Kawasaki Vulcan S

MOTORCYCLE makers are currently enjoying unprecedented reception towards their products. Sales have soared and it is plain to see just by the sheer number of big bikes on our roads today.
Buying a bike is easy these days, much easier than cars as various financial institutions are offering juicy credit terms to make a bike more affordable. So with the financial hurdle aside, the next question would be, which bike? Unlike cars, you have to be careful with selecting a bike for a number of reasons.
Can you handle the power? Is the bike too big for you? Is it too heavy, or too light? These are just some of the questions you have to think about when purchasing a motorcycle.
Size is, of course, very important, especially if you are vertically challenged because the last thing you want is a bike that is too tall or too big for you. Unless you buy this new Kawasaki Vulcan S, which can be made to fit you.
The new Kawasaki Vulcan S can be "adjusted" to fit you; the foot pegs, handle bars and even the seat can be adjusted in various ways to fit your physique. And as for the height of the seat, the new Vulcan is a low bike, it is a cruiser after all, and that means just about anyone can ride it.
And just about anyone can afford it too, Kawasaki Malaysia Sdn Bhd (KMSB) has priced the bike at RM29,989, making it the most affordable cruiser in the market today.
And after riding it for over 200 kilometres around some of the nicest tarmac in Perak, there is only one thing to say about the Vulcan S – it is an amazingly accomplished machine. Up there with Kawasaki's ER6N and F, and the Versys 650. Maybe even better.
All three bikes share the same engine and some other oily bits, which then begs the question, why would Kawasaki introduce a model that could steal the limelight from other models? There is a suspicion that even
Kawasaki did not expect it to be so good, but it is a sign of better things to come from the Japanese company. There is no denying that the new Vulcan S is a good-looking bike.
There is no bad angle to it. I did initially think that the bike was a bit small, too low for a near six-footer, too narrow that it almost felt cramped. And then we were told about Kawasaki's ERGO-Fit concept, and how the bike has certain adjustments that can be made to fit you.
To make this happen, three different handle bars, seats and foot pegs are offered for each ERGO-FIT setting. The foot pegs, for example, are adjustable in three different positions, as is the seat.
The handlebar comes in two settings – a mid-reach design, and a reduced reach bar that extends closer to the rider. Kawasaki Malaysia did state though that it will take some time after the bike is launched locally for the optional accessories to be available.
The test bike was set at Mid Reach, which was comfortable enough for me, but I suspect that Extended Reach would have been spot on. The 649cc, parallel twin, four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine with four valves per cylinder is impressive.
It is a derivation of the Ninja 650 engine, but in the Vulcan S, the engine adopts a number of key updates like revised cam profiles, modified intake tract, exhaust and ECU.
Theflywheel has also been updated with a 28% update in mass, which offers better low and mid range torque and smoother acceleration. A difference you feel when riding, especially its ability to rely on torque to pull away without down shifting.
Fuel economy is good, Kawasaki Malaysia reported a range of about 220 kilometres. But we think the 14 litre fuel tank will offer much better mileage than that. Case in point being when we stopped at Manong, Perak, after riding for about 100 kilometres. The digital fuel gauge had hardly dropped, but KMSB felt it better to top up anyway.
The Vulcan S weighs in at 225 kilograms, which gives it good stability at speed, yet enough agility for when you want to tackle a few corners. The chassis and Diamond tubular frame gives the bike some impressive moves when it comes to entertainment. The bike is willing to get down and dirty when you want it to, and is always game for some foot-peg scrapping fun.
The rear suspension is an offset lay down KYB single shock that offers 3.2 inches of travel. It also has seven preload settings. Perhaps the setting was wrong, but it felt a little too soft, thank goodness then for seven settings.
The front is bolstered by 41mm conventional forks positioned at 31 degrees of rake. The brakes are good enough, but there is no ABS on offer for now.
The front is kept in check by a single, 300mm disc with a dual piston calliper. It is gentle in nature, but will grip hard when it needs to. The rear is a single 250mm disc with a single piston calliper.
When it comes down to performance though, you never expect the Vulcan S, a bike Kawasaki refers to as a 'sports cruiser' to perform so well, because there really is nothing 'sports' about its design. But ride it hard and comes together surprisingly well. The torque is rich and available from as low as 2,000rpm all the way till 9,900rpm.
And though there is some initial hesitation to lean lower, you soon realise that it can actually go a lot lower than your skills allow you to, which lets you carry more speed. And that is always a lot of fun.
At high speed, the bike feels settled and steady. There is no nervous twitching in corners, the sitting position is just right to give you maximum control, the fact that there is enough power without having to downshift is confidence inspiring, especially when overtaking.
This is the bike that will open up the world of riding to a lot of new people, and to women riders as well. It is quite possible the ultimate entry level bike for those who love cruisers. It even has such features as a Positive Neutral Finder, a light clutch that makes it easy to manage stalling and a beautiful design.
There is also a seemingly endless list of options that include everything from a gear position indicator, a DC socket, a rear comfort seat, and also a light bar with sub lamps.
The new Vulcan S is quite possibly the best entry-level bike you could buy if you want nothing else but a cruiser, or you just want a bike that will fit you.