My Multiple Bike Syndrome is acting up again!

[hellhound1]

A friend's neighbor is selling off a 1986 (I think) Kawasaki Vulcan 750. It's in remarkable condition for the price he wants to sell it for, $300. It looks just like the picture, with only a scrape on the tank and a broken turn signal from where he dropped it one time. The engine really just needs to be powerwashed and the carb rebuilt (for piece of mind) but literally, no work at all required on this thing. It runs fully, the guy says he has "just gotten too old, and doesn't have the time" for it. Gonna pull the trigger here soon.

Question is, does anyone have experience with these bikes? I'm personally not a fan of this style, but for $300, I wont say no to a clean, running, no problem bike.

The girlfriend I think will overlook this addition because of it's fantastic condition and the possibility it will turn into hers.

 

[cervin]

what the heck? for $300- thats like the price for that seat man! lucky- i need a neighbor like urs!

 

[DrJ]

Ugh, worst bike I ever owned. I bought a low-mile '85 back in '94 and had a bunch of problems. Lots of metal debris in the oil strainer, did not start when motor was hot. A car clipped the back wheel as I was turning left and bent the swingarm. Had it replaced. Seemed to be fine until several thousand kms later for some reason the motor seized. Maybe the oil pump was damaged. Comfortable and good performance but motor is overly complicated (hydraulic valve lifters and stepped camchains). Way too much plastic. Hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[mikeadamstattoo]

Sell it for $1200 and buy something you really want

 

[MNBikerPup]

Agreed, make the $300 investment and turn around and sell it for $1500, maybe more if it has low mileage. You don't find bikes even close to that condition for under a grand here in MN. My kawa I paid $600 and it's still a basketcase!

 

[MB]

Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. Kiss it, with warmth, ride it, make some money

 

[sasquach]

Hell thats a no brainer . As soon as he said 300 i would have said sold . you could triple your money in parts alone

 

[hellhound1]

Went and picked it up. Carbs are clogged, but it will fire with some starting fluid.

 

[JRK5892]

carb cleaning on these bike sucks balls!!! look into the marble mod your going to watn to do that... i have a buddy with one and he has nothing but problems with it... not to discourage you at all... after i marbled it and got eh carbs dialed in the bike ran great last season... he said it would not start now after a month of sitting hahaha ooh well such is bikes