First Impressions: KAWASAKI VULCAN CUSTOM 900

More Test Rides Here:

This is the 2024 Yamaha Vulcan 900 Custom. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the ride and wouldn't mind owning it.

TIMESTAMPS
Intro: 00:00
First Impressions: 00:07
Test Ride: 00:44
Final Thoughts: 05:39

[TexasNewMoney]

Bought a 2013 Custom three years ago. Only had 4k miles. I have been loving every bit of it. It's my first bike and couldn't be happier.

[RD]

You don't need a Tac. Just like a stick shift car, feel and listen to the engine, thats plenty to go off of for shifting. Even as a 1st timer on said vehicle 15 minutes is plenty of time to get a good feel.

[ryanpalmisano]

Just bought this bike! (2023) and so far so good! Shifting guide is in the owners manual as to when you should shift to which gear based off mph-km/h.

[clydeosterhout]

I bought a used Vulcan 900 Classic LT (same bike, different styling) after years of riding sports bikes. It is huge and heavy from my perspective. I thought I had ruined the engine because it kept on dying whenever I accelerated. I finally figured out that I was bouncing off the rev limiter.
We use our Vulcan as a 2 up touring bike. The brakes are just ok, and I’ve learned that I need to actually use the rear brake. The power is fine, my wife loves the Mustang seat we put in it (stock seat reeks). The bags are marginal. The bike could use a 6th gear.
I pretty much agree with your review. The Vulcan is not a “cool” bike by any means. It is the Hyundai Elantra of touring cruisers: perfectly capable, but nothing anyone would lust after. It is simply a well built, reliable, relatively light weight cruiser. It is average in every way. It isn’t fast, it isn’t sporty, and most of all it isn’t a Harley!
But I’m not really a cruiser guy. My wife and I like touring together, but she wanted something with a bigger seat and a lot more leg room than my other bikes. We’re not going anymore. We needed something more comfortable. The 900 LT is exactly that. It will haul 2 people down the road at 75 mph in reasonable comfort and great reliability, getting 45-50 mpg while hauling all of our stuff. It’s not my dream bike, but it’s the bike that works, and works well.

[Misbehaven]

Picked this baby up at $8, 500.00 Canadian, with addition of front Shield! 2024 Model with 235Km not even broken in.. Adding a tach (just because) and installing front and rear dash cams. (I’m safe but idiot’s aren’t ) Had it out a few time’s and your review is on the nose!! It’s just absolutely perfect for the ‘Outing’ ! I switched to the Cam-AM Spyder RT Limited and absolutely love it.. ( Old Man issue’s Like Arthritis (could no longer even get off a bike after a couple hour ride, but Cam Am Spyder made it possible for longer rides) but I so missed the curves.. This does it!! It’s the perfect in between! I can ride for over an hour at a time (Arthritis and all ) because the pegs are so far forward!. Don’t get me wrong, takes a second to adjust to the forward pegs too.. but it’s a perfect companion to my Spyder.. take this baby out for fun short outings, and take the Spyder for the longer rides.. Heaven.. Vulcan 900 custom and Can-Am Spyder RT a couple that should be together in wedded bliss. 😂

[sgt.nexsuperne]

Been racing and riding dirt, street and drag strip racing since 1969. Rode for Kawasaki, Polaris/Victory/Indian and Yamaha. Built countless motorcycles. I'm old, frail and recovering from cancer for the second time. Cancer gifted from my mother.

Its a widespaced 5 speed. No 6th gear needed. If a gear was added it'd be a middle cogs. The ratios are completely different then a normal 5-speed, the 5th is an overdrive ratio.

Shift late, rev it out. Its an over-square engine. Hence the vibrations. Its not a true V-Twin, more like a parallel twin.

I can scream off the line lifting up the front end. It'll cruise at 80-90 mph all day. It corners very well. The brakes are great. You must have knowledge of front and rear braking in unison. Its a great retirement bike.

Kawasaki made it, it does perform like a performance bike. Its not my Ninjas. But its quick as hell!

If you can't make this Kawasaki scream… it's you. Practice…thats all you need.

[Coyote-wmop]

I wish they offered more colors like they used to and a 6th gear. Mine had the baffles taken out and it sounds pretty good. They do offer a mini tachometer from the factory. I drove mine in 30 mph gusts yesterday and it wasn’t bad.

[scripteaze]

Ok so which cruiser bike beats this one in your opinion? I'm looking for a second bike. Just sold my shadow 750.

[gregariousViking]

I love my 2015 custom! nice!! Looks like they haven’t changed much as far as look and style. Cuz they didn’t need too. I have the Vance n Hines pipes and it rumbles. I also added larger floorboards. Other than that, I listen to the engine and shift by sound. It’s a great bike!!

[allanlarry]

I got that bike…and I noticed the same thing with the groin cramp, but I’m 6’2”, I need the peg extension lol

[lakecrab]

The VC 900 fits that niche where the old Honda Spirit 1100 and the Harley Sportster presided at one time. They should sell a bunch.

[viktorzeman]

Is this purchasable in Europe or is it just US? I can't find any Kawasaki retailer in Europe that's selling this bike.

[davhuf]

I got my first bike in 1970, how did I ever survive without all the tech? Just ride and learn.

[TexasStep]

Great bikes they have everything you need and nothing you dont...its a v twin... not hard to know when it's time to shift ...my only knit pick is above 75 the bars get a little buzzy ..over drive would be nice ..

[wehrhah]

Listen and feel for the gear. That is what I was taught

[ericwilliams]

I recently got a 2010 Ebony Special Edition of this bike. I like it a lot, but it does need a 6th gear, so I bought the 'Barons' slightly larger engine pulley (a couple more teeth) and rear wheel pulley (a few less teeth) to alter the gearing. I'll live with the original setup for the summer, then get them installed. They reckon it should make about a 12% difference.
Update: Did the work myself recently and it's made quite a difference, it's now a much better bike! (Don't know why they didn't have better gearing in the first place???)

[quintinlindsey]

Stock form my only complaint is the handlebars being too low and the gearing but I do have a bigger front pulley coming because I ride mostly highway and I purchased some 2 inch handlebar risers and man those risers alone made it waaay more comfortable but I am a short guy only 5'8"! She loves to be laid down in corners though...dragging pegs!!!

[stephengrainger]

In England these bikes are selling second hand £3 thousand pounds

[southernheat]

For your hip... Everyday, 2 bananas. Monkeys. Never. Cramp.

[tylerjohnson]

Swear to god 2007-now look exactly the same