Brought My Vaquero Home!

[cheriann]

WOW! What a difference from my old 900 model!!!!
I love it!!!!!! I had to get my brain past the "fear" of such a bigger and heavier bike, (almost dumped it once in a shopping parking lot making a tight turn), but by the time I got it home....I was impressed!

I couldn't believe all the looks, thumbs up signs and stares I got because of that bike!!!!

Now I have to figure out how to use all those switches by my hands!!!! :hmm:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/CheriKarp/Bikie.jpg

[cheriann]

Oh, RACNRAY I got my modified throttle in the mail yesterday!!!! Thank you!!! I'll wait a few weeks before installing :tup:

[spazz]

WOW! What a difference from my old 900 model!!!!
I love it!!!!!! I had to get my brain past the "fear" of such a bigger and heavier bike, (almost dumped it once in a shopping parking lot making a tight turn), but by the time I got it home....I was impressed!

I couldn't believe all the looks, thumbs up signs and stares I got because of that bike!!!!

Now I have to figure out how to use all those switches by my hands!!!! :hmm:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/CheriKarp/Bikie.jpg

This is a very nice bike and she looks Fantastic riding on it....:>)

[gnomad]

That is a good looking bike! If I didn't ride two up with my wife always I would have bought one of those! That blue looks really sharp.

[BudMan]

Congratulations!!!
Beautiful Bike.

[mrtelefoneman1]

Sweet scoot. Congrats and rie safe.

[ringadingh]

Congratulations on the new bike! Ride Safe!

[elvis]

Congrats! Great looking bike, keep the shiny side up.

[tazfl]

That is a BEAUTIFUL bike, I can't wait to see a blue one in person. I see in the picture that you have already discovered one of the biggest problems with the vaquero....keeping the smile off of your face :)

[chainsaw]

Awesome looks.

[jestephens]

Now that you've ridden it home, what's your first impressions of that windscreen? :tehe:

Have Fun! :cheers:

[toy4bob]

Awesome, and welcome to the club!

[Yellow Jacket]

Wow Cheriann! That looks awesome! I love the color and you make the bike look great! No doubt in my mind that you are going to LOVE that bike! :tup: :tup: :wave:

[Kawhead]

Man, I love those things! :tup:

Just kain't bear to part with my beloved Nomad, and I kain't let her sit while I'm out there riding the Vaqu. :ohno:
It would break her little Nomad heart,,,,,,,,if she found me out. :yep::D

[cheriann]

Aw shucks....thank you everybody for the nice compliments!
I still can't believe this morning that I own that pretty bike!!!!!
Since I already had ordered the ipod connection kit, we were able to hook that right up. I am AMAZED at how easy it is to use! I love that I can change songs and volume right there with the same buttons that I use for the radio!!!! (Remember, I am coming off of a 900!)

As for the "windshield"..... :crazy: I don't understand why they did that?!
My face was beat up from the wind and my ponytail in knots by the time we got home!!!! >:(
Fortunatley, my new one has been shipped and I should have it this week

[goose]

Nice! Enjoy... I know you will!

[dmyers]

Love the bike and you make it look just that much better
I thought the dealers would swap the windshield for a taller one if you wanted?

[ray2]

Congrats on the new bike. Try not to learn about the new switches when you are driving.

[landman]

sweet ride for sure !

[crazygene49]

Congratulations! Is your matching blue helmet on order yet? Ride safe.

[Jared]

When's hubby gonna upgrade?

[cheriann]

Love the bike and you make it look just that much better
I thought the dealers would swap the windshield for a taller one if you wanted?

I didn't know they would....I would have asked if I thought there was a chance for that!
I must say, our salesman was awesome! He was giving us all kinds of free stuff...t-shirts, hats, sweat shirt, zookies and a new helmet (didn't have blue, so I ordered it in black)! :cheers:

[cheriann]

When's hubby gonna upgrade?

