1998 Motorcycle reviews

I've never owned a bike this comfortable. My one-hour rides became all-day adventures. She's a little underpowered at high speeds, but perfectly balanced. I liked the power and torque curve. It was a joy to ride until the rear seals gave out. A new clutch and seals cost as much as the bike is worth, unless you find a mechanic who knows how to do it and doesn't rake you. repair costs vary wildly from garage to garage. That's the downside. Show less

This is a '96 S1 I've owned since it was purchased in 2001 with 3000 miles. It has always been the ONE streetbike I've wanted, and is also the only bike I've owned. The XB's are more refined, more reliable, and are more stable but don't have the rough and rowdy character this old beast exudes in spades. The operating costs are fairly severe if rode hard and often...both in tickets and maintenance issues. The worst of which have been a couple complete charging systems, blown rear head gasket, and a broken cylinder head (broke at the mount and led to a needed top end rebuild). It is usually used for short commutes but has done a few long trips...the longest a 1500 mile 3 day trip from NY to FL. The seat has about 100 miles of tolerable comfort. These are most reliable left stock, but most fun worked over! After all these years she still puts a big smile on my face everyday. Show less

I am a returning biker, after 30 years I decided to get back into biking or motorcycling. To be honest, I was really conned into buying this used Vulcan Classic. I am not a V-Twin or Crusier type but after riding this one for a few months now I must say I am a true convert! This bike has been tricked out with the extras plus in 2003 the engine got a makeover and now it is a 1650cc racing motor complete with race cams and race piston kits installed. It runs fast enough to scare me and handles like a dream. Smooth shifting and quick acceleration make it a fun and exciting ride. I paid too much for it but what the hay, it's worth it for the extra excitment factor. It did stall out quite a bit at first but having the carbs cleaned seemed to have solved that problem. Show less

Bought a 1998 Vulcan 800 that had only 1600 miles on it. However, the bike looked brand new and was virtually mar-free. Good power for a single rider but will handle two people well. I really appreciate the narrow handlebars and decent seat height. A 215 mile ride was no problem and handled as admirably on the interstate as well as on the county two-lane roads. I might go to the 1100 cc size with my next bike but the Vulcan 800 is a wonderful ride and easy-to-ride bike. Show less

4 stroke power band and ultra nimble through the woods. My bike's gearing suits tight conditions where torque rules Everybody who rides it, loves the ergonomics and how well the bike is thought out. Starts right up even after a hard fall. Suspension does not do well in a motocross situation but will rule the woods. Smooth powerband with no hard "hit" and a nice wide ration gearing. Can ride slow even in 3rd gear and it won't kill. Parts are a little hard to come by but if you don't mind waiting a little, you will be fine. Show less

I have been two wheeling it for 30 years and have owned most makes of bikes. This is by far the best I have ever owned. Great performance and no problems. It is great on the highway and in the city. I have added many after market goodies but the seat was first as it was not very comfortable on long rides. The dealer has been outstanding to deal with. Show less

First, I have to admit that cruisers don't appeal to me. However, this is my buddies bike and I keep it garaged in the winter and have ridden it quite often. Comparing this bike to Shadows, Viragos, and Intruders that I have ridden - this is the best metric cruiser. There is a lot of aftermarket available for them. The engine is always easy to start and runs great. Loads of bottom end power, but it flattens out pretty soon and the top end for such a large engine is really lacking. For a large and heavy bike, it is very well balanced and handles pretty well, although it is easy to scrape on corners, even around town. It is comfortable, loud, and gets attention. Chicks dig it! Four stars. Show less

I bought this bike in 2000 with less than 2000mi on it. Bone stock with nothing done to it, it ran 16s the 1/4 mi. I put drag pipes, and a stage 3 k&n jet kit on it. With thoes add ons it improved to low 14s. Ihave toasted many Harleys, Shadows, and Mangnas. After seeing how this bike looks and performes I would never concider riding a direrent brand of cruser. Next its the Kx7R Ninja For me. Show less

I bought my 98 Sprint Executive used with 6500 miles on it two years ago. Since it's my first bike, I don't have much to compare it to, but I'm not sure what more I could ask for if I were to buy a new bike. I use it occasionally for commuting, but mostly for getting out of the city and enjoying the countryside. It's excellent in the twisties, and has plenty of giddyup all over the powerband. Suspension's a little soft, but it compensates for the poor seat on long trips. With the racing green finish and stainless pipes, it sounds great and always gets compliments when visiting the local motorcycle destinations. Rode it from New York to South Carolina with my wife last summer and you couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces for weeks. The odometer just clicked over to 18000 and I haven't had too many repairs. Just minor electrical, new (Metzler) shoes and drivetrain at 15000, and the usual maintenance (brakes etc.) I have my eye on the new Ducati ST4s but until my bank account catches up with my desire, I'll be pretty happy with the Sprint. Show less

I love this bike!It has all the power that can be used on the street and is comfortable enough for 10 hours in the saddle. The weight is a bit heavier than other bikes in its class, but the comfort makes it all worthwhile. This is a great bike for the real world. Show less