Bought a 2006 2000 Classic LT, Need Advice

[oolddog]

I bought a 2000 Classic LT yesterday (upgraded from a 1978 Suzuki GS 750) and have some questions. Does anyone who owns a 2000 Classic LT have an excess of gear noise and whine like the gear are all stright cut and not helical? Do you shift down as you are stopping? Any tips you can provide regarding riding the beast would be appreciated. I have a whole 46 miles on it and until I can get it moving it is riding me! What a bike if I live through the learning process! Thanks!

[BigJohn]

For a nominal fee, I'll come brake it in for you.... Can't help you much with the noises, sorry. As for getting use to it, just go out and ride, Sally, ride. It's a lot more bike than what you had. It just takes time to get used to that much weight.

[ervins]

Congrats to you!

[Scorpion1]

Welcome to the jungle LOL

I have the 05 VN200 limited with over 11K 1 year old next month, have heard that spraying silicone evenly on both sides of belt helps.

You can also join this sight for all the soup http://www.rogueownersgroup.com/

Happy riding
Scorpion1

[c10jm]

they are replacing the rear end on my 06 nomad for gear noise. i haven't riden it yet the dealer heard it & are replacing it before i get it. glad they did this so i don't have to come back & get it fixed`.

[Roadrunner2]

When I brought mine home, had the same problem. Checked the rearend oil level and found it to be low. Drained it and filled to proper level no problems since. Seems maw kaw might be skimping on the oil to save a dime. Obviously my dealer didn't ck it before delivery either. Go figure!!

[bluestringer]

Originally Posted by oolddog

I bought a 2000 Classic LT yesterday (upgraded from a 1978 Suzuki GS 750) and have some questions. Does anyone who owns a 2000 Classic LT have an excess of gear noise and whine like the gear are all stright cut and not helical? Do you shift down as you are stopping? Any tips you can provide regarding riding the beast would be appreciated. I have a whole 46 miles on it and until I can get it moving it is riding me! What a bike if I live through the learning process! Thanks!

I don't own a 2000, but it's typical Vulcan noise. The gears are straight cut for more strength. Pipes will help. Yes, I downshift, others don't, your choice.

[trikebubble]

Congrats man.
I always downshift as I slow down, is their really a safe alternative?
As far as the noise, I don't notice anything out of the Vulcan ordinary. Like someone already mentioned, get her piped and the other noises go away.
Yes, she is a big bike. I moved up from a Mean Streak (arguable the best handling cruiser out there) and it takes a little getting used to. But once you do get comfortable with her, learn her nuances, her needs, her desires and such, you will be hard pressed to ever, ever remove the sh!t eating grin from your face.

And for future referance, as you will be asked, repeat after me...
"Yes, that says 2000. No it wasn't made in the year 2000. It is 2000cc! Um, that is 125 cubic inches! Yes, it's bigger than your SoftTail."

[uechi kid]

Remember, Vulcan’s make noises that other bikes don't. It's not good or bad, just the way it is. They are great bikes that are very reliable. Get some pipes to mask the noise . Oh yah, congrats on the new ride.

[NomadinTN]

I drove a Classic LT and the 2000 Limited that a mechanic had at a dealership before buying the '06' Nomad. It was too much bike for me. I have owned 1000cc Crotch Rockets, a V-Max and a Roadstar, but the 2000 was just to damn hard to control at low speeds. I couldn't tell you what noises it was making because I was concentrating on controling the bike. It was definately riding me and I felt very uncomfortable on it. The power was awesome but just not a good fit for my 6'2", 210# person. I hope you figure it out and enjoy the 2000, if not the Nomad is an awesome bike in it's own right, but not a 2000.

[VN2000Blue]

Originally Posted by NomadinTN

I drove a Classic LT and the 2000 Limited that a mechanic had at a dealership before buying the '06' Nomad. It was too much bike for me. I have owned 1000cc Crotch Rockets, a V-Max and a Roadstar, but the 2000 was just to damn hard to control at low speeds. I couldn't tell you what noises it was making because I was concentrating on controling the bike. It was definately riding me and I felt very uncomfortable on it. The power was awesome but just not a good fit for my 6'2", 210# person. I hope you figure it out and enjoy the 2000, if not the Nomad is an awesome bike in it's own right, but not a 2000.

Do you mean you are too big for it ?? Too small??
Im 5'11 and 175...I have no problem with mine after 2 yrs no matter how slow I go...Im trying to understand the problem.

[oolddog]

No, not too big for it. It just surprised me at the size and weight. I didn't ride it first. I just saw it and wanted it! I had a Goldwing back in the eighties and don't remember it being so heavy. I've got a couple of hundred miles on it now and it's feeling a whole lot better. Thanks to all for all the comments and help!

[HDFIII]

Hey OOLDDOG Great choice on Bikes, I've my last two bikes were a 104ci sportster and a 1400 intruder, and you are right my V2K classic is heavier than either at almost 850 pounds its a monster, but the breakin mileage will go buy real fast then you find out just how much motorcycle you really have. I am trully impressed with mine and I have not done any mods yet. mine clunks more than any of my other bikes but it a VULCAN.

