I've got a 1985 Honda cb650 that's great for tootling around town, commuting, lunch trips, etc. It has plenty of power for me and can easily keep up on the highway, but it's just not terribly comfortable for highway cruising and mile munching.
I know this is a bit of a relative question, but which Vulcan would you all consider to be the smallest Vulcan suitable for highway cruising at ~75mph? I'm 5'6" and 150, so not a big fella and don't intend to do 2-up any time soon, though I would like to do some weekend camping trips with it. My dad has a loaded up vn900 that's a bit wound up at 65+ mph even with the pulley mod. I was looking at some Honda and Yamaha 1300's, but a lot of people seem to think they could use another gear on the highway too. I like a lazy V-twin, so I just want something with lower rpm's to just putter putter along on the highway without wishing I had another gear.
I'm fine with a used one, but if a 900 is too wound up on the highway, it makes no sense how a 500 would be less wound up. Similar for the 650. It's a great bike, but it's not a lazy v-twin mile muncher.
I'm surprised your father finds the Vulcan 900 wound up on the highway. I've always found mine (w/ stock pulleys) to cruise around nicely at 75-80 mph, in fact quite often I'm cruising along for awhile, and then I realize I have one more gear to shift up to.
I imagine a lot of it has to do with what your used to. I would imagine if I'd been driving around on a Voyager and then hopped on my 900 it was feel somewhat out place on the highway, alternatively if I was riding around on a 250, then hopped on my 900 it would feel amazing.
I agree with what others have said, and I would imagine the new(er) Vulcan 650 would do great on the highway (relatively speaking).
Well, you did say "small" and "highway." But I can tell you there are guys on this forum who have ridden their 500s across the country and back loaded down with gear packs.
You might check out a used Vulcan 800 if you want a cruiser style V Twin. But truthfully, side by side there isn't a huge difference in size between the 800 and 1500, but the weight is different. The 800 is about 550 pounds wet weight, the 1500 Classic about 800 wet. The low center of gravity of the 1500 makes them feel like they weigh less.
I know what you mean about "wound up" but it has more to do with gearing than it does with displacement. But for any bike above say, 400cc, cruising at 75mph is really not that big a deal. I have an SV650 which is also a v-twin but I can cruise at 90mph without a second thought. I imagine it would be the same for the Vulcan S.
The VN900 can be further modified if you think it is too wound up. Have you done front and rear pulley's or just one? Based on the reviews of those that have both, that might be your answer.
" I like a lazy V-twin, so I just want something with lower rpm's to just putter putter along on the highway without wishing I had another gear."
To achieve what you described, there is no replacement for displacement. 1500+cc (90+ci) is what it takes.
Obviously smaller displacement bikes can run the highways all day long, but the smaller the motor, the higher the RPM's to maintain high speeds.
Maybe some day they'll build a 900cc touring bike with a turbo thats setup for bottom end power. Something like that could weigh 600-700lbs and cruise the highway at low RPM's.
I have to respectfully disagree with part of this. If the OP is looking to "putter putter" along at 75mph I don't think he needs a 1500+cc. I know that you are generalizing for simplicity with regards to motor size relative to RPMs but the OP seems to be asking a very specific question. While I can not give him a definitive answer based on my experience I have to think there is a bike smaller than 1500 that will work for him.
I have a 650 vtwin and 883vtwin that both handle 75mph with ease, though I wouldn't describe the sportster highway travel as "putter putter."
It's weird because I agree that most any v-twin bike 400cc or bigger "has the power" to hold highway without winding up the motor to much. I just don't know why they're geared that way. Maybe for passing power without changing gears?
I think my dad only did the front pulley mod on his 900. He did it specifically because, with stock gearing, it started buzzing around 65 or so. He seems happier with it now, but still comments that the bike seems to like a cruising speed of 55-65 best. It's got enough power to have another gear. Again - just not sure why it doesn't have another one.
Maybe it's just that my definition of "low rpm" is different than most and can only be had with major gearing mods, or as D-Dub suggested, displacement. I did own a 1500a BUBF for a while. I bought it with the beloved 2nd gear issue, got 80% done fixing it, then just lost interest in the project and sold it because I strung it out too long. What I didn't know before taking it home is that 4th gear was also toast (4-speed). I took it around the block in 1st and 3rd and it generally seemed geared pretty well cruising along at 35 in 3rd just a couple hundred rpms from idle (to the ear). I wouldn't really be 'opposed' to a 1500 per se, but at the same time, I don't need a bike that big if I can get similar laziness from a smaller bike.
Just throwing this out here as an alternative. The Yamaha Royal Stars have a 1300cc V-4 which will run slightly higher RPM's than comparable V-Twins but they also run smoother, and especially at mid to high RPM's. I don't believe there's a smoother 1300 cruiser on the highway.
I had a 2009 Yamaha V Star 1300 for a few years. It ran fine at 70 to 75. I don't ride faster than that for extended periods so I can't say how it would do at 80 mph. I don't ride that fast with my Voyager 1700 either.
Having owned a 900LT I have to chime in here. I logged 42K on my 900 of which about 20K was traveling to various states on multi-thousand mile trips. My two longest trips from central Texas were the Tail of the Dragon (about 3800 miles round trip) and the Grand Canyon (another 3800 miles round trip). I'm sure everyone has a different opinion of what "wound up" is to them, but the 900 is definitely "wound up" at 70-75mph, at least IMO. However, the bike handles it just fine and even has a little ooompf left over at that speed. But since I went to my Nomad, I never realized just how "wound up" it was. Plus, the difference in comfort is amazing. If you're considering long distance riding as a regular thing, my opinion is to go bigger than the 900, but also understand these smaller displacement bikes can handle it, if you can.
