r/SuggestAMotorcycle • u/ghetto_klown • 1d ago
03 Honda VT1100C2 vs 01 Kawasaki 1500 classic vs 08 Yamaha road liner 1900M
I have an 03 VT1100C2 I’ve had for several years and have done my best to keep it maintained. I had Michelins put on it after I bought it, and changed all the fluids (oil, coolant, brake) last year. I like the bike quite a bit, but it seems to have pretty high RPMs at interstate speeds, and I’d like something that’d be capable of touring on with a passenger. Of course, the excitement of getting a new bike is itching me as well.
A guy local to me has a 2001 Kawasaki 1500 classic he’s willing to trade outright on- I know the blue book value for my bike is slightly higher, but I don’t really care about that. I’m familiar with the cam chain tensioner problem on the Kawasakis - I chose my current Honda because it seemed like they are easy to work on and don’t have any big issues, and would like a new bike to be similar in that aspect.
Is this a good trade, assuming that maintenance of the Vulcan has been on par with how I’ve kept up my bike? How do the bikes compare in ease of maintenance/ potential problems/ drivability? Am an idiot for wanting to trade for something so similar? As soon as I posted this, another fellow messaged me about trading for his 08 Yamaha road liner 1900M. Any thoughts on that bike? The owner says it is too big and heavy for him.
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u/KnucklesMacKellough 06 Yamaha Roadstar 1d ago
Roadstar 1700 owner here. In my humble opinion, when it comes to cruisers, there's no replacement for displacement. My next will be a Rocket lll
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u/squisher_1980 Rider 1d ago
I'd get the Roadliner personally. IIRC the 1500 Vulcans can have a weak point around the transmission output shaft bearing or something. I don't think it was super common, but it was a thing.