Metallic Diablo Black, Candy Plasma Blue, Candy Diamond Red Each delivers rubber to the road via a 5-speed final belt drive with a wheelbase of 64.8 inches, sprung atop a 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork with 5.9 inches of travel and a Uni-track swingarm with 4.1 inches of rear-wheel travel. The 903cc 4-stroke fuel-injected V-Twin is the heart of all the bikes I rode in New York. Virtually the same, each of these Vulcans are built on a steel double cradle frame with a liquid-cooled SOHC powerplant. Maybe I need a comprising model like the baseline Vulcan Classic to fill in for both my wants.
But when I think about where I ride the most of my miles, a high-styled cruiser like the Custom SE is better suited for the streets of LA. Deciding between the three middleweight cruisers while touring around upstate New York lake country.įorever the type of guy that wants to ride across this great nation, I tend to think I’d choose the Japanese maker’s middleweight tourer, the LT. Kawasaki has been offering such life decisions for more than 40 years – calling this one their “Middleweight Knockout” - and most recently I had to make the choice for myself. I had to endure the cavernous greenways and lakefront restaurants of Lake George in the hopes of deciding which Vulcan 900 was right for me: the 900 Classic, 900 Custom or the Classic LT. The week-long event wasn’t all fun and games, however. Kawasaki claims its 900 Vulcan achieves 45 miles per gallon, and toting 5-plus gallons of fuel, we rode all day without need for any stops other than to enjoy the scenery around us, buy some homegrown maple syrup and peer off at the New York and Vermont countryside with a smile.
No surprise the annual event held it’s 26th anniversary in 2009, kicking off just about the time the first Vulcan hit the market.Ĭrossing back and forth Lake Champlain, both by ferry and bridge, our group of Vulcan cruisers gobbled up the miles with poise and efficiency. With undulating tree-lined roadways, gentle sweeping bends and world-class lakeside scenery, upstate New York touring is some of the best to be had. When we weren’t entertained with bike shows, paddleboat cruises or shopping our way through the immense vendors area, we were riding the winding greenways between lakes George and Placid. The Kawasaki Vulcan line of cruisers is a perfect fit with their low-decibel roar, good-natured handling and classic styling. Sure, it ain’t no Main Street at Daytona, but the attendees and locals of the annual Adirondack touring rally and expo like it that way. We had tested the Vulcan 900 Classic in a previous shootout, in which Pete Brissette said Team Green did a “very good job of crafting a classic look.” Kawasaki has since added to its attractive lineup two other variations.Īt Bill Dutcher’s Americade, like any gathering of motorcyclists and travelers, cruising the boulevard is just part of the excitement for cruising riders. Lighter in both weight and price, but not lacking in style or rideability, the middleweight Vulcans are comfortable, smooth and adequately powerful.
#2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CUSTOM BACKREST SERIES#
Stuffed into its lineup between the parallel-Twin 498cc LTD and the new 1700cc Vulcans is the Vulcan 900 (903cc) series of cruisers. A thanks goes out to a family friend for the life-long motto I live by.Īdhering to the trend, if not leading the way, Kawasaki has its finger on the pulse of middleweight cruiser market. Its features and performance are top quality, and the edgy look truly makes it one of a kind.At a time when bigger isn’t always better, and more expensive means more hits to your bank account than you have friends on FaceBook, finding a compromise (moderation) in the key to long life. The Kawasaki Vulcan can be purchased at very affordable prices, and consumers everywhere will agree that this motorcycle definitely gives you the most bang for your buck. The stylish appearance is unignorable, and will turn heads whenever on the road. The design gives the ability to take deep turns without scraping the pegs on the pavement, like most other cruisers. The seating customizations make it accommodating and comfortable to riders of all sizes. Although powerful, it has many features that are new-user friendly, making it a perfect motorcycle for riders of all experience levels. Powered by a 649-cc engine, it can travel up to 106 mph, and is able to reach 87 mph in just seconds. The evolution of the Kawasaki Vulcan has come a long way over the years, and today it is designed to provide the performance of a sport bike, with the style of a cruiser. Since then, there have been many series of the Vulcan produced and distributed around the world. It was Kawasaki's first cruiser powered by a V-twin engine. In 1985, the first ever model of the Kawasaki Vulcan was launched.
Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager Motorcycle Information: