Kawasaki vulcan 900 classic

Add me to the list of Vulcan 900 LT owners with speedometer error. I followed my wife who was driving our pickup truck at highway speed. She set the cruise on the truck at 110km/hr. The bike speedometer read 119-120km/hr. I've noticed a noise coming from the vicinity of the rear wheel that sounds just like a defective automobile speedometer cable. Do any of you guys hear the same thing?

Surfrat, any idea what the deal is with the speedometer problem with Japanese and European bikes. I don't know how the speedometer works on a bike but it can't be rocket science.

The only other pet peeve I've go with this bike is the seat. It's killin me man. Half an hour at highway speed and my butt's starting to feel it.

John  

I bought my Vulcan 900 Classic LT in June of 06 and I love it.  I put around 6800 miles on it last year and now have 15,685 miles on it now.  My only real complaint is the seat.  However I don't know if I have just gotten used to it or if it has formed to my butt but it is better then it first was.  I would love to have a Mustang seat but can't see spending that kind of money for a seat.  Kawasaki now has a gel-seat for the 900 for $244 and I plan on buying one with my tax return.  I have added Cobra speedster slashcuts and love the sound.  My Harley friends can't beleive how good it sounds.  I can also run with most 96 cu. Harley's.  I found this out on my first poker run this spring while running with a Road King.  He was trying to lose me but couldn't shake me.  I also found out that day that I could run up to 90 mph (give or take a few mph) in fourth gear before shifting to fifth.  I live in the Quincy IL area and rode to Alton IL to Fast Eddy's last month with my girlfriend and she said her butt never really got tired at all.  My did but mostly because of the heat.  It was 100+ degree's that day.  Other add on's include an engine guard, luggage rack and highway pegs.  I also plan on adding passenger floorboards and fat riser II risers to move the handlebars up and back and a luggage rack.  The only problem I have had was the engine dying when own shifting at slow speeds.  This was taken care of whit a recall by Kawasaki.  I replaced the rear tire at around 8000 miles due to wear and just replaced the front a couple weeks ago.  I guess the only thing I really don't care for is the color..blue over silver.  It looks great but there are to many around.  I am planning on trading for either a 2000 Classic LT or a Nomad at the end of the 2008 ridding season.  By the way My speedo and fuel gauge are also off.  Not sure how much the speedo is off but when the fuel gauge hits empty I have 3 gal. left and when the light comes on I have a gal. left.  For the price you can't go wrong with this bike.  I love it!!!!  

Hopefully you got the Vulcan 900 Classic.
Last January I returned to riding after 40 years (my last bike was a 1968 Moto Guzzi V-7, and I wanted a V-twin cruiser). The Vulcan 900 Classic met all my criteria; price, comfort, size, and looks.
I agree that the speedometer and fuel gauge suffer a bit in the accuracy department, but I can live with it; when the gauge says empty, you still have over a gallon in the tank, but filling up at that point is a smart move.
One thing I learned quickly is that the Vulcan is a very forgiving machine. Once you learn to trust it, handling is a breeze. Since last January I've put on 5,000 miles, and in this state (WA) where it rains more than it doesn't, that's a lot of mileage.
Enjoy the ride.  

I've had my '07 Vulcan 900LT a month now and have logged a little over 1800 miles. Less 180mi = 1620 actual miles. The speedo is off a tenth as well as the odometer.
The ride is very nice. I gave $7855 out the door at AltusMotorSports.com in Oklahoma. The VN900 Classic listed for $6569 + $250 dealer setup...
Greatest ride for the money that I could find! No regrets so far! Harley buddies' eyes bug out when I tell em about the deal I got.  One of em swapped off his HD883 Sportster with me for a 100mi 2 wks ago and didn't want to trade back!
I have the maroon/titanium 2 tone and it's beautiful! I needed to score with the wife in the esthetics dept, and did!
I wouldn't recomend it for a 16 yr old's 1st bike but anyone with a little experience and at least 150 lb would have no problem with it.
 

One thing I haven't seen mentioned that really annoys me is the shiny surface around the speedometer. Reflects the sun and can be blinding sometimes! Would love to find something nice looking to put around the "plasti-chrome" to help that. Wrote to Kawasaki to no avail. Only other thing that is way inconvenient is the helmet lock under the seat. So, never use it. Speaking of seat, I too do alot of standing at red lights. But, I really like the bike & am glad I got it. Great price & great bike.  

I just put 1008 miles on my 07 VN Custom since I picked it up last Sat. I love it. I do have Cobra Dragsters on it and a retune for the pipes. The speedo is off and the fuel gauge is 50%off as well. O well, the rest is perfect. I am a composite engineer by day and plan to mold every piece of plastic in carbon fiber including all covers, fenders, the gauge cluster cover, and maybe even the gas tank with an internal bladder. This tranformation will start this winter, but until then, keeping the rubber on the ground.  

Speedo on my 08 900 Classic is off too.

I'm sticking with the thought that larger wheels/tires are the issue.....  

The next time you replace the rear tire, try the 170/80-15 instead of the stock 180/70-15.  That should bring your speedo to within about 1mph of being correct.  

I have a chance to pick up an '06 Vulcan 900 LT with about 2800 miles on it.  The bike has been driveway dropped a couple of times - has dents in both sides of the tank.  The owner says Kawasaki has a tank recall, so I could get it replaced free.  Anybody aware of this?  Says all other recalls have been completed.  Assuming good mechanical and cosmetic condition (except that tank thing), what's a fair price?  

The recall was for those who had purchased replacement tanks for whatever reason.  If it's the factory tank I don't think it's covered under the recall.  There are replacement tanks available on Ebay from time to time.  BTW, if it's been driveway dropped and had dents in the tank I'm guessing the owner did not install hiway bars.  If you get the ride that would be the first thing I'd do.  Price.....check NADA and go a bit down from there considering the damage.  

I have a 2007 900 classic lt it has all the bells and whistles,passanger floorboards ,mustang seat ,engine guards ,luggage rack,cobra speedters slash cut with quitezone baffles,speaker system for mp3.Took it off the showroom floor in May 07 now it has 14,589 miles first long trip 660 miles .Love the bike it  runs great in the mountains and on the flats .Replaced front and rear tires at 8200 to a matched set of ME880 also installed the cobra fi2000 fuel manegment.Wow this bike suprises them all .I will own another one if I wear this one out.  

I have a choice between a 900 classic and a C50. I don't know what to get. I like the rear suspension on the C50 it just gives a better ride than the vulcan. The Vulcan 900 wins on looks and style and power. I also prefer the belt drive. I think you lose some power with the direct drive.

I am a tall guy at 6'3" and 255# and the C50 is a little taller in the saddle. Is there any reason to pick one of these over the other as far as durability and quality. It seems used C50's are a little more readily available at a cheaper price too.

Any input from some of you that own Vulcan 900's would be greatly appreciated. Is there anything you don't like about the bike or would change other than the seat?  

Don't get too wound up. If I lock my car in at 70, the gps tells me I'm only doing 66.  For the truly anal in the forum, As your tires wear, your speedo, and odo will gradually become more inaccurate since the tire is getting smaller. One site http://www.speedohealer.com/eng/faq.htm puts the difference between new and bald tire at 2%. Granted they are selling product, but, the math for making allowances for a tire that is shrinking is pretty simple, and the number sounds reasonable.

That website also mentioned that the ODO isn't necessarily subject to the same amount of error as the speedo.