Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom reviews

It's the most dependable bike I have had so far. I love its comfort and balance and its ability to hold the road in the windy conditions. Show less

I had a 97 Vulcan 1500 Classic for over a decade. It was time for a new ride. I test rode the Vaquero in May 2012. WOW!!!! SOLD!!! It has everything a rider could want. It handles great, it's smooth, and has plenty of power. My old Vulcan was a 4-speed shaft drive. With the 6-speed belt drive, the Vaquero has plenty of get up and go. It is nice to see heads turning when I pull in someplace. I plan on being on the bike so much that I ordered the XM radio kit. Show less

I first saw this model at the bike show and was hooked. I've been with Kawasaki since my teens. My last bike was an '89 ZX10. It just started to give me too many problems so I'm so glad Kawasaki came out with this style. I love the color and everywhere I stop, people tell me they like it as well. I just had to get used to riding a cruiser from a sports bike, but it didn't take long. I love the feel, I just have to get a back rest for my wife. Show less

Still loving this bike. I did have one breakdown which is very rare. We lost a rear wheel bearing on this bike on the Blueridge Parkway. This happened in an area where we had 0 cell reception. Lucky for us a park ranger drove past after 30 minutes that we were able to get to help us. We also met some very nice people in Bedford, VA. who were lifesavers. Kawasaki fixed the problem but would not cover the rear tire that wore out totally on one side due to the alignment issue. Overall, I'm still happy with this bike. Show less

If you want to feel like your "own" the open road and you want to command a man's bike (no offense ladies!) then this is the one for you. No, it isn't perfect. I wish it handled a little smoother at low speeds and while cruising through town in stop-and-go traffic. But, this bike is meant for open road cruising (80 mph.) and down right romping through a twisting turn (although not designed for the tight turns!) The sheer power and sound from the big 2053 cc motor when you open up the throttle let's you know immediately that it's not your granddad's bike...this is definitely a heavyweight cruiser! It's a handsome bike that consistently commands admirable attention from other bikers. I've not had any mechanical problems with this bike but generally I am not hard on my ride either. I don't think Kawasaki makes this model any longer so if you find a used one in good shape with low miles, it would be well worth considering if you primarily ride the open road. If your main ride is through town or have short commutes then it might be best to look at something different...this beast is most comfortable cruising at 50-80 mph...all day long! Show less

I love this motorcycle! I've been riding full time for over 30 years now and owned more bikes than I can count. This Vulcan 900 Custom Special Edition not only looks good, it also performs and handles better than I ever expected. The tall, thin front wheel handles corners exceptionally well, the engine is quiet, powerful with loads of torque with a quiet, yet deep and authoritive exhaust note that is music to the ears. The transmission is tight and shifts beautifully. The clutch has a nice firm feel. The stock drivers seat is very comfortable. It's much better than the Star 950's seat that we traded in. My wife hasn't complained about the passenger seat but we have not taken any all-day rides yet. If she doesn't complain we're keeping the stock seat. The bike is still in break-in period but from what I can tell it is already one of my all-time favorites. This is my first (well 2nd, bought a 2012 Ninja 650R a couple of weeks ago) Kawasaki in 20 years. I've been overlooking the brand and that was a mistake. I purchased the Ninja as a toy for myself and was so impressed with it that I decided to try the Custom. It was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. I am very impressed. I think you are going to love it, too. Ride safe! Show less

This bike is great. I bought it (2011 model) at the 2012 Toronto Motorcycle show in January. I took delivery in mid-March, and have ridden 1,250 kms. so far. It's a very nice, very comfortable bike. It's perfect ergonomics for me at 6'0". The windscreen at the lowest setting and there is no wind buffeting at all. It is lighter in handling than my 2003 1500 Nomad, but similar to the 2006 Harley Road King I owned for a while, and almost as good handling (except for limited lean angle - I've dragged the footboards several times on the pavement going around corners already) as the 1984 1200 Honda Goldwing I owned for 12 years. It has considerably more power that any of the others except for the Goldwing (which had 96 hp. and 87 ft/lbs. torgue if I remember correctly). It's got more power in stock form than my 2003 Nomad stock, and still more than the 2003 Nomad after I added the V&H pipes, custom air intake manifold and K&W air filter and a Dynajet Power Commander to the 2003. The Harley's power starts earlier in the revs (almost immediately you twist the throttle) and is more linear in feel the way it builds up. But eventually when the revs. get up on the 1700 Nomad, it finally pulls harder. But, you have to get the revs. up (probably to about 3500 rpm. - estimate for now) to feel a good satisfying burst of power. So I'm getting a tachometer installed so I can read when I'm in the best power RPM range in each gear. Maybe I'll even see what a set of V&H pipes or D&D pipes with modified air intake and Power Commander will do for this one. Cruise control was an option I was really looking forward to, and it worked great - for the first three times I used it. Then it just stopped working after that (at about the 200 km. mark). It's currently in the shop for its first warranty check, and hopefully it gets fixed under warranty (it should or I'm going to be mildly upset to say the least). Shifting is a bit clunky, but just like my Harley Road King was, but to me, it just feels like good solid quality. The Goldwing and 2003 Nomad shifted more with that snickety-snick feel to it which makes the transmission seem rather lightweight. There's no more noise on this bike than there was on any of the other three I mentioned above. Personally, I absolutely love every piece of the styling, looks and design of this bike. I just wish they had designed a slight more ground clearance on the lean angle to let it carve out the corners a little cleaner, because the frams give such a confident solid well controlled feel when cornering. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who is in the market for this kind of bike Show less

The bike is new, broke her in coming home from Peacocks approx. 100 miles. The power was good, ride was great, comfy, with a plush suspension and saddle. I have degenerative discs in my back so comfort is a must. I found the ride exellent. I spent two hours on the bike with no issues. I had not ridden in a while but I found the controls and handling very familiar. It was like riding an old friend. I am glad to have made the purchase. The bike looks awesome - fit and finish are top rate. There is very little vibration, excellent for a belt drive. This bike is a headturner, the local guys all stopped and drooled when I got home. If you want a crusier to motor on, this is it. It handles very good indeed and the list of custom parts is one of the most exstensive I have seen. It's the best bang for the buck and then some for sure. Show less

The bike has been a dream. It has power, speed and looks. The ride is great. The bike is wonderful. Show less

If you're on the fence about this one don't be, this buy is built to ride. The engine has loads of HP and torque, it looks good (although I have the 2007, they dont have the headlight nacelle anymore which I miss) and despite reviews easy to handle for such a huge bike (of course I'm a 6-7 guy who hits the gym five days a week). I moved up from a Boulevard C90 which was a great bike, but lacking in HP and torque, and I don't regret it one bit. Now the bad part, I am not really liking the seat, it seems to push me forward a bit. I will be replacing that for sure. OK, ehough reading, call, and tell them you're on you way to pick it up. Show less