Hi yall, my name is Chris, My friends call me Spur....youll probably call me Chris :)

Here's the deal....I can drive a 2004 750 Vulcan off the dealer floor Tuesday....It looks like a great bike, the only thing I dont like is the fact I cant put any sweet leather saddlebags with conchos on it without major hassle and the lack of other available accessories. It looks like a sweet bike and has most of what Im looking for other than the toys I can get for it later.

I have also been looking at the 650 V-Star Classic and REALLY like it. I just dont know what to do and wanted to get some folks advice that know what they are talking about thru experience....please help, any advice is appreciated. Im pretty thick skinned so shoot straight with me.

Thanks in advance!

Why no saddlebags? I have two great looking ones on mine (willie and a Max) just need to install the supports.

You do...Im getting messed up info....do you have a pic you could post or email me of your ride? Spur1too@aol.com

Is there a website that shows some after market toys for the 750 Vulcan....thanks for the response!

Hi Spur,

Accessories aside, cuz they aren't as important as the function of the bike itsself.

I am not well enough versed in the comparisons between our 750 and the Yamaha, but that is what you should make you decision based on.

Yes, we do have to be creative in our accessorizing the VN, but there are over a thousand riders between here and the Yahoo group the can help you with anything from full on fabrication of floorboards, dashboards, llighting kits and of course the saddlebag dilema.

So back up, regroup, and consider the actual performance and maintenance issues. Does the 650 have chain, shaft or belt drive? Which do you want to mess with? Adjusting, lubing and cleaning the chain and sprocket all the time. Minimal maintenance on the shaft or belt drives. Center stand for maintenance and storage or side stand. Power on demand or gutless but pretty engine.

We could go on and on, but since I don't know much about the 650, you make the call, we won't mind, you have to ride it.

Good Luck

Of course we are biased here. I have a good friend who is new to motorcycling. He recently bought a Yamaha V-Star 650. Nice bike. I have ridden it on a few occasions.
If you read the August Cruiser magazine you will see a comparision of 7 650 - 800 cc machines. For some odd reason the VN750 was not tested. Probably could not find one. Anyway feature for feature, dollar for dollar the VN750 is much more bike. Full instruments, tubeless tires, centerstand, liquid cooled, dual disc brakes, handlebar mounted choke, more HP, torque, etc. etc.
Yes there are more after market trinkets for the 650 than the 750. But to me that is part of the fun. Improvising. HD's are nice. I have several friends that have them. But both good and bad, HD has a catalog devoted to nothing but accessories for HD. Hundreds, if not thousands of add-ons. VN750 - not. You really have to be creative and make your machine uniquely yours.
VN750 - a winner.

Both bikes are shaft driven and I agree 100%, the performance is the greatest issue. Honestly I didnt even consider the Vulcan until the other day, it caught my eye and I have heard great things about the Vulcan such as...Shaft drive, liquid cooled, excellent shifting, I like the cast-aluminum wheels as opposed to spoke, easy maintenance.....thats why Im struggling now on the choice.

Heres a couple more rookie questions....
Passanger comfort and would you hessitate to take this bike on long hauls

I have not taken it on any long trips. My longest has been 600 miles. Two up riding for any length can be tiring. I have floorboards, highway pegs, driver backrest, all which make for a comfortable ride.
Many people have taken their 750 on marathon trips of several thousand miles with no problems.
Also the 750 has automatic cam chain tensioners, self adjusting valves, 4 valves per cylinder and two plugs per cyclinder. The bike has much better performance than the 650.
I have saddlebags, driving lights, GPS, extra horn and more.
Gotta go.....

Heres a couple more rookie questions....
Passanger comfort and would you hessitate to take this bike on long hauls

The long haul issue;
I have ridden it for up to 7 hours on a trip back from Little Rock to Tulsa. The prevous owner here in Tulsa, had put 54,000 miles on it with trips to Canada and Yellowstone, riding 2-up on the stock seat.


2-up
I have ridden on the back with my son driving and rode bitch with Cory recently. While it is not as roomy as a Goldwing, it does a passable job. Personally if I were very concerned about riding double very often, I would simply consider a VN1500.

Actually the 2 up issue isnt that big of a deal. I would like that option periodically to ride the back roads with my wife....great info guys

I did find the bags I want to get on my bike when it happens.....http://www.buykawasaki.com/Default.asp?strContentURL=Site/DLDealerLocator/DLDealerLocator.asp

It looks like I will pick a 2004 next Saturday....the more I find out about these bikes the more I am impressed. It must be a sleeper bike cuz I didnt here about it anywhere like some of the bikes out there that are pushed on every page of a bike mag....Im getting pumped! Looks like I will joining the ranks of 750 vulcan owners, talked to the dealer about it yesterday and he made the figures work on paper....any more tips for a rookie bike buyer on what I should ask the dealer to throw in the deal or make sure it includes?

