900 Vulcan Custom Special Edition

‘Look at me, look at me,’ is what I find saying to myself as I cruise along aboard the 2014 Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Custom Special Edition. This model is a derivative of the Kawasaki Vulcan range and a direct sibling to the Vulcan 900 Classic, while the Special Edition is the only custom model available in Australia this year.

It shares all the mechanical basis of the 900 Classic in terms of engine, suspension, brakes and frame, but goes about its own business in the looks department. The Custom is all about looks, style and the idea that it is not just a typical production bike from a dealership. Yes, I know technically it’s a factory production bike, but if you were not familiar with it you could be fooled into thinking it was a custom motorcycle.   

So what sets the Custom apart from the Classic? I can safely say it is not just a sticker special. Up front you have a narrow chopper-like front tyre mounted on a 21-inch wheel (the Classic comes with a 16-inch), which is contrasted by a 15-inch 180-wide solid cast rear wheel. Except for the flatter handlebar on the Custom, all the chrome bits are blacked out. This includes the dual slash-cut mufflers that flow down the right side of the motorcycle and the majority of the engine. The only colour choice you have is a candy-lime green that is flanked by green flame decals that run from the front of the bike to the rear.

The low 685mm seat height is 5mm up on the Classic, but due to the tank slimming at the rear even the shortest of riders will manage two flat feet on the ground. The seat is heavily cushioned while the handlebar slightly wraps back towards you. The forward footpegs guide you into a comfortable and neutral body stance, but may be a bit of a reach for the shorter rider. On the tank, a large retro analogue speedometer is mounted, while a small basic multi-function LCD screen sits within it.

Forward motion comes from a 903cc, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, eight-valve V-twin powerhouse that is fitted with direct fuel injection and dual 34mm Keihin throttle bodies. Power is sent to the rear wheel thanks to a smooth, efficient and low maintenance belt. The claimed 50hp (37kW) at 5700rpm is nothing special and somewhat low for such a large engine but it well and truly makes up for it in the torque department with a claimed 78Nm from as low as 3700rpm. The Kawasaki engine produces 2hp less than the Yamaha Bolt’s donk, but does produce slightly more torque.

Twist the light but relatively long throttle and you are rewarded with solid and meaningful acceleration that will get the attention of most riders. Fueling is perfect from down low all the way to the extremely soft-cut action rev-limiter, which I must say does a good job of stopping you unexpectedly slamming the tank with your important bits due to the lack of a rev-counter. Mind you, you should never really be anywhere near the rev-limiter as the engine has well a truly run out of puff by I would say two thirds of the way through the rev-range. Short-shifting is how this bike has to be ridden and how you will get the most out of the engine.

Unlike its bigger brother, the Vulcan 1700, the 900 drops a cog, but this five-speed is worlds better in every department. The Vulcan 1700’s gearbox is unbelievably clunky, geared way too high and just an outright pain to use. The Vulcan 900’s box is as if Kawasaki admitted every flaw in the bigger box and worked out a remedy; it’s smooth in its gear selection, the clunkiness is greatly reduced, and it’s geared perfectly for the engine.

At a claimed 277kg, it is four kilos lighter than the 900 Classic and a whopping 61 kilos lighter than the 1700 Classic, making it feel line-ball with the bigger bike in the ‘traffic light GP’.

The moment you lift the bike off the sidestand the lighter weight is felt immediately and is accentuated when you hit the twisties. Ground clearance is never a selling point when it comes to cruisers, but thanks to the Custom’s forward-facing pegs instead of floorboards fitted on the Classic, touchdown is still common but you can manage to pull out of a driveway before that happens. The 33-degree rake makes the bike a little sluggish at slow speed but uber-stable in the faster sweepers. The non-adjustable front fork and preload adjustable rear suspension soak up the bumps like a cruiser should.

Hauling up the 900 Custom is done so by a Tokico brake set-up with a single 300mm disc upfront gripped by a two-pot caliper, while the rear 270mm disc is also pinched by a two-piston caliper. The four-way adjustable front lever offers good and predictable feel, however, four fingers are a must instead of the two I usually use. The front disc does reach its maximum stopping power quite easily, making you call on the unbelievably powerful, almost too powerful, rear brake.

At $12,699 plus on-road costs, it’s nice to see a manufacturer not cash-grabbing on a special edition, pricing it just $200 more than the Classic. At this price it is in the ballpark of what a Yamaha Bolt costs, $11,999 for the standard model and $12,499 for the R model.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom really makes you feel you are riding not just any run of the mill production bike; it’s like having your own custom motorcycle. And it is not just all about the looks either; it does what it is supposed to do well and even outshines its bigger sibling in some very key aspects.

VULCAN 900 CUSTOM SPECIAL EDITION IN BIKE SHOWROOM

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 50hp (37kW) at 5700rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 78Nm at 3700rpm
Economy: 5.1 litres/100km (measured)

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five-speed
Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Double-cradle, steel
Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable, 150mm travel
Rear suspension: Uni-Trak, adjustable preload, 103mm travel
Front brakes: Single 300mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear brake: Single 270mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Tyres: Dunlop D404 -- 80/90-21 front, 180/70-15 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed curb weight: 277kg
Rake: 33 degrees
Trail: 182mm
Seat height: 685mm
Wheelbase: 1645mm
Fuel capacity: 20 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $12,699 (Classic, $12,499)
Colour: Candy Lime Green
Bike supplied by: Kawasaki Australia, www.kawasaki.com.au
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres