Used '99 too old?

[mushinspace]

Hi.

Found a couple of '99 Nomads on my semi-local craigslist ... what sort of gotchas should I watch out for?

One says, "havent rode all season so she must go. needs minor carb tune up." ... is the '99 1500 fuel injected? I'm wondering what might mean in terms of rehab work.

Anything else I should be checking if I get to go look at any of these?

Where in the model line is the '99? (i.e. first year of that model or?) Like the '09 looks nice, but it's a first run, so ...

Thanks,
Sam

[ells]

Several here have or had '99s. As I understand it, no issues at all except that there was a plastic oil pump gear that year only and tends to fail. Most have been replaced or should be replaced. Others will chime in soon.

[razor]

The '99 is carbed,is the first run (98-99) Emerald Green. The only thing to watch for is the steel oil gear.It came with the Plastic oil gear that failed in some. Ma Kaw replaced these free of charge in most cases with the steel unit.Look at the POG issue listed in the VROC forum for more info. Razor

[billmac]

I agree with Ells and razor. And I think any bike that needs work should only bring a fraction of the normal value. No telling what is needed for sure and bike parts ain't cheap..

[audiogooroo]

Just the plastic oil gear. Make sure it's been replaced and there's no reason you shouldn't be good to go for many miles as long as it's been well maintanied and hasn't been down.
99s are carbed. In 2000 there were available as both carbed and FI.

[coacha]

Got a '99 here in red. POG is the only issue I have heard of. Still trying to get my hands on a steel gear.

[mushinspace]

How hard is the POG replacement, if it hasn't been done, and I can get my fingers on one?

I don't mind doing some maintenance on a bike (been practicing on my little bike where the worst I can do is break it :) ), but I also don't want to spend $$$ on something I will just have stuck in the garage until next year in parts.

Thanks,
Sam

[ringadingh]

There is a really good chance that Kawasaki will cover the repair of the POG, but only after it has failed, try to find out if it has already been replaced. There is also a Judges oil gear replacement that you can do, but its a bit of work depending on your mechanical ability's

[rksaw]

I bought a '99 from a friend this summer and love it. The POG (Plastic Oil pump Gear) did go out two weeks ago, but Kawi fully covered the replacement, and since they have to split the crankcase to get to it, I got a free oil change and radiator flush out of it as well. Other than that, I love the bike and would fully recommend it.

I have had four Hondas and now a Nomad, and the Nomad is definitely my favorite. She rides nice, handles nice, loves riding two up, has lockable hardbags, shaft drive and so much more. If you find a good deal, and the POG has already been taken care of, then I'd go for it.
Rich

[rksaw]

hey Razor!!!
Welcome to the forum. You will certainly enjoy the discussions and all the great people you meet here.
Rich

[dantama]

Because Kawasaki only pics up the tab on the pog after it fails, and it is prohibitively expensive to do prior to failure on your own.............If it hasn't already been taken care of, I get one of the other ten years worth out there.

I had a new 99 and it's pog went out in the second year during the regular warranty (20,000 something miles) and was replaced. I got another used 99 when mine had 63,000 miles, and the new one only had 2,000. I found that I didn't like keeping an eye on the oil light so much, and at that time it wasn't established that kawi would pick up the tab even after warranty, so I sold it and got an 05.

If the pog has been done (and how do you really know?) I'd get one and not worry. They go a lot of miles no problem. If it hasn't been done, you'll have to judge how much you like riding with something hanging over your head. As I said, there are ten years worth of Nomads out there, and only one has a problem.

Just my thoughts

[schoeney]

I think I would wait to find a 2003...they are the fastest!

Good luck + Welcome!

[waterman]

Actually Dan,

Doing the JOG is not that bad. You just take off the right side, break the POG and replace with the steel gear. I was ready to order one from Judge until MaKaw said they would pick up the tab. If I remember right the JOG was about $150 plus a new gasket for the cover. Probably would have take a couple of hours with breaks to put in.

Muchinspace,

If you do find a good one which the POG hasn't been replace. If you do buy it I strongly suggest to put in the JOG for peace of mind. I was planning on doing that for a winter project before mine went out but I didn't make it that far before it went.

[dantama]

Originally Posted by waterman

Actually Dan,

Doing the JOG is not that bad. You just take off the right side, break the POG and replace with the steel gear. I was ready to order one from Judge until MaKaw said they would pick up the tab. If I remember right the JOG was about $150 plus a new gasket for the cover. Probably would have take a couple of hours with breaks to put in.

Muchinspace,

If you do find a good one which the POG hasn't been replace. If you do buy it I strongly suggest to put in the JOG for peace of mind. I was planning on doing that for a winter project before mine went out but I didn't make it that far before it went.

I forgot about doing a JOG, I was meaning replacing the gear when it breaks. The whole pull the engine out of the frame and split the cases. There is a big tab that goes with that job.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Dan Lund

I forgot about doing a JOG, I was meaning replacing the gear when it breaks. The whole pull the engine out of the frame and split the cases. There is a big tab that goes with that job.

I agree with you there. My plan was to replace it during the winter. About 3 or 4 weeks before winter hit, the POG took the crapper. At least MaKaw stepped up.