Everybody talks about "character" when they ride a cruiser. What they really mean is the chug chug chug of a V-Twin. I've had my share of Japanese V-twins and four Harleys (never again). I think I would like the smoothest of the Vulcan S. If I ever buy one I might change the rear spocket to a smaller one which would lower the rpm at highway speeds, and help the throttle not feel "jerky". It would lose a little bit of the quick response, but I don't plan to go racing anyway.
I’m sick and tired of people TRYING to compare Japanese cruisers to Harley. ITS NOT A HARLEY, I DONT WANT A HARLEY! Those type of people that go for the old style cruiser with loud pipes and gobs of chrome, are a dying breed. This is the direction many manufacturers are going with for cruisers and I gotta say, this is the way to go!
Why? The Japanese themselves have been doing so for decades. This isn’t a proper cruiser in the traditional sense. The actual Japanese Harley competitors are often superior so…your issue is more with people comparing cheap cruiser “style” bikes from Japan with higher end Harley’s
This likely the best cost to performance/reliability you'll find on the market. Even at 650cc, it's not lacking power at all. It's not so light that it'll float away on the highway and not so heavy that the "less inclined" can't lift it. Only complaint is the engine braking is pretty significant. Change the exhaust and it'll sound much better, but I find it unnecessary. It handles better than cruisers, quicker than cruisers, and cheaper than most cruisers. I am surprised more people don't buy this bike. It's my daily and with the right mods, plenty comfortable for trips. This is the bike that could get more people into riding.
Doing my MSF course next month gotta Kawasaki dealership 2 blocks from the house been looking at this bike for months and watching lots of videos really like it
It's a great bike, not just as a beginner bike neither. It's plenty quick enough to ride for along time and not get bored. It's got plenty of pep but forgiving enough to not be intimidating.
Have had mine since 2019 bought used threw on a delkevic pipes rear seat rest and cargo rack it is still fun to ride as day 1. Like the green black too. Never drove a Harley and prob never will. Good luck with yours
I've owned motorcycles since 1967 and since 1995 most have been V-Twins. I am tired if the chug chug chug. I don't like the term "beginner bike" I think the Vulcan S is a good bike for anyone. I love the way it revs. The sounds of it when it revs so quickly is music to my ears. If you listen to the exhaust note of the new Harley Davidson 975 Nightster it sounds a lot like the Vulcan S but doesn't cost near as much, just about half price of the Hatley.. There are other things I really like about the Vulcan S. It might sound strange to some, but I like chain drive motorcycles over belt drive. The reaon why is because there are a wide selection of rear spockets for the Vulcan S and I can fine tune the gearing to suit me at very little cost. You can't do that with most belt drive motorcyckls. I would prabably go to a 44 or maybe even a 42 tooth rear spocket to lower the revs at highway speeds which would all but eliminate the vibratiins that cause your hands and butt to go numb. Another thing I really like about the Vulcan S are the mag wheels which means TUBELESS tires.If you have a blow out with a tube tire the bead will break loose from the wheel ,making it very hard to handle. WIth a tubeless tire the bead usually stays put and is much easier to bring down to a stop. It's a huge safety factor. That and the mag wheels are much easier to keep clean. I'm OLD and gettting pretty lazy.
The vulcan is awesome bike. It's actually very quick and handles really well too. Nothing wrong with liking it as more than a beginner bike. My wife loves the way the vulacn sounds she says it makes pops on decel a little and it tickles her lol, I drilled holes in muffler for that. I enjoy a good v twin but I like a good high revved parallel twin too. They all got their different personalities, I enjoy almost every bike I ride.
Had a Vulcan VN750 for 10 years and put 75k miles on it. Being an older carb bike it started becoming a lot more trouble than it was worth. Kawasaki really did it right making what feels like to me as an updated version of their previous smaller bikes. The specs were so close that it was a no brainer to get the Vulcan S as an equal replacement to keep that same demeanor that I'd come to love from my older bike. The only thing I miss is the V-Twin sound.
After installing the booster plug and the CS Racing full system exhaust, the Vulcan 650 has become my favorite bike. You can’t beat going on a 3 hour road trip while doing twisties. Oh and I only pay $10 a month for insurance.
Wow thats good. The cs was the one on top of my list which its newer and the new freedom performance exhaust as well. I think im paying $20 a mo th which is full coverage and aint bad at all on it. Its a good all round bike probably best bang for buck good bike out there right now.
My throttle was buttery smooth before I put a full exhaust system with a power commander tuned properly. Then it was even better. I have zero issues with jerkiness
That's odd. It's definitely got on off feeling to me. I've heard lot of other people express this as well. Does it mean I don't enjoy the bike? No, it's fun bike. My other bikes don't have this issue, throttle is linear and responds as you twist the throttle, and nonits not a free play issue. It's electronic issue, just a slight delay in throttle opening and giving fuel from when you twist the throttle. Definitely there on my bike. And seems to be on others but if yours isn't noticeable that's a good thing.
Just wanted to see another's view on this machine since a whole lot of people really seem to like it. Not in the market for a Vulcan after being around a Mean Streak years back and talking to the owner for a while convinced me to find something a bit more Urban and leave the long roads to the Tourer instead. If it's giving you faulty throttle inputs I would have the TPS or the bike emissions system looked after although the ignition could still be at fault if the electronic advance isn't functioning properly because of a short or a damaged CDI box. The triggers in the module are solid state but can age badly from water intrusion, cold solder joints in the IC board, or even vibration from the engine creating instability in the circuitry, much like a bad connector from a rectifier/regulator. All I'm saying is the bike should jet once you roll on the throttle, not act like some clogged pilot jet in a dirty old carburetor. Stay safe and be well.
It's pretty common thing with Kawasaki in general I believe. It's not the worst thing in the world it can just be a little alarming to first time riders. Vulcan is good bike but mean streak is a monster of a motor big difference id believe.
As another has stated - A Booster Plug will solve the throttle issue and relieve some of the engine breaking as well. It will not hurt the MPG at all. Just makes the throttle act like it is suppose to. As for the exhaust. I've tried Delkavic both the 16 inch and 21 inch exhaust. Then switched to Musarri. I love the Musarri exhaust. Again, does not hurt MPG but gives a good sound. MHO..
The Musarri Exhaust can be bought on Amazon for $350... Just saying. There are plenty of examples of the sound. A Google search or CZcams search will get you there.
@@jsrides2065 Hi J, to your question - Yes. Sadly John gave it all up. But I still have my Vulcan-S, and enjoy every minute of riding my bike. It gets my mine right on some days. I have 2,500 miles on my bike. I do not get to ride it as much as I would like due to the weather, grand kids and the honey do list...
@@allenarneson4349 yes I heard John gave up sadly come join my channel I do rides around Devon and Cornwall I have lots of short rides and some long 1s I’m still riding my kvs but like you not that much because of the weather and life’s responsibilities looking after mother and wife and sister, glade you’re still loving your bike 🏍💨💨💨cheers j’srides jamie 👍🏻🤟🏻
Dude the Angel GT's make a huge difference, or they did to me. The stock tires for me were not good. The Angel GT's made it night and day difference for me and really boosted my confidence as a beginner rider.
@@Mereshot101 when I install it I'll let you know. I've done that with previous bikes and it makes a huge difference. Plus I've read it helps with the throttle response/engine breaking. I have the booster plug coming as well... Bike runs way to lean so I'm hoping that evens things out.
