500LTD Performance Mods

[KawaBlue]

I've been working with a couple of guys who race on the local circuit. Of course, we've discussed some possible performance mods for my Vulcan 500LTD. I have a lot of respect for the experience and knowledge of you folks in this forum and wanted to get your opinion on the following:

Upgrading to hotter sparkplugs. The owners manual recommends not to use a hotter plug, but I was wondering if this was just a conservative manufacturer thing or if it could be harmful.

Changing the Keihin CVK32 carbs to the Keihin CVK34 carbs found on the Ninja 500. This doesn't sound logical, even if the engines are basically the same. The valves are adjusted differently and the airboxes may also be different. The next step would be to also re-jet the new CVK34's. I'm not very familiar with re-jetting carbs.

Adding a K&N air filter. This looks possible. Don't know if it will make much of a difference though.

Replacing the stock megaphone mufflers with something a little more open. I have heard that this increases performance, but the vertical twin engine sounds terrible unless it is really muffled. If this is a possibility, can you folks recommend replacement mufflers?

I know these questions may be on the elementary side for you folks, but like I said, I trust your opinions. I was a viewer long before I joined this forum and used it to get find answers then.

Thanks

[maiden4ever]

im new to this whole thing too---all the reading i've done says get the megaphone mufflers from jc whitney, get some new packing for the baffles and wrap them to your liking.

[Scruffy]

Most late-model vertical twins (post 1970s) sound like a misfiring chainsaw when you swap mufflers. However, that being out of the way, my wife had a 450 Rebel that sounded EXACTLY like a small v-twin. Stacked taper tip mufflers (baffled but not packed) on the right hand side of the bike. Not sure if a stacked single side dual exhaust is even available for the 500 Vulcan. Suppose you could make one.

Better air filter? Pretty much mandatory, factory airboxes are notoriously poor breathing. K&N or Emgo pods, just keep them cleaned and oiled properly. Which means, follow the directions on the recharge kit. Treat Emgo pods exactly the same as K&N pods, same basic filter, guaze and stainless steel mesh.

Bigger carbs? Only if you need to up the jetting 3 sizes or more. You shouldn't for street use.

Hotter plugs? Nope, only if mechanically needed, and they shouldn't be needed. Won't hurt, but, won't help. Save that step for IF it becomes mechanically indicated (read your plugs and compare to a color chart).
-Scruffy

[larrycavan]

Hi Kawablue,

I agree what Scruffy said about plugs and carbs. [Hello Scruffy...I"m new here too and looking to make some new friends as well].

Something to keep in mind about dragracing. You're bracket racing for starters. You don't need to do anything to your bike to win except be consistent at the lights.

Secondly, a Vulcan 500 isn't realy the kind of bike you can easily modify and get huge gains for the effort. If you stay interested in drag racing, find an old KZ1000 to use as a base platform and modify that. You'll have a strong reliable engine that you can still find all sorts of performance parts for and get very noticable gains from the right mods. If you need advice on buildin it, a ported head, etc., give me a shout and I'll be happy to help you out.

Larry

[KawaBlue]

Thanks Scruffy, Larry & Maiden. I've been away from the computer for a few days and haven't had a chance to follow up. I'm not interested in racing my bike. I use it for around town and a few trips (under 100 miles). The guys I've been talking to both are into racing bikes and I've been helping them, trying to learn a little. I've got a K&N filter ordered and will probably do a re-jetting on the carbs. I've got a friend who builds custom exhausts for cars and may see what he can do about my bike. Anyway, thanks gang. As always, you come through.