Do Not Buy The 900lt!!

[Skiing49er]

WAAA! It's too bad you changed your mind after buying your LT. But, your trashing is uncalled for. My 900LT continues to serve the purpose for which I bought it and no D.A. is going to change that. Here's a link for a great looking luggage rack that bolts right on to the beautiful STOCK sissybar.... Go cry to someone who cares!

Chrome Luggage Rack for OEM Backrests, VN900 Classic LT - 02-273

[ZeroPunch]

This is one of the threads which convinced me to get the classic instead of the LT, I must admit that on the sale floor the LT is a very attractive bike with all the stuff, bags, sissy bar, windscreen one might want but I like ala carte. Adding what I like not what a marketing department has decided going to sell. But for those who are happy with their LT's ... Enjoy the ride!

[MrClean]

Two years later and there are luggage racks that just bolt on. He was just complaining about the way things were TWO YEARS AGO!!!.

And I have saddle bag inserts that you just lift out and take your stuff with ya. Better than leaving stuff on the bike.

[SilverEagle]

Originally Posted by mx151

Just throwing my 2cents in. Price saddlebags with supports and a sissy bar and a windshield and it will double in price if you buy separately.
Plus the saddlebags do fine- I can buy a 12 pack of bottled beer and put it in the saddlebags that came with my LT on my way home and still have room for sunglasses and a sweatshirt and a couple jackets in the other side.
Plus you can buy some easy brackets that I bought that work excellent with the stock bags. Plus there is a million different sissy bars out there, if ya dont like the tall one, do what I did, measure the width of the sissy bar and match it up, I found a sweet one at a harley shop that is small and sleak, but I havent bought it yet. The windshield did get ebay'd. It provided excellent wind protection but looks like somthing off of a Chips show. Poncho says- your windshield is fugly.......haha. The 2 tone on the LT is much prettier than the custom, you'd think a 'custom' would be 2 toned. And to finish this- why would you ***** about buying a LT- you did make the choice to buy the LT instead of the Custom.................................

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV it when newbies resurrect a two year old post and comment on it like it was posted yesterday? If you are pretending to give advice, at least do your homework and check the date of the posting.

[Bob Brooks]

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

*hops up on his soapbox*

I have come to the conclusion that I bought the wrong bike ...and I can no longer feel comfortable recommending the Vulcan 900LT anymore to anyone who asks me.

As a first time motorcycle buyer back in June, I did a lot of research and came to my decision with, what I felt was, good information. The Vulcan 900 fit my need quite nicely for the types of riding I would be doing. In addition, I knew I'd want a windshield, passenger backrest, and saddle bags to go on short trips, so the LT seemed to be the "logical" choice. I was so incredibly wrong on that latter decision.

I'd still buy a Vulcan 900 tomorrow, but in hindsight, I think I'd get the Classic and use the $1200 difference (plus interest for 4 years) to build it up the way I wanted, rather than spend it on parts that I'll end up having to rip off my bike anyways to get some of the items I need/want now. I always had my doubts about those OEM bags (figured I'd eventually replace them with Easybrackets and a better set of bags)...but the windshield, sissy bar, two-tone paint, and extra year of warranty was, I thought, worth the extra money.

...that is until I realized that you have to toss the sissy bar and all of its mounting hardware ...and pay for a completely different set ...just to add something as simple as a friggin' luggage rack. Driver's backrest? Ha ...that would take replacing not only the sissy bar and mounting hardware, but apparently the bag supports as well!

The saddlebags are completely useless for anything other than junk storage ...they don't lock and can't be detached, forget using them as luggage on a trip. The windshield is ok, but there's better ones available (although I do like the big Vulcan emblem). The two-tone paint job is nice, but a solid red, blue, or silver would be just fine also. The extra year of warranty? Hahaha! What a friggin joke. I have two years of worthless paper ...lotta good it's doing me ...nothing on my instrument panel is accurate and I've been given no hope of it ever being fixed. Heck, my engine could drop out of the bottom of my bike tomorrow and I'd fully expect to hear from both my craptacular dealer and Kawasaki that "it's normal" and I'd have to pay to have the engine put back in.

The LT is simply not worth the extra $$$. So, to all of you looking to buy a 900 (which I still contend is one of the best all-around cruisers on the market) ...get the best deal on a Classic and use the difference to build it the way you want. In the end, you will save yourself $1200. Don't get hooked into the same fiasco that some of us are in right now just because Kawasaki, in their infinite wisdom, designed a sissy bar to be as wide as the friggin' State of Texas.

