900 Classic Owners HELP!!!

[Ryan F]

Ok guys and gals,
I need your help. I'm considering purchasing a 900 Classic to replace a Honda Shadow Spirit 750. My wife's moving up to the 750. What is the consensus on this bike? I test rode a '05 800 today that the dealer was trying to get me to buy and it was pretty nice, but I like the idea of the 900 upgrades....fuel injection, belt drive, floorboards, etc.. Am I correct in these assumptions?

900 owners, please help!!!


Thanks, Ryan

[sheulett]

I have had my 900 for two months now and have just about 2800 miles on it. I love this bike. Now, having said that, I should say that in my short time on two wheels, I've decided that what makes the perfect bike largely depends on what you want it to do. The 900 does everything I wanted.
First and foremost, I wanted a vehicle, not a recreational thing. I wanted something that I could ride every day (to work, the gym, the grocery store, to rugby practice, pretty much anywhere I need to go). Because of that, I liked many of the features of the 900. In that regard, the fuel gauge was a plus. Right now, people seem upset that the gauge shows less fuel that you actually have, but I never let my tank get much below 1/2 anyway, so the gauge does what I want it to do (I fill up when it says E). Along those same lines, I liked the larger fuel capacity of the 900.
This is my first bike, so I wanted something light and with a low seat height. I also wanted something good on gas and low on maintenance. The 900 fits all of those bills better than most bigger bikes. I like FI because I want to produce less pollution and because I don't want to have to fool with a choke or a reserve tank. I liked the belt because it is less maintenance than a chain, but delivers power better than a shaft.
While I didn't want a bike that was too big, I also didn't want something that was too small. I use my bike as my primary mode of transportation, which means it's got to be able to run at 80 all day without discomfort to me or to it. The 900 will do that. It's also stable and big enough for comfort on trips. It doesn't get blown around by semi's on the interstate. The footboards are something I didn't think I'd like from a styling perspective, but, now that I have them, I would hate to have pegs. The boards are more comfortable in my opinion and offer a wider range of riding positions.
The 900 is not the fastest bike available. Don't get me wrong, it's got plenty of get-up-and-go. I've heard some suggest that it might even be faster off the line than bigger bikes, just because of it's weight. BUT, if I were to add a bike to the stable, it would be a power cruiser. Notice that I did not say that I would upgrade or trade my 900 in for a bigger bike. I am perfectly happy with the 900 as my everyday bike, and a bigger bike would not do the same job as well. If I get an ADDITIONAL bike, it would be the toy/recreational vehicle that I take out for fun. I guess what I'm saying is that it goes back to what you want the bike to do. I don't think the 900 is the bike for someone who primarily wants a hotrod.
Other features that caught my attention were the rear disc brake (as opposed to the drum on the Shadow Aero), liquid cooling, and larger rear tire.
I wasn't thrilled about the spoked wheels at first, but now that I have them, I think they look like what belongs on the bike. The bike does have a lot of plastic, which is not ideal. On the other hand, it keeps both price and weight down, and those bits will never rust.
All in all, I think the 900 is a great bike. It's not the best at any one category, but it does everything very well in a way that I did not see any other bike do.
Just my opinion, but I love my bike. I would recommend it without hesitation.

Cheers!
Steve

[Archie]

Hey Ryan
I have owned over 30 different bikes from cruisers to MX to standard road to race bikes. it really depends on what you want from your bike. If you want a powerful cruiser that you want to cross the country on then go a larger size,if its for daily riding and weekend touring then The VN900 is more than adequate and will be cheaper to run than a larger size.
You are right in saying that its features compared to the other bikes you mentioned make it stand out ahead of its competition.
I purchased my Vn 900 classic on the spot (didnt even know this model existed)not having researched at all but going from its standard features and rode away on it within 20 mins of first spotting it in dealership. I am very happy with it as it also allows my wife to ride it without any difficulties. We dont get the LT model here in Australia so Ive purchased the large screen and rear back rest and saddlebags seperately now I just need the time on weekend to fit them
Good luck in your decision and rest assured you will not be disappointed if the VN 900 is your choice.

[relli]

+1 to all. carefully consider the LT model. for bout 1100 more you get the two tone paint, bags shield, backrest and 24 MONTH WARRANTY. great bike-best ive ever owned-go for it

[Mrzazz]

I like the 900 and for the price you cant beat it. I didnt want the bags and windshield at the time but you might want to think about buying the LT. Buy it you'll love it....

[Wicked96SS]

I don't have much to add, but when I was doing research, I decided on the 900 Classic... I think it is a GREAT value for what you get. If you are into windshields and saddlebags it is better to get the LT version, as that will be cheaper than trying to piece together the stuff after you buy it. Plus, the 24 month warrantee is a good thing! I would say go for it!!

For me, I ended up buying a used 1600 Classic instead... but, had I not found that bike and got it for a steal, I would be riding a 900 right now.

