I have an '02 1500 Mean Streak, and yes, the hp from factory is anemic, but it is pretty easy to remedy witha few bolt on goodies. I added an aftermarket exhaust, a big air intake, and a dyno'd power commander III to bring it all together, adding 20hp at the rear wheel and making it a beast.
Best owner's review of the Meanstreak anywhere. I am curious though about your gas mileage. I really didn't pay too much attention to mine except for highway mileage and I was getting 51miles/imperial gallon. I thought that was pretty good. Not sure of the differences between your 2008 and my 2004, maybe something to do with your mods, my bike was stock. Another point you make was exactly the same reason I didn't buy a Harley. $14k for new '04 Meanstreak, $28K for new '04 Dyna Glide and in my opinion, the Meanstreak was a better bike, EFI, shaft drive, liquid cooled (Harley would struggle with 45 degree ambient) and who would pay double the price and get half the front brakes?
I’m getting about 45-ish MPG. Not completely awful and I’ve no doubt the mods are affecting it somewhat. The small tank compounds matters. I’m used to more economical bikes so it may be a bit of shock going to a large cc bike for the first time. That said, I did expect it to be better. Was expecting over 50! As a “bang for your buck” bike, the big Kwaka is hard to beat. It’s a hell of a lot of bike for the cash.
@@PaddyOutback If you dumped the power commander your fuel usage would drop dramatically..they are known to hog gas with them. Love the honest review, I'm just trying to buy one in NZ now. Cheers!
I very much enjoyed your review. I couldn't stop smiling and laughed much of the time. I'm 61 in the States and am starting to think that I could use something like the Meanstreak to increase the "smiles per mile" compared to my '01 ZRX1200R that I rarely ride, just to keep the miles under 10K. I don't need a bike with that much speed, I need something that's fun but still requires respect from the rider.
The statement you made at 13:20 is the best reason you can have for owning a particular bike. I ride an old bike that's slow, uncomfortable at times, pisses me off quite often (I feel your pain with regards to no fuel guage) and parts for the thing cost me an arm and a leg if I can get them at all, but every time I fire it up I have the same reaction and I wouldn't give it away for the world. Keep up the great video's and enjoy your rides.
I found a great little upgrade for my 06 Mean Streak, and think you'll really appreciate it. The foot pegs from a Vulcan 750 will fit right on it like they were made for it, and they have a rest that extends from the backside of them to put your heels on to prevent fatigue on the long rides. Good luck.🇺🇲 I enjoyed your style of reviewing so much, I've subscribed.
I have a 2002 Vulcan 1500 Classic, purchased it in October of 2023, because I saw it and loved it. I too could have bought a Harley, still can, but I love my Vulcan. Wheels to the ground, safe riding all.
I love your review, I love your attitude. From one who rides a Suzuki M50 (800cc) lightweight cruiser on similar long haul trips, carrying a same but different array of loves and hates.
Ive got the same mods on my 04 1600 meanie and you really put into the perfect phrasing, I am 100% hunting for the god ugly sheep skin seat cover now xD
I feel almost exactly the same way about my 2021 Vulcan Custom. It's a new bike with the technology of a 90s bike being the only modern feature is fuel injection. I love the way it looks, I love the way it sounds and rides and brand new it was half the price of a new HD 😅 it's also not fast but there is something about it's short comings that makes me like it even more... Must be a Vulcan thing! I will say the addition of a full fuel gauge and 20 litre tank is definitely a pro.
Excellent review mate, I'm glad to hear you like the machine, like you I just had to have one 🙂Do yourself a favour, keep a very close eye on the oil level, I've rebuilt a few Meanie engines and other Vulcan engines where people ran the machine low on oil. Do it once and it's very unforgiving, it will eat the crankshaft big end bearings and the main bearings shortly thereafter. Looked after, they're bombproof.
Hi Paddy, very interesting video mate. I have just purchased a 2007 Special Edition Meanie with 1115kms on it. I'm too embarrassed to say how much I paid but I don't care about that. I just wanted it. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. Immaculate condition and not 1 mod. I was lucky to find it and after a short test ride, I fell in love with it. I am coming from a 1976 Z1000 and was looking for a cruiser. I can't wait to start getting to know this bike better. I would like to add a few mods like a power commander, exhausts etc but for the moment I am just happy to ride it as it is.