I absolutely love my Vulcan, and will not upgrade unless they build one with a parallel twin 900+! It's fast, peppy, sporty, and I love the parallel twin engine! I am a lady rider though!
Well get ready to trade up. Kawasaki is announcing something like 12 new models in October. I have a funny feeling one of those bikes is going to be the rumored Vulcan H2. If they do release it its going to be a supercharged liter cruiser with 200hp. Too much power for me, I'd kill myself haha.
Yeah I like the thoughts of a new vulcan. I actually don't want that kind of power though, I'd get hurt I fear. 100bhp and good torque and thats all I would ever use for the riding I do.
@@bikerbeliever8169 I'm the same way man. I have about 105whp and weigh 500lbs. 1st gear is actually pretty scary. And that's in standard mode where it cuts a bit of the power off. I really don't see why you would need any more than 100whp on a sub 600lbs bike. Anything more is a death wish. Lol
WOW !! are you riding on private road or is it a regular road ? I would give anything to be able to ride my back roads in NJ for almost 20 minutes without a car up my ass or coming at me. Damn that"s some beautiful riding country you have wherever you are
Vulcan 650 for sure on performance. I like the honda shadow phantom styling better though. It also has shaft drive. They all are gonna be good reliable bikes though.
Oh Im not suprised at all. It has some pep in its step, so to speak. Sometimes it doesnt feel fast because the power is very linear, but then you look at the speed and your like oh man it is quicker than I thought.
@@bikerbeliever8169 when I first got this bike I took it out a couple times and thought man this bike isn’t as fast as I thought it would be. Then one day I really cracked the throttle and looked down and realized how quick it actually was. And I still haven’t given it hell yet to see what it can do.
I have not seen any reviews that don't like the Vulcan 650 for what it is... pretty peppie light weight cruiser style at a very affordable price.. It probably out runs your MotoGuzzi V7 850 too...:-)
I will do a comparison try and do a little acceleration run between the two. I would do a head to head race, but my wife would be the other rider and she's still learning to shift smooth and be good on throttle and stuff so Im not going to put her in that position. I may find someone around here to ride it and run it against me though and Ill try and film it.
How often do you have to clean/lube the chain on a Vulcan S? Thanks in advance for your response. Also, I noticed you mentioned in one response that you had sold the Vulcan S. What did you replace it with?
About every 300-500 miles of cleaning and lubing chain and checking the slack. I had several bikes, moto guzzi v7, Husqvarna svartpilen 701, and sold them since as well and now have a cfmoto ibex 800t currently.
@bikerbeliever8169 Thanks so much! BTW, a couple months ago I rode my 900 Vulcan Classic into Fleming County, Goddard Covered Bridge area from Georgetown. That's certainly a beautiful area! Continue to ride safely and enjoy.
Off Amazon I think. I also got a little bracket for handlebar for it as well. IDEA Waterproof Motorcycle Gear Indicator Plug & Play LED Display for Kawasaki (Rectangle, Blue) a.co/d/4lsG9TP (except green was available back then)
This is the best beginner's bike and you get what you pay for. It will last a long time before you start to think about upgrading to your next higher performance bike after you've become an experienced biker.
I been riding forever and had bikes with way more power than this thing, bikes that corner way better, tour way better, etc. and I'm perfectly happy on this bike as a 35 year experienced rider. It's not a beginner bike, it's a niche bike. You buy this bike to have a lightweight cruiser bike that flicks and handles twisties while commuting and kicking around locally with maybe a longer trip here n there. You have fuel injection, liquid cooled bulletproof engine too. I feel it's actually a purpose built bike. In my opinion beginner bikes are 500cc and below. I've seen noobs destroy themselves on a 650 "beginner bike".
@@kjfrank2036 I’m thinking about getting this my first bike new rider with 0 experience I never rode a bike ever.. you believe this isn’t a good beginner bike. I’m 6’0 465 pounds
$6,850 is cheapest I can find BUT every dealer charges an extra $1,000 for "freight, delivery, prep" so it's actually $7,850 PLUS another $600 in state taxes (varies by state) PLUS another $250 for registration/tags/title/inspection!!! Also, if you need it shipped to your house, you're talking another $400+!!! Oh, and let me add that this is carryover from the previous year inventory! So, it will be a 2022 model, not a 2023. Sure, it's a new bike with mileage & condition, but it's not the latest new model! Where the heck does everyone find these bikes for so cheap? I've looked within 250 mile radius of my house and it's always the same song and dance with price. $8,700 without shipping is the price. Msrp is so misleading and has really made my search for a bike a nightmare! I want a bike but when the "cheap" bikes are close to $10k after all the fees, it's really not approachable financially for a 1st time rider like myself who wants to come into riding. They sure aren't capturing me as a new customer and potential new long-term customer with misleading pricing. Why am I paying $300 for "prep fees"? If im buying a brand new bike from their in stock inventory, then why are they charging me to make sure it's what they advertise it as? Also, why am I paying a freight fee for a bike they have in inventory? That freight cost is their business cost! It's almost the same as asking me to pay their payroll because it's a business expense, not a customer expense. Shipping it to my house is a fee I understand, but them ordering bikes that they want to sell shouldn't be a customer fee.
Find a good dealer. It's alright to negotiate, worst they can do is say no. Build a relationship with a good dealer and they will give you better prices and perks and be willing to let you test ride new bikes when they come in.
@The Boss of Hart Lane Yeah im working on that right now with a couple dealers I found that offer the best inventories but so far I haven't had any luck getting a deal. Maybe I'll wait until winter when they are stuck with inventory and riding season is over.
@TuggyPeppa yeah also go to demo days. I went to one and they are fun anyways. I got a $500 off any new Kawasaki bike just for riding motorcycles. It's fun and you get free stuff lot of times, also got free pair of Kawasaki motorcycle gloves from the dealer. It was nice.
Kentucky and Tennessee got Appalachian mountains passing through both, very similar states, similar terrain, roads, except supposedly our grass in KY is blue.
No it did not. It's a very easy install. There's different paths of install. I did the diagnostic port install very easy gear indicator was setup and plugged directly into it and gives you the gear. You can do the accessory relay option as well but have to buy the accessory relay also, but would still be easy.
When you were talking about the tail lights shouldn't your video capture the tail light? I have a 2020 Vulcan S Cafe and I haven't found any problem with the throttle. I do agree about the seat however. The only change I made to my bike is installing the Arrow exhaust system to it. Sounds great.
yeah I hear the arrow exhaust is the best, it was just really pricey for me to justify it at the time. My bike is a 2016 also, they may have adjusted the throttle issues over the years, so Id imagine it could be better each new year. The throttle doesn't bother me now, but it was my first bike I actually owned and initially caught me off guard a bit and made me nervous. It isn't bad just for somebody that has never rode before it could be slightly alarming first time (just because this bike is recommended as one of best beginner bikes by a lot of people)
@@bikerbeliever8169 they still sell it here under partnership with modenas, from malaysia btw. Materials are probably not so reliable now but we'll see since its a new collaboration.
I have to say, foot ergo needs work for when hitting bumps, fuel tank if you are going 75+. Don't get me wrong as it can be one of the best mpg for in town riding but doing hwy and definitely around 80....the range and fuel meter drops quickly.