[OldDog]

I really compared the Vulcan 900LT to the Yamaha Silverado 1100 and the Suzuki M50T. Both are comparable to the Vulcan. Check out all the details and you will choose the Vulcan, as I did.

I have 2000 miles on mine and I am still thoroughly enjoying it.

[budro40]

The 900 is a great bike for anyone looking for a scoot that has plenty of power ,good gas mileage, is comfortable and affordable .It is easy to ride and has great ergos.Some people like the windshields on the lts but i didnt like the look myself and i like the wind .The 1100 yamaha and the c-50 are good bikes also, but the 900 fit me better and had more goodies than the others did .If you can wait this class of bikes will get even better in the near future ,honda will come out with their 900 vtx and im sure yamaha and suzuki will not be far behind .But i couldnt wait and had to have the 900 classic and i am not unhappy.Good luck with you choice.

[BikerBeagle]

Originally Posted by Ryan F

Ok guys and gals, I need your help. I'm considering purchasing a 900 Classic to replace a Honda Shadow Spirit 750. My wife's moving up to the 750. What is the consensus on this bike?

You won't be dissappointed.

[vulcan_mojo_man]

Sheulet's comments are right out of my mouth as well.

In looking for a bike I made a "wishlist" of things I'd like in a bike:
Fuel Injection / Belt Drive / Warer cooled? Dual Disc brakes /l ight weight.
I also wanted a bike that wouldn't "nickel and dime" me to death to buy even more stuff to "Make it my own".
This bike fits my bill perfectly with all these plusses. 24 mo. warranty, Plenty of power, at ease on long trips, comfortable seating and plenty of options as standard equipment. Another thing I liked was the fact that it is a fairly quiet bike exhaust tone wise. Many go for the loud pipes and then ride with earplugs!
I want to be able to hear sirens and the environment around me.

Now for the minuses:
Gearbox noise (which I hear is common on many bikes with windshields).

Non self-cancelling turn signals.

Speedo reads about 8% faster than true speed.

Gas Guage errs on the plus side. This is no biggie to me since I
always set trip odometer and then refuel anyway at about 200 miles.

YOU have to decide what works best for you, with so many choices out there
the 900 classic or classic LT leads tha pack an feature/benefits IMHO.
Good Luck!

[Spok]

Originally Posted by sheulett

I have had my 900 for two months now and have just about 2800 miles on it. I love this bike. Now, having said that, I should say that in my short time on two wheels, I've decided that what makes the perfect bike largely depends on what you want it to do. The 900 does everything I wanted.
First and foremost, I wanted a vehicle, not a recreational thing. I wanted something that I could ride every day (to work, the gym, the grocery store, to rugby practice, pretty much anywhere I need to go). Because of that, I liked many of the features of the 900. In that regard, the fuel gauge was a plus. Right now, people seem upset that the gauge shows less fuel that you actually have, but I never let my tank get much below 1/2 anyway, so the gauge does what I want it to do (I fill up when it says E). Along those same lines, I liked the larger fuel capacity of the 900.
This is my first bike, so I wanted something light and with a low seat height. I also wanted something good on gas and low on maintenance. The 900 fits all of those bills better than most bigger bikes. I like FI because I want to produce less pollution and because I don't want to have to fool with a choke or a reserve tank. I liked the belt because it is less maintenance than a chain, but delivers power better than a shaft.
While I didn't want a bike that was too big, I also didn't want something that was too small. I use my bike as my primary mode of transportation, which means it's got to be able to run at 80 all day without discomfort to me or to it. The 900 will do that. It's also stable and big enough for comfort on trips. It doesn't get blown around by semi's on the interstate. The footboards are something I didn't think I'd like from a styling perspective, but, now that I have them, I would hate to have pegs. The boards are more comfortable in my opinion and offer a wider range of riding positions.
The 900 is not the fastest bike available. Don't get me wrong, it's got plenty of get-up-and-go. I've heard some suggest that it might even be faster off the line than bigger bikes, just because of it's weight. BUT, if I were to add a bike to the stable, it would be a power cruiser. Notice that I did not say that I would upgrade or trade my 900 in for a bigger bike. I am perfectly happy with the 900 as my everyday bike, and a bigger bike would not do the same job as well. If I get an ADDITIONAL bike, it would be the toy/recreational vehicle that I take out for fun. I guess what I'm saying is that it goes back to what you want the bike to do. I don't think the 900 is the bike for someone who primarily wants a hotrod.
Other features that caught my attention were the rear disc brake (as opposed to the drum on the Shadow Aero), liquid cooling, and larger rear tire.
I wasn't thrilled about the spoked wheels at first, but now that I have them, I think they look like what belongs on the bike. The bike does have a lot of plastic, which is not ideal. On the other hand, it keeps both price and weight down, and those bits will never rust.
All in all, I think the 900 is a great bike. It's not the best at any one category, but it does everything very well in a way that I did not see any other bike do.
Just my opinion, but I love my bike. I would recommend it without hesitation.

