cyclejohn
Well-Known Member
I had a fire at my house the evening of April 11th and it burned up my 3 bikes. A 2000 Ace Tourer, a 2002 VTX1800, and a 2003 Vmax. The Ace Tourer and the Vmax got the worst of it and the Vmax got the worst of it of those 2.
Prior to the fire all of my bikes looked like brand new because, well, that's just how I took care of them. The Vmax only had a little over 18K on it. I had just finished putting the Vmax back together that morning after adjusting valve clearances and replacing the valve cover gaskets (they were weeping slightly from age, not leaking). I took it out for a 250 mile shakedown run and it was flawless. The fire happened about 3 hrs. after I had closed up the shop for the night (fire was an electrical outlet short, it was not bike related).
The whole point of this post is to say that if someone who likes Vmaxes as much as I do would like to come get it to either salvage parts from or rebuild, I wouldn't be against it. I don't want it to sit for months under a tarp (my only building burned down in the fire), and I don't want to haul it off to the scrap metal yard when there are so many parts on it that I see as being viable.
The fire pretty much burned everything up above motor height. The wiring harness and electricals and electronics are completely gone. The seat and all electricals under it - gone.
I believe the wheels are fine but they have a thick coat of soot and gooey oil film on them from when the fire hose met the burning jugs of oil in the building and kinda exploded. I believe the engine to be good. I believe the frame to be good. It has a Venture final drive on it and I also have the stock Vmax final drive - The plastic dust rings are melted and they have that gooey on them. It has a set of the stainless steel Focker exhaust 4 into 4 on it covered with soot and some goo that I think will clean right off (I paid close to $1000 dollars for them. It has a notched and braced swingarm on it that runs a 200 tire no problem. It has a custom rear brake stay on it that would clean up fine. The factory grab rail would clean up fine. The frame I believe is good but would have to be cleaned up. There are quite a few things from engine level down that I believe to be salvageable.
It makes me sick to look at it but I believe that the right person could use a lot of the parts. I want to rebuild it but the reality is I don't have the energy or health to do so (I'm old and have quite a few health issues) and I lost a lot of my tools in the fire also that would have been necessary.
But, that's what I have (a burned up 2003 Vmax) for the person that could make some use of it so that it wouldn't go to waste.
It's for free but if you were pleased enough with what you found and wanted to throw $100 or $200 at me I wouldn't fight you about it (but there's no requirement for the money).
I'm located in Reidsville, NC and it would have to be for pick-up.
John
Prior to the fire all of my bikes looked like brand new because, well, that's just how I took care of them. The Vmax only had a little over 18K on it. I had just finished putting the Vmax back together that morning after adjusting valve clearances and replacing the valve cover gaskets (they were weeping slightly from age, not leaking). I took it out for a 250 mile shakedown run and it was flawless. The fire happened about 3 hrs. after I had closed up the shop for the night (fire was an electrical outlet short, it was not bike related).
The whole point of this post is to say that if someone who likes Vmaxes as much as I do would like to come get it to either salvage parts from or rebuild, I wouldn't be against it. I don't want it to sit for months under a tarp (my only building burned down in the fire), and I don't want to haul it off to the scrap metal yard when there are so many parts on it that I see as being viable.
The fire pretty much burned everything up above motor height. The wiring harness and electricals and electronics are completely gone. The seat and all electricals under it - gone.
I believe the wheels are fine but they have a thick coat of soot and gooey oil film on them from when the fire hose met the burning jugs of oil in the building and kinda exploded. I believe the engine to be good. I believe the frame to be good. It has a Venture final drive on it and I also have the stock Vmax final drive - The plastic dust rings are melted and they have that gooey on them. It has a set of the stainless steel Focker exhaust 4 into 4 on it covered with soot and some goo that I think will clean right off (I paid close to $1000 dollars for them. It has a notched and braced swingarm on it that runs a 200 tire no problem. It has a custom rear brake stay on it that would clean up fine. The factory grab rail would clean up fine. The frame I believe is good but would have to be cleaned up. There are quite a few things from engine level down that I believe to be salvageable.
It makes me sick to look at it but I believe that the right person could use a lot of the parts. I want to rebuild it but the reality is I don't have the energy or health to do so (I'm old and have quite a few health issues) and I lost a lot of my tools in the fire also that would have been necessary.
But, that's what I have (a burned up 2003 Vmax) for the person that could make some use of it so that it wouldn't go to waste.
It's for free but if you were pleased enough with what you found and wanted to throw $100 or $200 at me I wouldn't fight you about it (but there's no requirement for the money).
I'm located in Reidsville, NC and it would have to be for pick-up.
John
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