I think fuel gonna drop quick on any bike or vehicle when going 80 plus. May get there quicker but fuel gonna go down quicker too. I probably guess I ride between 55 and 70 on most roads with Vulcan and it's around 50 to 55 mpg. For first few thousand miles I was only getting like 45mpg to 50 at most. Bike got better over time things just run smoother now then when I had it new.
@@bikerbeliever8169 I had other bikes but way higher CC and fuel drain wasn't as bad but those bikes didn't get what the vulcan does for in town. I can get around 60mpg with mine if not that hard on it.
@@scottneal2738 that's really good actually. My wife weighs less than me and she's getting over 55mpg really good since she has taken over riding it most of time. She loves the bike.
@@bikerbeliever8169 it definitely is a fun bike and to me it can really move for the idea of being a 650, the sport part really gives it a great feeling. Not sure if you have but I throttle shift at 4k rpm and it's smooth and don't feel a throttle lag. I weigh 160
I have no idea we sold the bike awhile back I don't remember what we got exactly, it wasn't bad bad expensive off Amazon should be something that would work.
i dont see any reason to put it in a “beginner” class. its just a great all-rounder. its lighter so i guess that makes it easier to handle for the less-experienced rider. personally, i love lighter bikes. better power-to-weight ratio and rides like a bike, not like a car!
I could have easily learned to ride on this bike no problem. A lot of others could have as well, its gonna come down to the individual and if they are competent or not. The Guzzi imo rides very direct to me, probably because of the shaft drive and direct connection to the rear wheel. Yes it handles like a bike because well it is a bike.
Looking to buy this bike. There is one close, but the sales guy was a giant douche, saying 'my daughter could ride this bike, youre a grown man, you need a bigger bike, what the f()* are you doing, youre wasting your time, i'm gonna rake you over the coals for for the trade in value' and the like. I'm convinced he just didnt wanna waste his time with a more budget bike. Maybe his commission was based on cost or size bike? I don't know. But I left and said I'm not giving you or your company a sale like that. So, on principle I'm looking a little farther away to see who can get this bike in for my first.
I have one of these. Recently purchased. It's the first 650 Kawasaki I've owned. Has 20,000kms on it. Is it normal for these Kawasaki 650 engines to sound like a bucket full of marbels? Like... Rattly and loose in the top end?
I mean the engine has a slight buzz to it maybe, but not like a can of marbles. I would definitely make sure you got proof take note that you contacted them about it for future warranty claim, otherwise drive it like you atole it. Mine has been bulletproof through 12k miles of ownership.
Thank you. It was absolutely beautiful countryside:) We're looking for better places to which we might relocate in the future. Kentucky is certainly a possibility!
I hear the rebel 500 is nice. It won't be as fast but will be smoother and more user friendly probably for a beginner especially. Kawasaki just has that weird on off throttle which makes low throttle situations awkward and tough kind of.
Honestly don't know if the power would be that much more impressive. It would be but not like drastically. If wanting more power I'd pass the vulcan if your already good at riding and get little more cc unless u just like the styling of the vulcan.
what year model is this?And Does it have a gear indicator? I thought the gear indicator was standard what year model is this? I thought the gear indicator was standard from 2017 and up?
I'm set on getting this bike as a first. Is this a sure fire way to get it...? 1) I've budgeted for the MSF course which I'll schedule this weekend for next weekend. 2) after I'll pass the written test. 3) get license. 4) go to motorcycle dealership and finance one of these. Will try to take my friend who rides so I won't get fucked. 5) getting decent gear is my priority. .... Am I missing anything? And will I be able to get it in graystone red black?
This is/can be a good first bike. My advice, be patient, take your time, wear your gear. Take the written exam for your bike permit first (though this may differ by state, not sure). If you get your permit you could already be practicing, riding the roads to practice right now, legally. Then if you already have your permit, then after you pass the msf, all you have to do is go in and have them update your license and show them and you are officially legal on a bike on the main roads. As far as buying the bike, that depends on how you want to do it. I bought the bike before I had ever even rode one. That being said it took me few weeks of practice, just driveway, small road practice to get going. It was frustrating a bit, but then it became easy and second nature and is so relaxing and enjoyable now to ride for me. So be patient, understand learning to ride is a process and their will be frustration and just take your time, it could take you weeks to even be comfortable to pull out of your driveway. For me the clutch and gear shifting was easy, I had to work more on my balance and learning to push the direction I wanted to go, as well as getting used to the throttle sensitivity on the bike. Check out motojitsu's channel, he is great and can help you a lot as far as becoming a better, safer rider. As far as the color scheme you get for your bike, thats going to depend on the dealer you go to and what they got available or if they can order the paint scheme you are looking for, as well as how far you are willing to drive to a dealer that may arleady have what you are looking for, so you'll have to call ahead and figure it out set it up.
I like your game plan. First time rider myself (older guy in my 40s). Started looking at bikes and watching videos. Took the MSF in April, bought a decent helmet but basic/cheap gear for class. Wanted to make sure my want (to be a rider) and my abilities (to ride affectively) matched up before any more financial commitment. Took the class and passed ( on a crappy DMV bike) and the hook was set. Scheduled DMV visit in May for license and started shopping Used shops and FB marketplace. Found my 2015 Vulcan S for $5k with 1500 miles on it. Kept watching a ton of Dan Dan the fireman videos and other training and tips. Hit the closest school parking lot until I was road ready. Took a lot of left and right turns, braking, slow maneuvers. The Vulcan has a sensitive throttle. Stalled it a bunch of times, dropped it once (every new rider does). While I was practicing started upgrading to my street ready gear. Better jacket, gloves, boots. Got a good deal on FB for jacket. Then progressed to neighborhood roads and light traffic. Now I ride most days, commuting and casual riding. Still stall it occasionally when I get quick on the clutch but feel more confident every day and very happy with my first bike choice. I think the hardest part was the time between the course and license and the bike purchase because I didn’t have anything to practice on. I will add my buddies who rode were a great source of information and tips just don’t listen to the one who says shorts and tennis shoes are fine. Hope your journey to riding goes well. Get ready to throw down the two fingers sign!
Oh yeah I never updated this. This is the route I ended with. I took the CMSP course in Cali. Passed. Got my license. While saving for my bike I bought bits and pieces of high quality gear during the holidays. Bought a 250cc adventure bike. Paid off. And now the plan is to practice motojitsu. Take more courses. Get more miles under my belt. And a year from now upgrade to a faster adv bike and do some traveling. Thanks for supporting me when not many people did.. because ya know motorcycles are dangerous. See y'all out there I'll throw the ✌️ up. :)
Money, lol. Expensive and wasnt 100% certain I liked the exhausts I heard online and paying what they cost. I like the two brothers racing exhaust at idle sound, but its really loud everybody says and will ring your head if you ride too long, so I was like nah. People said that delkevic was overly loud too, my second choice, but I didnt think it sounded as throaty thumpy at idle like the tbr. So I never settled on any I was happy about and just tried the drilled holes exhaust mod and it sounded not too bad, not overly loud ring your brains out.
@@bikerbeliever8169 I have the delkevic and its too loud for my preference. With the longer 21" it interferes with adding spools to the bike just a heads up. Luckily I got the bike with the exhaust otherwise I would be upset lol
@@bikerbeliever8169 I have put a delkevic ceramic exhaust on mine and its not too loud. It's less than the tbr and not annoying. It also improved the jerkingness of the throttle.