*does a swan-dive off his soapbox*

I had good luck outfitting my 900 Classic to my own taste. It now looks very similar to an LT, with a National Cycle windshield, Saddleman bags, Memphis Shades lowers, and Cobra sissy bar. It cost me far less than the LT, but it enabled me to get more familiar with my bike and where everything is/goes/etc. BUT, if someone does not have minor mechanical skills, a good set of tools and some patience...and would have to pay a shop to install the accessories...the cost differential would probably close.

With this web forum there is lots of great advice about what fits, and some (more skilled than I) post great pictures to go by. Ebay continues to amaze me...got my new Saddleman bags for $60 in some shop's close-out of that item. They're not leather like the factory bags, but they're good enough for me and the mounting was pretty easy with a bit of thinking, 1/4" aluminum plate, chrome spacers, and longer bolts into fender brace. List price for the Kawi bags is just plain insulting.

My main objection to the LT in 2006 was those damned chrome studs running around the edge of everything.

[Bob Brooks]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV it when newbies resurrect a two year old post and comment on it like it was posted yesterday? If you are pretending to give advice, at least do your homework and check the date of the posting.

I think it's JUST FINE when newbies or grizzled old forum participants mention something that has been written about before. The parade of participants is constantly changing. Everyone should feel free to post their observations or questions without fear of being ridiculed. Lighten up!

[gabelawcdn]

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

Thanks for all the responses.

I simply don't believe many new buyers are aware of this fact, so even if they know what they want (like I did), they don't realize the full impact ...unless you plan to keep your bike completely and utterly stock exactly as you bought for as long as you own it, the extra $1200 is a waste of money. That is all I'm saying.

You know what's strange? The LT is cheaper than the classic up here in Canada right now - at least the remaining 2007 models!

I purchased my 2006 900LT used - has 3000 km on it - totally mint. I paid $8K Canadian. At the same time I was at a Kawi dealership looking at a new 2007 - they had a promotion on the LT - asking $8500 - but then I would have had to have paid PDI, tax, admin fees, etc. about $9800 out the door. So I made a decision and bought the used one (I liked the lady I purchased it from and hate paying tax!).

What was crazy is the cash price for the 2007 900 Classic was $9,200 - more than the LT!! They had both on the floor - saw them. Weird, no?

[airchuk]

http://www.kawasaki.com/KawasakiNew/Accessories2/PCItemDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=K53020375&Reason=6&in tCatalogID=1&intCatalogType=4&ProductTypeID=63&Mod elMarketingId=587&ModelYear=2008&CategoryID=160

Is this one available? It took forever to get the luggage rack for my V2K Classic LT. The lack of accessories for the Kawasaki bikes distresses me. As much as I like my V2K, if I ever change bikes it won't be a Kawasaki. Way too hard to buy accessories.

[gabelawcdn]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV it when newbies resurrect a two year old post and comment on it like it was posted yesterday? If you are pretending to give advice, at least do your homework and check the date of the posting.

Wow.....thanks for making us "newbies" feel welcome.

The post is still relevant for those of us who are just buying/have just bought bikes... I'll be careful when I respond from now on.

[Slpr_61]

Originally Posted by gabelawcdn

Wow.....thanks for making us "newbies" feel welcome.

The post is still relevant for those of us who are just buying/have just bought bikes... I'll be careful when I respond from now on.

I agree. w/o newbies, how long does one think a forum would last? hmmm.
heck, at only 360some posts, i even kinda consider myself a newbie, lol

[Bloodbag]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV it when newbies resurrect a two year old post and comment on it like it was posted yesterday? If you are pretending to give advice, at least do your homework and check the date of the posting.

I intentionally dug up a thread (New Pipes now on page 4) from the very first page of the cruiser section. No one seemed to notice. I thought it was pretty funny, though. The upside is that folks are using the "search" feature to find them, which is something new users are encouraged to do.

[airchuk]

WELL! 3,069 posts! I guess we NEWBIES have been put in our place.

[Lobocop]

Originally Posted by Razorpoop

Hey Guys and Gals! (Show us your beast!)
Post your Bike Modification Pictures in the following forum thread:


Kawasaki Cruisers / Vulcan VN2000 - Customized, Chopped & Popped!


250cc to 2000cc - ALL ARE INVITED!

Vulcans.....Drifters.....Crotch Rockets..... Let us see PICTURES of your bike MODIFICATIONS!


PS: Don't forget to add a link, from where you got the best deals!

Razorpoop, what parts are you actually looking for?

[Razorpoop]

Hey Lobocop!

The parts hunt is frustrating and everyone that seems to stock custom part for the V2K, seem to be from the same basket. Looking for more "Custom" apps, not "Bolt on's".

Hmmm .... I suppose that's why their "Custom" and not readily available.

