I was led to believe it was for starter as in entry lever vulcan I could be way off the mark tho

 

There's no definitive answer but since the engine is borrowed from the Ninja line with a chain drive, high redline, and a 120 mph top speed, it's most likely "Sport".

 

I would say sport

 

It is "Sport". Of the Vulcan series line of Kawasaki cruisers.

 

Kawasaki describes it as "Sportbike performance meets cruiser style", and says it's "designed to transport riders into a sporty realm" with a "sportbike-derived chassis and suspension", "sporty handling", etc... I think it's safe to say the S is for Sport 😁

Kawasaki Vulcan S | Cruiser Motorcycle | Style & Performance

Vulcan S cruisers boast adjustability, power, and style with a 649cc engine, light and responsive handling, and ERGO-FIT sizing capability.

www.kawasaki.ca

 

While being S for sporty, I have also heard that S stands for small, as the Vulcan S is the smallest of the Vulcan brand!!

 

500cc Vulcan board on this forum... smaller than 650 @Griff0026 ?

 

Yup! no longer being made, not part of the current Vulcan line up! Enjoy a fine riding season!!

 

It has always bothered me that they include this bike in the Vulcan line. Don't get me wrong, it's a good bike and I get it that it's laid out as a cruiser, but those of us that have been riding long enough to remember when Japanese bikes were all 2 and 4 inlines know that Vulcan was chosen as a name to indicate that it was a V-twin engine, the way Suzuki used "Virago" and Yamaha used "V-Star". Starting the name with a "V" was important for that reason. But things change and I'm an old fart so...

 

Virago was Yamaha

 

The most annoying thing with the 'S' badge and its association with 'Sport' is that it slightly increases my insurance premium...as dumb as that sounds.

 

Yeah, it's not the S that increases your insurance. It's the fact that it's an engine out of a sport bike and can top 120. They don't care that it sits like a recliner.

 

And all this time I thought the S stood for sexy. 😂

 

It means "Sexy"

 

Spock

 

it stands for shame, the shame Kawasaki should feel for letting those fu#$ing mannenals name things they have NO understanding of!!!

 

Gee guys,& here(Hear?) I thought that the S meant that this bike is the real "STUFF" (or the real S..t?)-Just joking. Ya gotta have a sense of humor to get thru life....