Got a 06 fi2000 tuner, cobra pipes, cold air intake great cruising bike plenty of power and mine moves pretty good smoked a couple of Harleys all day long no complains on my end.
I've owned 3 Harley 1200 Sportster models with twin front discs, the Sportster Sport, Roadster and XR1200. An excellent all round mid capacity cruiser. I would like another but truth is I could buy a Meanstreak for much less. Bit heavier than I'd like but saving thousands of dollars is hard to argue with.
Best review going! How tall are you? I’m looking at getting one, I’m 5ft 7/8” would you say it’s doable? Cheers! Gonna watch the rest of your videos now! 🙏
I like the mean streak I ride a Harley myself but didn’t pay Harley prices . The street rod 750 I have I won at bikefest in Killarney 2019 Before that I had a Suzuki vx 800 and a cbr 1000 which was 1994 . When I won the new bike I sold the other 2 bikes The seat on the Harley is awful it hurts my back after about an hour but that is the only complaint I have great video keep safe
Ah cruisers aren't about shpeed really anyway, all about that smooth torque, I'm thinking of getting a KLR for a daily. Nice and slow but good on fuel and fun :D They need to make a supercharged Meanstreak. Pretty much no tech is a deal breaker to me. I'm ok with the most basic of basic, just ride to the bike you have :) It sounds so so good :O Good old reliable Kwaker. I'm still so happy you bought that thing and love it so much, it's the partially terribleness that endears them so much to us :D Logic kills creativity and joy :P
Good thing the rest of the bike is not upside down. What species of sheep is all black? YOU have also ridden in conditions you were not designed for. Sounds cool too. You're riding a Kawasaki Paradox.
Forgive me if someone else has asked this but where can I get a sheepskin seat cover like you have on yours? I would love to try that option first before spending a lot of money for a custom seat. Thanks
With that hyper-charger air intake and that exhaust, with some fuel injection remapping like a power commander you are above 73 horsepower. Not far above, but at 80 or more. Bone stock is 73HP. Those are not stock parts.
Sorry, just saw this comment. I’m exactly the same height as you and have no major issues. My back gets a bit sore on longer rides but that’s more because my back is cooked!
Japanese manufacturers care far more about reliability than actual performance in everything that's not very specifically made for speed, it's much more about the *noise*, torque, handling, and braking with this bike, that being great only relative to its contemporary's....well, now you're just saying what I just typed, all that wasted time :P
I had a laugh at least. Funny review. And a good one. I mean you mostly buy and ride a bike with your heart, not your head so to speak ;) brilliant in that sense. I have a Buell, that is crazy fun to ride, and right now I´m actually wanting to add a bigger cruiser to have my gf with med , so looking at a Yamaha Warrior xv 1700 or perhaps a MeanStreak 1600 ....hmm.. if its comfy enough for 2 up.
Could you swap engines between car and bike? ;-) I kind of want one after that review. My fuel gauge starts flashing at about the level your light comes on. Maybe it's a Kwak thing? I think you actually get better mileage than me though. Completely agree. Never try to justify buying any bike. People either get it or they don't. If they don't, sod 'em.
One of the more irritating aspects of the whole motorbike scene is that you seem to constantly be expected to justify what you ride. The only valid reason to buy a bike is because you like it. Simple!
@@PaddyOutback Completely agree. If I'm asked why I bought a bike my reaction is somewhere on the scale of "because I wanted one" through to a Paddington hard stare.
🤣 I freaking love this review, brutally honest and told me everything I needed to know.
yeah I'm looking at one now for 750 dollars I should go get it
@@e.j.c1795
Thanks for the straight up pros and cons of this bike. I'm seriously looking into buying one.
I have an '02 1500 Mean Streak, and yes, the hp from factory is anemic, but it is pretty easy to remedy witha few bolt on goodies. I added an aftermarket exhaust, a big air intake, and a dyno'd power commander III to bring it all together, adding 20hp at the rear wheel and making it a beast.
