Hey all new to the forums don't have a bike currently. Last bike was a Suzuki Volusia 04, had to give it up when I was out of work for a while. Looking at bikes now hope to get one in the next couple of months. I've currently found an 03 Vulcan Nomad 1500 and was wondering if there was anything specific to that year or this model that I really need to just be on the lookout for or be aware of when looking at the bike checking it out and considering to purchase?
Well. Got a chance to look at it this morning. Honestly think I'm going to pass for now. Nice looking bike but appears to be a lot of surface rust all overt the bike; pipe surfaces, forks, windshield mounts. One headlight missing and exposed wires for both are pulled out. Too many flags right on the surface I am thinking.
The vulcan 1500 is extremely reliable. I know at 30k+ miles you'll need cam chain tension extenders. The steering head bearings need a good lube and re-torque at pretty much any mileage if it hasn't been done.
Can't recall if there was anything else.
But definitely never buy anything if you don't have a good feeling about it. And this one sounds a bit mishandled.
I have a 2004 1500 classic carb and did cam chain tensioner extenders from Chucksters at the 33,000 mile mark, did fork oil change but haven't done a lube job on the steering head bearings, maybe I should have done that when I had the front wheel off doing the fork oil change. Steering head bolt was loose one time 2 yrs ago and torqued it up to specs, hasn't come loose since then, I plan to change rad fluid this winter layup and also change clutch and brake fluids and final drive gear oil. I use Amsoil 80w90 severe gear synthetic in the gear box.