In answer to your question though? I am looking for a triple tree with +7degrees rake above stock, a clean looking "Corbin Like" solo seat that doesn't look like it was made for a butt 4 feet wide and lastly, a set of front end roaters that a powerfull but small enough, so as not to take away from the look of the "Show Chrome" wheels you just spent $2000 on!

I know, I know ...... I better talk to Santa! lol

[Lobocop]

Originally Posted by Razorpoop

Hey Lobocop!

The parts hunt is frustrating and everyone that seems to stock custom part for the V2K, seem to be from the same basket. Looking for more "Custom" apps, not "Bolt on's".

Hmmm .... I suppose that's why their "Custom" and not readily available.

In answer to your question though? I am looking for a triple tree with +7degrees rake above stock, a clean looking "Corbin Like" solo seat that doesn't look like it was made for a butt 4 feet wide and lastly, a set of front end roaters that a powerfull but small enough, so as not to take away from the look of the "Show Chrome" wheels you just spent $2000 on!

I know, I know ...... I better talk to Santa! lol

The first person I would contact for the custom parts you are looking for would be Scott @ Barons (send a private message thru the forum to Scott@Baron). If it is something that Barons actually carries you might be able get a forum discount through Beartooth Kawasaki (forum owners). If it is a specialty item, as most of that list is, Scott should be able to direct you to the best place.

Hope this helps and welcome to the forum.

[VulcanRev]

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

*hops up on his soapbox*

The saddlebags are completely useless for anything other than junk storage ...they don't lock and can't be detached, forget using them as luggage on a trip. The windshield is ok, but there's better ones available (although I do like the big Vulcan emblem). The two-tone paint job is nice, but a solid red, blue, or silver would be just fine also. The extra year of warranty? Hahaha! What a friggin joke.

*does a swan-dive off his soapbox*

Good points........for you.

The saddlebags hold enough to go on a 3 day, 2 nite excursion over 900 miles 2-up. May I sugest the book Pack Light, Pack Right. Also bag liners are a neato invention, all the stuff comes right out and into my motel room w/me, no extra key to carry around for my bags, no unzipping, unhooking, untying, unclipping, etc.

I consistently get comments from Nad and other riders about how they wish they had as big a windshild as I do.
I confidently talk of the nice cusion the sheild, the lowers and my airlite provide...and I'm not in a wheel chair thinking of how cool I'd look if I was exhausted after a 500 mile day with 2" of bug-crap slung all over me so I could say "I did it with a sport-shield".

Paint...suits me just fine, other than straight black it's unique and makes my 900 stand out a little over other "stockers".

Warranty....who cares! It's why I bought a Kawi. Figured I'd likely never use it...and low and behold, 18 months and 18,000 miles later the only thing I've been into my dealer for (other than the recalls) is to drool over my next Kawi.

To each their own, ride your ride, reccommend the bike to another that "FITS" them, one they like the look of and are confident on and allow them to go from there.

[VulcanRev]

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

I LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV it when newbies resurrect a two year old post and comment on it like it was posted yesterday? If you are pretending to give advice, at least do your homework and check the date of the posting.

Does the date and the post count matter that much, it's on the page and now up to several pages...

Good convo is what it's all about...or at least that's waht I thought...

[jukief]

Hey, I love resurrected threads!

And this one is relevant to people who are looking at 900s now.

As for the bag liners, I agree. I have LeatherLyke bags that lock, but I use bag liners so it's easy to take my stuff into the motel when we stop for the night. They work great. I have to say, though, that I much prefer locking saddlebags and have been really happy with my LeatherLyke bags.

[SilverEagle]

Well, Gabe from Calgary..........it is not the resurrection that is out of place......it is people who do a search(Search is what we recommend), then jumps into an old post with a comment of "attitude" like this one below, keeping the tone to the original poster like he is dumb and just have to suck it up......meantime he has acquired another bike to fit his needs.

Originally Posted by Skiing49er

WAAA! It's too bad you changed your mind after buying your LT. But, your trashing is uncalled for. My 900LT continues to serve the purpose for which I bought it and no D.A. is going to change that. Here's a link for a great looking luggage rack that bolts right on to the beautiful STOCK sissybar.... Go cry to someone who cares!

Chrome Luggage Rack for OEM Backrests, VN900 Classic LT - 02-273

I just don't think it is respectful to another member to do this sort of thing......we all have opinions.......resurrect all you want. But if your intentions is bashing or putting down a member. I would like to ask you rather not post at all.

This board has a lot of insightful people, so if you ask a question in a resurrected thread.....that is fully fine.........but at least keep it relevant to the thread.....statements like "Waaaah" and "just too bad".........belongs to junior high school level