Déjà Vu

I decided I needed a 700 mile-a-day bike that was a little more two-up friendly. I have been wanting to take my son on some all days rides instead of just bike night. I need to be able to get to Indiana and back in a hurry, too. The rigid shovelhead is about a 400 mile a day solo and my 03 Vulcan uses a lot of oil after the 400 mile mark in a day.

So last Friday night, in the dark and cold, I picked an '02 Kawasaki 1500 Vulcan Classic. Just over 8k and still rolling OE tires.(I was shopping for Roadkings and Wideglides, too. But it is hard to spend $6-8K when $2600 can buy a clean and functional bike, like this one.) It needs de-chromed for my tastes, but it seems I can't just ride a bike like I bought it. I saw a few craigslist specials dressed closer to my tastes, but I like this one because of the low miles and damaged paint. The tank is fine, but both fenders are badly scuffed from a trailer ride at some point. I wanted one as fresh as I could get mechanically and the bad paint helped lower my offer. I didn't mention that I have a spare set of perfect tins to run. 

I'm naming this bike Déjà Vu, because I will probably build it with all the dresser parts and tins that I was running on my '03 in 2003.

Too much chrome and the hyper charger needs to go. Of course my son loves the "hot rod part on the side of the engine". SMH, but he is only 8. The carb wasn't jetted quite right, so it wouldn't quite idle right in the cold and the clutch switch was a bit dirty. So it was a challenge to keep running at stoplights and I couldn't get it to start in gear.



The paint is pretty nice if you like flames. Definitely glossy enough to floss your teeth in.


There's the scuff on the front fender.


There's the scuff on the rear fender is worse, clear to bare metal.


Including the elusive out of production chrome inner engine cover, chrome side covers, and driveshaft cover. That's all going to be up for sale, so I afford some new tires. The Corbin gunfighter is surprisingly comfortable for the rider, but not the passenger so that will be up for sale, too.


The mileage was under 8200 when I bought it.


Garage is getting a bit crowded.