Just when I need it.

**regularman** · 06-06-2010, 11:44 AM

I have been a member of the Kawasaki 454LTD forum for years and I am just now about 2/3 done with a total restoration. Some parts are no longer available for my 24 year old bike and that forum was full of mods and swaps and things that could have helped me out. Now I get this. http://ltd454.proboards.com/index.cgi? I fear this does not bode well for that forum. Lots of people there had things they had found including me that saved money.
I took mine down and painted the frame and its mostly back together.

**flitecontrol** · 06-06-2010, 03:06 PM

At least one 454 member has come over to VN750.com. There are many similarities between the two bikes.

JunkyardDog · 06-07-2010, 03:51 AM

Yeah, VN750.com might be helpful to you. I don't spend much time there anymore. I still pop in once in a while, but I went back to the Yahoo Groups VN750 forum. I know everybody there, and get along with them. Most of them also post on VN750.com once in a while, but mostly stay to themselves down on Yahoo. I was one of the original members of that group when it first started.

Best of luck with your 454. I used to own one bought brand new. It, or the first generation Vulcan 500, with a 750cc version of the same parallel twin engine is what I always wished the Vulcan 750 was. It's such a simple, reliable engine. The VN750 is several times more complicated, and the Ninja 500, which uses the same engine as the 454, makes just as much power, without all the complication, and is more reliable. The VN750 is a great bike, to ride, but not to work on. The complexity of the engine is just ridiculous, IMO. Jerry.

**regularman** · 06-07-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkyardDog

Yeah, VN750.com might be helpful to you. I don't spend much time there anymore. I still pop in once in a while, but I went back to the Yahoo Groups VN750 forum. I know everybody there, and get along with them. Most of them also post on VN750.com once in a while, but mostly stay to themselves down on Yahoo. I was one of the original members of that group when it first started.

Best of luck with your 454. I used to own one bought brand new. It, or the first generation Vulcan 500, with a 750cc version of the same parallel twin engine is what I always wished the Vulcan 750 was. It's such a simple, reliable engine. The VN750 is several times more complicated, and the Ninja 500, which uses the same engine as the 454, makes just as much power, without all the complication, and is more reliable. The VN750 is a great bike, to ride, but not to work on. The complexity of the engine is just ridiculous, IMO. Jerry.

Yeah, I wanted a big parallel twin but not the air cooled (750s which are rare now). The triumph bonnie speedmaster is a nice one but its oil cooled and not water and I just prefer water cooled. The only chance we will ever have is if they make a big GPZ and everything else will follow suit when they size up the pistons and all like they did when they went from the 908 to the 1000r and sized everything up. I have never driven the vulcan 500 but I have heard its a dog compared to the 454 as they "detuned" the intake came for entry level riders or something. Sound like those with the en500 need to buy the ninja cam to get their power back.

**flitecontrol** · 06-07-2010, 10:15 PM

This revers parts look up may help you find parts that will fit. The instrument cluster on both bikes looks the same. May be some other similarities. http://fiche.ronayers.com/

JunkyardDog · 06-08-2010, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regularman

Yeah, I wanted a big parallel twin but not the air cooled (750s which are rare now). The triumph bonnie speedmaster is a nice one but its oil cooled and not water and I just prefer water cooled. The only chance we will ever have is if they make a big GPZ and everything else will follow suit when they size up the pistons and all like they did when they went from the 908 to the 1000r and sized everything up. I have never driven the vulcan 500 but I have heard its a dog compared to the 454 as they "detuned" the intake came for entry level riders or something. Sound like those with the en500 need to buy the ninja cam to get their power back.

No doubt the current EN500 would be a lot better with the Ninja 500 engine ( that engine makes an almost unbelievable amount of power for a 500 twin, it's faster than some 750 fours I've ridden) but I'm not interested in the current EN500, even with a Ninja engine. It does not have tubeless tires or a centerstand, and one or the other of those two are absolute requirements for me as far as a new bike goes. I was able to make a portable emergency stand for the Rebel, but it just barely works well enough on the Rebel that I would trust it. It most likely wouldn't work on the Vulcan, especially a 750cc version of it.

'09 was the last year for the Ninja 500, and probably for the Vulcan 500 as well, which means the end of that engine. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Seems today's cruisers are all about looks and none about function. Nobody seems to care that there whizbang digital fuel injection will cost a fortune to fix when it fails, or that their tube type tires cannot be repaired when they go flat on the road. Motorcycling sure is different than it used to be, and not for the better, IMO.

One neat thing about your 454, is that a late model Ninja 500 engine should bolt right in, other than I don't know what they changed about it to allow for the belt drive pulley. Could be just a different cover, or the engine cases could be different. You might also have the option of going to a chain drive wheel. Several people have converted the shaft drive V-Max to chain drive. If it could be done without major surgery, you would have an endless supply of high performance engines.