Best owner's review of the Meanstreak anywhere. I am curious though about your gas mileage. I really didn't pay too much attention to mine except for highway mileage and I was getting 51miles/imperial gallon. I thought that was pretty good. Not sure of the differences between your 2008 and my 2004, maybe something to do with your mods, my bike was stock. Another point you make was exactly the same reason I didn't buy a Harley. $14k for new '04 Meanstreak, $28K for new '04 Dyna Glide and in my opinion, the Meanstreak was a better bike, EFI, shaft drive, liquid cooled (Harley would struggle with 45 degree ambient) and who would pay double the price and get half the front brakes?
I’m getting about 45-ish MPG. Not completely awful and I’ve no doubt the mods are affecting it somewhat. The small tank compounds matters. I’m used to more economical bikes so it may be a bit of shock going to a large cc bike for the first time. That said, I did expect it to be better. Was expecting over 50!
As a “bang for your buck” bike, the big Kwaka is hard to beat. It’s a hell of a lot of bike for the cash.
@@PaddyOutback If you dumped the power commander your fuel usage would drop dramatically..they are known to hog gas with them. Love the honest review, I'm just trying to buy one in NZ now. Cheers!
I very much enjoyed your review. I couldn't stop smiling and laughed much of the time. I'm 61 in the States and am starting to think that I could use something like the Meanstreak to increase the "smiles per mile" compared to my '01 ZRX1200R that I rarely ride, just to keep the miles under 10K. I don't need a bike with that much speed, I need something that's fun but still requires respect from the rider.
Hi bro ,56 . And lovn the bike . Stay safe out there ... many yrs ahead of us hey ...... 🙂
Got rid of my Z900 and will be receiving mine in about 2 weeks.
The 03 mean streak 1500 with 14000 miles ...
I love your vid !
The statement you made at 13:20 is the best reason you can have for owning a particular bike.
I ride an old bike that's slow, uncomfortable at times, pisses me off quite often (I feel your pain with regards to no fuel guage) and parts for the thing cost me an arm and a leg if I can get them at all, but every time I fire it up I have the same reaction and I wouldn't give it away for the world.
Keep up the great video's and enjoy your rides.
Having a big, shit-eating grin on your face is surely the point of motorbikes.
I have the nomad 2006 1600 and truly love how it puts a grin on me each and every time
I found a great little upgrade for my 06 Mean Streak, and think you'll really appreciate it. The foot pegs from a Vulcan 750 will fit right on it like they were made for it, and they have a rest that extends from the backside of them to put your heels on to prevent fatigue on the long rides. Good luck.🇺🇲 I enjoyed your style of reviewing so much, I've subscribed.
Your review just rocks! I am also an owner of an 08 Meanie. She's just as messed up and insane as I am. Cheers from the USA!
I have a 2002 Vulcan 1500 Classic, purchased it in October of 2023, because I saw it and loved it. I too could have bought a Harley, still can, but I love my Vulcan. Wheels to the ground, safe riding all.
Comedians and motorcycles are the best combination. Love this.
Awesome video , as well as your others. I just purchased a 04 . 20,000 miles ..excellent condition & already modified. Best meanstreak review out
Cheers man! You’ll love the bike!
Thanks Paddy. Its a bike i've been keen on. Upgrading from a Yamaha XJ900S Diversion 2001 model. 53 and still riding ! Cheers !
I love your review, I love your attitude. From one who rides a Suzuki M50 (800cc) lightweight cruiser on similar long haul trips, carrying a same but different array of loves and hates.
Bikes would be boring if they were all perfect!
Ive got the same mods on my 04 1600 meanie and you really put into the perfect phrasing, I am 100% hunting for the god ugly sheep skin seat cover now xD
I feel almost exactly the same way about my 2021 Vulcan Custom. It's a new bike with the technology of a 90s bike being the only modern feature is fuel injection. I love the way it looks, I love the way it sounds and rides and brand new it was half the price of a new HD 😅 it's also not fast but there is something about it's short comings that makes me like it even more... Must be a Vulcan thing! I will say the addition of a full fuel gauge and 20 litre tank is definitely a pro.
It's a great sound from those pipes! No doubt music to your ears. Thanks for the great review.
Cheers man. They sound fantastic.
