Kawasaki VN900 Vulcan Review: Classic, Custom and Light Tourer

Cruiser model Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan

was introduced at the end of 1984 and was sold until 2006.
This model is the first Kawasaki production cruiser with a V-shaped 2-cylinder engine. Despite the fact that the vast majority of Japanese motorcycles have 750 cc engines. see were a purely domestic Japanese product, the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan was actively exported to the USA and had a good level of sales there. In 1985, the United States introduced increased customs duties on the import of motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 700 cc. see, which forced Kawasaki to reduce the volume of the Vulcan to 699 cc. see and change its name to Kawasaki Vulcan 700
.
However, a year later, in 1986, customs restrictions were lifted and the original version with an engine capacity of 750 cc was supplied to the US market. see Naturally, such changes were also reflected in the name of the model, which was now called Kawasaki Vulcan 750
.

The model may also be called Kawasaki VN 750 Twin

.

The main feature of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan is its V-shaped 2-cylinder liquid-cooled engine, which produces 66 hp. power and 65 Nm of torque, which makes it perhaps the most powerful motorcycle in the Cruiser class for its engine size. In addition, data from the dyno test show that the declared engine characteristics are underestimated by 8-10% of the actual power and torque values. This fact indicates that either Kawasaki did not have sufficient experience in building classic cruisers, and therefore, out of habit, created a motorcycle with sports characteristics (“the red zone” of the engine begins at 8500 rpm), or this step was deliberate, and the appearance of such of a powerful bike was due only to the desire to outperform competitors, but then it seems illogical to underestimate the actual characteristics of the engine.

Main modifications of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan:

• Kawasaki VZ 750
  is the Japanese name for the motorcycle.
• Kawasaki VN 750 (Vulcan 750)
  is the name of the motorcycle for the US market.

Other features of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan include a steel frame, a cardan drive, double disc brakes at the front and a drum at the rear, hydraulic compensators and simple suspension in the form of a conventional telescopic fork at the front and a double shock absorber at the rear.

The model was produced until 2006, after which it was discontinued. In 1995, the Kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan came to the market as a replacement for the obsolete Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan, although the latter also continued to be sold in parallel, particularly in the US market.

The main competitors of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan in the class:

• Honda Shadow 750
• Suzuki VS 750 Intruder
• Yamaha XV 750 Virago

Brief history of the model

• 1984 - start of production and sales of Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 700 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN700-A1.

• 1985 - modification for the American market VN700 gradually leaves the market, completely giving way to the VN750.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe, Japan).
Factory designation
: VN750-A1.

• 1986 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe, Japan).
Factory designation
: VN750-A2.

• 1987 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe, Japan).
Factory designation
: VN750-A3.

• 1988 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe, Japan).
Factory designation
: VN750-A4.

• 1989 - no significant changes. Last year of sales in Japan.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe, Japan).
Factory designation
: VN750-A5.

• 1990 - no significant changes. The model is temporarily available only in the North American market.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A6.

• 1991 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A7.

• 1992 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A8.

• 1993 - no significant changes. The model is again available in Europe.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe).
Factory designation
: VN750-A9.

• 1994 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki VN750 Twin / Vulcan 750 (North America, Europe).
Factory designation
: VN750-A10.

• 1995 - the appearance of the Kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan, which was originally supposed to replace the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan. However, both models showed high sales (especially in the USA), so they were produced in parallel. Meanwhile, the VN750 was no longer available in Europe.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A11.

• 1996 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A12.

• 1997 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A13.

• 1998 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A14.

• 1999 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A15.

• 2000 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A16.

• 2001 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A17.

• 2002 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A18.

• 2003 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A19.

• 2004 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A20.

• 2005 - no significant changes.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A21.

• 2006 is the final year of production of the Kawasaki VN750 Vulcan and Kawasaki VN800 Vulcan. They are being replaced by the Kawasaki VN900 Vulcan.

Model

: Kawasaki Vulcan 750 (North America).
Factory designation
: VN750-A6F.

Real competitors

At the time of its appearance, only the American Harley-Davidson could compete with the model, but three years later Yamaxa presents its answer - the V-Star 950 version.

Harley-Davidson Street 750.

Yamaxa V-Star 950.

Cruisers of a similar class were also produced by other Japanese, but “the middle weight category is just beginning with the 900cc model. If you’re going to do it, it’s just liters,” so Kawasaki had no real competitors in this class .

The model is still in production, like previous versions, it has several modifications, excellent driving performance, traditional Japanese reliability and design in the style of a classic American cruiser.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan:

Peculiarities

Users identified only a few details as features:

1. the main drive is a belt drive in the American style;
2. non-standard, as for a cruiser, angle of inclination of the front fork.