Im sure this is not the most economical plase to get accessories but its nice to see they are out there....Im sure yall have seen this though but just in case....
http://www.vn750.com/forum/showthread.php?p=648#post648

oops sorry...I think this is the link...if not on the Kawasaki website under accessories there is a bunch of 750 toys.... http://www.buykawasaki.com/site/PCProductCatalog/PCCatItems.asp?

Well this is not first hand experience, but somebody told me the 650 vstar was weak in power. I havent tried it myself, but they rode my bike and said it was plenty peppy, then rode the 650 and was dissapointed.

maybe this helps

Spur,

I actully looked at 650 Roadstar before I bought my 04 Vulcan 750. I did this because I had an older Yamaha 650. I truly LOVE my VN750. You will not be dissapointed! The MSRP is $6,099, you should be able to get him to come down at least $500 if you try. My dealer came off $300 no problem when I was trying to get the deal I wanted. Came home and checked online and found one for $5,599 (explains the no prob with $300). Also able to find plenty of accesories from members of the forum. Hope to see your pics of the new bike soon.

Good luck on getting your bike. If you do you will no be disappointed. THE VERY FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO....dump the OEM Wet Cell battery and get a maintenance free gel battery. Either a Westco or a Yuasa. Maybe you can talk the dealer into doing it for you. The Vn750's one weak area - the electrical system. Not to worry over this. Just need to be aware of it and take appropriate precautions. So far I have not had one problem with my '03.

Thanks again guys! Im sure I will have a kabillion questions....now I know where to find the answers!

Thanks again guys! Im sure I will have a kabillion questions....now I know where to find the answers!

Too bad you're all the way out in Texas - my dealer's got an '02 (I think). Windshield, studded saddlebags without the support brackets. That was suprising to me since I did the same thing, but my bags are only 8" by 8". These were 12" by 8" I believe. $4500 asking, 4000 miles on it, bet it could be talked down since its been dropped (yes, I know first hand how a 750 scars if its dropped)..... but not like it makes any difference to the bike's performance or appearance. It happens to be parked next to this '02 Streak with only 3k miles on it that I can't help but visit on a weekly basis :) .

My bike - bought in October, 00 after I finishe the MSF course. Been dropped a few times, cracked the block at 9k on a railroad rack, had some warantee work done at 19k this winter.... she rolled 22k today on a run & she still keeps up with the 1500s with the hypercharger kits ;) . No mechanical mods, but with a tank bib, visors on the signals and headlamp, slap the Metzler 880s on there.... you're set! As far as 2-up riding, I don't do much except for novelty purposes. Lets put it this way. I weigh 160lbs. So long as my passenger's small (150lbs or less), I don't even notice they're there. When they push 200lbs (believe the recommended capacity is 350lbs), the bike's not too happy & the springs compress fully on harded bumps. But a 650 ain't gonna do ya better in that respect.

Re: the saddlebags. What you're probably hearing is that because of the position of the rear turn signals, medium and large bags will come under neath then and have difficulty opening. Kaw sells a saddlebag support kit that includes a turn signal relocation (about 120 bucks)

I hvae large W&M grey thunders (SB745 I think) and have had them a year with no supports or turn signal relocation. Yeah the T/S are a little in the way when I want to open them fully but it's been little more than a minro irritation. Snowman's working on my support brackets which I do recommend but aren't absolutely required.

There's all kinds of options on the T/S reloc. Several folks have relocated them by moving them to the rear light housing. Others have ditched the stock t/s stems and mounted various after market signals in various places (like the license plate frame). Right now I'm toying with the idea of fabbing my own reloc bracket of sorts. Like someone said, the joy of this bike is that there AREN'T a lot of bolt on aftermarkets stuff and we truly have to 'customize' our bikes.

Like Hoot said, base your decision on performance and basic style, how it fits you.

Lots of pics loaded on the Yahoo Group site. Many different saddlebags in use. Go here and join:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VN750/

Also check the pics in my sig line.

*LOL* Yes we have seen it. We use the Buykawasaki site mainly to find part numbers so we can order things other places. There are definitely more reasonable prices on saddlebags elsewhere. The saddlebag supports though are a bit tough to come by, though with the part number you might get them from RonAyers cheaper. (They just haven't had the best customer service lately, summer help maybe?)