Awesome review Paddy, and nicely concise too! 🙂
Thanks man. I think it came out well anyway!
Excellent review mate, I'm glad to hear you like the machine, like you I just had to have one 🙂Do yourself a favour, keep a very close eye on the oil level, I've rebuilt a few Meanie engines and other Vulcan engines where people ran the machine low on oil. Do it once and it's very unforgiving, it will eat the crankshaft big end bearings and the main bearings shortly thereafter. Looked after, they're bombproof.
Mine hasn’t had any issues with oil consumption, thankfully.
@@PaddyOutback Good to know - they all will use a little oil, just a feature :-) Keep an eye on it mate. Cheers
I fricken loved mine and would love another. Best cruiser I've had from Harley to Honda was the Yamaha warrior 1800 my absolute fav
Hi Paddy, very interesting video mate. I have just purchased a 2007 Special Edition Meanie with 1115kms on it. I'm too embarrassed to say how much I paid but I don't care about that. I just wanted it. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. Immaculate condition and not 1 mod. I was lucky to find it and after a short test ride, I fell in love with it. I am coming from a 1976 Z1000 and was looking for a cruiser. I can't wait to start getting to know this bike better. I would like to add a few mods like a power commander, exhausts etc but for the moment I am just happy to ride it as it is.
Got a 06 fi2000 tuner, cobra pipes, cold air intake great cruising bike plenty of power and mine moves pretty good smoked a couple of Harleys all day long no complains on my end.
I've owned 3 Harley 1200 Sportster models with twin front discs, the Sportster Sport, Roadster and XR1200. An excellent all round mid capacity cruiser. I would like another but truth is I could buy a Meanstreak for much less. Bit heavier than I'd like but saving thousands of dollars is hard to argue with.
What a lovely vid, love the passion! Now I’ll be texting the owner of one that I saw today and say - I’ll take it!🎉
Still got mine . Lovn it ... 04 vn 1600 meanstreak... . ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤..
Best review going! How tall are you? I’m looking at getting one, I’m 5ft 7/8” would you say it’s doable? Cheers! Gonna watch the rest of your videos now! 🙏
Cheers man!
I’m 6’ 3 1/2” however you’ll have no issues at your height. It’s a low bike so you’ll be able to flat foot it without trouble.
you convinced me one just come up near me might have to go for it good vids man
Do it, mate. You’ll not regret it!
I like the mean streak I ride a Harley myself but didn’t pay Harley prices . The street rod 750 I have I won at bikefest in Killarney 2019
Before that I had a Suzuki vx 800 and a cbr 1000 which was 1994 . When I won the new bike I sold the other 2 bikes
The seat on the Harley is awful it hurts my back after about an hour but that is the only complaint I have great video keep safe
Jesus, that’s not a bad thing to win! I know a lad who has a Street 750 and he loves it, although he too complains about the seat!
Well done 👍 hands down a great review
I own one ( 1500 ) and I love her.
Ah cruisers aren't about shpeed really anyway, all about that smooth torque, I'm thinking of getting a KLR for a daily. Nice and slow but good on fuel and fun :D They need to make a supercharged Meanstreak.
Pretty much no tech is a deal breaker to me. I'm ok with the most basic of basic, just ride to the bike you have :) It sounds so so good :O Good old reliable Kwaker.
I'm still so happy you bought that thing and love it so much, it's the partially terribleness that endears them so much to us :D Logic kills creativity and joy :P
Logic be damned. If I want to be sensible, I take the car!
Yep I loved mine... Sold mine today and already regretting it.
'03 1500. Great deal I got on a great bike.
Salute
Glad you’re liking it mate.
bought it mate 26k on it but man its a beast of a machine cheers pal
Good work! Same Kms that were on mine when I got it! You’ll love it mate.
Still have my meanie. Was initially going to "upgrade" to the Vulcan 2K. Hell of a lot more powerful, but it just didn't feel as good to ride.
The love child of Bob Geldof and Janet Street Porter,love the bike!
That but with the dog was too funny
g'day can you tell me what usb charger you have on the mean streak. love your ride vids
Nice to hear your really honest wiev of this bike. No bullshit huh? Fuck it ....I like it...
