new guy here

[pumppy10]

I just purchased a 2000 nomad 1500. Here are my concerns-1st spedo jumps all over the place. 2nd and this my just be me but this is the first shaft drive bike i have ever owned but it feel like when taking off from a start it wants to push to the right, is this something with shaft drives? I have had several bikes in the past one being a 1700 roadstar with belt drive and it never had that feel to it. I have been a rider for 20+ years so i have a good feel for how they handle. Any ideas? I gotta say that this is a really strong bike, puts the roadstar to shame by a mile!

[ringadingh]

Welcome Aboard!!

[lar]

Welcome from New Hampshire.

[redjay]

Welcome.

I don't remember the shaft drive of my 2005 Nomad wanting to push the bike to the right. The driveline never affected the way the bike handled that I recall.
Give it a few more miles and you might not even notice it.

[smokier]

Originally Posted by pumppy10

I just purchased a 2000 nomad 1500. Here are my concerns-1st spedo jumps all over the place. 2nd and this my just be me but this is the first shaft drive bike i have ever owned but it feel like when taking off from a start it wants to push to the right, is this something with shaft drives? I have had several bikes in the past one being a 1700 roadstar with belt drive and it never had that feel to it. I have been a rider for 20+ years so i have a good feel for how they handle. Any ideas? I gotta say that this is a really strong bike, puts the roadstar to shame by a mile!

Greetings Pumppy and welcome!

I can't remember if the 2001 had a cable driven speedo, right side front tire or not. I would start with checking and lubing the cable if it does.
As for the pull, do not recall my '01 Classic doing that... Are you aggressive on take offs? Tires in good condition? What other factors, besides shaft, might be influencing the behavior?

Loved my '01, put 68k on her before trading up...

Ride safe,
Smokier

[VulcanE]

Welcome aboard from Georgia. My '05 1600 doesn't feel as though it pushes to one side on take off, but I've been riding this bike for over 12 years now, so maybe I'm just used to it.

[mbarr10]

Welcome Pumppy

I have had a shaft, chain and then back to shaft. Last shaft 2007 1500 Classic, I noticed a slight pull, but very slight. Almost not noticeable. I think it was more the drag on the rear you get with a shaft drive that I noticed more. And that felt a pull to one side but again very minuscule. Check your maintenance schedule there is a u-joint service at Ummm 40,000 miles it think. Do you have any vibration?

I have a PDF service manual if you would like a copy. PM me your email and I will send it to you. Check My credibility on this site. It maybe a Bit Lame, But it is a clean download. ( just thought I would toss that in there, since you are at 1 post you don't know who I am.)

[pumppy10]

Well i have had more ride time and i guess it was just me, hardly notice it anymore. I also took the bike to a good cycle shop and had them road test the bike and they gave it a clean bill of health. I pulled the speedo cable and checked it, was lubed really well and after reinstalling the bounce is gone but i had my g p s on with me on a ride and it is off by 10 mph or so. I can live with that since i tend to ride on the underside of speed limit anyway. If anyone knows where i can get the black trim piece between the spedo housing and fuel talk i am looking for one mine is just flat out gone. Have an appointment to have the valves adjusted since it is at 44000 miles and seems a little more noise is coming out of upper end then should. I gotta say that this things rides awesome and the power, well lets just say WOW!

[VulcanE]

Your speedo being off is normal, almost every bike here is off by about 10% from the factory. These bikes don't have adjustable valves, they are self adjusting, but, with 44,000 miles you may need cam chain tensioner extenders.

[The Black Knight]

Welcome from Italy!

[MAS Tequila]

The speedo will be off by about 10%, that's just the way they are.

The shaft drive DOES have a distinct pull due to the spin of the shaft, where the chain and belt drive bikes don't have this added gyro- force.

Some guys are more sensitive to it than others.

It also contributes to the tires cupping since the bike is constantly pushing against it.

[hlknvlcn60]

Welcome from Oregon. I had a 2002 1500 P Meanstreak that was shaft drive also and always tracked straight as an arrow. Never had an issue with the speedo. Like mentioned, at 44K on the clock the cam chain tensioners are likely worn making valve train noise increases. Tensioner extenders may still be available although it has been a few years since I ordered them. The information at the time was available on the Vulcan Meanstreak forum....they had a website that those could be purchased from.

[smokier]

Originally Posted by pumppy10

... it is off by 10 mph or so. I can live with that since i tend to ride on the underside of speed limit anyway. If anyone knows where i can get the black trim piece between the spedo housing and fuel talk i am looking for one mine is just flat out gone. Have an appointment to have the valves adjusted since it is at 44000 miles and seems a little more noise is coming out of upper end then should.

Greetings Pumppy,

As stated by others, the SPEEDO is off from the factory.
Do see if you can find the cam chain tensioner kit for the VN1500. I do not remember the process, but do recall it wasn't particularly hard to do. (Actually, I remember thinking, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.)

Ride safe,
Smokier

[pumppy10]

Well now that i have had even more time on "Thor", a nick name my grandson gave the bike, i am really feeling alot more at ease with it. Did some nice back road twisties yesterday and put on about 150+ miles on it. 20170926_100244[1].jpg

20170926_100412[1].jpg

[MVA-Voyager]

nice ride!