I got the arrow full system exhaust and couldn't be happier! In Switzerland we have rather strict laws concerning well anything therefore the muffler must be in at all times but it sounds amazing even with the muffler.
The bike is best for cruising between 4 and 6k rpm. That seems to be where the meat of its torque band is at. For power obviously it revs up to 9k little over. But to me the power though it keeps reving feels like it dies off close to 8k maybe little before.
Itll do over 150, probably 180 (assuming your not constantly punching the throttle), but I always fill up early to be on safe side. 3.7 gallon fuel tank, mileage of around 50mpg. My wife is averaging around 55mpg when she rides I get closer to 50mpg when I ride I'm over 100lbs heavier than her taller, wider than her, more wind resistance and weight and ride casually aggressive. It has a fuel guage that is pretty good for a bike actually.
I had my Vulcan S for 6 years. Bought it the year it came out. No problems other than the shifter bolt snapping when I went to shift it one time. Had to be trailered to the dealership for a quick fix and then I was on my way. After 6 years with 60 horsepower it honestly got a little boring for me. So I upgraded to a Harley with 121 horsepower/94ft lbs tq with a wet weight of 500lbs. Thing absolutely rips my face off in first gear lol.
Vulcan is a good bike, but 120 horsepower is obviously a lot and going to be more exciting, and 94lb ft torque is gonna make for good ride as well. I like all bikes Ive rode, vulcan is a good starter bike and good value (minus the on off throttle thing). Harley's are expensive and tough entry point into biking unless get used sportster.
You don't compare a Harley to this bike lol. They're not even remotely the same. When you "upgrade" to a Harley you upgrade the initial cost of the bike, maintenance costs, the heat on your legs, the vibration, the insurance cost, the gas cost, the accessories costs and you give away all the reliability. I been riding 35 years and I know all about it as I've owned everything you can think of. Having said that, ALL bikes are pretty awesome in my opinion. 2 wheels, open air, the wind..Can't beat it!
Typically true, unless it's a mod to address something lacking in the bike. It looks like the booster plug is probably a worthwhile addition to fix the throttle response that is broken due to regulations.
It plugs into the 02 sensor sensor and tricks ecu into giving more fuel in low revs to run smoother and not so jerky or bucky when just taking it smooth and easy.
@@bikerbeliever8169 the motor * is good…I can accept that depending on the yard stick being used. I mean it’s functional and reliable but that’s it. Not to diminish those features it’s just …I mean the ninja 400 motor is even better imo because at least you can rev that thing out. The 650 is barely more performative than the 400, a bit more down low but even top speeds of the z400 vs z650 for example are basically identical. There’s just too many far superior options. You have to want a new bike, a small & light bike…cruiser style no less, a Japanese bike….at this price range and with 650 power. If you’re willing to alter any 1 or 2 of those metrics there’s much better options. Willingness to buy used destroys this as even an option imo. I like its looks, I’ll give it that. I’d rather the w800 though by far.
In the process of buying this bike now as my first ever motorcycle. Needless to say, I'm excited for warmer weather.
I've been there. Usually there's good deals on bikes this time of year can get them lot cheaper. Good bike.
Everybody talks about "character" when they ride a cruiser. What they really mean is the chug chug chug of a V-Twin. I've had my share of Japanese V-twins and four Harleys (never again). I think I would like the smoothest of the Vulcan S. If I ever buy one I might change the rear spocket to a smaller one which would lower the rpm at highway speeds, and help the throttle not feel "jerky". It would lose a little bit of the quick response, but I don't plan to go racing anyway.
I’m sick and tired of people TRYING to compare Japanese cruisers to Harley. ITS NOT A HARLEY, I DONT WANT A HARLEY! Those type of people that go for the old style cruiser with loud pipes and gobs of chrome, are a dying breed. This is the direction many manufacturers are going with for cruisers and I gotta say, this is the way to go!
The vulcan is a fantastic bike.
Why? The Japanese themselves have been doing so for decades. This isn’t a proper cruiser in the traditional sense. The actual Japanese Harley competitors are often superior so…your issue is more with people comparing cheap cruiser “style” bikes from Japan with higher end Harley’s
Japanese Cruiser > Murican Harleys
I agree
This likely the best cost to performance/reliability you'll find on the market. Even at 650cc, it's not lacking power at all. It's not so light that it'll float away on the highway and not so heavy that the "less inclined" can't lift it. Only complaint is the engine braking is pretty significant. Change the exhaust and it'll sound much better, but I find it unnecessary. It handles better than cruisers, quicker than cruisers, and cheaper than most cruisers. I am surprised more people don't buy this bike. It's my daily and with the right mods, plenty comfortable for trips. This is the bike that could get more people into riding.
Yes its great just all round bike and probably best performance in cruiser for price on the market.
I love mine as well no complaints or mods
Have you found a chip that will take care of the engine braking ?
@@johndickinson8848 i put a booster plug on mine and it floats
Ridden a rebel 500?
Doing my MSF course next month gotta Kawasaki dealership 2 blocks from the house been looking at this bike for months and watching lots of videos really like it
It's a great bike, not just as a beginner bike neither. It's plenty quick enough to ride for along time and not get bored. It's got plenty of pep but forgiving enough to not be intimidating.
Have had mine since 2019 bought used threw on a delkevic pipes rear seat rest and cargo rack it is still fun to ride as day 1. Like the green black too. Never drove a Harley and prob never will. Good luck with yours
@@chrisman714368 Just put delkevic pipes on mine!! Sounds killer!
I've owned motorcycles since 1967 and since 1995 most have been V-Twins. I am tired if the chug chug chug. I don't like the term "beginner bike" I think the Vulcan S is a good bike for anyone. I love the way it revs. The sounds of it when it revs so quickly is music to my ears. If you listen to the exhaust note of the new Harley Davidson 975 Nightster it sounds a lot like the Vulcan S but doesn't cost near as much, just about half price of the Hatley..
There are other things I really like about the Vulcan S. It might sound strange to some, but I like chain drive motorcycles over belt drive. The reaon why is because there are a wide selection of rear spockets for the Vulcan S and I can fine tune the gearing to suit me at very little cost. You can't do that with most belt drive motorcyckls. I would prabably go to a 44 or maybe even a 42 tooth rear spocket to lower the revs at highway speeds which would all but eliminate the vibratiins that cause your hands and butt to go numb.
Another thing I really like about the Vulcan S are the mag wheels which means TUBELESS tires.If you have a blow out with a tube tire the bead will break loose from the wheel ,making it very hard to handle. WIth a tubeless tire the bead usually stays put and is much easier to bring down to a stop. It's a huge safety factor. That and the mag wheels are much easier to keep clean. I'm OLD and gettting pretty lazy.
The vulcan is awesome bike. It's actually very quick and handles really well too. Nothing wrong with liking it as more than a beginner bike. My wife loves the way the vulacn sounds she says it makes pops on decel a little and it tickles her lol, I drilled holes in muffler for that. I enjoy a good v twin but I like a good high revved parallel twin too. They all got their different personalities, I enjoy almost every bike I ride.
Had a Vulcan VN750 for 10 years and put 75k miles on it. Being an older carb bike it started becoming a lot more trouble than it was worth. Kawasaki really did it right making what feels like to me as an updated version of their previous smaller bikes. The specs were so close that it was a no brainer to get the Vulcan S as an equal replacement to keep that same demeanor that I'd come to love from my older bike. The only thing I miss is the V-Twin sound.
