will be hard to tell. My guess is that they'll be assembling them in Nebraska where the 800 was assembled so I'm sure they'll be avalible in the states first ( could be June before you see one,don't know). One last thing ,the 800 has proven to be bulletproof up to an in some cases past 100,000 miles, I sure hope the 900 can do the same (but that will be a few years from now before there's any proof of that). If your planning on any aftermarket add ons like pipes or intakes mods ,you can plan on waiting a year or two before anyone comes out with anything to fit the bill(not to mention the chrome goodies that you might want). All I'm saying is ,if you want a bike now an want a good one to boot the 800 will fill the bill fine without much gain at all by waiting for the new 900. One other thing noone has an answer for is whether or not the 900 has mechanical lifters like the 800 ( where you have to check the valve clearance once in awhile). You would think if the 900 has adjustable lifters like the bigger bikes they(kawi) would be premoting that as a saleing point as well. Like everyone else has said ,resale on metric bikes stinks so buy what you want because it'll only be worth half in about 3 or 4 yrs.

[WalterRC]

Thanks for the reply woodchuck.
I wasnt referering to the 900cc with fuel injection. I was refering to 1300USD more for the Suzuki M50 that has fuel injection which I can get now.

So is 1300USD worth getting the Suzuki M50 over the Vulcan 800 Classic???

Cheers and thanks for all the replies

Walter

[Scruffy]

In a nut shell, no, the M50 isn't worth the extra 1300 bucks.

The 800 Vulcan is faster, lighter, more responsive to rider inputs, less expensive to maintain/modify, will happily ingest the worst psuedo-gasoline you care to feed it, has a higher level of fit and finish quality, and uses better components (steel versus fiberglass, chrome versus faux chrome, etc).

The three bikes prior to my 800A were Suzukis. Lousy quality control. Serious corrosion issues in marine environments. Very cheap electrical components. Porous vinyl seat covering over hydroscopic foam. Rear shocks died within 200 miles. Fork seals lasted 5 minutes post-purchase. Front brake failed within 5 minutes of leaving the dealership.

A friend just got rid of his 2005 Suzuki C50. Beautiful bike that he had roughly 9000USD in. Unloaded it for 7000USD and bought a used TC88 Big Twin HD. He tried to trade me the Suzuki for my 800A straight across. Ditto the Softail. No way, my bike behaves 90% of the time. The other 10% is because I goofed it up, not factory flaws.
-Scruffy

[WalterRC]

Cool thanks Scruffy.

I agree with you, it did seem more plasticy too me too. I drove the M50 about 30 minutes ago today. It was definately not as smooth to drive as the vulcan 800.
Also when driving the M50 at about 50-55 mph it purrs along nicely, the Vulcan could purr along at 65-70, once I pushed the M50 to 65, it didnt have that cruiser feel and sound anymore. Most of my cruising will be done at 65 so just on that alone I cant go for the M50.

Plus the Vulcan just looks better and feels right for me.

Thanks guys my mind is made up.

Now I just need to convince the wife

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by WalterRC

Thanks for the reply woodchuck.
I wasnt referering to the 900cc with fuel injection. I was refering to 1300USD more for the Suzuki M50 that has fuel injection which I can get now.

So is 1300USD worth getting the Suzuki M50 over the Vulcan 800 Classic???

Cheers and thanks for all the replies

Walter

Isat on one of those a couple of days ago while at the dealer picking up a new shift lever(the old one got bent in the crash) like scruffy said I don't think it's worth another 100 bucks ,but Then again I'm not a suzuki fan anyway. Nothing wrong with them,they just never turned my crank. The only thing I noticed after looking at the new suzuki's is that the fuel tanks tend to look small compared to the rest of the bike (again thats just my opinion)

[pitchinguy]

Shucks Walt! Go for the gusto! Get a 1600 or a 2K!!!

Seriously, have you considered goin bigger? Nothing wrong with the 800's, just wonderin.

[Phatboy]

Originally Posted by pitchinguy

Shucks Walt! Go for the gusto! Get a 1600 or a 2K!!!

Seriously, have you considered goin bigger? Nothing wrong with the 800's, just wonderin.

Its just us Americans that think bigger is better
I blame it on an addiction to torque =P

[pitchinguy]

Originally Posted by Phatboy

Its just us Americans that think bigger is better
I blame it on an addiction to torque =P

Yup, agreed & good point Phats! If it's big, shiny, loud & will pull the hinges off he11, we'll buy it in the good ol U.S. of A.