Cheers!
Steve

Having test ridden a 900 myself, I can agree with almost all you say, and the areas I can't agree on are areas I have no experience with because I only test rode....

I agree the 900 seems to be a great bike and one that will only get better over time. the only shortcoming for them right now is that being new, aftermarket parts will be slow in coming but trust me, this bike will be around for years to come and the parts people will develop their lines to dress them up

[Perry Whiteside]

This is my 2 cents i bought the 900 LT for my wife to step up to from a 600 shadow I ride a 1500 suki we on ocasions ride two up the other day we rode hers and I realy like the way it handles and I have been on bikes about 30 years 9 different street bikes and if my 1500 died today I would buy a 900 LT for me in a NY minute.that is what i feel about this bike buy it and if later you want bigger let your wife have the 900...you will be a hero eather way

[Detroitblues]

Ryan, I just did what your considering. I traded my Shadow 750 for the Vulcan and have no regrets whatsoever.You'll LOVE the bike,lots of power and fun to ride.My only suggestion is to look at replacing the seat. I hate mine ,maybe a Mustang in the future for me. I didn't get the LT tho I bought the 900 Classic.

[Matt7even]

Originally Posted by Detroitblues

Ryan, I just did what your considering. I traded my Shadow 750 for the Vulcan and have no regrets whatsoever.You'll LOVE the bike,lots of power and fun to ride.My only suggestion is to look at replacing the seat. I hate mine ,maybe a Mustang in the future for me. I didn't get the LT tho I bought the 900 Classic.

Post was from last year but I too was concidering between the 800 and 900. I had my heart set on a Drifter but the features and price on the 900 won me over. I love the way those Drifters looked but I know I made the right choice.

[LordGT]

Hey, the 900 is a great bike. My wife owns one. So far no problems, great gas mileage, easy to ride. Wishing it had a 6th gear for hwy use, but it cruises along at 80mph indicated (72mph) actual.

BUT!!! even though it is a great bike, if I were moving up from a 750, I'd want to go more than just another 150cc that the 900 will give you. I'd go for a 1500 at least. You could probably find a new 1500 at a good deal. Or a 1600 classic.

I've had 750 twins keep up or out run the 900. So a 1500 or 1600 would be my move from a 750.

But that's just my .02

[cbr74]

< $10K

I rest my case.

[LuckyArmpit]

Like others have said, depends upon how you ride and for how long and for how many miles.
The 900 has FI, disc brakes, etc. I have over 4000 miles on mine and it does everything I want it to do. I could care less that it doesn't out accelerate a sport bike. I don't care if the top end isn't 150 mph. I bought it for what I like to do and thats cruising at around 50 to 60 on country roads. Yeah, it will jump up to 80 pretty easy. Easy to ride and its pretty nimble at crawl speeds such as driving around humans at a bike nite or store parking lot.
As far as the LT version, I didn't go this route. Because I think you can get better bags at a cheaper price. Plus, I'd rather customize my own way. I don't really like windshields and I don't like the studs they put on the seat and bags.
But hay, its your purchase. Do what you want.

Lucky...

[ks_greg]

I've had my 900 Classic for a month and love it. I looked at all the mid-cruisers. Yamaha VStar 650, Honda Aero 750 and the Suzuki Blvd 800. First time I sat on the 900 I thought the thing was huge. But after hanging out at the dealer for many days, and sitting on them all, the 900 ended up being the "no brainer" out of this class.
Look for a new 2006, regardless of model and save some $$. Got mine for $6,750 before sales tax.

I went w/ the Classic, then added the factory windshield $320, after-market bags $200. So for about half of the upgrade cost for an LT, I have the goodies I want. Didn't want to pay Kawasaki's "premium" accessory prices, in order to get their studded bags and sissy bar.

I've spent another $280 for an engine guard, headlight and signal visors. Still spent around $300 less than the LT, but don't have the two tone paint job, which does look nice.
Think I'll take that $300 and put it towards a nice airbrushed graphic of Bettie Page on my big fat de-badged tank

[kawahawk]

I have a 900 Custom. I have a Suzuki Boulevard C-50 that I got in 2005 as my first bike. I was at a dealer this spring and saw the custom and fell in love. Like the others are saying what bike is right for you is all up to you. For me personally a 900 is all I will ever need. Remember back in the day a KZ 1000 was a monster.

[Easyrider32]

Before my Vulcan 900 I had the 2002 Honda Shadow Spirit and the 900 is a HUGE HUGE diff in power. I epescially noticed double up. The 750 with a passenger on a hill was tough no problems up a steep hill with the 900. Now with my mods on the 900 I have as much power as older full sized cruisers. I've kept up with huge harleys who were trying to prove that their Harley is faster than my Kaw.

Stability is much better than the Shadow 750 at highway speeds. I had way too much buffeting on the Shadow just trying to go with the flow of traffic on the highway. Tired arms after 1 hour on the freeway. The 900 seems to ride smoother as you go faster on the highway.