500/750/800/900cc

[WhiteFox]

in washington state we can find it at NAPA, SCHUCKS,

oops double post, sorry

[rustygunner]

Originally Posted by ohsoloco

I was just poking around on ebay yesterday looking for backrests for my 800A. Seems like some pretty good deals on there (I think around $80 for a backrest w/pad as well as the side mounting brackets).

Question, I have a luggage rack on my bike already. I assume it's the stock one, and it bolts onto the sides of the fender rails (capping them off so to speak) as well as where the back of the seat bolts to the fender. So, can I still use this luggage rack with the side brackets for the backrest?

Sounds like a really good deal on the backrest. Sounds a little too good to me, but sometimes there are good deals to be had on ebay. It should work with your luggage rack if both are stock.

[rustygunner]

George, Really happy to hear you got your bike running. Sounds like you got some crap in the carb maybe. Keep running SeaFoam or something like it for a while. Most auto parts stores carry it here, but may be hard to find where you live. I buy it at the local farm store, but I'm pretty sure there are no farm stores where you're at

[Baldguy]

Napa, Autozone, I think Walmart has it too. I think it's 4 oz to a tank for the 500.

[ohsoloco]

Rustygunner, I was thinking the same thing, and was going to ask if anyone could recommend a good seller on ebay, but the seller has over 99% positive feedback. The only thing I don't like about the cushion is that it looks like it matches the older Vulcan seats...don't know how to describe it other than the fact that it looks "rough"...kinda like the fabric on outdoor furniture.

[jeffs99vulcan]

Originally Posted by ohsoloco

Rustygunner, I was thinking the same thing, and was going to ask if anyone could recommend a good seller on ebay, but the seller has over 99% positive feedback. The only thing I don't like about the cushion is that it looks like it matches the older Vulcan seats...don't know how to describe it other than the fact that it looks "rough"...kinda like the fabric on outdoor furniture.

Sounds like mine, the 800 Classic look... I call it Houndstooth, but it's not, exactly... I wonder if it's the same seller that I got mine from?

[Joram]

Originally Posted by drumrnj

Where is the Best Place to Buy Sea Foam? I cant seam to find it in any Auto Parts Store.
George

Not sure were you are from George, but Wall-Mat here in Florida carries it for less than $6 and sometimes on sale for $4.99.

[jeffs99vulcan]

He's in Queens, NY, Joram...

George, I get it at Napa... Seems there are a bunch of those in Queens, use the Napa web site to find one near you!

[Joram]

Originally Posted by ohsoloco

I was just poking around on ebay yesterday looking for backrests for my 800A. Seems like some pretty good deals on there (I think around $80 for a backrest w/pad as well as the side mounting brackets).

Question, I have a luggage rack on my bike already. I assume it's the stock one, and it bolts onto the sides of the fender rails (capping them off so to speak) as well as where the back of the seat bolts to the fender. So, can I still use this luggage rack with the side brackets for the backrest?

1. Watch out for scams on eBay for the backrest. The cheaper ones from Hong Kong are crap. They will rust up within 1 yr and the holes may not line up. I bought mine on eBay, but I made sure it was original Kawasaki part and I paid a little more, but I love it.. Got the 21" high model.

2. If your luggage rack is OEM, then it will fit with the original Kawi backrest, you just need longer screws to mount it up. The screws should come with the backrest.

Post a pic of the luggage rack you have and a link to the eBay auction for the backrest.

[jeffs99vulcan]

Joram, I gotta know... are those words in the background of your avatar? If so, got a full size pic so I can read it? If not... WHAT IS THAT?!

[Joram]

Just for you Jeff

[Joram]

Jeff, I thought you could use this one at work. I have it blown up hanging in my cube.

[jeffs99vulcan]

ROFLMAO!!! I do the tech support here in our office, but it's only an office of FOUR, so I'm pretty sure two would take it personally, one would KNOW it's directed at him (but he'd laugh), and I'm the other one!!! LOL!

Thanks for that!

[ohsoloco]

Okay, just a couple backrests I've been looking at:

backrest 1 I see this one doesn't include side brackets. I see this seller has backrests with brackets for about $125.

backrest 2 Not seeing anything about brackets for this one either.

Anyone have a seller/supplier they would recommend? Not in a big hurry for one since my bride-to-be only rides on the back every once in a while, but it would be nice not to have her helmet bounce off of mine for the first three gear shifts.

[jeffs99vulcan]

Do you have an A or B ohsoloco? The one in your first link is the one I have, that matches the texture of the stock seat on the B (Classic)... That's the stock Kawi picture.

I don't remember who I got it from, but it was around the same price. It's great, Kawi OEM quality, and I got it specifically because I wanted to match the stock seat, but that was before I realized what an IMMENSE difference a Mustang makes...

Now, what I'd IDEALLY like to do, is get the Mustang backrest PAD ONLY, and replace the Kawi pad with the matching Mustang one. It's hard to justify the $60 +shipping just for the look of the pad... but if you've ever read any of my ticking threads, you'll know I obsess easily!

I'll check back in my eBay history to see if I can find the seller, but it was last year...

EDIT: Nope... history doesn't go back any more than 60 days!

[ohsoloco]

Thanks for checking anyway. I have an A, so the material doesn't actually match my stock seat. I was thinking the difference in the material was a year thing, rather than a model difference...good to know.

Mustang seat...yeah, if I wasn't so cheap. After about 50 or 60 miles my lower back and butt are pretty much numb, gotta pull over for a little while. Speaking of cheap, I shouldn't even mention what I'm going to try for saddlebags....

[Joram]

Originally Posted by ohsoloco

Mustang seat...yeah, if I wasn't so cheap. After about 50 or 60 miles my lower back and butt are pretty much numb, gotta pull over for a little while. Speaking of cheap, I shouldn't even mention what I'm going to try for saddlebags....

Ohsooco,

The kawi OEM seat for the 800A sucks.. I have one. If you can not afford a Mustang or Cobra seat, check your local apolstry shops for prices to added memory foam and/or gel to the seat. Also, add a 1/4" spacer washer to the seat mount bracket that attaches to the fender. Makes a wonderful change in posistion to reduce the numbness. Look into adding risers to the bike, so you don't hunch over so much. Last but not least, look into a driver backrest. I am thinking of getting the ProTech from Scootworks, only $150.

As to the saddlebags, if you are looking for hard bags, I don't think anyone makes them. I am creating my own custom bags from a set off a Honda.

Picture of spacers under the bracket

[Joram]

Try this eBay search for a backrest on the VN800A. There are a couple of deals but watch out for the junk from Hong Kong.

VN800A Backrest

[ohsoloco]

Joram, thanks for the tips about the seat. I'll have to try the washers under the seat bracket. I've heard talk of risers on there many times, but what exactly are they? You also mention the junk from Hong Kong...are you talking about sellers from Hong Kong, or (I assume) people selling junk from HK?

As far as hardbags...I'm going to make my own custom bags. Working on a prototype right now.

[jeffs99vulcan]

Risers are the posts that your handlebars connect to... if you get risers that rise your handlebar up 4" and back 1" (a fairly standard setup), you'll sit completely differently...

The Mustang... is you EVER decide to part with the $, or find a second-hand one (as I was lucky enough to do, they're out there!) I suspect you will be AMAZED at the difference... I had the monkey butt problem and powered through it for a year and a half... changed the seat... WOW. Like, really... WOW.