Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Drifter reviews

I bought my bike new in 2004 and still ride it today. It's perfect for my 5'5" height and 125 lb. I'm a 60 y/o female and have been riding mc's since I was 7 y/o. I absolutely have a passion for riding and plan to ride the remainder of my life. I also have a 2002 Honda VTX 1800 that i purchased new as well but I am considering having it converted to a 3 wheeler because it is about 5 or 6 inches higher than I'm comfortable with as it causes me to stand tippy toe when stopped in traffic or while trying to back my bike. Safe travels. Show less

I've owned a 2007 Vulcan 500 with about 12,000 miles on it when I bought it for one season now. Even at this age and with this mileage the bike is still great. My experience agrees with the other favorable reviews. It's a great performer, with an excellent engine. The only problem I've had with it is that it runs a little rough for the first 50 miles or so. I generally have to run it on half choke at mid-range speeds for about the first half an hour, and that seems to smooth it out. I've been adding an ounce or two of Techron per tank of gas and it seems to be getting better. I would recommend it for anyone looking for a good used small to mid-size cruiser. Show less

This bike is a beast, one that never disappoints. It is meant for longer distance cruising and is very comfortable with stock seats. A very stable bike in winds. It's very heavy though and needs getting used to, but the weight acts in its favour on the highway. Not for beginners. Show less

I was looking for a lightweight, comfortable, water cooled cruiser with plenty of get up and go. I looked at the new offerings from Honda, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki and Yamaha and they were either too heavy, too slow, too expensive or uncomfortable. By chance a 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD model came up for sale on Craig’s list near me and after a test ride I was sold! It’s fast, comfortable, light, easy to maintain and reliable. This is a gem of a bike and it looks great as well, especially in red. Gets 55 MPG which is pretty good for an old, carb cruiser. Show less

I cannot believe the reviews on this piece of Junk. They are obviously paid reviews. Performance is Pathetic. The Fairing is non aerodynamic. Wind noise from the fairing requires Ear Plugs. The head wind requires more power than the Bike has. Gas mileage is worse than an automobile 160 miles on a tank. Brakes grab and are noisy. Seat is a torture device. No response from 2000 rpm in 6th gear, engine just bogs down. Can't imagine two people on this bike. One needs to get off and push. The wind pushes this bike all over the road its so non aerodynamic. You need both lanes on a windy day. The vibration will put your hands to sleep if you can get it above 70 MPH. Kawasaki you Should be Ashamed. Show less

The best I have is: Bitchin! I also own a late model 1800 Goldwing, but I'll tell you, the 800 is my favorite one up bike! I'd ride this thing to Ontario thanx to the Mustang seat! Cold blooded yep, single carb yep, chain drive yep, manual choke yep, but what a fun bike to ride! She's a '99 with 30k kms on it. Had it for sale last fall, took it out to be sure it was workin' fine and on the way home I thought...."I need my f'n head examined!". Called the dude, apologized for the pullback. That little girl makes me smile every time I walk thru the garage to put the wieners out to pee. She's an original Harley 'wanna be' the bell ringer being the round chrome air cleaner...What a great bike! Lotsa chrome but no mods. Happy happy happy. Show less

I purchased a 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan Custom 903cc in 2014 and from the very first day, it was love at first sight. She rides well, handles awesome. She can lean in the curves or fly down the straight. The 27-inch seat height is perfect. The bike is well balanced. I own three motorcycles and of the others, this is my favorite. It is well built, well-powered, and handles like a dream. My only complaint ever has been it only has 5 gears, no 6th for highway use. Other than that, I would buy this bike over and over again and highly recommend it over higher-priced motorcycles. Show less

Wow, what can I say, got my 900 custom used and in great shape. This bike rides nice and smooth with great handling and power. I'm 6-2 and it fits me great. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for a mid size cruiser. Show less

Bought the bike new,it now has 72460 miles on it. I replaced front wheel bearings, everything else is original! Still runs strong,no sign of any possible failure!!run Valvoline 20 50 motorcycle oil. I have had to put three new batteries in it, not bad for 15 yrs service. This is my 10th bike I've owned and by far the most impressive in every way. If it ever wears out,I'll be looking for another vn 2000. Show less

STARTED RIDING AT 62 YRS OLD TOOK THE MSF COURSE BOUGHT A VULCAN 900 LT GREAT BIKE FOR A BEGINNER EASY TO HANDLE LIGHT WEIGHT VERY FORGIVING AND RELIABLE WHICH IS GREAT FOR A NEW RIDER OR EXPERIENCED RIDER GAVE ME CONFIDENCE I FEEL COMFORTABLE ON THIS BIKE ITS A FUN ALL AROUND GOOD LOOKING MOTORCYCLE THE UP GRADES I PUT ON IS AN ENGINE GARD MUSTANG SEAT WITH A BACK REST SMALLER WIND SHIELD BETTER HAND GRIPS Show less