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Versatile cruiser from Kawasaki

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The Kawasaki Vulcan S has been designed to appeal to newcomers who want to move into the big bike circles.

It looks very much like a true cruising machine with its front forks set at a lazy 31 degrees and its handle bars high and reaching back towards the rider. The pegs are also located in a forward position thereby providing the classic cruising pose.

The Kawasaki Vulcan S costs just £6,084 on the road which is not a lot of money for what is essentially a very substantial bike.

It features modern day technology like ABS as standard and Kawasaki is following the modern trend that allows owners to customise their machines with myriad extras from a choice of three seats, different handle bars, leather panniers, QD screen to a gear position indicator and a 12-volt socket for your sat nav.

Kawasaki is a past master in knowing what its customers want and the Vulcan S is designed to deliver it in spades.

The Vulcan S features a modified 649cc dohc eight-valve twin engine that has been borrowed from the ER-6. Its ride is very smooth providing the ultimate mobile throne from which the rider can view the subjects of an imaginary realm in true regal splendour.

This model looks the very epitome of a heavyweight motorcycle, delivering a bold styling statement along with a very comfortable ride.
This style of bike would suggest that it has been designed specifically to cruise and not be ridden at high speed. Yet this is not the case with Vulcan S.

You can ride it with some aggression and it performs confidently and reassuringly. You can even lean hard into corners without any of the lower stuff touching the road.

This flexibility makes the Vulcan S a very versatile bike offering weekend fun, weekly commuting along with limited touring.

Where the Vulcan S comes up short is mainly in the rear braking area. The Nissin rear anchor lacks feel and is not very effective. The seat is also a bit thin and can become a little uncomfortable during a longer ride. The instruments too are a bit light on technology with only mpg, time, range and trip available.

And if you think I’m knit-picking you would be right. The Kawasaki Vulcan S is a surprisingly good bike that will do much more than you think. Even its styling is some what intoxicating.

Kawasaki has manufactured the Vulcan S with a clear objective in mind, namely targeting new bikers who want to move to a bigger machine.
The usual suspects would normally have been Honda’s VT750C or Yamaha’s XV950 but now there is a new kid on the block that allows owners to customise their bikes to a very personal level. What is more, at just a smidge over six grand, the Vulcan S could be the steal of the year.

Facts & figures

Bike: Kawasaki Vulcan S

Price: £6,084 on the road

Engine: 649cc dohc 8-valve twin

Power: 61bhp@ 7,500rpm

Torque: 46lb/ft @ 6,600rpm

Seat height: 705mm

Tank size: 14 litres

Wet weight: 255kg