500/750/800/900cc

[bluestringer]

Has anyone found a solution to the cramped right foot peg due to the rear brake pedal being in the way? I have to hang my right foot out on the end of the peg or else it pushes the brake pedal down. I thought maybe someone made a different shaped lever that I hadn't found yet, or something. Maybe one that bends out in front of the peg and is positioned up higher, like the shift lever, so you can put your foot under it? Thanks!

They may not look good on the A, but I installed Cobra floorboards on mine. Plenty of foot space now. Also have the Cobra freeway bar with Kuryakyn dually pegs to give me another place to rest my feet.

[drmrd]

My brother and I have bought the same bike, 1993 Vulcan 750's. He bought his 2 months after me, and his bike had come with custom pipes, and mine with stock. We have tried to switch pipes, and when I get his pipes, my bike works fine, but when he gets the stock pipes, his bike won't even work.

We are both unsure about what the problem is and could definately use some help.

Thanks.

[bluestringer]

My brother and I have bought the same bike, 1993 Vulcan 750's. He bought his 2 months after me, and his bike had come with custom pipes, and mine with stock. We have tried to switch pipes, and when I get his pipes, my bike works fine, but when he gets the stock pipes, his bike won't even work.

We are both unsure about what the problem is and could definately use some help.

Thanks.

Welcome. Not sure what you mean by won't even work, but if it runs badly with your stock pipes, then an air mod and jetting was probably done along with the aftermarket pipes.

[The Vol-can]

I have been reading about the use of sprockets to help reduce the RPM's on the 800, but I wonder what the effect on pulling power would be. I'm a little over 200 pounds, and at times have to shift down to fourth to pull some hills in my area. Wouldn't the different sprockets only make this happen sooner and more often?

[drmrd]

bluestringer, my brother had mentioned something about jetting. Is there anything we could do to reverse it?

His bike won't even start up with the pipes.

[moparman]

bluestringer, my brother had mentioned something about jetting. Is there anything we could do to reverse it?

His bike won't even start up with the pipes.

Try removing any baffles to start with. If that makes it easier to start, then you need to jet it back to at least close to stock for sure. (It is like eating the 32oz. Super Steak Special and then being denied the bathroom. A bit too much back pressure....)

OR just get a set of GOOD pipes for him and all will be fine again.

OR how about swapping carbs too!

I take it he wants a quieter ride???

[moparman]

I have been reading about the use of sprockets to help reduce the RPM's on the 800, but I wonder what the effect on pulling power would be. I'm a little over 200 pounds, and at times have to shift down to fourth to pull some hills in my area. Wouldn't the different sprockets only make this happen sooner and more often?

Yes, it does happen sooner. Probably more noticable with a stock bike. If you have done any air/exhaust mods, you may not notice it as much. I have the 18 tooth on my 800 and today I rode 2up (over 400 lbs total cargo) on the bike and took some really steep climbs with no problem, although I did have to shift down. It still had gobs of power at 7500 feet though so a downshift wasn't a big deal to me.

It is definitely worth it to not have that "Dang it, I need another gear!" feeling gone.

[vanb]

I have been reading about the use of sprockets to help reduce the RPM's on the 800, but I wonder what the effect on pulling power would be. I'm a little over 200 pounds, and at times have to shift down to fourth to pull some hills in my area. Wouldn't the different sprockets only make this happen sooner and more often?

I changed out the front sprocket from the 17 tooth to the 18 tooth and did a air,carb,and pipe mod after 14500 miles and weigh 240.Only notice a small difference if I want to go over 80 mph into a strong wind.I wouldn't go back to the 17 tooth but won't put a 38 or 40 tooth in back in addition to the front sprocket change.over all I think it's a great mod.

[drmrd]

Yes it turns out he wants a quieter ride, I also assumed that his bike wouldn't start, but it turns out it works, but he gets a lot of power surges.

I don't know if that changes anything.