Yeah v twins typically got lot of character
After installing the booster plug and the CS Racing full system exhaust, the Vulcan 650 has become my favorite bike. You can’t beat going on a 3 hour road trip while doing twisties. Oh and I only pay $10 a month for insurance.
Wow thats good. The cs was the one on top of my list which its newer and the new freedom performance exhaust as well. I think im paying $20 a mo th which is full coverage and aint bad at all on it. Its a good all round bike probably best bang for buck good bike out there right now.
Which insurance are y'all using?
@@paganrythyms In germany its also 13€ a month for me at the highest insurance settings with all exras. its the HUK COBURG
The cs exhaust sounds very good that's one I would like for our vulcan. I haven't tried booster plug but have thought about it for awhile.
Man, you're riding in God's country out there. I wish I had those beautiful roads where I'm at.
Thank you I am very blessed, it truly is God's country.
Soon i will have enough saved money to be able to get one of these babies before the summer ends.
Awesome they r very good bike
keyword "reliability" and a note "no problem whatsoever". enough for me. thank you :o)
Super Reliable no problems at all.
@@bikerbeliever8169 is that gear tracker on the left handle bar standard or did you add that on that’s a pretty useful thing for new folks
Its aftermarket. Ours is 2016 model and don't have one quipped stock. 2017 and up vulcans have a Gear indicator in the dash stock.
My throttle was buttery smooth before I put a full exhaust system with a power commander tuned properly. Then it was even better. I have zero issues with jerkiness
That's odd. It's definitely got on off feeling to me. I've heard lot of other people express this as well. Does it mean I don't enjoy the bike? No, it's fun bike. My other bikes don't have this issue, throttle is linear and responds as you twist the throttle, and nonits not a free play issue. It's electronic issue, just a slight delay in throttle opening and giving fuel from when you twist the throttle. Definitely there on my bike. And seems to be on others but if yours isn't noticeable that's a good thing.
Just wanted to see another's view on this machine since a whole lot of people really seem to like it. Not in the market for a Vulcan after being around a Mean Streak years back and talking to the owner for a while convinced me to find something a bit more Urban and leave the long roads to the Tourer instead. If it's giving you faulty throttle inputs I would have the TPS or the bike emissions system looked after although the ignition could still be at fault if the electronic advance isn't functioning properly because of a short or a damaged CDI box. The triggers in the module are solid state but can age badly from water intrusion, cold solder joints in the IC board, or even vibration from the engine creating instability in the circuitry, much like a bad connector from a rectifier/regulator. All I'm saying is the bike should jet once you roll on the throttle, not act like some clogged pilot jet in a dirty old carburetor. Stay safe and be well.
It's pretty common thing with Kawasaki in general I believe. It's not the worst thing in the world it can just be a little alarming to first time riders. Vulcan is good bike but mean streak is a monster of a motor big difference id believe.
As another has stated - A Booster Plug will solve the throttle issue and relieve some of the engine breaking as well. It will not hurt the MPG at all. Just makes the throttle act like it is suppose to. As for the exhaust. I've tried Delkavic both the 16 inch and 21 inch exhaust. Then switched to Musarri. I love the Musarri exhaust. Again, does not hurt MPG but gives a good sound. MHO..
The Musarri Exhaust can be bought on Amazon for $350... Just saying. There are plenty of examples of the sound. A Google search or CZcams search will get you there.
Hey there Allen weren’t you a subscriber of kawaka John channel?
@@jsrides2065 Hi J, to your question - Yes. Sadly John gave it all up. But I still have my Vulcan-S, and enjoy every minute of riding my bike. It gets my mine right on some days. I have 2,500 miles on my bike. I do not get to ride it as much as I would like due to the weather, grand kids and the honey do list...
@@allenarneson4349 yes I heard John gave up sadly come join my channel I do rides around Devon and Cornwall I have lots of short rides and some long 1s I’m still riding my kvs but like you not that much because of the weather and life’s responsibilities looking after mother and wife and sister, glade you’re still loving your bike 🏍💨💨💨cheers j’srides jamie 👍🏻🤟🏻
Allen as a newbie biker what is a booster plug please ?
Just ordered the Angel GTs and swapping the rear sprocket to a 43 to get a better highway speed/rpm range. Can't wait!
Dude the Angel GT's make a huge difference, or they did to me. The stock tires for me were not good. The Angel GT's made it night and day difference for me and really boosted my confidence as a beginner rider.
What do you think of the 43 sprocket? I have been going on longer rides and wouldn't mind bringing down the highway rpms.
@@Mereshot101 when I install it I'll let you know. I've done that with previous bikes and it makes a huge difference. Plus I've read it helps with the throttle response/engine breaking. I have the booster plug coming as well... Bike runs way to lean so I'm hoping that evens things out.
I absolutely love my Vulcan, and will not upgrade unless they build one with a parallel twin 900+! It's fast, peppy, sporty, and I love the parallel twin engine! I am a lady rider though!
Yes its a fantastic bike. I love it and my wife (its her main bike now) really loves it.
Tell her I said to ride like the wind! Lol
Well get ready to trade up. Kawasaki is announcing something like 12 new models in October. I have a funny feeling one of those bikes is going to be the rumored Vulcan H2. If they do release it its going to be a supercharged liter cruiser with 200hp.
Too much power for me, I'd kill myself haha.
Yeah I like the thoughts of a new vulcan. I actually don't want that kind of power though, I'd get hurt I fear. 100bhp and good torque and thats all I would ever use for the riding I do.
@@bikerbeliever8169
I'm the same way man. I have about 105whp and weigh 500lbs. 1st gear is actually pretty scary. And that's in standard mode where it cuts a bit of the power off.
I really don't see why you would need any more than 100whp on a sub 600lbs bike. Anything more is a death wish. Lol
Thanks brother. I love the bike. I want one with an H2 so bad!
Great stuff
WOW !! are you riding on private road or is it a regular road ? I would give anything to be able to ride my back roads in NJ for almost 20 minutes without a car up my ass or coming at me. Damn that"s some beautiful riding country you have wherever you are
Public roads in North East Kentucky yep.
awesome green painting....but exhaust must be changed....minus for that model.
Good review. I’m undecided between the Vulcan s, Vulcan 900 custom and Honda shadow 750 phantom.
Vulcan 650 for sure on performance. I like the honda shadow phantom styling better though. It also has shaft drive. They all are gonna be good reliable bikes though.
SRK cycles ran this bike against a bunch of Harleys and it smoked all of them...
Oh Im not suprised at all. It has some pep in its step, so to speak. Sometimes it doesnt feel fast because the power is very linear, but then you look at the speed and your like oh man it is quicker than I thought.
@@bikerbeliever8169 when I first got this bike I took it out a couple times and thought man this bike isn’t as fast as I thought it would be. Then one day I really cracked the throttle and looked down and realized how quick it actually was. And I still haven’t given it hell yet to see what it can do.
She's a beauty ❤
That she is
For me there's nowhere up to go from my Ninja Cruiser Vulcan! I will keep it!
Nothing wrong in that its a fantastic bike.
I enjoyed every detail you provided in your video. Thank you for taking the time to make it:)
I see ur tail tidy there sir. Great work.
