About the Bike (No clever song lyric yet.)

Well, it's a motorcycle. Teal blue tank, green fenders, chrome, black plastic and the usual array of lights, reflectors, cables, hoses and the two "dogears" that are the airboxes on either side.

Based on the records I received with the bike, the 21,130 figure on the odometer would put about 74 miles a week on it since it was originally purchased. I see a a lot of similar-vintage bikes advertised with fewer miles on them, but I don't find 21K too objectionable in light of the fact that it means the bike has been ridden and not left to rot in some shed somewhere. The figure in the Kelley Blue Book's Motorcycle Mileage page says an average '93 will have been ridden about 95 miles per week.

Alas, nothing's perfect. The two biggest visible defects are a bent clutch lever and a small ding in the tank. The bent lever is a pretty sure indicator that the bike was dropped, but if it was, the only thing it hit was that lever. I'm not sure where the ding in the tank came from; I don't remember it being there when I bought it, and it's not in a place where it could have been caused by a drop. Fortunately, it's small enough that next time the tank gets hot I may try the ice cube trick to pop it out.

The important parts of the bike are dead stock, but most people can't resist adding a few accessories, and the previous owner of my 750 was no exception. He'd put on the following:

• Kawasaki Fire & Steel Engine Guard
• Kawasaki Fire & Steel Passenger Backrest
• Willie and Max Standard Touring Saddlebags
• National Cycle's Custom Heavy Duty Windshield and Bug Terminator

Since then, I've done the following:

• Installed a pair of coasters in place of the reed valves at the exhaust ports. The reed valves allow fresh air into the exhaust during deceleration, causing the remaining hydrocarbons to combust. While this does great things for the bike's emissions, the combustion usually takes place in the upper end of the exhaust pipe, making them run very hot. The coasters keep this from happening and the whole bike runs much cooler. I get a lot of emails asking where I got mine. Former 750 owner Drew Arnone used to be a good source, but he traded his in on a V-Max and no longer machines them. Fortunately, Forrest Sanco, another VROC member, makes coasters for the 750 and 1500. Plugging the hoses with marbles also works.
• Mounted a Smart Tag (like E-ZPass if you live in the Northeast) transponder on the lower part of the windshield so I don't have to stop in slippery toll booths and try to fumble with change while my gloves are on. Unfortunately, I've found that the Velcro they provide doesn't last very long because the transponder is flat and the surface of my windshield is curved. I'm working on a bracket to hold it permanently.
• Installled a charging/accessory harness so I don't have to yank the seat off every time I want to charge the battery and so I can charge my cell phone while on the road. This message in the VROC Mailing list Archive describes how to install it and the system of connectors I use with it.
• Replaced the stock saddle with a Mustang Wide Regal. The seating position is a bit different, but now I run out of gas before I feel the need to get off the seat.

No scoot would be complete without the gear you wear while riding it. Here's my collection:

• Helmet. Shoei RF-800 in eyeball-searing Visual Orange. The picture doesn't do the color justice. So far I've heard from riders, cagers and spectators alike that this helmet is extremely visible. My wife said she once spotted me out on the highway from three lanes away on a parallel road when she wasn't even looking for me. Here in Washington, I'll take any edge I can get.
• Jacket. First Gear Scout III jacket. Not cheap, but very well constructed and comfortable, even when the temperature's reaching the upper and lower bounds of where I'll ride.
• Rain Suit. First Gear Overdrive. Haven't used it yet, but it seems just as well-engineered and well-built as the jacket.
• Gloves. So far, two pair (I figure there will be more):
  • For winter: Olympia All-Season gauntlets. These are warm enough that when when I'm out in 40-degree weather, my hands still end up sweaty.
  • For summer: Olympia Ventor standard-length. What can I say? They're gloves with holes.
• Boots. Two pair:
  • Double-H "Rev Gear" harness boots. These get high marks for the soles, which feature an alternating pattern of wedges that increases traction in slippery spots like tollbooths. (I've also started using them in the winter because they do very well on ice.) According to my local bootery, they were originally made for Harley-Davidson, hence the Harley orange soles on the bottom.
  • A pair of R.J. Colt work boots. These were the boots I started riding in, but the shoelaces have a nasty habit of coming loose. (Thank goodness the Vulcan isn't chain-driven!) The left one now features a big black mark where it's been hit with the shifter.

• Cover. OSI's Half-Dress Motorcycle Cover. Its Evolution III fabric keeps direct moisture away and breathes well enough to let excess condensation evaporate. So far it's done its job well.
• Battery Charger. Schumacher SE-1-12S. These work very well and are a bargain at under $25.00. See your friendly local Wal-Mart.
• Lock. Kryptonite's Flex-Security shackle is almost identical to some of their disc locks at about half the price ($13.00 at my local home improvement warehouse).