wow rjs987 ~!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Selling your 550?!
You've been our 550 go-to guy for some time now.
Moving up to a ....bike - or other scooter?
Found a better and more active forum for a different product?
Anyway - good luck with your sale - it's been a well cared for bike!

Stig

[rjs987]

It's definitely not about any forum or better product. It's me. I have a tendency to replace bikes every 3.5-4.5 years on average. I don't keep more than one bike in the garage due to space as well as indecision about choosing one to ride. I'll keep coming back here once in a while and get email for any PM.

I did go back on a few decisions I made about what kind of bike I would ride/own. Several years ago I told myself no more manual transmission, no more swinging the leg OVER the seat to climb on, and definitely NO chain final drive. That last one I had maintained for the last 20+ years not ever even considering or looking at a chain final drive bike avoiding that type like the plague... until now.

I could say my wife pushed me to do it. But that's only partly true. I took my bike to the dealer for some service and found that the dealer 125 miles from me no longer supports Kymco. There are still several dealers/shops closer than that who refuse to work on anything other than 150 cc or smaller... a violation of the Kymco contract to be a Kymco dealer/shop per Kymco USA HQ. So I ended up taking it 183 miles out to the next nearest dealer who does work on the full line of Kymco products. Just brought it back from the dealer today and it is as good as new now... really.

My wife told me I need to get a bike that is supported locally... like here in town. That leaves Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Indian, and one or two others.

At the end of April I found a brand NEW 2024 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650 for a really REALLY good sale price. Made a deal and rode it home 136 miles on April 25. That helped with the break-in miles. Kawasaki uses special break-in oil from the factory. I already have 775 miles on the bike. I've added side cases and rider back rest and luggage rack. No windshield. It is a solo rider bike. Comfortable seat and with the rider back rest it's ready for long rides now. IT IS a chain final drive bike. Chains are better now than my first 2 bikes which were also chain drive 25 years ago and before. Just a little more maintenance processes than belt or shaft. It's a 6 speed transmission. Using a Ninja 650 engine/transmission so it likes to run like a sports bike more than a cruiser... thus the Sports Cruiser model designation. Same weight as the AK.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JSThib3nGnhC7tVR8

[Iahawk]

going cruiser on us?? Good looking bike...couldn't quite place the bike until I saw your pics. I like the side cases and I'm sure the backrest will be nice.
Feet forward, shifting and driven by a chain....crazy! Enjoy the new bike.

[rjs987]

going cruiser on us?? Good looking bike...couldn't quite place the bike until I saw your pics. I like the side cases and I'm sure the backrest will be nice.
Feet forward, shifting and driven by a chain....crazy! Enjoy the new bike.

Thanks. Actually the forward foot controls are not that forward so that keeps it comfy for my knees. About the same as placing my feet in the middle of my AK foot boards.

Here's a pic of both bikes as a comparison. I had removed a few plastic panels on the AK before I realized I wanted the dealer to deal with it. I left them off when I dropped off the bike so tomorrow I'll be putting all the plastic bits back on. No broken tabs, everything in perfect condition. BTW- the cardboard under the AK is actually clean and only has a shadow from the pole in front of it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bo9rwobENhWoQcBb8

[Iahawk]

RJS - new photo link didn't work (?)

[Hornblower]

Wow, Bob, that Vulcan looks very comfortable! I can tell you're a very experienced rider with lots of experience with bikes. The seat height appears fairly low and slightly forward controls means less knee bend, also great for comfort. No doubt, way more comfortable than the Ninja 1000 I had previously, lol.

I've also had many bikes of various kinds and since adding the AK550, I thought I would never again have a chain and manual transmission. That preference didn't hold up ultimately since I missed my sporting days and added a Yamaha Tracer 9GT+. Like you, I'll put up with the chain maintenance. As far as the manual transmission goes, this bike has a great quick shifter both up and down. It's actually fun and the performance is pretty incredible. At any rate, I plan on keeping the AK simply because it's a great grocery getter and perfect for shorter rides and errands. The new Tracer is, for me, a thrilling ride and one I can go unlimited distances if desired.

[rjs987]

RJS - new photo link didn't work (?)

Try the link again...

[randyo]

ya, keep it windshield free

couple years ago, my dealer gave me a Vulcan 900 as a loaner while my v-strom was in the shop, barn door windshield
ride was very comfortable but hot with no airflow. also on rainy night, I thought I had cataracts, glare was horrendous

[rjs987]

ya, keep it windshield free

couple years ago, my dealer gave me a Vulcan 900 as a loaner while my v-strom was in the shop, barn door windshield
ride was very comfortable but hot with no airflow. also on rainy night, I thought I had cataracts, glare was horrendous

IF I did put a shield on it I would put a small one on. Bigger than the factory option Cafe shield but not by much. Just enough to block the strong airflow against my body retaining airflow on my helmet. I swore off ever having a shield I have to look through a long time ago.

[JJJoseph]

I swore off ever having a shield I have to look through a long time ago.

LOL! I always thought one looks OVER, not thru, an M/C windshield! I learn something new every day!

[rjs987]

LOL! I always thought one looks OVER, not thru, an M/C windshield! I learn something new every day!

You'd be surprised how many riders actually want to be looking through their shields. They like riding in the same kind of bubble as they have in their cars... which makes me wonder why they like to ride 2 wheels.