Ride long and prosper with twin
The Vulcan S completed the ‘family’ of bikes built around Kawasaki’s 649cc parallel twin engine – don’t ignore this motorcycle. You’d enjoy riding it.
Arriving in 2015, it added a cruiser option to the Er-6n road bike, more sporty Er-6f and adventure styled Versys. In this guise it loses a few mph at the top end in exchange for more torque at earlier revs.
We took out a 2016 ‘Special’ (different paint job, sculpted tank, shorter anodised levers), fitted with data tool alarm, heated grips, radiator guard and a 12V socket neatly placed by the clock.
Give me some spec
A high-tensile steel double pipe perimeter frame houses a 649cc parallel twin that puts out 61bhp/45kW @ 7500rpm with maximum torque of 63Nm/6.4kgf-m @ 6600rpm and capable of a 115mph top speed. The package weighs 223kg wet, brought to a halt by a single 300mm, two-piston calliper front disc and 250mm, single calliper rear. So what’s it like to ride? Initially the standard peg placement caught me out, more forward than I was expecting (the dealer sat me on a standard bike with ‘Ergo-fit’ option; three peg positions, three different saddles and handlebars. That nine-point configuration lets you set the Vulcan just right), but adapted quickly. The bars were a relaxed reach and the comfortable seat hugs and supports nicely. Knees slot into the sculpted tank – NB. Not a sculpted tank on the standard bike I sat on – and wrap around it.
It feels ‘grown-up’. New riders will feel they’ve moved up, experienced hands will be happy with the dimensions.
As you will have noted from the specs, it isn’t a typical cruiser engine, appreciating being revved to get the best out of it. Sitting around 6000 revs (it has a rev counter) it is silky smooth. It will hold motorway pace at ease, has good drive at overtake time but will roll along easily at town speeds (get the revs up in first then move into second – it doesn’t appreciate short-shifting that early).
It is a great handling bike – okay, it is not as sharp as its Er-6f older brother, but it let me weave through a scattered pile of detritus off the back of a flatbed without backing off – rolling easily into corners (it likes to describe smooth arcs). Need to tip in further? Apply pressure to the inside peg and over it goes, far more quickly than you would imagine.
Brakes were great. They’re configured to be friendly to newly qualified riders, but have all the power you need to stop the 223kg alongside control (gentle lever squeezes give loads of control at commuter dawdle speeds).
What nick is it in?
A year of regular riding (as all bikes should have) has had no effect on the Vulcan; it is absolutely spotless.
What’s it worth?
The dealer wants £4999 for a 2016 model with 3886 miles logged and desirable accessories fitted, with factory warranty still remaining. This bike won’t stay there long at that price; my dealer search revealed a 2015 bike for sale for £5294 with 1644 miles recorded to a 2017 bike with 903 miles under the tyres for £6799.