ME, baby, ME !
#1
ME, baby, ME !
WEll, just found you guys. I've had my 96 Vulcan EN500 for about 4 years, bought it for $550 with only 6800 miles on it !!! My last bike was a 71 Suzuki TS90 I semi-restored for my oldset som about 9 years ago. Before that was a 73 S2 350 I had for about 7 years from 77 thru 84 & sold during a yard sale - the guy offered $300 more than I paid for it & I put 10k on it during that time & it needed too much at the time. My first bike was a an old worn-out Hodaka Ace 100 that had been stripped to ride off-road/trails. My older brother had worked for a Yamaha dealership as a mechanic in the late 70's-early 80's, I always had something to ride since he bought & sold lots of bikes & almost all my friends had bikes of various types. Been riding since I was 10, back in 67 or 68. Actually started on a 3.5 HP mini-bike. Trails, motocross, trials, dirt flat-track & a little road-racing (albeit on the street!).
2.5 years ago, my brother gave me his old 79 Yamaha XS650 Special he'd had sitiin in a barn for about 12 years. Been slowly restoring it ever since. Really a great ride & will be even better when I get a few more $'s to finish some needed upgrades, but it'll be a rolling restoration!
The Vulcan has been a very reliable bike & now has 14,000 miles on it, just tires & oil/filter changes. Took it to ride the Dragons Tail in NC/TN in July along with the XS with my oldest son. It's time for me to do a really good maintenance on it - valve adjust, drive-belt change, platinum plugs, etc...
Any suggestions on anything not listed in the owners manual?
2.5 years ago, my brother gave me his old 79 Yamaha XS650 Special he'd had sitiin in a barn for about 12 years. Been slowly restoring it ever since. Really a great ride & will be even better when I get a few more $'s to finish some needed upgrades, but it'll be a rolling restoration!
The Vulcan has been a very reliable bike & now has 14,000 miles on it, just tires & oil/filter changes. Took it to ride the Dragons Tail in NC/TN in July along with the XS with my oldest son. It's time for me to do a really good maintenance on it - valve adjust, drive-belt change, platinum plugs, etc...
Any suggestions on anything not listed in the owners manual?
#2
RE: ME, baby, ME !
Welcome to the forums!
I think you have it about covered with your maintenance. Make sure to grease all your critical points such as the swing arm bushings, steering knuckle bearings. Check your brakes to make sure they are in good working order with no leaks around the caliper piston seal.
Keep it in good shape and you'll make it past 40k!
Good luck, and welcome again!
I think you have it about covered with your maintenance. Make sure to grease all your critical points such as the swing arm bushings, steering knuckle bearings. Check your brakes to make sure they are in good working order with no leaks around the caliper piston seal.
Keep it in good shape and you'll make it past 40k!
Good luck, and welcome again!