[msa1956]

That is a typical noise it wil go away, also once you brake it in, go to a synthetic oil of your choice and it will reduce the noise sigificantly, I myself use amsoil 10W40, there are other brands that are just as good. Its a good bike and you will enjoy it a lot trust me.

[jman]

The V2K LT was really top heavy to me when I first rode mine. At first I thought I may have made the wrong choice. I have ridden it only 4 times due to the weather but each time that I have it gets easier to handle at slow speeds. I just plan on taking it easy till I get used to the size and weight. Be safe, patience and not ride above your limits.

[texrider]

I use Mobil-1 15-50 in mine, and it is very quiet compared to new. Adding a windshield and lowers changed the way it sounded to me. So does the type of helmet I wear. Check your belt to see if it has some deflection, when pushed up and down in the middle. If it is strung tight like a banjo string, back it off a little. That should knock off some whine. Have fun, we do!

[msa1956]

If you think the belt is to tight, take it to the dealer where you got it and have them use the tool that the manual calls out for and and check your bike, it will only take them ten minutes tobe sure. hopefully this will help you all, its directly out of the manual.

•Using the jack and jack attachment under the frame pipe
ribs, lift the rear wheel off the ground (see Rear Wheel
Removal in the Wheels/Tires chapter).

•Visually inspect the belt for damage (see Belt Wear and
Damage Inspection).
If the belt is damaged, replace it with a new one.


•Mark the initial belt position [C] on the belt cover window.

•Using the tension gauge [A], push up 45 N (4.5 kgf, 10
lb) of force from under and on the center of the belt at the
gauge of the lower belt cover [b].

•Measure the deflection (length between mark [D] and [C])
of the belt.
NOTE
○Push the belt by the gauge until the top surface [A] of
the stopper comes to the 45 N loaded scale [b], marked
“45N”.
○Push up on the center of the belt. An inaccurate reading
will occur if the edge of the belt is pushed up.
○Look parallel to the belt during inspection. An inaccurate
reading will occur if looking from any other angle.

•Inspect the belt deflection at two positions by rotating the
rear wheel.
Special Tools - Drive Belt Tension Gauge: 57001-1585

•Inspect the drive belt deflection at arbitrary position, and
record the value [A].

•Turn the rear wheel 90 degrees.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE 2-23
Periodic Maintenance Procedures

•Inspect the drive belt deflection, and record the value [b].

•Decide the belt deflection at the position [C] of one where
deflection is large.
Drive Belt Deflection (with 45 N, 4.5 kgf, 10 lb force)
Standard: 2.5 ~ 4.0 mm (0.10 ∼ 0.16 in.)
Drive Belt Deflection (with 45 N, 4.5 kgf, 10 lb force,
when installing new belt or engine remounted)
Standard: 2.5 mm (0.10 in.)
If the deflection is out of the specification, adjust it.
Belt Deflection Adjustment

•Remove:
Muffler Body (see Engine Top End chapter)
Upper Belt Cover

•Remove the axle cotter pin, and loosen the axle nut.

•Using the jack and jack attachment under the frame pipe
ribs, lift the rear wheel off the ground (see Rear Wheel
Removal in the Wheels/Tires chapter).

•Loosen the left and right belt adjuster locknuts [A].
If the belt is too tight, back out the left and right belt adjuster
nuts [b], and kick the wheel forward until the belt is
too loose.

•Turn in the left and right belt adjuster nuts evenly until the
drive belt has the correct amount of deflection.
○To keep the belt and wheel aligned, the notch on the left
belt adjuster should align with the same swingarm mark
[C] that the right belt adjuster notch aligns with.

[ROLAND]

Congratulations on your new bike.
I am totally unable to give you any technical advice on just about anything but I will tell you my impresions.
I own a V2K since May 2006. I bought it brand new after a thorough research. I wanted a big bike. It is big and feels big. Beautiful from most angles.
You do, however, engage first gear, let the clutch go and... as if by magic the heaviness dissappears and the beast runs so smoothly you hardly believe it. Some say it flies low
It also does handle incredibly well for its size.

Someone said something about noises... ?

[VindianaJones]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Congrats man.
I always downshift as I slow down, is their really a safe alternative?
As far as the noise, I don't notice anything out of the Vulcan ordinary. Like someone already mentioned, get her piped and the other noises go away.
Yes, she is a big bike. I moved up from a Mean Streak (arguable the best handling cruiser out there) and it takes a little getting used to. But once you do get comfortable with her, learn her nuances, her needs, her desires and such, you will be hard pressed to ever, ever remove the sh!t eating grin from your face.

And for future referance, as you will be asked, repeat after me...
"Yes, that says 2000. No it wasn't made in the year 2000. It is 2000cc! Um, that is 125 cubic inches! Yes, it's bigger than your SoftTail."

I've always used this thought when downshifting. I think its safe to downshift on a clean surface where there is no chance of losing traction. But on a slippery surface you might want to think about stopping without downshifting. Another thing to think about is if you have a circumstance where you have to move quickly because someone behind you doesn't stop.... then you want to be downshifting so that your in first gear at the stop. Congrats on the new bike man.

[ImpactG]

Have an '04, put about 4500 miles on it this past year. I'm 5' 9", about 180. At first it felt pretty heavy to move around or lift off the stand. Once you get used to it, though, you'll feel right at home. It used to feel big to me, now all other bikes feel small.