2Wheeltips

Hi folks!
Looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly on these three machines. I'm looking to get back into riding after about 25 years, so I definitely don't want to go too big. I have also looked at the Kawi Vulcan 500 (which I hear is in its last year of production). All info and experiences are appreciated.

Thanks, and ride safe!

Ringo,

I know a little about the v-star and the vulcan....and nothing about the triumph.

The V-Star 950 & the Vulcan 900 are very good choices for someone with prior riding experience. Not too big....not too small. Since you already know your way around a bike, you would quickly outgrow a smaller machine and end up looking for a new bike sooner than you want to (happens all the time). So I'd stay away from the Vulcan 500 for that reason......you will out grow it within weeks.

Unlike 25 years ago, it is hard to find a "bad bike." Anything built within the past 6 years or so will give you minimum problems. With that said, choosing between the v-star 950 and the vulcan 900 is really a matter of personal taste and comfort.

You will read stuff about how the vulcan shakes or the v-star is cramped. How they rattle, shake, noisy brakes, etc. The last time I checked, v-twin motorcycles are noisy and they do vibrate. That's why you do a pre-ride inspection to check for loose parts and also why you should wear earplugs when you ride. I'd say take them both out for a spin, see which one you like the best and buy that one.

They are both solid and reliable bikes. I think the v-star 950 is the more recent of the two. Also look at getting a used one....they are usually the best deals (I wish someone would have told me to get a used bike!)

Some other things to consider are:
1. The v-star is air cooled. I've heard some complain that it can get hot in stop and go traffic on a hot day. But that is the case with any air cooled bike. My yamaha raider heats up like an oven on hot days and it can get unbearable in stop and go traffic. So I don't take it out when I'm going to be in stop and go traffic.

2. The vulcan 900 classic has spoked rims....which means it uses an inner tube. If you get a flat, you can not plug the tire and it will need to be towed. Something to consider if you plan on taking it out on tours to the middle of nowhere. The vulcan 900 custom has alloy rims and a tubeless tire.

One final note on the Triumph, and this applies to all bikes that are not widely sold. Make sure there are dealers around the areas you live and ride. You will need parts and it will need routine maintenance and traveling 50 miles to get a part or to have it serviced will quickly change your mind about owning it.

Let us know which one you decide to buy and how you feel about the bike.

Tony

I was away from riding for 23 years. I bought a brand new 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan Vn900. I was actually at the dealership to purchase the Yamaha 1300 Star. The 950 was not yet out. The deal on the Kawi was too good to pass up. With 3000 down my payments are about 125 bucks a month.

I like the Yamaha, and they do most things right. However the Kawi stylistically was superior. I did not buy the dressed version, as I didn't like the studs on the seats and bags etc. I bought the plain jane version.

Make sure you drive a bike without a windshield before you buy. I had visions of riding in the breeze like in my youth, but by the time I got home 20km after purchase, I headed back to price the windshields. I wear a half helmet, and without a full face I couldnt ride today without the windshield. The beauty of buying a plane jane version is you can dress it up with cheaper superior aftermarket add ons. I bought a memphis shades windshield (smaller and better looking than stock) I bought nicer bags than the stock ones, and a backrest for the ol' lady that has no studs on it. My bike turns a lot of heads.

You will find that almost any bike you put a windshield on then develops quite a bit of valve train noise. this is normal, as the wind was previously buffering the sound. The simple fix, aftermarket pipes. No noise from the valves anymore.

I like the Yamaha as well, however they seem to be on the verge of heading in another direction, and I wanted the harley like cruiser look . You will also find that what Kawasaki does sublty makes a big difference. The tank is a thing of beauty with some nice shape. Once you have owned the 900 Kawi, you will swear that any other bike you ride you will have to put Kawisaki handlebars on. They are a thing of beauty, and my Yamaha Vstar friends wish they had my bars. Also the Kawi is a more relaxed stretched out ride as the floorboards are farther forward than that of the Yamaha.

The Kawi is very responsive and easy to maneuvre. You sit low in the saddle and the centre of gravity is very low. You are very confident on it. You feel as though you sit in the 900 and not on it. The Yamaha feels as though you are more perched on top of it. A 500 will have you looking for a bigger bike half way through your first season, this is not a guess it is a guarantee. The 900 truly is a bike that an average sized person could use for a starter bike.

The next thing to consider is the sound. Once you start riding you will begin to hear other bikes with aftermarket pipes. You will get a little teasing about riding a sewing machine. If and when you want to add a bit of rumble you will find that either the Yamaha or the Kawi can give you the sound of a VTwin, You will not ever get that sound from a Triumph parallel engine configuration. The Yamaha and Kawasaki have a million types of aftermarket items available, I am not sure what Triumph offers, buy you can be sure the options are limited.

Best of luck, let us know what you choose, I know my post is a bit one-sided, however I love my ride. Here are some pics plain and after all the add ons. She gets a lot of comments on both the colour and the style of the tank. Many cannot believe a bike so substanial is only a 900, but it doesn't feel big when riding.

My wife owned an America and I rode it a bit. I've not ridden either of the metric twins mentioned, though it looks like some other folks covered them.

A V-Twin is going to have certain characteristics regardless of whether it's metric or not. The engine on the America sounds like a classic English Twin, which is very different. It is silky smooth, both in power delivery and in its rumble. Sewing machine? No, it sounds like a Triumph should sound! I suppose you could put aftermarket pipes on it, but having ridden the bike I don't see the need. (The new Thunderbird is a side-by-side twin with about twice the displacement of the America, but the chaps in england sold out to the power of the market and timed the firing order to sound like a V-twin. Bah humbug!)

You mentioned you don't want to "go big". The America won't overwhelm you with power, though it's got plenty for cruising at anything resembling legal speeds. I found the bike to be low, light, and easy to ride. It has a fair bit of rake, so it's quite stable while cruising along. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well it handled in the twisty stuff, though. I really expected it to resist turning and wallow its way through corners. Nope. the wide bars give plenty of leverage and the chassis is nice and stiff. The suspension even handled my, ahem, rather substantial weight. No, it doesn't handle like a scared cat on meth like the sportbikes I like to ride, but it is a very agile cruiser. Frankly, I don't think Triumph makes a bike that doesn't handle well.

Until recently, the America's engine was carburated, but they are now fuel injected. If you're looking for a used bike, try to get a more recent fuel injected model. The carbs are fine and the purists hate the idea of a fuel-injected english twin, but I'll tell you what- it just plain works better!

We bought a bunch of aftermarket stuff for the bike- bags, floorboards, windshield, and some other chrome bits. It looked a lot bigger than it felt to ride, quite frankly.

I truly liked the bike. It wasn't a V-twin and it didn't try to be. It is different, and that's part of the beauty of it. We had to sell the bike, unfortunately. From my time on it, I'd say that you wouldn't go wrong if you want a a lightweight cruiser that has its own personality.

Thanks for your replies, everyone! Unfortunately, I will have to postpone the investment for a while due to other demands on the budget.

I will keep these perspectves in mind when the time comes, and will still be looking in on the forum to keep abreast of all the latest goings-on.

Thanks,

Ringo

Ringo HI! Very sorrow to hear that budgetary constraints will keep you out of the motorcyle market. I just sold a 2006 Kawasaki 1600 that was in perfect conditons with less than 10,000 miles for 50% of what I paid new for it not including the $2,000 of extra stuff I had added. My point being that used bikes right now are going begging and there are some awesome deals to be had. I, obviously, can't speak to what you can or can't afford but for $3,000 or less you can find a very serviceable ride.