Kawasaki Vulcan S Cafe reviews

I was looking for a project bike for urban use. I picked up a used VN900 Classic with low miles, Cobra exhaust, ECU and air intake. I knew immediately I was going to make it into a bobber. Riding it home in stock form, the stock seat is rough. Only after about 30 - 45 minutes my butt was sore. It's similar to a VStar 650's seat. It's not a big deal as this was going to change. It's down on power, which I expected. I have a Roadstar 1700 and sold a Triumph Speed triple 1050 to get this Vulcan. Again, not a big deal for around town. On the freeway, 60 is the sweet spot, 70 is where the engine revs are getting high. On the plus side, the gas needle doesn't budge which is awesome. The Cobra dragster exhaust doesn't sound that great. It's loud with no character. I put some different baffles in which helped some. There's lots of plastic which surprised me. Fenders, side covers, engine covers, all plastic! As a bobber, this is a great, fun bike. I haven't touch my Roadstar in months, preferring the Vulcan. It's a lot lighter, more nimble and a kick in the pants to ride. I put on tracker bars and Avon grips which totally changes the ride character to something you want to ride aggressive. Show less

First I love this bike and would buy it again. The only problem I've had is the kick stand wore out at 15,000 miles. It had to be welded and re-drilled. Apparently this is a common problem. The seat needs to be softer. I get a sore butt after 30 minutes. A smaller person may not have a problem. You will need a windshield if you go faster than 50-55. If you don't have a windshield, better hang on tight! At 65+ mph., it has a vibration that will hurt after a few minutes. This is a common problem of this model. I get 42 mpg. with or without a passenger. It has plenty of power, the balance is great and it is really fun to ride. Show less

The bike is as quick off the line as my HD Heritage Softail. It does everything I need or want of a touring cruiser and half the price of the HD. I modified it just a bit and it's even faster. I didn't change the pipes...just don't like the noise (if I do, I'll use a Cobra 2 into 1 system). Kawasaki altered the seat this year, and it is very comfortable. Show less

A buddy of mine bought this bike to get his license on. I've gotten to ride it a good bit since it's stored in my garage. I've been riding for years and am normally a sport/sport-standard type of rider, but this Vulcan 500 is FUN. It doesn't suffer from most of the traditional cruiser flaws - it is relatively light weight, it handles well and it accelerates surprisingly fast. The 500cc parallel twin pulls hard through all the gears, but it's still very newby-friendly. The long wheel base makes it a little tough to maneuver in parking lots, but other than that no complaints at all. Maybe a center stand would have been nice (it is chain driven), but it fits on my rearstand just fine. The swingarm is even the same width as my sport bike. Show less

I bought a brand new Vulcan from the Kawasaki dealer in Auburn, NY from Steve and it is outstanding. The service department and every one out there are very professional and I would recomend if you buy a motorcycle, you buy it from them. Show less

Hello. The Kawasaki VN1600 Classic Nomad is indeed a solid reliable machine and is quite well built. The solid alloy wheels are a bonus as spoked wheels tend to rust so no problems with the wheels. Some may find on second-hand machines they have a front wobble (speed wobble) but knowing many other owners, this is down to the tire having a run off or is not seated correctly. A simple tire change sorts this out. There is plenty of room with the side panniers and rack and it's a nice machine to ride on. My mpg. is around 42.5 per gallon of petrol (gas)but I have had the standard exhaust removed (very heavy) and had the Vance and Hines sent over from the USA (Bagshots) so maybe this and the combination of a new air filter and power commander has an effect on fuel consumption. You receive the screen and side panniers as standard and this VN series has the pipes on each side for a more balanced look. I do find that spraying your machine with WD40 or other water retardant helps the bikes wires to become dependable in the long run. Please note that once the VN refused to turn over but do not take it to bits looking for a fault if it was working fine. Check the clutch wires on the lever (2 wires covered in a plastic shroud) as they tend to come off if not secure and can be overlooked. Show less

Kawasaki's Vulcan 750 is an amazing bike. Over 54,000 miles and it's still running great. There are many different modifications that can be done. Forward controls/highway bars are something that pretty much have to be fabricated, but if you're not too picky, it's not too big of a problem. My next bike will be another Vulcan, and my wife will ride my 750 (though I plan on taking it out myself once in a while!) Show less

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