Australian Motorcyclist – June 2017

KAWASAKI VULCAN

900 CLASSIC

PRICE: $12,499 plus on-road costs

WARRANTY: Two years,

unlimited distance

ENGINE: Liquid-cooled Vee twin,

4-stroke, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder

BORE x STROKE: 88 x 74.2mm

DISPLACEMENT: 903cc

COMPRESSION: :9.5:1

POWER: 37kW

TORQUE: 78Nm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed, wet

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SUSPENSION: Front, 41mm fork,

travel 150mm. Rear, Triangle swingarm

with Uni-Trak single shock, 7 position

adjustable preload, travel 100 mm.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height 680mm,

weight 282kg (wet), fuel capacity 20

litres, wheelbase 1645mm

TYRES: Front 130/90/16.

Rear, 180/70B/15

FRAME: Double cradle steel

BRAKES: Front, 300mm disc with

twin piston caliper. Rear, 270mm

disc, twin piston caliper

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 4.1 litres

per 100km, premium unleaded

THEORETICAL RANGE: 487km

COLOUR: Metallic Graphite

Gray and Ebony

VERDICT: ROLL UP YOUR

SLEEPING BAG AND GO

SPECS

TOUR TEST

had more than

eight litres left in

the 20 litre tank.

Fuel consumption

is frugal, and gives

an outstanding

range.

There are clearly

disadvantages

to this. Not the

sleeping bag

stuff, but the

simplicity. I, for one, like ABS very much;

and on this bike I have to work out

fuel consumption on the computer in

my phone instead of being told by the

bike’s. But that doesn’t mean this is an el

cheapo edition. The paint, for a start, is

beautiful – both the glittering grey colour

and the quality. Chrome is deep and what

isn’t painted or chromed is almost all

powder-coated a rich, matt black. Even

the sidestand is nicely-shaped and matt

black. Spoked wheels and whitewall tyres

along with a hardtail-looking swingarm

complete the look. Mind you, you’d want

the quality for the price.

On the freeway, three or four Harley

riders going in the opposite direction

1. The radiator is tucked away
   and unobtrusive.


2. Big, strong, smart looking
   accessory panniers.