Just purchased an 07 with 8k miles. Love it. Has a skull radiator cover lol
I’m gonna need to see a pic of that. Can’t be worse than my flames!
@@PaddyOutback what's your email?
Good thing the rest of the bike is not upside down. What species of sheep is all black? YOU have also ridden in conditions you were not designed for. Sounds cool too. You're riding a Kawasaki Paradox.
Forgive me if someone else has asked this but where can I get a sheepskin seat cover like you have on yours? I would love to try that option first before spending a lot of money for a custom seat. Thanks
Good review, Paddy. To be sure, to be sure. (sorry, dad joke) Well said...no justification required. Ride well. Cheers
With that hyper-charger air intake and that exhaust, with some fuel injection remapping like a power commander you are above 73 horsepower. Not far above, but at 80 or more. Bone stock is 73HP. Those are not stock parts.
I just bought an 07 mean streak with 25000km for $3700 canadian. I got a deal!
I just sold my 2006 with 21k miles for 3500... I'm kinda sad.
Great review, I am 192 cm long, you think riding such a motor will damage my back? Does it fit long people?
I'm 6'4" and fit mine perfectly
Sorry, just saw this comment. I’m exactly the same height as you and have no major issues. My back gets a bit sore on longer rides but that’s more because my back is cooked!
Is it good for a new rider?
This is the best video
Good vid mate ,i agree i just love my MS too
They’re so much fun!
Also gives the vrod a run for its money
Hello, Paddy! This engine burns a lot of oil? It's reliable? What should you tell me about it?
Mine has been very reliable and I have had no issues with burning oil.
@@PaddyOutback You sell it? This engine has that problem with cam chain tensioner?
Mine has had no issues at all. I still have it.
@@PaddyOutback how many km it has?
43000 or so.
A great review for a beautiful bike! I see your bike is a number plate breaker too. So much vibration back there.
Yep! It’s the second number plate I’ve had on the bike since I got it and I’m probably heading for no. 3 soon!
A Mean Streak will probably replace my VTX 1300.
Is it air cooled or liquid cooled ?
Liquid
But does your Korean car sound as good lol, and also meanstreak has 2 less cylinders
That bike is faster than my Honda Shadow, but then again I am not racing, I am riding.
Same, I’ll never trouble the limits of this bike. I was more pointing out that Kawasaki’s “muscle cruiser” is not that muscular!
Great vid. You have the right bike for you. If you look at your bike and grin like an idiot, you have the right one.
Exactly. I know mine isn’t the best bike ever made by a long shot but it doesn’t matter a damn.
Japanese manufacturers care far more about reliability than actual performance in everything that's not very specifically made for speed, it's much more about the *noise*, torque, handling, and braking with this bike, that being great only relative to its contemporary's....well, now you're just saying what I just typed, all that wasted time :P
Where did you get the seat cover from?
Place here in Townsville called Woolly Fleece.
woollyfleece.com.au
Cool Beard
Top review😂😂👌👌👌
I've got an 09 special edition mean streak with 10k miles if anyone interested
It is fast
You are ridding on the wrong side of the street
Ride on paddy ride on
That’s the plan!
😂 I used a wetsuit over my seat
I had a laugh at least. Funny review. And a good one. I mean you mostly buy and ride a bike with your heart, not your head so to speak ;) brilliant in that sense. I have a Buell, that is crazy fun to ride, and right now I´m actually wanting to add a bigger cruiser to have my gf with med , so looking at a Yamaha Warrior xv 1700 or perhaps a MeanStreak 1600 ....hmm.. if its comfy enough for 2 up.
Could you swap engines between car and bike? ;-)
I kind of want one after that review.
My fuel gauge starts flashing at about the level your light comes on. Maybe it's a Kwak thing? I think you actually get better mileage than me though.
Completely agree. Never try to justify buying any bike. People either get it or they don't. If they don't, sod 'em.
One of the more irritating aspects of the whole motorbike scene is that you seem to constantly be expected to justify what you ride. The only valid reason to buy a bike is because you like it. Simple!
@@PaddyOutback Completely agree. If I'm asked why I bought a bike my reaction is somewhere on the scale of "because I wanted one" through to a Paddington hard stare.