I had a 900 and like CarGuys description. The bike can handle it if you can.
My issue, and it seems the OP shares it; was that the 900 just did NOT give as relaxed of a ride on the highway that I wanted. So I guess if it makes the 900 guys more comfortable, you can say I couldn't handle it.
Every bike out there with 5 speeds has riders wishing they had 6.
Both of my current bikes have 5 speeds. The gearing on the R3T is very near in RPMs on the highway in 5th as my Voyager was in 6th but still pulls away like a Porsche from a Pinto. My FJR cruises at a much higher RPM but being a 4 cylinder it's smooth as glass and feels like a relaxed ride.
Anyway, maybe the 'smallest' part of your question shouldn't be about displacement. I know that Victory has gone out business but they are going to provide support for 10 years, the bikes can be had for a good price and most of all...they have some of the lowest seat heights and center of gravity out there on full sized cruisers.
The only Vulcan or really any v-twin cruiser that will do highway miles more relaxed than a V900 is 1500cc and up.
smallest I would go is the 800, a 900 is bigger bike and better for 2up, 800 don't do 2up on it, 800 can go 75mph easy, but they stopped making them, you better off going with a 900
Scott pretty much nailed it, I think. While the 900's 'can' do 85+ all day long, they just don't convey a sense of relaxed comfort at those speeds. Just like my cb650. It 'can' hold highway speeds all day long but at ~5,500 rpm where the redline is 10,000 rpm.
I'm starting to find out that I really should be looking at 1500, or bigger. I do love the sound of those Vulcan 1500's as well. I haven't really considered a Victory much - mostly because they were too expensive. I may have to look into that a little bit.
I say since your asking about the smoothness or lower rpm on the freeway, try a 4 cylinder.
Your kind of asking for something you cant get, or your ear/butt cant delivery.
I sat on a Vaquero 1700 today and it was too tall and top heavy for me. I also sat on some Victory models and they felt quite a bit easier to handle than that. I was hoping to sit on some 1500's, but they didn't have any in stock where I went to.
(edit) - I just checked out some pricing on the Victory's and they're around $8,000 to $10,000 for a decent looking used one. Maybe some day..... Until then, I have a hard time spending much over $5,000 for a motorcycle.
What you are asking for is impossible to get ...... vibration free, v twin, cheap and cruises at 75 mph. All bikes have vibration, some just have it at different rpms, some is not motor or rpm generated, but more so due to the crap that people have bolted on to the bike it self. Just because a bike has a bigger motor and runs at a lower rpm, does not mean it is vibration free ... don't believe me, go drive a tractor. What you need is a bike that fits you and your expectations, not what everybody else suggests .... just remember ... one mans pain is another mans pleasure and what you call a buzz , someone else may call a tingle.
What you are asking for is impossible to get ...... vibration free, v twin, cheap and cruises at 75 mph. All bikes have vibration, some just have it at different rpms, some is not motor or rpm generated, but more so due to the crap that people have bolted on to the bike it self. Just because a bike has a bigger motor and runs at a lower rpm, does not mean it is vibration free ... don't believe me, go drive a tractor. What you need is a bike that fits you and your expectations, not what everybody else suggests .... just remember ... one mans pain is another mans pleasure and what you call a buzz , someone else may call a tingle.
There are a couple Vulcan 2000's with under 13,000 miles that look to be in really good shape for under $6,000 on my local craigslist and plenty of 1500, 1600, and 1700's under $5,000. Yes, they will all buzz/vibrate to some extent as that is the inherent nature of an unbalanced engine. However, the buzzing between a 500 and a 2000 should be very easily distinguishable. I have driven plenty of tractors, combines, wheat trucks, school buses, trucks, sports cars, etc and it's easy to figure out where a vehicle's 'happy spot' is. On the Vulcan 900, it's 'happy spot' is simply not at 75mph. That's why I'm beginning my search here to see which models I should consider and which ones I shouldn't. I don't have the luxury of having a dealer nearby that stocks them to ride each version back-to-back, so I'm starting with the general recommendations and tailoring it to my needs from there.
I hear exactly what u wonder. I have had a 900 classic for eight years. My 10th bike. I put the front od sprocket in and the 200 tire on back. While they do help still found myself trying 4 another gear at 70. Imo not a comfortable bike all day long at that speed. Great for highway and around town cant beat it. Just bought a new voyager for just that. Freeway out of state rides. Might keep the 9 and have best of both worlds.
The new Vulcan S for a smaller rider is more than capable of keeping up with Highway speeds. I just took out my old lady's on I75 after reading this post to see WTF it could do. Absolutely no issue with me at 170 lbs, Givi Windscreen and factory bags. Easy 85 mph keeping up with traffic and a spurt faster to get over to the right lane to get off at an exit. I felt no wandering from wind blast from passing semi-trucks. IMHO good highway bike for 1. Solid and planted to the ground. No bad habits on the highway. That H2 Homage bike listed above is a screaming good deal.
V-twins are a vibration prone engine and a parallel twin (or even better a triple) is inherently much smoother. I swapped my Vulcan 900 for a Thunderbird 1600 a few years ago as the Vulcan was making my feet and hands go numb at highway speeds. Not so with the Vulcan S (or T-bird). For those looking for a performance larger version of the Vulcan S the T-bird is a much bigger parallel twin in a great handling bike if you can live with about 800 lbs.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Kawasaki Vulcan Forum
712.7K posts
67.9K members
Since 2008
A forum community dedicated to Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, Vulcan 1500, Vulcan 2000, Vulcan 500, Vulcan 1600, Vulcan 900 and all other Vulcan motorcycles.