Yes, thanks, the kuryakyn products are typically really good and solid.
Where did you see it?
@@TranslateToEnglish in the video man.
I have not seen any reviews that don't like the Vulcan 650 for what it is... pretty peppie light weight cruiser style at a very affordable price.. It probably out runs your MotoGuzzi V7 850 too...:-)
I will do a comparison try and do a little acceleration run between the two. I would do a head to head race, but my wife would be the other rider and she's still learning to shift smooth and be good on throttle and stuff so Im not going to put her in that position. I may find someone around here to ride it and run it against me though and Ill try and film it.
Good presentation
Thanks I appreciate it
Cool mirror swap.
Which ones is he using now?
Z650@@Hattinchannel
How often do you have to clean/lube the chain on a Vulcan S? Thanks in advance for your response. Also, I noticed you mentioned in one response that you had sold the Vulcan S. What did you replace it with?
About every 300-500 miles of cleaning and lubing chain and checking the slack. I had several bikes, moto guzzi v7, Husqvarna svartpilen 701, and sold them since as well and now have a cfmoto ibex 800t currently.
@bikerbeliever8169 Thanks so much! BTW, a couple months ago I rode my 900 Vulcan Classic into Fleming County, Goddard Covered Bridge area from Georgetown. That's certainly a beautiful area! Continue to ride safely and enjoy.
I'm getting one soon looks great
vulcan is a great bike
Where did you get the gear indicator for your handlebar?
Off Amazon I think. I also got a little bracket for handlebar for it as well. IDEA Waterproof Motorcycle Gear Indicator Plug & Play LED Display for Kawasaki (Rectangle, Blue) a.co/d/4lsG9TP (except green was available back then)
My Vulcan 900 std has the same throttle problem. I wish it was smoother. Great bike all around, though.
Oh yeah seems like different bikes now a days have that off on throttle issue. Kawasaki makes good machines though.
I love those mirrors over the stock bricks, I don't see anything like those on Revzilla or Cycle Gear.. Where did you get them.
They look like Kawasaki mirrors from other models.
Amazon they were just generic mirrors
Looking at this as a second bike. Since I have the Versys. However, looking at the Cafe model.
I couldn’t the differences between the s and cafe model. Are the handle bars lower out something?
No it comes with a fairing but most people take it off
This is the best beginner's bike and you get what you pay for. It will last a long time before you start to think about upgrading to your next higher performance bike after you've become an experienced biker.
No need for higher performance.
The longer you ride the more you realize that
I been riding forever and had bikes with way more power than this thing, bikes that corner way better, tour way better, etc. and I'm perfectly happy on this bike as a 35 year experienced rider. It's not a beginner bike, it's a niche bike. You buy this bike to have a lightweight cruiser bike that flicks and handles twisties while commuting and kicking around locally with maybe a longer trip here n there. You have fuel injection, liquid cooled bulletproof engine too. I feel it's actually a purpose built bike. In my opinion beginner bikes are 500cc and below. I've seen noobs destroy themselves on a 650 "beginner bike".
@@kjfrank2036 I’m thinking about getting this my first bike new rider with 0 experience I never rode a bike ever.. you believe this isn’t a good beginner bike. I’m 6’0 465 pounds
$6,850 is cheapest I can find BUT every dealer charges an extra $1,000 for "freight, delivery, prep" so it's actually $7,850 PLUS another $600 in state taxes (varies by state) PLUS another $250 for registration/tags/title/inspection!!! Also, if you need it shipped to your house, you're talking another $400+!!! Oh, and let me add that this is carryover from the previous year inventory! So, it will be a 2022 model, not a 2023. Sure, it's a new bike with mileage & condition, but it's not the latest new model! Where the heck does everyone find these bikes for so cheap? I've looked within 250 mile radius of my house and it's always the same song and dance with price. $8,700 without shipping is the price. Msrp is so misleading and has really made my search for a bike a nightmare! I want a bike but when the "cheap" bikes are close to $10k after all the fees, it's really not approachable financially for a 1st time rider like myself who wants to come into riding. They sure aren't capturing me as a new customer and potential new long-term customer with misleading pricing.
Why am I paying $300 for "prep fees"? If im buying a brand new bike from their in stock inventory, then why are they charging me to make sure it's what they advertise it as? Also, why am I paying a freight fee for a bike they have in inventory? That freight cost is their business cost! It's almost the same as asking me to pay their payroll because it's a business expense, not a customer expense. Shipping it to my house is a fee I understand, but them ordering bikes that they want to sell shouldn't be a customer fee.
Find a good dealer. It's alright to negotiate, worst they can do is say no. Build a relationship with a good dealer and they will give you better prices and perks and be willing to let you test ride new bikes when they come in.
@The Boss of Hart Lane Yeah im working on that right now with a couple dealers I found that offer the best inventories but so far I haven't had any luck getting a deal. Maybe I'll wait until winter when they are stuck with inventory and riding season is over.
@TuggyPeppa yeah also go to demo days. I went to one and they are fun anyways. I got a $500 off any new Kawasaki bike just for riding motorcycles. It's fun and you get free stuff lot of times, also got free pair of Kawasaki motorcycle gloves from the dealer. It was nice.
@The Boss of Hart Lane Thanks I'll certainly try that. Appreciate the tips!
Brother, where are you riding in this video?!! I love it! It reminded me of some of the roads I used to ride in SE Tennessee 35 years ago!
Northeast Kentucky
I would have guessed somewhere in TN. Those look like some epic roads with no traffic.
Kentucky and Tennessee got Appalachian mountains passing through both, very similar states, similar terrain, roads, except supposedly our grass in KY is blue.
Did your bike came with that awesome shift indicator? If not where did you get it? Was it hard to install?
No it did not. It's a very easy install. There's different paths of install. I did the diagnostic port install very easy gear indicator was setup and plugged directly into it and gives you the gear. You can do the accessory relay option as well but have to buy the accessory relay also, but would still be easy.
When you were talking about the tail lights shouldn't your video capture the tail light? I have a 2020 Vulcan S Cafe and I haven't found any problem with the throttle. I do agree about the seat however. The only change I made to my bike is installing the Arrow exhaust system to it. Sounds great.
yeah I hear the arrow exhaust is the best, it was just really pricey for me to justify it at the time. My bike is a 2016 also, they may have adjusted the throttle issues over the years, so Id imagine it could be better each new year. The throttle doesn't bother me now, but it was my first bike I actually owned and initially caught me off guard a bit and made me nervous. It isn't bad just for somebody that has never rode before it could be slightly alarming first time (just because this bike is recommended as one of best beginner bikes by a lot of people)
I had my course on this bike which they provided, now i regret not buying it😢
Oh man yes we don't ha e it anymore but it's probably the best bike you can get for the money certainly.
@@bikerbeliever8169 they still sell it here under partnership with modenas, from malaysia btw. Materials are probably not so reliable now but we'll see since its a new collaboration.
I have to say, foot ergo needs work for when hitting bumps, fuel tank if you are going 75+. Don't get me wrong as it can be one of the best mpg for in town riding but doing hwy and definitely around 80....the range and fuel meter drops quickly.
I think fuel gonna drop quick on any bike or vehicle when going 80 plus. May get there quicker but fuel gonna go down quicker too. I probably guess I ride between 55 and 70 on most roads with Vulcan and it's around 50 to 55 mpg. For first few thousand miles I was only getting like 45mpg to 50 at most. Bike got better over time things just run smoother now then when I had it new.
