Older Newbie with Questions -- 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic

[kyclassic]

Hi Guys/Gals,
I am brand new to this forum. I just found it two days ago and have been reading it almost non-stop. I have a few questions that have come up based on some of what I've read here. If anyone has time to answer one or all of them, it will be much appreciated.

First, just a little background. When I was 19 (I'm 43 now) I bought a Harley Sportster (1976 1000 AMF). I rode it like crazy at high speeds and with no thought of danger. Once while drunk I wrecked it with a girl on the back. We were both okay other than some minor injuries, but the insurance company totaled the bike. I bought the bike from the insurance company, had it fixed, and off I went just like before. After a few years I sold the bike to help pay for college.

Eight years ago I got the bug again and bought a brand new 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic. I loved the bike and rode it just about every day. Then I moved to Minnesota where the riding stinks (IMO) and rode it less and less. One day I was riding when it started to rain. I misjudged a turn and rode the bike into some sand on the side of the rode and dumped it at about 3-4 miles per hour. There was some cosmetic damage but it was all covered by insurance.

After that I did not ride the bike for three years. I had it in the garage all that time. I just got it out this summer, took it to the dealership to clean out all the gunk (believe it or not, it would still start after three years in the garage with a battery charge, but really dogged it) and tune it, and it runs great. So here I sit with a 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic with less than 2,000 miles on it.

Okay, sorry for the long background, but here are my questions:

1) I've read about drilling holes into the back of the pipes for better sound. Is this a legit way to get better sound? I'm a little hesitant to start drilling into the back of the pipes, but the one thing I loved about my Harley was the sound coming from my straight pipes. One other thing concerning this -- what happens to the metal shavings when I am drilling into the pipe? Do they just blow out eventually?

2) I am not very mechanically inclined. I mean, I can change oil, but that's about it. I would like to upgrade my air intake as suggested here, but do you think I would be better off going to the dealer?

3) This is the last one for now: I hate to admit this as I'm going to sound like a first-class wimp, but ever since the last time I dumped my bike I have been paranoid riding it. One day everything will be fine, and the next I'll start thinking about a tire blowing out, dropping it around a curve, etc.... I'm just wondering if anyone else has went through this and what you did about it.

Many thanks for considering my questions.

BTW, I'm back in Lexington, KY now where the riding is much better!

Thanks,
Barry

[BigJohn]

Barry,

Welcome back to the real world. Many of us here are in simiuar boats.

Woodie is our resident 800 expert and should be along shortly to help you with the mechanics. Yep, there's a bunch of things you can to to the 800.

Worried about falling down and going boom? Again? Welcome to the club. Most of us have been there andsome multiple times. Word of advice - go take the MSF course. I took a hiatus from riding for about 15 years. I just RE-took the Begning Riders Course (I was an instrucitor back in the day). It was the best thing I could have done for myself and my wife. It's a matter of being willing to humble yourself and learn/relearn the skills necessary to handle the machine.

Finally, we're really glad you found us. Enjoy, ask quesitons and participate. We're glad you're here.

John

[kyclassic]

Hi John,
Thank you for your kind words and advice. I am going to look into the MSF course today (I've never taken one).

Barry

[2WheelFun]

Welcome Barry!

Check out the Ride Like a Pro DVD's if you want to learn to ride safely.

http://www.ridelikeapro.com/

[Scruffy]

Welcome home...

Now then:

1) Just yank the mufflers and crossover "bladder" off and put on some slip on mufflers. Or go ahead and drill a couple holes in the baffles until you find a satisfactory sound. Don't worry about the chips, they'll blow out, or get caught on one of the inner baffles.

2) Unless you change the exhaust to an aftermarket system, modding the airbox is a waste of time. When the time comes, do the work yourself. Technically, other than changing the air filter, the dealer can go to jail for messing with the exhaust or intake.

3) Is your endorsement current? If so, while you are waiting for the class, ride a little bit on the less trafficed roads. Just go slow at first. If not, find a pasture and ride the bike there (yes, a street bike handles southern horse pastures fine). Just get the feeling back, ease into it. An 800B is 10K times the bike an Ironhead was. You'll be fine.
-Scruffy

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by Scruffy

Welcome home...

Now then:

1) Just yank the mufflers and crossover "bladder" off and put on some slip on mufflers.


-Scruffy

Have you ever even looked at the stock 800 exhaust ,because I'd sure as hell like to know how your going to add non- existent slip ons( meaning theres none available for an 800) to a one piece pipe with out doing some cutting off of the mufflers. And where exactly is this cross-over blatter on the 800 pipes anyway. All thats on the stock pipes is a crossover tube that'll come off when to cut the mufflers off. Either way is a HACK JOB as far as I'm concerned and thats what it'll look like when its done.

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by kyclassic

Hi Guys/Gals,
I am brand new to this forum. I just found it two days ago and have been reading it almost non-stop. I have a few questions that have come up based on some of what I've read here. If anyone has time to answer one or all of them, it will be much appreciated.

First, just a little background. When I was 19 (I'm 43 now) I bought a Harley Sportster (1976 1000 AMF). I rode it like crazy at high speeds and with no thought of danger. Once while drunk I wrecked it with a girl on the back. We were both okay other than some minor injuries, but the insurance company totaled the bike. I bought the bike from the insurance company, had it fixed, and off I went just like before. After a few years I sold the bike to help pay for college.