   Simple telescopic fork with 135 mm travel.

Flaws

Users find few disadvantages:

• 5-speed gearbox - while driving you want to engage sixth, but the transmission doesn’t have it!
• brakes - for a tank weighing 300 kg, emergency braking by the standard system only with wheel locking and skidding...

In the first years of production, the model was withdrawn from sale several times, returning to the factory for revision. The reasons were in the fuel system and generator . Owners of motorcycles from recent years of production do not voice such problems.

Advantages

Sitting on the bike is very comfortable – the transition from the driver’s “seat” to the passenger “stool” creates comfortable support for the lower back.

But the strongman clearly has more advantages.

• Large set of parts for tuning . Despite the 3 modifications in the Vulcan model range, there are windows of different heights, roll bars, various additional lights, handbags and much more.
• Well-thought-out ergonomics make the bike almost universal - for bikers of any height and build.
• Low fuel consumption . For extra-urban use no more than 4 liters .
• Controllability.
• Maneuverability.
• Fuel gauge on the instrument panel.

  The instrument panel is located on the tank, as is customary for motorcycles of this class.

A low center of gravity is a plus for some, a minus for others.

Reviews

Kawasaki VN750 Vulcan reviews:

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Well, what can I say, having driven it for 2 seasons, only advantages!!!! My device is from 1985. easy to control, quite traction, cardan, convenient tidy (which, by the way, many classmates cannot boast about). The design is also incomparable, probably because I love absolute symmetry!!!! For me, the fit and design of the remote control is very comfortable!!!! If those are interested in the question, then 750 cubic meters account for 60 hp. 150 km/h goes without straining. On my copy, I reached speeds of up to 200 km/h, and this without a windshield!!!! (who won’t believe it, I have witnesses). In terms of cost, I think ’95 could cost from 100,000 to 180,000 rubles. depending on the condition.

After an accident, restoration and purchase of a new device, it has been collecting dust in the garage for 2 years, and still can’t get around to doing a complete overhaul. As soon as I do everything I will ride it!!!!

I drove this for a whole season. An excellent motorcycle, produced until 1995, I don’t know from what year, mine was 1990. Four-valve cylinder heads, two camshafts each, hydraulic valve compensators, a cardan, two-piston front brakes, quite powerful, two-disc, rear drum. Convenient for the city and long-distance driving, an informative dashboard, there is even a gasoline level indicator, consumption is 5-7 liters per hundred. Very dynamic, the only competitor to the Magna in this cubic capacity, it accelerated to 220 km.h. together.

Of the minuses, it’s the weak point of the electrician, it acts up and oxidizes, I’ve had a lot of trouble with it. I even cleaned the starter button once. When servicing carburetors, you have to disassemble half the motorcycle, and even the carburetors themselves sometimes leak for unknown reasons. The battery for a highly accelerated engine is rather weak, I recommend replacing it with a modern maintenance-free 14Ah from Yasa, it turns more confidently at the start.

The front fork is a bit thin for such a motorcycle; at high speeds it wobbles a little. The Japanese version (VZ) differs from the American version only in the presence of a light switch on the right block.

The impressions are as follows:

1. The wheelbase is too small, if the second number is on board, then the pubis rests against the back. But if the second number is a girl, then it doesn’t bother me.

2. Acceleration and speed are quite pleasant. The 750 is slightly inferior to the one and a half pound, except that the engine speed is twice as high at the same speed as the previous one; the lack of torque is compensated by power, but again it is not annoying.

3. It weighs little, is convenient and adequate to operate.

4. I bought it for 80,000 rubles, but with a small defect - I need to change the needle in the carburetor, the rear cylinder is overflowing, again, little things...

In general, for the money it’s a normal motorcycle. A cardan shaft, a central stand, a fuel level and engine temperature sensor, a tachometer, an emergency stop signal, a remote button for switching the high-low headlights, pneumatic-oil rear shock absorbers with air pumping and four adjustment positions... In short, I’m still mastering the technique.

Main modifications of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan:

Kawasaki VZ 750 is the Japanese name for the motorcycle.

Kawasaki VN 750 (Vulcan 750) is the name of the motorcycle for the US market.

Other features of the Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan include a steel frame, a cardan drive, double disc brakes at the front and a drum at the rear, hydraulic compensators and simple suspension in the form of a conventional telescopic fork at the front and a double shock absorber at the rear.

The model was produced until 2006, after which it was discontinued. In 1995, the Kawasaki VN 800 Vulcan came to the market as a replacement for the obsolete Kawasaki VN 750 Vulcan, although the latter also continued to be sold in parallel, particularly in the US market.