Oh boy, I know it is KILLING him!!! His pretty Nomad used to get all the attention....not yesterday, though!!! Then when he rode it he LOVED it, especially the cruise control!!! Now he wants to find one to add to his bike. He told me he wants the Cobra thingie.... that gives him more horsepower :lol:

[audiogooroo]

Congrats Cheriann. Great looking ride!

[cheriann]

Here's proof that I am a sharing and caring wife....I let him ride my pretty new bike!!! :yep:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y298/CheriKarp/ChazVaquero1.jpg

[cactusjack]

Congratulations on the new bike, Cheriann! Just don't let your husband polish the windshield for you. :D

[racinfan101]

Great looking bike! Love the color!

[Pitchinguy]

Nice of you to let Chaz have a little ride! Great pic! Beautiful color! Told ya he was gonna love the cruise control!! :yep:

[tazfl]

I already congratulated you on the bike earlier in the thread (it is a awesome bike) but just remembered that i wanted to bring to your attention the one thing that kawasaki screwed up on this bike....THE HORN SWITCH. Some engineer decided it was more important to put the high beam switch closer to your thumb then the horn switch. A couple of times now i have had a car moving over on me and I hit the high beam switch instead of the horn switch. make sure you get used to where it is.

[Griz]

Congratulations Cheriann, thats a beautiful Vaquero!

[cheriann]

I already congratulated you on the bike earlier in the thread (it is a awesome bike) but just remembered that i wanted to bring to your attention the one thing that kawasaki screwed up on this bike....THE HORN SWITCH. Some engineer decided it was more important to put the high beam switch closer to your thumb then the horn switch. A couple of times now i have had a car moving over on me and I hit the high beam switch instead of the horn switch. make sure you get used to where it is.

How crazy is that?!!! The horn is SO MUCH more important! When I ride in heavy traffic, I like to keep my thumb over the horn button, just in case...now that will be harder to do.

Also, the kickstand seems shorter! I have to tip my bike over alot further on the Vaquero than I did on my 900. Tonight parked next to hubby's Nomad, I see it tips further over than his too :wtf:

[fish]

nice bike, love the color

[redjay]

You can fix the amount of lean by installing a kickstand from another Kawasaki, a 1500 I think ? They are longer.

[Netnorske]

Very nice upgrade! Enjoy the new Vaq....and just keep on smilin'!

[tazfl]

How crazy is that?!!! The horn is SO MUCH more important! When I ride in heavy traffic, I like to keep my thumb over the horn button, just in case...now that will be harder to do.

Also, the kickstand seems shorter! I have to tip my bike over alot further on the Vaquero than I did on my 900. Tonight parked next to hubby's Nomad, I see it tips further over than his too :wtf:

I know on the other kawasaki forum I post on numerous people have switched their voyager and vaquero kickstands for meanstreak kickstands. I was just checking over there and they said that ANY year meanstreak kickstand will work. They even had a picture of the two kickstands nect to each other so you could see the difference. here, I copied them and will try to post them here....

[cheriann]

Thank you SO MUCH to taking the time to copy those pics to show me!!! So, there really is a difference and I wasn't imagining it!!! :hmm:

I'm going to look into getting a Mean Steak kickstand!!!

[spazz]

I know on the other kawasaki forum I post on numerous people have switched their voyager and vaquero kickstands for meanstreak kickstands. I was just checking over there and they said that ANY year meanstreak kickstand will work. They even had a picture of the two kickstands nect to each other so you could see the difference. here, I copied them and will try to post them here....

Okay, so they say any year stand. But when I check the OEM on the 07 and 08 the part number is identical to the 12 Vaquero even the spring number.

[trip]

Congrats Cheri..... also, congrats on becoming a member of the VBA... #2069!

Trip

[BandC]

Congrats on the new bike, hope it works Great for you!!

[cheriann]

Congrats Cheri..... also, congrats on becoming a member of the VBA... #2069!

Trip

Thank you so much Trip!!!! I have been wanting one of those numbers for a few years now!!!! :D

[DarkStar]

Your new Vaquero looks great! You'll love it, the more I ride mine the more I'm glad I have it... Kawasaki really hit it out of the park with the Vaquero... :tup:

[mobandy78]

Congrats Cheri!!!! I really like the blue! You're going to love that new big bike and engine! I can't wait til I can get one.

[bearbait]

Cheri,

Be sure to look at this thread regarding brake caliper checking: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?p=428413#post428413

[RACNRAY]

CONGRATS...i did 325 miles on my Vaquero yesterday, every time i look at it or another Vaquero or pics of one reminds me of what a cool looking skoot it is.

Now when you pass your riding buddies you can say...

"I BLUE BY YOU"!!

ENJOY
RACNRAY

[cheriann]

Cheri,

Be sure to look at this thread regarding brake caliper checking: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?p=428413#post428413

Thank you!!!

[cheriann]

"I BLUE BY YOU"!!

LOL!!!!! I love it!!!!! :lol:

[bearbait]

Now when you pass your riding buddies you can say...

"I BLUE BY YOU"!!


We call that "Giving 'Em the Linda Ronstadt."

[sacarriker]

Cool bike, cool color, congrats!

[waterman]

Great looking ride Cheri. Better make sure you hide all the keys or Chaz will be out riding it when you are at work.

[cheriann]

Great looking ride Cheri. Better make sure you hide all the keys or Chaz will be out riding it when you are at work.

LOL! You are so right!!!! He's already talking about getting the Voyager now when my bike is paid off!!! :lmao:

[GIBBY]

Congratulations on the new bike, the Vaquero is a very nice machine. After the demo rides during the National Rally last June virtually everyone commented on the poor placement of the horn button.

[RACNRAY]

Congratulations on the new bike, the Vaquero is a very nice machine. After the demo rides during the National Rally last June virtually everyone commented on the poor placement of the horn button.

YEA...I wonder what engineer came up with the placement of the horn button,
maybe from the of Dumbology department?

RACNRAY

[tazfl]

Okay, so they say any year stand. But when I check the OEM on the 07 and 08 the part number is identical to the 12 Vaquero even the spring number.

spazz, I just posted to the guy who made the statement and posted the pictures to see what he has to say. I also asked him what year meanstreak the stand in his picture is off of. I'll post the results as soon as I get them.

Cheriann...hold off on ordering a meanstreak stand until I get the facts from the guy who posted the pics.

[tazfl]

Okay, so they say any year stand. But when I check the OEM on the 07 and 08 the part number is identical to the 12 Vaquero even the spring number.

here is the response i got back from Erek on the other forum....

"good question...the one in the pic is off Jimmys 05, we put it on Emily's vaqero, the one off Emilys 03 is on Mtr's voyager. Then I put DJs on LocDocs Voyager...not sure on the year of his..04 maybe?... Thus I know 02-05 will work for sure, they could have changed them in 07....?????

Ask Papa Bear too, as he was the first to do it and had ordered the one on his bike. Then the swapping began.

Big Dog maybe able to answer too as his Meanie is newer and I think he swapped stands too.."

[spazz]

here is the response i got back from Erek on the other forum....

"good question...the one in the pic is off Jimmys 05, we put it on Emily's vaqero, the one off Emilys 03 is on Mtr's voyager. Then I put DJs on LocDocs Voyager...not sure on the year of his..04 maybe?... Thus I know 02-05 will work for sure, they could have changed them in 07....?????

Ask Papa Bear too, as he was the first to do it and had ordered the one on his bike. Then the swapping began.

Big Dog maybe able to answer too as his Meanie is newer and I think he swapped stands too.."

Thanks for finding out the answer. I am going to look it up and make sure before I order it.

[spazz]

Thanks for finding out the answer. I am going to look it up and make sure before I order it.