Eight years ago I got the bug again and bought a brand new 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic. I loved the bike and rode it just about every day. Then I moved to Minnesota where the riding stinks (IMO) and rode it less and less. One day I was riding when it started to rain. I misjudged a turn and rode the bike into some sand on the side of the rode and dumped it at about 3-4 miles per hour. There was some cosmetic damage but it was all covered by insurance.

After that I did not ride the bike for three years. I had it in the garage all that time. I just got it out this summer, took it to the dealership to clean out all the gunk (believe it or not, it would still start after three years in the garage with a battery charge, but really dogged it) and tune it, and it runs great. So here I sit with a 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic with less than 2,000 miles on it.

Okay, sorry for the long background, but here are my questions:

1) I've read about drilling holes into the back of the pipes for better sound. Is this a legit way to get better sound? I'm a little hesitant to start drilling into the back of the pipes, but the one thing I loved about my Harley was the sound coming from my straight pipes. One other thing concerning this -- what happens to the metal shavings when I am drilling into the pipe? Do they just blow out eventually?

2) I am not very mechanically inclined. I mean, I can change oil, but that's about it. I would like to upgrade my air intake as suggested here, but do you think I would be better off going to the dealer?

3) This is the last one for now: I hate to admit this as I'm going to sound like a first-class wimp, but ever since the last time I dumped my bike I have been paranoid riding it. One day everything will be fine, and the next I'll start thinking about a tire blowing out, dropping it around a curve, etc.... I'm just wondering if anyone else has went through this and what you did about it.

Many thanks for considering my questions.

BTW, I'm back in Lexington, KY now where the riding is much better!

Thanks,
Barry

If you've never been inside a carburator before, I wouldn't start know. if you have then it's no big deal. you'll also want to remove the epa crap while your at it. You'll want aftermarket pipes before you do any midding of the carb.(scruffy did get that part right) You could have a dealer do the rejetting but they won't do it right on the 800. if you want to know the right jetting do a search on 800 crab jetting and you should find at least a couple dozen threads about it. Or PM me and I'll walk you through it. As far as the fear factor. Don't be thinking about the what ifs. or you never will get over it. I went down last fall doing about 70 ( dodging some deer) slid and flipped the bike . Got up with some road rash and road the bike back to town. Aftetr getting the bike back together within the next to weeks ,went back out and did what your saying (thinking about the what ifs in the curves) took me the better part of the day but I was grinding the peges again by the time I got home, and I don't think about it when I'm riding anymore. But thats me ,you may take longer or not that'll be up to you.

[bluestringer]

Originally Posted by kyclassic

Hi Guys/Gals,
I am brand new to this forum. I just found it two days ago and have been reading it almost non-stop. I have a few questions that have come up based on some of what I've read here. If anyone has time to answer one or all of them, it will be much appreciated.

First, just a little background. When I was 19 (I'm 43 now) I bought a Harley Sportster (1976 1000 AMF). I rode it like crazy at high speeds and with no thought of danger. Once while drunk I wrecked it with a girl on the back. We were both okay other than some minor injuries, but the insurance company totaled the bike. I bought the bike from the insurance company, had it fixed, and off I went just like before. After a few years I sold the bike to help pay for college.

Eight years ago I got the bug again and bought a brand new 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic. I loved the bike and rode it just about every day. Then I moved to Minnesota where the riding stinks (IMO) and rode it less and less. One day I was riding when it started to rain. I misjudged a turn and rode the bike into some sand on the side of the rode and dumped it at about 3-4 miles per hour. There was some cosmetic damage but it was all covered by insurance.

After that I did not ride the bike for three years. I had it in the garage all that time. I just got it out this summer, took it to the dealership to clean out all the gunk (believe it or not, it would still start after three years in the garage with a battery charge, but really dogged it) and tune it, and it runs great. So here I sit with a 1998 Vulcan 800 Classic with less than 2,000 miles on it.

Okay, sorry for the long background, but here are my questions:

1) I've read about drilling holes into the back of the pipes for better sound. Is this a legit way to get better sound? I'm a little hesitant to start drilling into the back of the pipes, but the one thing I loved about my Harley was the sound coming from my straight pipes. One other thing concerning this -- what happens to the metal shavings when I am drilling into the pipe? Do they just blow out eventually?

2) I am not very mechanically inclined. I mean, I can change oil, but that's about it. I would like to upgrade my air intake as suggested here, but do you think I would be better off going to the dealer?

3) This is the last one for now: I hate to admit this as I'm going to sound like a first-class wimp, but ever since the last time I dumped my bike I have been paranoid riding it. One day everything will be fine, and the next I'll start thinking about a tire blowing out, dropping it around a curve, etc.... I'm just wondering if anyone else has went through this and what you did about it.

Many thanks for considering my questions.

BTW, I'm back in Lexington, KY now where the riding is much better!

Thanks,
Barry

You can remove the rear baffles to get a good sound, drilling holes will only make it sound like a loud sewing machine. IF you are planning on doing an air mod, then go ahead and invest in aftermarket pipes, V&H Cruzers sound great on the 800. Forget removing the goats bladder as suggested, aint gonna happen because there aint one. Here's some links to good stuff about the 800.

http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/russwolf/


http://www.ipass.net/wb4iuy/index1.html