Vulcan 1500 Classic Questions...

[CruiseRider]

I just found this forum and after doing various searches on the forums, there are some things that I can't find answers or don't understand the answers, if they were answers.

I recently purchased a used 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic motorcycle and have the following questions so far. I'm not a motorcycle mechanic, mostly just ride motorcycles and recently gained interest in learning more about the motorcycles. I've been riding for about a year now (a new rider that loves to ride).

These are my questions so far:

1. The motorcycle is getting between 30 to 32 miles per gallon with city and highway riding. Is there any tips for improving the mileage?

2. The Vulcan 1500 Classic has the stock pipes. I recently rode a 1999 Honda Shadow VLX VT600 that had nice sounding pipes and they were not too loud, but loud enough where everyone could hear me on the road. Some riders mentioned to me to remove the baffles in the stock pipes. With my lack of knowledge, where are the baffles and it is good to get them removed? What are the pro's and con's on removing the baffles?

The Vulcan has just over 5200 miles on it.

Thanks.

[RichLockyer]

I do not recommend removing the baffles.
Some people are happy with the sound, until they see someone else with a set of V&H or Cobras, and by comparison, the gutted stockers sound tinny and sharp.

Fuel economy will vary anywhere from 30 on the low side to a best of 45.
Cold starts seem to kill it, as does high speed. Also fuel quality will make a difference, and ethanol and other oxygenation additives can hammer fuel economy. I get about 10-20% better on Arizona/Utah fuel than on California/Nevada fuel.

To help, kick your tire inflation up to 40psi front and rear... that will also greatly extend tire life.

[bluestringer]

Forget removing the baffles and get a set of V&H Longshots. They sound really good without being obnoxious loud.

Is it carb or FI? If it's carb and someone has messed with it, that could be the cause of the poor mileage. It should get better than that. As Rich said, bump up the tire pressure, that will help.

Could be some carbon buildup, run some seafoam through it and see if it helps.

[Classic]

An '04 is carb'd and if the mileage really is that low then someone has futzed with the carb.

[CruiseRider]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

To help, kick your tire inflation up to 40psi front and rear... that will also greatly extend tire life.

The tire pressure is currently at 36 back and 28 front. These are the original tires on the motorcycle. I thought exceeding tire pressure would hurt the tires?

[CruiseRider]

Originally Posted by bluestringer

Is it carb or FI? If it's carb and someone has messed with it, that could be the cause of the poor mileage. It should get better than that. As Rich said, bump up the tire pressure, that will help.

Could be some carbon buildup, run some seafoam through it and see if it helps.

The Vulcan 1500 Classic is a carb one. I went back to the place I bought it at and they ran some carb cleaner through and the engine is clean.

They didn't recommend using Seafoam.

How can I determine if the carbs have been messed with or modified?

[Hawkeye 1500]

This is a great place to get info on your Classic.Another one is Gadgets website. He has a site dedicated exclusively to Classics and Nomads. Be prepared to spend ALOT of time on it cause there's tons of great info. Here's the link.

Gadget's Fixit Page For Kawasaki Nomad & Classic Modification Maintenance & Repair

[Ojisan]

My 06 1500 is FI'ed, stock still with the Goats belly, currently have about 4K on the Odo. If I am careful and keep off the throttle I can get upwards to 44MPG Highway and high 30's in town.

Like Rich said keep the tire pressure up, (mine is 38 rear/40 2up and 36 front) fuel here in AZ has a different blend than Cali so you can expect a little difference, depending on what state your in.

I currently suffer from "nomaditis" and can't wait for the cure!!!!!

[Spok]

Originally Posted by Classic

An '04 is carb'd and if the mileage really is that low then someone has futzed with the carb.

If the carb has been rejetted (only way to know is ask the previous owner) you can have the original spec jets put in. I have an 04 1500 and I am jetted with VH straighshots and I get 30-33 mpg regularly. Prior to having my bike rejetted, I was closer to 36-38 mpg with the pipes.

Originally Posted by CruiseRider

The tire pressure is currently at 36 back and 28 front. These are the original tires on the motorcycle. I thought exceeding tire pressure would hurt the tires?

I run my pressures at 40 front and rear. I made 18,000 on the stock front and over 12,000 on the stock rear. I find that with the pressures like that I get better handling and I don't experience a "squishy" roll over feel when cornering.

[rbentnail]

I also have an '04 1500, but with Vance & Hines 2to1 ProPipes, Kuryakyn HighFive full flow breather, rejetted carb and gutted EPA crap.

Around town I'll get 32-34 mpg, but on the hwy at 55-65 mph it's 37-38. It drops off a bit at faster speeds.

It sounds like the carb has been messed with but check the air filter and air plenum for clogging. Is it hard to start even with the choke on cool days? Will it start without the choke the first time you try it on a warmer day? Do you feel the need to constantly fiddle with the idle adjustment screw? Do you smell "gas" or the remnants of it when sitting at a stop sign or light? Are the exhaust pipes turning blue down by the goat belly, NOT just a little discolored but actual blue? If you ride for 20-ish miles and turn it off and restart it in 2 or 3 minutes does it backfire right before it starts? Pull the sparkplugs out- are they sooty? If you answer yes to any of these the chances are your fuel/air mixture combo is off a bit. Remember- too much fuel is rich, but so is too little air for the fuel you have, so you need to check both.