[The Vol-can]

[QUOTE=moparman]Yes, it does happen sooner. Probably more noticable with a stock bike. If you have done any air/exhaust mods, you may not notice it as much. I have the 18 tooth on my 800 and today I rode 2up (over 400 lbs total cargo) on the bike and took some really steep climbs with no problem, although I did have to shift down. It still had gobs of power at 7500 feet though so a downshift wasn't a big deal to me.

It is definitely worth it to not have that "Dang it, I need another gear!" feeling gone.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a winner to me! Thanks for the insight.

[tandt]

Actually it's not a choke ,it's an enrichener. When the bike is warm does it idle fine? you do have a knob to increase the idle under the intake.

The idle is fine when it's warm.

From what I'm understanding , when your talking about a stage one your saying that you've got aftermarket pipes with a jet kit? The intake is still stock?

Yes - stock intake, Cobra pipes with Dynojet Stage 1.

Without knowing what type of jetting the dealer or original owner has done it is gonna be hard to figure out the problem. we might need more info to help . like do you know if they used an aftermarket needle when doing the stage one?

I think I have the original needle, along with the stock exhaust and some other bits in the Dynojet box.

Plus some of your cold starts can be taken care of with a couple of adjustments ,but without know what all was involved with the rejetting(if it was done at all) it's gonna be hard to know which way to go from here. One thing I'll gaurantee is that if the dealer did the intake it's more than likely wrong ,especially if the stock intake is still on your bike.

It's not a huge deal - if it's an enricher, then it probably isn't supposed to idle any faster, is it? My old bike had a fast idle screw and a curb idle screw so I was thinking there was something similar....

[PainlessWolf]

Heyas,
I have a 2005 Drifter 800 with about 300 miles on it. I'm following the break in recommendations in the Owner's manual and not riding it hard or too long at any one speed. Today, I went to pull my manual out of the storage compartment on the right side and was suprised to find the plastic bag I had it wrapped in (along with other paperwork) coated in oil at one corner. I got a flashlight and looked inside the compartment and discovered motor oil in the bottom of it. My manual got oil on it also though the plastic of the bag.
(Irritated at that P ) I looked for the source and found an open ended rubber hose clipped to the wall of the compartment (similar to the one that ends up at the collection bottle at the front of the bike). The oil had been coming from that. Is this normal or am I missing a collection device or filter or line plug on my new Bike. It seems lunatic to have an oil line dripping into the compartment where Kawasaki says you can store your bike paperwork. I note that on the California models (which this isn't) that this compartment is used for an Emissions canister. Any help is appreciated. Got to go order a new manual now P
Painless Black Wolf
...Here for the Dawn...

[woodchucks800]

Heyas,
I have a 2005 Drifter 800 with about 300 miles on it. I'm following the break in recommendations in the Owner's manual and not riding it hard or too long at any one speed. Today, I went to pull my manual out of the storage compartment on the right side and was suprised to find the plastic bag I had it wrapped in (along with other paperwork) coated in oil at one corner. I got a flashlight and looked inside the compartment and discovered motor oil in the bottom of it. My manual got oil on it also though the plastic of the bag.
(Irritated at that P ) I looked for the source and found an open ended rubber hose clipped to the wall of the compartment (similar to the one that ends up at the collection bottle at the front of the bike). The oil had been coming from that. Is this normal or am I missing a collection device or filter or line plug on my new Bike. It seems lunatic to have an oil line dripping into the compartment where Kawasaki says you can store your bike paperwork. I note that on the California models (which this isn't) that this compartment is used for an Emissions canister. Any help is appreciated. Got to go order a new manual now P
Painless Black Wolf
...Here for the Dawn...

You got me stumped . I don't have anything like what you mentioned clipped to my storage box. The closest thing I could think of would be you crankcase vent hose thats suppose to connect to the back of your intake. But since it's been clipped on someone somewhere did it for a reason. I'd take it back to the dealer an ask him what he's going to do about it. It is still under warranty.

[jwick716]

The last time I rode a bike was 20 years ago (Ninja 600) I am looking at riding again getting a Vulcan 750. What I am looking for is advice if this is a good bike for someone who has not rode for awhile or should I go for the smaller 500 model.

