I have a 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI, and there sure is a lot of confusion about that model. If I Google "2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI," several sites show up that claim to show specifications for that bike, but I can't find any that are right. They all describe the carborated 1500 Classic, and that was not made in a 2005 model. They show that the bike has 40mm Keihin carbs, dry weight of 644 lb, a 4.2 gallon gas tank, compression at 8.6:1, and 83 ft-lb of torque. The correct specs are: Fuel injection with 36mm throttle bodies, dry weight of 659 lb, a 5 gallon gas tank, compression at 9.0:1, and 85 ft-lb of torque.
The first model year for the Vulcan 1500 Classic FI was 2000, the VN1500-N1. That year Kawasaki also made the carborated classic, the VN1500-E3. For 2002, the FI was VN1500-N2 and the carborated was VN1500-E4. In 2002, the FI was VN1500-N3 and the carborated was VN1500-E5. For the 2003 and 2004 years, Kawasaki only produced the carborated models E6 and E7 respectively. In 2005, Kawasaki dropped the carborated and only made the fuel injected VN1500-N4 (my bike). Kawasaki continued to make the VN1500-N series fuel injected 1500 Classics through 2008.
The 2005 model year seems to be particularly confusing, because it was the first year Kawasaki made only the fuel injected 1500 Classic after making only the carborated 1500 Classic the previous 2 model years.
Not only were there engine changes when Kawasaki came out with the FI version of the Classic in 2000, but there were changes to the frame that increased the weight of the bike by 15 pounds, and they were able to increase the gas tank size by .8 gallon by getting rid of the speedometer cable and going electronic.
I'm afraid this stuff is going to be a problem for me when I buy accessories and parts for this bike, and I think it's had the effect of keeping the price down on this model. It is still priced like a carborated Classic, which was several hundred dollars less during the years that they made both types.
The first model year for the Vulcan 1500 Classic FI was 2000, the VN1500-N1. That year Kawasaki also made the carborated classic, the VN1500-E3. For 2002, the FI was VN1500-N2 and the carborated was VN1500-E4. In 2002, the FI was VN1500-N3 and the carborated was VN1500-E5. For the 2003 and 2004 years, Kawasaki only produced the carborated models E6 and E7 respectively. In 2005, Kawasaki dropped the carborated and only made the fuel injected VN1500-N4 (my bike). Kawasaki continued to make the VN1500-N series fuel injected 1500 Classics through 2008.
The 2005 model year seems to be particularly confusing, because it was the first year Kawasaki made only the fuel injected 1500 Classic after making only the carborated 1500 Classic the previous 2 model years.
Not only were there engine changes when Kawasaki came out with the FI version of the Classic in 2000, but there were changes to the frame that increased the weight of the bike by 15 pounds, and they were able to increase the gas tank size by .8 gallon by getting rid of the speedometer cable and going electronic.
I'm afraid this stuff is going to be a problem for me when I buy accessories and parts for this bike, and I think it's had the effect of keeping the price down on this model. It is still priced like a carborated Classic, which was several hundred dollars less during the years that they made both types.
