I bought a 2004 VL1500 LC about six months ago, So far I love it. I put drag bars and 8" risers on mine. I've had no issues other than in cold weather it's a bitch to crank. You have to adjust the decompression adjustment.
I also ride a VL1500LC (2004: 13000 km's). Still haven't found the comfortlevel and max leaning angle yet. That makes my curves bigger then a "truck/trailer combi". I think that is the reason why they call it a cruiser. Not really made for tight turns. Besides that I am way to scared of dropping it and scratch it. Because it is such a beauty, and beast at the same time.
I bought my Boulevard C90T K7 less than 2 weeks ago and I rode it some 200km back home in mostly heavy rain. The next day, I tool my GF on a two-bikes-ride around the town (she saddles now on my other bike, the Intruder VL800 Volusia K3), and we managed to catch a wave of rain passing throught the town. Splendid start to riding the C90T for me and even greater introduction to motorcycing for my GF, I have to say 😀 The bike itself was quite a step up from VL800 (which I rode for slightly more than 11 seasons, both solo and with a few different 'rumps'). It's heavier, sturdier and less nimble - I guess that longer cruises were on the designer's mind here. Initially, I was rather slow(-er) and very careful into the corners, during my first few rides; however, in those less than 2 weeks, I got used to it enough to already take the turns almost the same way (speed & lean angle) I did on the VL800 - which is coincidentally quite similar to those first steps & improvements my GF made on the VL800. So there's always a learning curve, its length and steepness depends on your overall biking experience, feel for the beast underneath and its behaviour, if it fits you and your riding preferences well, etc.. I can say already, that I'm fine with taking it to Grossglockner or Nockalmstrasse (in Austria) or Vrsec (Slovenia), with plenty of mountain-road U-turns and steep up/down hill roads. I need to mention, that I consciously worked on achieving this level of 'confidence', as on day #3 or #4, I took it on an (almost) empty road, solo of course, and there I purposefully rode it in a few different manners to get familiar with the feeling of acceleration, working with the clutch (where, in a result, I adjusted it to better fit my preferences), proper up and down-shifting technique on this very model, various levels of intensity of braking (yeah, I adjusted it as well, the difference was night & day), the feeling for proper leaning to still be safe, etc.. I also tried out a few different seating positions, just to figure out one that makes me most confident and comfortable riding the bike. Ride hard & ride safe 🙂
Congrats and great comment! My wife rides on the back of mine with me and we always have fun. Its definitely a winner and I haven't looked back! Super thankful for the VL1500!
@@LegacyStudio Always a pleasure responding to a good a/o inspirational video - and yes, the VL1500 (or the US-version, the C90) is indeed a very fine bike. BTW they are generally very reliable and require only regular maintenance, per specs in the service manual, however it may eventually - at some point - run into issues with the stator a/o alternator, to my humble knowledge - per some users on internet forums and a couple of my friends' experience a/o opinion - luckily, a permanent fix is really cheap and DYI-level easy. I'm sure I could handle it myself, and just in case I needed some guidance, any 5min instructional video here on YT would do the job. So yes, all in all, the bike is truly a great value for the money. LbnL let me extend the "hard & safe" wishes to both you and your wife (no pun intended 🙂).
I have just bought one of these and have been looking at their common issues. From my reading and listening to that starter jam up, you might want to look into adjusting the de-compression valve cables.
You should be able to start it in neutral with the kickstand down, and the clutch in. When you start having starting issues? Check the stater, they’ve been updated. Clean the starter, The starter and battery are not big enough to start this bike, or if you can get a bigger cca battery that fits in the box under the oil cooler.
Great advice! I do struggle slightly with starting and noticed my speakers on the bike killed the battery VERY quickly. So I ended up disconnecting them as much as I enjoyed using them. So a larger battery would make a bit more sense and I need to probably look at a new starter here soon.
There’s an updated stator also, but if you pull the starter and clean it up? That’ll help too. I leave mine on a battery tender, that ensures full battery every time.
Also make sure it’s grounded properly, mine originally, or by previous owner, was grounded to the motor which caused issues due to the rubber motor mounts, until I figured it out.
Hey man congrats on the bike! It is such a beautiful ride, I hope things are well and the bike is treating you nice. Did you happen to triple check all the wiring? Did you ever get your father in law to help teach to weld?
Try starting up in Neutral rather than in a gear. Leave in gear when Parked to prevent rolling off the Stand. Just click up half click to Neutral to Start. Stay Safe, Stay Up, Stay Safe.
@@AZ-zn3ru No, he had a start up and took off in 2nd gear. From Neutral 1st is down, it make it simple. A start in neutral also is Safer. Keeps you from premature lurch if you had to release the clutch if not ready for take off.
This is true, thankfully I have not experienced a fuel-injected motorcycle yet. Both of mine have been carbureted so it's hard to compare what I haven't experienced. We have snow season up in Montana now, came early this year and I am missing riding my new girl. Impatiently waiting to get her out again next year.
I hate that we are in winter because I had to put it away while we fuss with the freezing cold and snow. But if I remember correctly.... it is about $12.00 to fill up? Pretty sure I got around 75 miles a tank or so?
I wish you joy on your new iron horse, Tim, but please invest in a real helmet. That stupid thing you're wearing didn't end well for the German army in '45, and won't protect you if your nut ever has to bounce of the tarmac, God forbid. I once had to throw the VS1400 older sister of your bike into a ditch one winter's night, to avoid an oncoming van that 'Didn't see you mate' on a dark country lane. We both survived intact, but I had a proper skid lid on - nothing expensive, but it saved my teeth. Ride hard, ride safe👍. Ps, I never found the limit of lean angle on my old girl, but it was great fun watching the plastic fantastic riders' faces as I undertook them on a tightening bend, trying to get my knee down😁. Countersteer, baby. You've got a proper classic there, mate, enjoy.
Yep I agree with you! Got a proper full face helmet now and appreciate your kind words and hearing your story. I never thought id get back on a bike after I sold my last one, but here we are. Thanks for checking out my little video :0)