Also when mine was new it ran in the low 30's until about the 3rd oil change when I was very surprised to see 36-ish: had to recheck it several times to be sure. That bike has barely been broken in, give it time. It's mostly been sitting around for most of it's life.

Everyone is right about the tire pressures. Use the pressures the tire mfr. has on the tire sidewall, NOT the pressure listed on the sticker on the driveshaft. Kawi makes engines, they don't know squat about tires.

Has the oil screen ever been cleaned out?

Put the Seafoam in!!!!!

[NCDave]

Cruise,
I assume it's got the stock air intake as well as the stock exhaust?

I have an 01. I have put Jardine drag pipes, and re-did the air intake to remove the crossover tube and put the moroso cover on a K&N filter. I replaced the main jet with a 172 and adjusted the pilot.

Having done all that, I get 40 in town and 45+ on the highway. If I'm really hard on the throttle, my mileage goes down. Basically, with the larger main jet, that controls gas flow at wide-open-throttle. On the highway above 70, that's when it starts kicking in and my mileage goes down with that. If I'm casually crusing on back roads at 55 to 60, I have gotten up to 48, even with the wife on the back.

Oh, and as for tires, I run 40/40 on the air pressure, and pump the back up to 45 if my wife is riding with me. I've consistantly gotten good mileage out of them that way and haven't experienced any ill effects to handling or control.

[Sunnydude]

I have the FI model but after pipes i get 35mpg riding to work each day in traffic. It shoots up there on longer rides.

Found that 40psi was too much and that 38 front and rear is nice. Have 8500miles on my tires and they look new.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by CruiseRider

The tire pressure is currently at 36 back and 28 front. These are the original tires on the motorcycle. I thought exceeding tire pressure would hurt the tires?

"Exceeding" would be if you go above what is stamped on the sidewall of the tire itself.

MOM (and COM for that matter) recommended pressures are intended to provide a balance between acceptable tire life and a comfortable (read, soft like a Caddy) ride.

At recommended pressures, the tires will cup and wear prematurely. Another issue is that higher pressures help in wet traction... a tire inflated to 28psi will begin to hydroplane at 55mph. At 40psi that moves up to 75mph.

Underinflation is actually MORE damaging to tires than even mild overinflation (5psi or so over max)... underinflated tires run hotter, and heat degrades the rubber and can lead to tread separation.

[freightshaker]

Originally Posted by CruiseRider

The tire pressure is currently at 36 back and 28 front. These are the original tires on the motorcycle. I thought exceeding tire pressure would hurt the tires?

Grass hopper, that's not exceeding the pressure, on a bike it's a little different than a car in that the tires are rounded. On a car many people foolishly look on the tire for the pressure, what is there is the MAXIMUM tire pressure, the manufacturer of the tire doesn't know if his tire is going on a heavy luxury car or a light touring car. The vehicle manufacturer has done the engineering and posted their suggested pressures on a label located on a door panel as well as the owners manual. Back to the bike, the manufacturer says 28/36 but since everyone rides differently and carries different loads then you need to up the pressure, also the pressures they give you is for someone the size of one of the Olsen twins, like your car manual suggests, you'll need to add pressure for increased loads (or fat butts). Don't go lower than the 28/36 and do not exceed the MAX branded on the tire when cold.

[bluestringer]

I went back to the place I bought it at and they ran some carb cleaner through and the engine is clean.

They didn't recommend using Seafoam.


Was it a dealer? If so I would be looking for somewhere else to take it.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by freightshaker

On a car many people foolishly look on the tire for the pressure, what is there is the MAXIMUM tire pressure

That is exactly what I do, and I have NEVER had a tire show more wear in the center than the edges.

It has allowed me to get 60k out of cheap 40k warranty tires on more than one occasion.

[freightshaker]

Sometimes Rich, I think you're my brother from another mother

[CruiseRider]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye 1500

This is a great place to get info on your Classic.Another one is Gadgets website. He has a site dedicated exclusively to Classics and Nomads. Be prepared to spend ALOT of time on it cause there's tons of great info. Here's the link.

Gadget's Fixit Page For Kawasaki Nomad & Classic Modification Maintenance & Repair

I recently found that web site too and it is a resourceful web site. Thanks.

[CruiseRider]

Originally Posted by bluestringer

They didn't recommend using Seafoam.


Was it a dealer? If so I would be looking for somewhere else to take it.

It was the dealer that I bought the motorcycle that recommended me to not use Seafoam. I found it the local WalMart store for $5.66 and AutoZone has it for $6.99. I may eventually buy Seafoam, just waiting for some time to pass to see how the motorcycle rides.

Today I replaced the spark plugs (NGK DPR5EA-9) in the motorcycle. When I started the motorcycle, I could tell a difference in the sound of the engine. I had to take a ride on it this cool day (52 degrees and 20-30 MPH winds) and there is a difference.

[rbentnail]

Originally Posted by CruiseRider

I recently found that web site too and it is a resourceful web site. Thanks.

Welcome CR to the Forum! You are spot on about Gadget's website- most of us here have used it, some have contributed to it, and all have admired it for inspiration. Even old mechanic geezers like me can't help but marvel at people's ingenuity.