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Mid-size marvel: Kawasaki's Vulcan 900 Classic

By Grant Parsons

Here in the good ol' U. S. of A., bigger is better, right?

Well, not always.

And Kawasaki engineers are out to prove that point with their all-new Vulcan 900 Classic.

Many may lust after big cruisers, but plenty of riders appreciate the upside of the middleweight cruiser market's bikes with less weight, a more manageable size, and a more appealing MSRP.

It's those riders that Kawasaki engineers had in mind when they reworked their popular Vulcan 800 into the 900 Classic and 900 Custom.

They started with the motor, adding 8mm of stroke to the single-crankpin single-overhead cam, eight-valve V-twin, for a final displacement of 903cc. The engine updates, which include a pair of 34mm fuel-injection throttle bodies and a heavier flywheel, focused on improving low- and mid-range torque to produce the kind of satisfying launches you expect from larger-displacement machines.

The motor keeps churning out smooth and reliable power well into the higher rpm range, not that you'll need to keep it there. The five-speed gearbox offers well-chosen, real-world ratios that keep revs low on the freeway. This also adds to the big-bike feel, as does the belt final drive in place of the shaft drive on the 800. Big meat in the form of a 180/70 rear tire and a 130/90 front continues the theme.

Styling-wise, the 900 mimics the lines of the larger Vulcan 2000. From 10 feet away, the only way to tell the size of the motor is the "900" on the air cleaner. The large fenders, belt drive, full-size floorboards, easy-to-read fuel gauge on the gas tank, and heel-and-toe shifter all look at home on this machine.

The result is a bike that's a bit bigger than others in its class, but small in the areas that matter. The 900 is still 118 pounds lighter and 3.5 inches shorter in wheelbase than the Vulcan 2000, making it that much more nimble when the pavement gets twisty.

It's also a relative bargain in the cruiser world, coming in at $7,299 for the standard 900, and $8,499 for the LT version shown in the photos, which adds a pair of reinforced leather saddlebags and a tombstone windscreen.

What's important, though, is that the mix of big- and mid-size features really works. After putting nearly 1,000 miles on the LT version on a recent trip from Los Angeles to the lowest point on the continent in Death Valley, I learned that the 900 Classic is a comfortable, stable machine with a few well-chosen compromises that make it worth a look.

For my 5-foot-10 frame, the bike feels neither too big nor too small. The seat is comfortable for an easy 150 miles between stops. And when I did stop, the Classic earned its share of compliments.

The all-new chassis imparts confidence in corners, and its light handling is especially nice in parking lots and on gravel roads, two places where a heavier machine would demand more attention. Aggressive riders will feel at ease in the corners in no time, quickly becoming comfortable enough to drag the (thankfully folding) footboards.

The transmission is geared toward a relaxed, low-rpm cruise at highway speeds. The tradeoff is that the kind of power you need for passing isn't found without a downshift or two.

One of the strongest features of the bike, however, is one that works so well you won't notice it until it works really well. One morning on my Death Valley ride, I was up before dawn. So I wouldn't wake others in my motel, I coasted the Classic down a slight incline, thumbed the starter and instantly lugged the motor out to the main road—all without a cough or hesitation. Try that with your carbureted bike.

Bottom line? Kawasaki built the Vulcan 900 Classic to be a lot of bike for the money, and it is.

2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT
Engine	Liquid-cooled V-twin, 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement	903cc
Bore x stroke	88.0mm x 74.2mm
Carburetion	Electronic fuel injection
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Transmission	5-speed
Final drive	Belt
Tires	130/90-16 front, 180/70-16 rear
Front brake	Single 300mm disc
Rear brake	Single 270mm disc
Seat height	26.8 inches
Rake/Trail	32 degrees/6.3 inches
Wheelbase	64.8 inches
Fuel capacity	5.3 gallons
Dry weight	557.9 pounds
MSRP	$7,299 ($8,499 for LT version shown)