Thanks

[bluestringer]

Heyas,
I have a 2005 Drifter 800 with about 300 miles on it. I'm following the break in recommendations in the Owner's manual and not riding it hard or too long at any one speed. Today, I went to pull my manual out of the storage compartment on the right side and was suprised to find the plastic bag I had it wrapped in (along with other paperwork) coated in oil at one corner. I got a flashlight and looked inside the compartment and discovered motor oil in the bottom of it. My manual got oil on it also though the plastic of the bag.
(Irritated at that P ) I looked for the source and found an open ended rubber hose clipped to the wall of the compartment (similar to the one that ends up at the collection bottle at the front of the bike). The oil had been coming from that. Is this normal or am I missing a collection device or filter or line plug on my new Bike. It seems lunatic to have an oil line dripping into the compartment where Kawasaki says you can store your bike paperwork. I note that on the California models (which this isn't) that this compartment is used for an Emissions canister. Any help is appreciated. Got to go order a new manual now P
Painless Black Wolf
...Here for the Dawn...

I don't have that line on my 800a. Not sure what that is. Join up at VROC and ask on the forum, someone there should know. www.vroc.org.

[v800cruiser]

I just bought on in June and I asked the same question to the dealership mechanic. He said to use the 89 octane (mid) fuel.

[woodchucks800]

I just bought on in June and I asked the same question to the dealership mechanic. He said to use the 89 octane (mid) fuel.

89 octane won't do a bit of good an it will carbon up your 800. Your owners manual teels you to burn 87 octane. Just one more thing your dealer knows nothing about.

[02vn8a]

A couple of months ago I bought a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 800A. It has aftermarket exhaust and jet kit, and just turned 6k miles. I run 91 octane gas and drive it in town most of the time. I've only put on about 800 miles so far.
The problem is that when I was out riding it around on the back highways today, it just died. I was going about 60, or a little better, and all the sudden it just shut off! No warning, sputtering, or loss of power at all before it died. I pulled over and tried to start it again. Initially, it would turn over but wouldn't start. I waited about a minute and it fired right up, no smoke or any other problems, and pulled back on the highway. About a mile later, it did it again. So I pulled off, did the same thing as before, and it started up again. I exited onto 40 mph roads and didn't have a problem for 10 miles all the way home.
I only had 40 miles on a near full tank of gas when it died. I tried switching it to reserve while I was coasting to the shoulder and it didn't start right up like when you run out of gas. All of the electrical still works when it dies.
Why is it doing this? Maybe a clogged fuel filter? I've never had anything like this happen before.
Thanks!

[woodchucks800]

A couple of months ago I bought a 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 800A. It has aftermarket exhaust and jet kit, and just turned 6k miles. I run 91 octane gas and drive it in town most of the time. I've only put on about 800 miles so far.
The problem is that when I was out riding it around on the back highways today, it just died. I was going about 60, or a little better, and all the sudden it just shut off! No warning, sputtering, or loss of power at all before it died. I pulled over and tried to start it again. Initially, it would turn over but wouldn't start. I waited about a minute and it fired right up, no smoke or any other problems, and pulled back on the highway. About a mile later, it did it again. So I pulled off, did the same thing as before, and it started up again. I exited onto 40 mph roads and didn't have a problem for 10 miles all the way home.
I only had 40 miles on a near full tank of gas when it died. I tried switching it to reserve while I was coasting to the shoulder and it didn't start right up like when you run out of gas. All of the electrical still works when it dies.
Why is it doing this? Maybe a clogged fuel filter? I've never had anything like this happen before.
Thanks!

It's a vaccum lock,just pop open the gas cap an you'll be on your way. It's a known problem with the 800's. It's not a major problem to fix because it's in the cap. I'll post the fix tomorrow to get rid of the problem. You might as well start using reg.87 octane gas since your not doing your engine any favors by using the higher octane(causing carbon buildup).

[02vn8a]

Sounds good. Thanks to all. I'll watch for the post tomorrow.