Kawi Vulcan 900?

[dream]

My older brother is excited about a liquid cooled, twin, belt, EFI Kawi 900. It appears a 50lb diet Vstar-1300. Does anyone have/ridden one that could share their experience? We want to ride to AK, so maybe I should convince him to get the faster Vstar so I don't have to take so many road naps.

[AllanB]

The 900 succeeded the VN800.

It has rated well in the magazines and is a good looking kit. Personally I prefer it to the Suzuki equivalent, subject to $.

[Gotsteam]

My grandfather has a Vulcan 900. A very nice, smooth, well balanced cruiser. I have rode it a few times. Moves pretty good, but the thing that amazed me was the balance for the cruiser. Have ridden many cruisers in the past, but this one felt super light once moving. A downside I felt while riding were the brakes. The brakes felt anemic. At the time I was riding a Honda Shadow, so I am not comparing brakes to a sportbike, but rather another cruiser. He has had a few problems with it though. His speedo has went out twice on him, which was replaced under warranty.

[BDVMAX]

Originally Posted by dream

My older brother is excited about a liquid cooled, twin, belt, EFI Kawi 900. It appears a 50lb diet Vstar-1300. Does anyone have/ridden one that could share their experience? We want to ride to AK, so maybe I should convince him to get the faster Vstar so I don't have to take so many road naps.

Tell your brother to check out the new 09 VStar 950, fuel injected. $7990.00 or with bags, back rest and windshield $8990.00

[tpschil]

In addition to the Hornets and VFR, I also ride a 2008 900 Vulcan, It is a good choice for riding with a passenger. Get a driver backrest and it's like sitting on your living room sofa. The wife can lean against the rear backrest and watch the scenery. I have the LT version that has a large windshield (too big, had to cut it down) passenger backrest, and saddlebags stock. At legal speeds I can get over 50 mpg riding 2 up. The seat is long enough that the wife's helmet it not tapping into the back of my helmet. It was also my first belt drive bike. Heavy and low power? yes. Still a good choice for some riding situations? yes again.

[bloaker]

The 900 has a smaller seating position. At 6'2", I am cramped

[dream]

Thank you all very much for your great feedback. It's a decent bike, as I considered it years ago when getting 9er. Bikes options have improved since!

Originally Posted by BDVMAX

Tell your brother to check out the new 09 VStar 950, fuel injected. $7990.00 or with bags, back rest and windshield $8990.00

Thanks for the GREAT TIP! That's gotta be good since yammy is investing in R&D.

Originally Posted by tpschil

In addition to the Hornets and VFR, I also ride a 2008 900 Vulcan, It is a good choice for riding with a passenger. Get a driver backrest and it's like sitting on your living room sofa. The wife can lean against the rear backrest and watch the scenery. I have the LT version that has a large windshield (too big, had to cut it down) passenger backrest, and saddlebags stock. At legal speeds I can get over 50 mpg riding 2 up. The seat is long enough that the wife's helmet it not tapping into the back of my helmet. It was also my first belt drive bike. Heavy and low power? yes. Still a good choice for some riding situations? yes again.

But I doubt he will ride much 2up...but he took me for my first ride when I was a puke kid on his HD. I have the short's exhaust scar to prove it.

Originally Posted by Gotsteam

My grandfather has a Vulcan 900. A very nice, smooth, well balanced cruiser. I have rode it a few times. Moves pretty good, but the thing that amazed me was the balance for the cruiser. Have ridden many cruisers in the past, but this one felt super light once moving. A downside I felt while riding were the brakes. The brakes felt anemic. At the time I was riding a Honda Shadow, so I am not comparing brakes to a sportbike, but rather another cruiser. He has had a few problems with it though. His speedo has went out twice on him, which was replaced under warranty.

Very interesting. Great brakes are essential! I'd bet the new vstar950 is better here! But rather have him on the Kawi Versys (450lb & dual front disks!)

Originally Posted by hondaf4iguy

The 900 has a smaller seating position. At 6'2", I am cramped

Thanks! He's 6' so that's a great point if he plans on doing any distance trips with me!

Since he hasn't ridden for a while, I'd prefer see him riding a Kawi Versys and see how that goes before going heavy, unresponsive, but he's as stubborn as me.

[sbeau1960]

Here ya go, rode one of my employee's last year....

http://wristtwisters.com/cruisers-to...xperience.html

[dream]

Originally Posted by sbeau1960

Here ya go, rode one of my employee's last year....

http://wristtwisters.com/cruisers-to...xperience.html

Thanks for reminding me why I had dejavu' on the subject... your thread! I hope in the past 11months she has either been riding it or traded it for something she enjoys?

Yeah my old brother has his mind set on a modern cruiser. Granted after I rented a shadow cruiser in HI it returned my love for motorcycling. But that cruiser's bad brakes and lousy turn radius convinced me against getting a cruiser and for the performance standard class. So I'm not excited about him lusting for a heavy cruiser, but I don't want to rain on his parade either.

[dream]

I sent my Brother the link for the Vstar950 and he rejected it immediately for being an airhead, woops I missed that. He wants a modern cruiser and KV900 is it. It feels analogous to my cousins' illegitimacy plight after I clearly explained the downside.

[2ohno]

Modern and cruiser are two words that rarely meet ! As for the worry with the oil cooled, I wouldnt sweat that. Oil colling has been around for a LONG time and it still seems to work - plus , you dont have to worry with it boiling over when idling for a while -


I like the VN900 - abng for buck its a good bike - But, the C50 is a great bike also. Only thing about the Suzuki , its a little bit smaller physically, Im a little too cramped on it when compared to the 900. Best advice I can give is go and do some sitting. Let him feel what seat and position are best for him, Then worry wiht who makes it -

[dream]

Originally Posted by 2ohno

Modern and cruiser are two words that rarely meet ! As for the worry with the oil cooled, I wouldnt sweat that. Oil colling has been around for a LONG time and it still seems to work - plus , you dont have to worry with it boiling over when idling for a while -

So you are saying a modern cruiser is an oxymoron!
Yesterday we discussed a Triumph Bonnie! Years ago he rode one with 200cc less displacement than today's 860cc, and he thought it was "real fast"! . Still an airhead but he's familiar with it, 100lb less than the VN900==>thus better braking, more leg room and much better handling. Plus the Bonnie is classy and cool!

[StewPA]

Originally Posted by dream

So you are saying a modern cruiser is an oxymoron!
Yesterday we discussed a Triumph Bonnie! Years ago he rode one with 200cc less displacement than today's 860cc, and he thought it was "real fast"! . Still an airhead but he's familiar with it, 100lb less than the VN900==>thus better braking, more leg room and much better handling. Plus the Bonnie is classy and cool!

AMEN brother! I've had my 2005 Bonny for 3 months now, and I've loved every minute of it.
Previous Rides:

• SV 650
• VStar 1300
• Sportster 883
• 919

[dream]

Originally Posted by StewPA

AMEN brother! I've had my 2005 Bonny for 3 months now, and I've loved every minute of it.
Previous Rides:

• SV 650
• VStar 1300
• Sportster 883
• 919

That does it, I must tip the decision scale towards bonnie! That's quite a lineup of comparable rides. I greatly appreciate your relevant experience opinion. Thanks Brother!