Would this bike be a safe purchase [Archive]

subcloser22

07-23-2011, 06:50 PM

My dad loves my Nomad. He is looking to buy his own. We found this one near us. I was wondering what everyone thought about it. It does have a lot of miles....

http://luckyucycles.com/view/02VULCAN/PEWTER-2002-KAWASAKI-VULCAN%20NOMAD%201500-in-Wildwood-FL

Cajunrider

07-23-2011, 06:59 PM

Looks pretty clean. I'd ask to see the service records and take it for a good test ride. Listen for a noisy idle which could possibly indicate loose cam chains. You may be able to bump them down $500.

Top Cat

07-23-2011, 07:07 PM

I don't think that is bad at all.
If you can talk them down any I would say buy it if it sounds and runs OK. Hell I would say buy it even if you can't talk them down.
My 07 has 67,000 miles on it so I don't think 58,000 on an 02 is bad at all.
As Mitch said, check the service records. Look to see if it has had the cam chain extenders installed.

fish

07-23-2011, 08:17 PM

Top Cat

07-23-2011, 08:41 PM

subcloser22
There is no reserve so the bike will sell as of right now for $3000.
If you are really interested I would get over there and make them an offer.

coacha

07-23-2011, 08:56 PM

Jay, tell you other dad to call me and we can go over and look at it. There are a couple on Craigslist in the area too.

AlabamaNomadRider

07-23-2011, 10:21 PM

Good looking bike. If it runs good and sounds good I would say it is a good buy.

ringadingh

07-23-2011, 11:38 PM

Nice bike, but it has a few miles on it, a great bike for weekend riders.

unwind2

07-24-2011, 08:01 AM

Oh Boy....if he gets it....another KawaNow Nomad rider fur sure. ;)
I like the blondies...don't see a lot of them around.

unwind2

07-24-2011, 08:07 AM

I found the bike on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kawasaki-Vulcan-NOMAD-NOMAD-1500-HARD-BAGS-MUSTANG-SEAT-B-R-W-S-LOADED-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2565e1c6fbQQitemZ16062 3085307QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

Good catch there Fish! Looks like no reserve on it either, so won't it sell to the highest bidder? Subcloser22...your dad my need to wheel and deal before the ebay auction closes if no reserve it will sell to the highest bidder, right. ???

fish

07-24-2011, 08:15 AM

If the guy can save $500 good, on the flip side the seller might be pissed at me :-/ I hope hes not a member here.

Jay, I love your green on green

macmac

07-24-2011, 10:05 AM

Looks like a good deal if the cam chain extenders were done the head bearings were serviced and so was the swing arm.

I'ld be looking for a leaky final drive gear box too.

I could never buy a bike unseen in person.

On the other hand 1500's are not easy to ride at less than a man can walk, and elderly riders need to be very fit IMO.

ridemslow

07-24-2011, 10:22 AM

If the bike checks out mechanically ok, thats a steal in anyones book. There are $2000+ in add-on's. You better not wait too long to jump on it.

subcloser22

07-24-2011, 01:37 PM

Thanks to everyone for your input, I am going to send the guy a message on Ebay, see where it goes

jesse

07-24-2011, 03:16 PM

I don't think mileage is an issue, There are many here that have more than that. Mine has 72K + and I will take it wherever I want to go.

cnc

07-26-2011, 07:05 AM

Did they change the add on ebay? When I click on the link it comes up that it has a reserve. Reserve not meet, 6hrs left, 33 bids, current bid $2,750 Price $3,500.

mobandy78

07-26-2011, 08:59 AM

I just checked the ebay add also... Looks like the reserve has been met if there was one. The bid is at $3000 and it didn't say anything about a reserve price.

Overall, it looks pretty good. I like the paint. I am curious though, the picture that shows the front wheel and fender... is that rust? I couldn't tell if the fender has rust or if it is just dirt, but it looks like some rust on the bracket.

fish

07-26-2011, 10:56 AM

I seen that too. bid is 3050. with 2h 9 min left

cnc

07-26-2011, 12:48 PM

That is the weirdest thing. When I first went on ebay it said there was a reserve as I first posted, now I am seeing it the way everyone else is with no reserve. looks like some one is getting a good deal in about 20 minutes.

fish

07-26-2011, 12:53 PM

Norn if bid 5000. it could be yours http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif maybe if the reserve is meet it disappears :-/

fish

07-26-2011, 02:50 PM

went for $3150.

cnc

07-26-2011, 03:09 PM

Good price, but I prefer the blue silver ones. ::)

fish

07-26-2011, 03:16 PM

you know a good color combination :)

Top Cat

07-26-2011, 03:29 PM

mobandy78

07-26-2011, 04:14 PM

Good price, but I prefer the blue silver ones. ::)

Me too!

cnc

07-26-2011, 04:36 PM

Norn if bid 5000. it could be yours http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif maybe if the reserve is meet it disappears :-/

Of course that is how it works.
You set a reserve and up till that price is met, they state "reserve has not been met"
Once the reserve is met the message disappears so you know it is going to be sold to the highest bidder after that.

Yes but Tim, what I found strange was I was seeing reserve not meet, when the rest of you were commenting that there was no reserve. Guess it is to keep us northern riffraff away. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Loafer

07-26-2011, 04:48 PM

Looks like that bike sat in water for a while, flood damage?

macmac

07-26-2011, 05:15 PM

Looks like that bike sat in water for a while, flood damage?

What was it that tipped you off? I took a look and the bike looked clean to me.

ringadingh

07-26-2011, 05:18 PM

I seen some rust on it as well, and that color doesn't do much for me on a bike,

Top Cat

07-26-2011, 05:21 PM

Of course that is how it works.
You set a reserve and up till that price is met, they state "reserve has not been met"
Once the reserve is met the message disappears so you know it is going to be sold to the highest bidder after that.

Yes but Tim, what I found strange was I was seeing reserve not meet, when the rest of you were commenting that there was no reserve. Guess it is to keep us northern riffraff away. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

You Canadians are starting to catch on, EH.

Loafer

07-26-2011, 05:55 PM

Looks like that bike sat in water for a while, flood damage?

What was it that tipped you off? I took a look and the bike looked clean to me.

It looked clean to me to. Then I enlarged the pictures, and the chrome pieces are all cloudy like when I ride in the rain. There is rust on the front fender bracket, the fender itself has got something on it, water spots? The saddlebags have marks on them, and when you look at the picture straight on, the forks are all water crap stains. Lots of buffing to get them clean.
That's what makes me think it was a water damaged bike.

fish

07-26-2011, 05:57 PM

I see the rust by the fender and the back of the fender looks pretty spotty :-/

macmac

07-26-2011, 06:09 PM

Loaf, I didn't blow up the pics....... Thanks...

Loafer

07-26-2011, 06:25 PM

Loaf, I didn't blow up the pics....... Thanks...

Wait a minute... http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif.. I didn't say to blow anything up yet. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

macmac

07-26-2011, 07:45 PM

Oh NO? Well it's too late now http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Loafer

07-27-2011, 06:30 AM

Oh NO? Well it's too late now http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif I figured as much http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

cnc

07-27-2011, 06:51 AM

Looks like that bike sat in water for a while, flood damage?

Quite possibly a combination of salt air, humidity and maybe stored under a cover that does not breath well.

Loafer

07-27-2011, 08:01 AM

Looks like that bike sat in water for a while, flood damage?

Quite possibly a combination of salt air, humidity and maybe stored under a cover that does not breath well.

Could be, but it's going to take some good soap and effort to make it look good.