Wrecked Vulcan 2000

[Cajunrider]

I was at the dealership with my son yesterday while he was waiting to pick up his new Vulcan 900. We noticed a pickup truck pull up in the parking lot with a damaged Vulcan 2000 on a flatbed trailer. An older gentleman (older than me) got out of the truck with his left arm in a sling. I took another look at the bike and noticed one of the handlebars was straight up. I went outside to admire the bike and started noticing the damage on the tank and other places. The handlebar was bent straight up from the fall. I asked the old guy what happened and he told me that he turned his eyes for a split second to look at something and when he looked back he had drifted close to the fog line. He fixated on the drop-off shoulder and there he went. He was bruised up a bit and broke his collarbone. He had purchased the beast only 2 weeks before. I spoke with the store manager after and he told me that he had practically begged the old guy to buy something else besides the 2000 because he had never ridden before. The manager told me he had tons of money and it had to be the biggest. He also told me that over 90% of the 2000's he has sold have been dropped by their owners. This guy had to have been in his late 60's and had never ridden before purchasing the biggest he could find. ::) Amazing that he wasn't killed or maimed.

[cactusjack]

Not that different from the teenager who goes and gets a Hayabusa as his first bike. You'd think an older guy would have some common sense, though. I wouldn't recommend a Nomad to a first time rider. That's why I picked up a Suzuki C50T for my re-entry to riding. I only had it for 6 months, but it was long enough for me to get the feel of riding and my confidence level back.

Well at least he didn't buy a Boss Hoss. Not that a VN2K is any kind of bike for a novice. This guy (I won't call him a rider) made a novice mistake and now he's paying the price. He's a lucky bastoid that it wasn't a whole lot worse! A broken collar bone is nothing compared to what could have happened. Unfortunately the fact that that's all he suffered will probably encourage the poor guy to stick with the VN2K until it kills him.

[pirate]

WOW, I definitely wouldn't choose a 2000 for my first bike. That's just asking for trouble, and it looks like he found it.

[beezer]

People do some weird schtuff

[racinchef]

I guess when you have all that money to burn you don't have to listen to what knowledgeable people have to say. On the other hand my first bike since 1990 was a Suzuki Intruder LC1500. Intimidating to say the least, but at 5'11" and 275 lbs. I I didn't have any troubles.

[ringadingh]

I give the guy credit for even wanting to start riding at his age, however theres no way I d ever get something like that for my first bike. Thats just asking for a death sentence in my mind.

[billmac]

If I focus on a point in the road, the front wheel will run over it. I look where I want to go, not the other way around.

[creekip]

I agree wholeheartedly that he should have started with a smaller bike! That said, what difference would it have made in this incident? Even if he was on a small bike, he would have gone down because the bike went where he focused his eyes. I'm not trying to be disagreeable, I just don't think the size of the bike matters in THIS incident.

edit: I guess it matters in the cost of repairs. :'(

[markusmaximus]

I recall from a few months ago someone mentioning that a dealer was unsuccessfully sued after selling an 1800 VTX to a novice rider who promptly got himself killed. I advocate reasonable disclosure for bikes over 1000 cc but I also believe in consumer choice. Darwinism in full motion.

He freaked. He froze. He crashed.

He might have had enough confidence on a smaller bike to pull it off without crashing.

My friend had a 2000. They are very heavy and very fast.

[ponch]

The Nomad is nearly as heavy as a V2K. I think the Nomad is 818 lbs wet and the V2KLT is around 879 lbs wet. wet is with all fluids and fuel, dry is without.

Originally Posted by wolfman

My friend had a 2000. They are very heavy and very fast.

I've ridden both back-to-back and the VN2k makes the Nomad feel positively sporty as far as handling in town goes.

[ponch]

Ha! I love your sense of humor. That is a scary thought. Does it come with side thrusters? :)

Originally Posted by caddmannq

I've ridden both back-to-back and the VN2k makes the Nomad feel positively sporty as far as handling in town goes.