Okay, there is definately something screwy here. All the back to 04 the stands and springs are identical oem's on the Mean Streak. I also checked my Nomad 07 and it has the same oem. But I can tell you that my stand is easily 2-3 inches longer than Cheri's Vaquero.

[tazfl]

hmmm, well I don't understand. I know erek personally so I know he isn't throwing out B.S. He says that the one in the picture is off Jimmy's 05 meanstreak, well Jimmy is hs brother so I know he has the year right. Then he goes on to say that they put the one off emily's 03 onto motr's voyager. There again emily is ereks wife, her meanstreak was his before he bought a new bike and she took it over, so again I know that what he's saying is accurate. I don't understand why its coming up different. I would say look at the part number for the 03 since that was the year of his meanstreak and they used it on another members voyager. I KNOW he knows what year his own meanstreak was...LOL

[tazfl]

Okay, there is definately something screwy here. All the back to 04 the stands and springs are identical oem's on the Mean Streak. I also checked my Nomad 07 and it has the same oem. But I can tell you that my stand is easily 2-3 inches longer than Cheri's Vaquero.

ok, I figured it out...if you go back to the diagrams they give a reference# and a part#. I looked at the 2012 vaquero, 2003 meanstreak and 2005 meanstreak. On all 3 bikes the Ref# is the exact same (34024) BUT the "part#" are different, vaquero is 34024-0083, both the 2003 and the 2005 meanstreak part numbers are 34024-1330. If you were ordering you would use the part number not reference number. I also looked at a 2007 meanstreak and noticed they had two different numbers for kickstands, however that might have been the year they came out with that blacked out meanstreak and maybe one of those numbers is for a black kickstand and one for chrome...don't know.
But I'm posative if you use part # 34024-1330 you're going to end up with the longer kickstand.

[spazz]

ok, I figured it out...if you go back to the diagrams they give a reference# and a part#. I looked at the 2012 vaquero, 2003 meanstreak and 2005 meanstreak. On all 3 bikes the Ref# is the exact same (34024) BUT the "part#" are different, vaquero is 34024-0083, both the 2003 and the 2005 meanstreak part numbers are 34024-1330. If you were ordering you would use the part number not reference number. I also looked at a 2007 meanstreak and noticed they had two different numbers for kickstands, however that might have been the year they came out with that blacked out meanstreak and maybe one of those numbers is for a black kickstand and one for chrome...don't know.
But I'm posative if you use part # 34024-1330 you're going to end up with the longer kickstand.

Thank you for all your help. I know I wasn't going crazy (well maybe a little). I will have to call and see if the two part number in 07 are for a chrome and black. If so then I can get her the black one to match her bike.

I just got off the phone with Bike Bandit. For all of those who want to know. The Black Kick Stand from the 07 Meanie to replace the shorter one on the new Vaquero is part number
1512988.

[fntmwlf]

How much is it and is this through bike bandit only?

[cheriann]

How much is it and is this through bike bandit only?

It shows here as $84.75
http://www.bikebandit.com/search?q=1512988

I would think others would have it too...he usually starts with Bike Bandit when he looks for a part.

[cheriann]

Got my windshield from Cee Baily's yesterday....MUCH BETTER!!!! :tup:

[fntmwlf]

Cheriann, so what size windshield did you order and how tall are you? Does the wind go completely over your head or do you still feel the wind a little?

[cheriann]

Cheriann, so what size windshield did you order and how tall are you? Does the wind go completely over your head or do you still feel the wind a little?

I got the 11" windshield. I'm about 5'8" tall.
The windshield comes eye level to me. It blocks the wind, but I really wish it was a tad bit higher. Chaz is about the same height, but he likes where the windshield hits. He said in the rain, he would be able to look over it to see better. I guess I got used to have a higher windshield and looking through one from my old 900.

I have ordered a Corbin seat and I know they lower you a bit. I am hoping when the Corbin is on it will be perfect!