My next bike after the Vulcan 750 will be a used Harley Electra Glide, with an EVO engine, carb, and tubeless tires. With a few tools, you can practically rebuild one of those on the side of the road, the way it was back in the good old days, when it broke, you HAD to fix it, or start walking. Jerry.

**regularman** · 06-08-2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JunkyardDog

No doubt the current EN500 would be a lot better with the Ninja 500 engine ( that engine makes an almost unbelievable amount of power for a 500 twin, it's faster than some 750 fours I've ridden) but I'm not interested in the current EN500, even with a Ninja engine. It does not have tubeless tires or a centerstand, and one or the other of those two are absolute requirements for me as far as a new bike goes. I was able to make a portable emergency stand for the Rebel, but it just barely works well enough on the Rebel that I would trust it. It most likely wouldn't work on the Vulcan, especially a 750cc version of it.

'09 was the last year for the Ninja 500, and probably for the Vulcan 500 as well, which means the end of that engine. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Seems today's cruisers are all about looks and none about function. Nobody seems to care that there whizbang digital fuel injection will cost a fortune to fix when it fails, or that their tube type tires cannot be repaired when they go flat on the road. Motorcycling sure is different than it used to be, and not for the better, IMO.

One neat thing about your 454, is that a late model Ninja 500 engine should bolt right in, other than I don't know what they changed about it to allow for the belt drive pulley. Could be just a different cover, or the engine cases could be different. You might also have the option of going to a chain drive wheel. Several people have converted the shaft drive V-Max to chain drive. If it could be done without major surgery, you would have an endless supply of high performance engines.

My next bike after the Vulcan 750 will be a used Harley Electra Glide, with an EVO engine, carb, and tubeless tires. With a few tools, you can practically rebuild one of those on the side of the road, the way it was back in the good old days, when it broke, you HAD to fix it, or start walking. Jerry.

That is pretty much the way I still do it. I'm still looking at a V-rod. I wish that engine was set up on a cruiser frame. Water cooled and horsepower for the money. One of my bosses just bought a 2010 ultra classic for a bundle and it has a whopping 58 hp. 58 hp out of 96 cubic inches, that is just sad. I know he can start adding stuff to get more HP, but at that price he should not have to. The new Vmax for 19K has near 200hp at the rear wheel. If I had that kind of money to waste on a bike, that is where it would go. Especially since they are only making 1500 of the new Vmax and only 500 are coming to the US, they are going to be a damn good investment.

JunkyardDog · 06-09-2010, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regularman

That is pretty much the way I still do it. I'm still looking at a V-rod. I wish that engine was set up on a cruiser frame. Water cooled and horsepower for the money. One of my bosses just bought a 2010 ultra classic for a bundle and it has a whopping 58 hp. 58 hp out of 96 cubic inches, that is just sad. I know he can start adding stuff to get more HP, but at that price he should not have to. The new Vmax for 19K has near 200hp at the rear wheel. If I had that kind of money to waste on a bike, that is where it would go. Especially since they are only making 1500 of the new Vmax and only 500 are coming to the US, they are going to be a damn good investment.

I'm 51, and not getting any younger. I am very disappointed in what new bikes have become. I see no place for computer technology on a motorcycle. I want the Electra Glide to ride, plain and simple. Something simple, with stone age technology and a few rough edges that can be worked on with ordinary hand tools and a bit of mechanical skill. As long as it will cruise down the highway and keep up with traffic, that' s good enough for me. I don't plan to race it, or do sport riding with it. There are a number of carbureted, pre Twin Cam bikes for sale around here in nice overall condition for around 8K.

I currently drag race a car that runs 11s/130s in the 1/4 mile, that satisfies my need for speed, but I realize as I get older, and my arthritis gets worse, I am going to loose my reaction time, and have to give it up. You can't go fast forever. The Electra Glide will be my retirement bike. Time to slow down, kick back, and ride. There is no way I would ever buy a new Harley, not only because I can't afford it, but they come with thousands of dollars worth of computerized, fuel injected technowhizbang crap on them just like new Japanese bikes do, and I don't want it. That's why I want an older Harley. Big, tough, simple, what a motorcycle should be, at least to me. Jerry.

**regularman** · 06-19-2010, 10:46 PM

I got everything back together as as far a carbs and did a little adjusting and it now blips right to 10k with no hesitation. Old gas had set up in there in some places. I still got a ways to go on it but by next spring it should be rolling. I got a set of brand new slip ons of a 2010 ultra classic. With a reducing bushing they are going to work out well. The are the same diameter as my stock pipes but over twice as long and that is what I want. 45$ on ebay is not bad inluding shipping. I put them on temporary and they sound good. A little deeper tone and the noise moved back and down is what I want for proper saddle bags.

**regularman** · 06-27-2010, 10:54 AM

I just got my bigger pipes and the saddle bags (rigid mount) put on yesterday. I got a ways to go to finish the restoration. I need to get some signals and finish the electric, get the seat redone, things like that. Some of my latest pics with the pipes and the bags.

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