@@bikerbeliever8169 I had other bikes but way higher CC and fuel drain wasn't as bad but those bikes didn't get what the vulcan does for in town. I can get around 60mpg with mine if not that hard on it.
@@scottneal2738 that's really good actually. My wife weighs less than me and she's getting over 55mpg really good since she has taken over riding it most of time. She loves the bike.
@@bikerbeliever8169 it definitely is a fun bike and to me it can really move for the idea of being a 650, the sport part really gives it a great feeling. Not sure if you have but I throttle shift at 4k rpm and it's smooth and don't feel a throttle lag. I weigh 160
Your light guy, my wife weighing less is really quick with her on it. I'm 260ish now, but it has good pull performance for sure.
Does this bike not show the gear you’re in on the stock display? Looks like you added your own
The newer models do. I think they added it to the stock display in 2017 and up I believe.
Thanks! I’m a noob but I’m taller and I think this bike is a good fit for me. Appreciate the review
If taller get the extended ergonomics and you should be good.
What do you recommend for switching out to LED headlight?
I have no idea we sold the bike awhile back I don't remember what we got exactly, it wasn't bad bad expensive off Amazon should be something that would work.
Like your gear indicator:) Where did you purchase it?
Amazon
Considering chg from my ctx700, loaded but. Easier handling in city, crowded area. But another few $k for the same options
i dont see any reason to put it in a “beginner” class. its just a great all-rounder. its lighter so i guess that makes it easier to handle for the less-experienced rider. personally, i love lighter bikes. better power-to-weight ratio and rides like a bike, not like a car!
I could have easily learned to ride on this bike no problem. A lot of others could have as well, its gonna come down to the individual and if they are competent or not. The Guzzi imo rides very direct to me, probably because of the shaft drive and direct connection to the rear wheel. Yes it handles like a bike because well it is a bike.
That's nice
Good vid and Review !
Must have large eindshield, floorboards.
Nice bike
What for gloves u have bro!
scorpion klaw ii gloves in grey if I remember right.
Might I ask how tall you are ? Would you say its a good fit for somebody around 184 cm ? Thanks for the video btw :)
I am 6 foot 1 inches tall if that helps
@@bikerbeliever8169 It does, thanks :)
Looking to buy this bike. There is one close, but the sales guy was a giant douche, saying 'my daughter could ride this bike, youre a grown man, you need a bigger bike, what the f()* are you doing, youre wasting your time, i'm gonna rake you over the coals for for the trade in value' and the like. I'm convinced he just didnt wanna waste his time with a more budget bike. Maybe his commission was based on cost or size bike? I don't know. But I left and said I'm not giving you or your company a sale like that. So, on principle I'm looking a little farther away to see who can get this bike in for my first.
Ya that sounds horrible I'd find another dealer or salesman.
What mirrors are those? Thanks
they are stealth mirrors if i remember? they were generic and cheap on amazon i got them for like less than $20
That is beautiful country you riding through. Where is it
Northeastern Kentucky near Goddard
What kind of mirrors did you put on the Vulcan?
Should be in the description
Why don’t cruisers have cruise control?
I wish I knew every bike should have it.
I have one of these. Recently purchased. It's the first 650 Kawasaki I've owned. Has 20,000kms on it. Is it normal for these Kawasaki 650 engines to sound like a bucket full of marbels? Like... Rattly and loose in the top end?
No I don't think so. Have you done a valve clearance check?
@@bikerbeliever8169 nope. Kawasaki said there's no problem with it, but I'm wondering if they're trying to save themselves an engine out job.
I mean the engine has a slight buzz to it maybe, but not like a can of marbles. I would definitely make sure you got proof take note that you contacted them about it for future warranty claim, otherwise drive it like you atole it. Mine has been bulletproof through 12k miles of ownership.
By the way, what area do you live in? Those are beautiful roads, trees, and mountains. Thank you
Flemingsburg, KY area.
Thank you. It was absolutely beautiful countryside:) We're looking for better places to which we might relocate in the future. Kentucky is certainly a possibility!
Lived here whole life never had desire to leave
are those stock headlights and turning indicator?
No they are not. Kuryakyn rear turn brake signals. I forget what the front are.
Tough decision choosing between this and a honda CB500/650
I hear the rebel 500 is nice. It won't be as fast but will be smoother and more user friendly probably for a beginner especially. Kawasaki just has that weird on off throttle which makes low throttle situations awkward and tough kind of.
The Vulcan beats the Honda, hands down! No comparison!
I am thinking change my rebel 500 2022 for vulcan. I don't know. The riding position of the rebel is awesome but I want the power of the vulcan.
Honestly don't know if the power would be that much more impressive. It would be but not like drastically. If wanting more power I'd pass the vulcan if your already good at riding and get little more cc unless u just like the styling of the vulcan.
Are you using the mirrors off the Versys? I love those mirrors.
Not that I'm aware of. Just Amazon mirrors.
@@bikerbeliever8169any links?
what year model is this?And Does it have a gear indicator? I thought the gear indicator was standard what year model is this? I thought the gear indicator was standard from 2017 and up?
It's a 2016. You are correct 2017 and up has a gear indicator stock.
Can I ask what mirrors those are?
They were some cheap stealth mirrors off Amazon.
Where can I buy those mirrors?
Universal Black Motorcycle 7 8 Handle Bar End Side Mirrors for Cruiser Sport Bikes Cate Racer Street Bike a.co/d/3tMQMWl
I'm set on getting this bike as a first.
Is this a sure fire way to get it...?
1) I've budgeted for the MSF course which I'll schedule this weekend for next weekend.
2) after I'll pass the written test.
3) get license.
4) go to motorcycle dealership and finance one of these. Will try to take my friend who rides so I won't get fucked.
5) getting decent gear is my priority.
.... Am I missing anything? And will I be able to get it in graystone red black?
This is/can be a good first bike. My advice, be patient, take your time, wear your gear. Take the written exam for your bike permit first (though this may differ by state, not sure). If you get your permit you could already be practicing, riding the roads to practice right now, legally. Then if you already have your permit, then after you pass the msf, all you have to do is go in and have them update your license and show them and you are officially legal on a bike on the main roads. As far as buying the bike, that depends on how you want to do it. I bought the bike before I had ever even rode one. That being said it took me few weeks of practice, just driveway, small road practice to get going. It was frustrating a bit, but then it became easy and second nature and is so relaxing and enjoyable now to ride for me. So be patient, understand learning to ride is a process and their will be frustration and just take your time, it could take you weeks to even be comfortable to pull out of your driveway. For me the clutch and gear shifting was easy, I had to work more on my balance and learning to push the direction I wanted to go, as well as getting used to the throttle sensitivity on the bike. Check out motojitsu's channel, he is great and can help you a lot as far as becoming a better, safer rider. As far as the color scheme you get for your bike, thats going to depend on the dealer you go to and what they got available or if they can order the paint scheme you are looking for, as well as how far you are willing to drive to a dealer that may arleady have what you are looking for, so you'll have to call ahead and figure it out set it up.
You should check out dan dan the fireman he has some pretty good tips as well.
