Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FEATURE BIKE By Scott Rousseau Photos by Paul Carruthers ne quick &Iance at Tim Lothamer's custom cruiser and you might easily dismiss it as nothing more than a garden variety modified Harley-Davidson. But you had better take another look. Lothamer, of Irvine, California, set out to build a ride so that he could take to the streets with his friends, all of whom rode custom Hogs, but since he's employed by Kawasaki Motor Corporation, his platform of choice was both a natural and an alternative: Lothamer decided to build a custom Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, the Japanese firm's flagship cruiser model. Surprisingly, Lothamer took little more than a month to completely transform the machine, relying heavily on the tremendous wealth of aftermarket bolton goodies that are available for Japanese cruisers. The plan induded keeping it simple, and that meant leaving the Kaw's 1500cc V-twin mill essentially in stock condition, al though Lothamer did elect to give it a bit more grunt with the addition of a Dynojet carb kit, and a bit more bark with the addition of the 2inch Samson drag-style exha~st system. I (Above) The engine on TIm Lolllamer's Kawasaki 1500 Vule8n custom has received only minor mods In the form of Samson 2-lnch drag pipes and a DynoJet carb kit The bike's saddle Is a modified Kawasaki unit. (Far left) Note the extensive use of bolt caps to smooth out the appearance of the bike. Subtle mods and attention to datell really add up on this particular bike. (Left) Lothamer dived headlong Into the Kawasaki Accessories catelog to come up with this trick-looking light bar, the lamp ,visors and lila leather toolbag among other Items. Owner ...... . fasteners like the shock bolts, axle nuts and the like. Lothamer also added a Kawasaki accessories leather front toolbag. With his wish list completed, Lothamer then contacted reputable Texas painter Jeff Long to lay down the brilliant PPG Moonglow White Pearl and Tangelo Orange Pearl "rip job" over a blue marbelized base on the tank and fenders, which really sets the bike off. Careful assembly of all the components with atttention to detail such as the utilization of titanium or stainless-steel allen bolts resulted in the machine you see here. Lothamer admits that he has some $18,000 in the bike, but it is now a Kawasaki Vulcan like no other. So, if you're ever cruising the streets of Orange County and you see Tim Lothamer's white, orange, blue and bad Kawasaki Vulcan pull up next to you, check it out. It's worth' a second look. CN Tim Lothamer 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 1SOO IIODIFICADONS Eng!.-TJPe/SIze Kawasaki 1500cc V-twin Stock with Dynojet C8Jburetor kit ExhMIat Semson 2~nch drag pipes Progresslve suspension reer shocks. I·inch under.: stock Kawasaki fork with IJI/hlte Brothers lowering kit. '·Inch under. ~ 9, _, .".Ia. . Suspension upgrades were also kept simple. The White Brothers front fork lowering kit and chromed Progressive suspension shocks were used with the resultant I-inch drop giving the bike a more aggressive stance. Lothamer liked the look of the stock, spoked wheels and decided to keep them on the bike. The chassis itself was also left alone. With the engine and 'suspension mods in place, Lothamer then took a step backward by disassembling the entire machine and ferrying the stock fork legs, floorboards, front engine mount, top triple damp, front wheel spacers, handlebar switch housings and various bracketry to South Bay Chrome in Santa Ana, California, for a new coat of the shiny stuff. During the disassembly, Lothamer took a trip to the local Biker's Dream and picked up a set of chromed Knucklebars and Custom Chrome grips to help him better get a handle on things. Other nonstock items included a chromed dash insert from Cobra Engineering. Additional parts and pieces came from, where else, the Kawasaki Accessories catalog. Lothamer dove deep into the book and added several chromed items including front and rear brake caliper trim, a front spotlight bar complete with amber spot bulbs pirated from a Kawasaki police bike, headlight and spotlight visors, driveshaft cover, sWingarm cover, rectifier cover, front fender trim, licenseplate backing, kickstand cover and various bolt covers to hide unsightly Ace ••• a..... Ha". Knucklebars Caee your local dealer) Custom Chrome (see your local ~) 0-10 '-ft Cobra Engineering (see your local deeler) .......... _ Kawasaki AccessorIes (see your local dealer) ...... caliper _ Kawasaki Accessories (see your local dealer) H lllht "'-or , Kawasaki Accessories Spa18l11ht bar Kawasaki Accessories SpotlIght Kawasaki Accessories DrI ft _ _ . . . . . . . .. . Kawasaki Accessories R. .. __ Kawasakl Accessories Uoen IlL I . Kawasaki Accessor1es Kawasaki Accessories ...........u ••• ....................Kawasaki Accessories IIIIt _ Kawasaki Accesso;1es PaInt Jeff Long Graphlcs (972/4~ ea.South Bay Chrome (714/434-1141J t ••..•••.•.•.• •...••••.•.• GIfpa Front............. . aa-

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