@@Mereshot101 yes Dan Dan is great
I like your game plan. First time rider myself (older guy in my 40s). Started looking at bikes and watching videos. Took the MSF in April, bought a decent helmet but basic/cheap gear for class. Wanted to make sure my want (to be a rider) and my abilities (to ride affectively) matched up before any more financial commitment. Took the class and passed ( on a crappy DMV bike) and the hook was set. Scheduled DMV visit in May for license and started shopping Used shops and FB marketplace. Found my 2015 Vulcan S for $5k with 1500 miles on it. Kept watching a ton of Dan Dan the fireman videos and other training and tips. Hit the closest school parking lot until I was road ready. Took a lot of left and right turns, braking, slow maneuvers. The Vulcan has a sensitive throttle. Stalled it a bunch of times, dropped it once (every new rider does). While I was practicing started upgrading to my street ready gear. Better jacket, gloves, boots. Got a good deal on FB for jacket. Then progressed to neighborhood roads and light traffic. Now I ride most days, commuting and casual riding. Still stall it occasionally when I get quick on the clutch but feel more confident every day and very happy with my first bike choice. I think the hardest part was the time between the course and license and the bike purchase because I didn’t have anything to practice on. I will add my buddies who rode were a great source of information and tips just don’t listen to the one who says shorts and tennis shoes are fine. Hope your journey to riding goes well. Get ready to throw down the two fingers sign!
Oh yeah I never updated this. This is the route I ended with.
I took the CMSP course in Cali. Passed.
Got my license.
While saving for my bike I bought bits and pieces of high quality gear during the holidays.
Bought a 250cc adventure bike. Paid off.
And now the plan is to practice motojitsu. Take more courses. Get more miles under my belt. And a year from now upgrade to a faster adv bike and do some traveling.
Thanks for supporting me when not many people did.. because ya know motorcycles are dangerous.
See y'all out there I'll throw the ✌️ up. :)
Nice mirrors!! Are they better than stock?? If so can u share the link
Stock are actually pretty good tbh
U had it in mid peg mount control like rebel or just short reach peg."?
Mid
Looking really nice, how come you didn't put a different exhaust on?
Money, lol. Expensive and wasnt 100% certain I liked the exhausts I heard online and paying what they cost. I like the two brothers racing exhaust at idle sound, but its really loud everybody says and will ring your head if you ride too long, so I was like nah. People said that delkevic was overly loud too, my second choice, but I didnt think it sounded as throaty thumpy at idle like the tbr. So I never settled on any I was happy about and just tried the drilled holes exhaust mod and it sounded not too bad, not overly loud ring your brains out.
Firetong Willy sounds nice too
@@bikerbeliever8169 I have the delkevic and its too loud for my preference. With the longer 21" it interferes with adding spools to the bike just a heads up. Luckily I got the bike with the exhaust otherwise I would be upset lol
@@bikerbeliever8169 I have put a delkevic ceramic exhaust on mine and its not too loud. It's less than the tbr and not annoying. It also improved the jerkingness of the throttle.
I got the arrow full system exhaust and couldn't be happier! In Switzerland we have rather strict laws concerning well anything therefore the muffler must be in at all times but it sounds amazing even with the muffler.
When at 6,000 rpm at about what speed are you going? What speed seems smooth and comfortable?
The bike is best for cruising between 4 and 6k rpm. That seems to be where the meat of its torque band is at. For power obviously it revs up to 9k little over. But to me the power though it keeps reving feels like it dies off close to 8k maybe little before.
@@bikerbeliever8169 Thanks for the reply. I am considering on buying one very soon.
It's a good all round bike and probably best or one of best cruisers for the money for sure, especially if you like one that has a lot of lean angle.
How far can you get on a full tank please.
Itll do over 150, probably 180 (assuming your not constantly punching the throttle), but I always fill up early to be on safe side. 3.7 gallon fuel tank, mileage of around 50mpg. My wife is averaging around 55mpg when she rides I get closer to 50mpg when I ride I'm over 100lbs heavier than her taller, wider than her, more wind resistance and weight and ride casually aggressive. It has a fuel guage that is pretty good for a bike actually.
@@bikerbeliever8169 thank you.
I had my Vulcan S for 6 years. Bought it the year it came out. No problems other than the shifter bolt snapping when I went to shift it one time. Had to be trailered to the dealership for a quick fix and then I was on my way.
After 6 years with 60 horsepower it honestly got a little boring for me. So I upgraded to a Harley with 121 horsepower/94ft lbs tq with a wet weight of 500lbs. Thing absolutely rips my face off in first gear lol.
Vulcan is a good bike, but 120 horsepower is obviously a lot and going to be more exciting, and 94lb ft torque is gonna make for good ride as well. I like all bikes Ive rode, vulcan is a good starter bike and good value (minus the on off throttle thing). Harley's are expensive and tough entry point into biking unless get used sportster.
@@bikerbeliever8169 does anybody know what is the top speed for this bike ? Kawasaki Vulcan s650
@@hassanhassoon6944 116
It costs over 2.5 times more too. It is nice for sure though.
You don't compare a Harley to this bike lol. They're not even remotely the same. When you "upgrade" to a Harley you upgrade the initial cost of the bike, maintenance costs, the heat on your legs, the vibration, the insurance cost, the gas cost, the accessories costs and you give away all the reliability. I been riding 35 years and I know all about it as I've owned everything you can think of. Having said that, ALL bikes are pretty awesome in my opinion. 2 wheels, open air, the wind..Can't beat it!
Put crash bars on mine.
Pro Tip on mods -- don't. They almost never add value or performance to your bike. Instead, spend that money on becoming a better, faster rider.
I can see the logic in that
Typically true, unless it's a mod to address something lacking in the bike. It looks like the booster plug is probably a worthwhile addition to fix the throttle response that is broken due to regulations.
Good job by covering your license plate, somebody could have saw the numbers. #deedeedee
All I heard was "yeah this bike isn't that good"
No it's great bike, just not super characterful.
whats the green spring on your bike
The spring/suspension?
@@bikerbeliever8169 I want a custom color
Oh you'd have to search on ebay or aftermarket somewhere
@@bikerbeliever8169 do you know a part number.
Or better yet a solid site without being scared about knockoff sruff
What is a booster plug please anyone ?
It plugs into the 02 sensor sensor and tricks ecu into giving more fuel in low revs to run smoother and not so jerky or bucky when just taking it smooth and easy.
@@bikerbeliever8169 Ta mate
👌👍
Why not stock with big ass seat! Omg.
Great looking bike but this motor is trash imo
The motor is good but not unique or characterful I guess. A 270 crank makes a much more pleasing engine and exhaust note.
@@bikerbeliever8169 the motor * is good…I can accept that depending on the yard stick being used. I mean it’s functional and reliable but that’s it. Not to diminish those features it’s just …I mean the ninja 400 motor is even better imo because at least you can rev that thing out. The 650 is barely more performative than the 400, a bit more down low but even top speeds of the z400 vs z650 for example are basically identical. There’s just too many far superior options. You have to want a new bike, a small & light bike…cruiser style no less, a Japanese bike….at this price range and with 650 power.
If you’re willing to alter any 1 or 2 of those metrics there’s much better options. Willingness to buy used destroys this as even an option imo. I like its looks, I’ll give it that. I’d rather the w800 though by far.
@MarissaTheMuse oh I love the w800 I'd take that in a heartbeat
Interesting review of the bike. Get your self some proper riding gear and protect yourself if you want some credibility as a competent biker.