Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT

This is the first motorcycle that I have ever ridden that has a full windscreen. It's not a small screen attached to a fairing, but a huge perspex screen that reaches almost as tall as a rider sits. I must admit that it's a bit odd riding around with it a few inches in front of your face. However it does work. You can actually travel at decent speeds even if you wear an open face helmet - which is what I wear on my daily commutes to work. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT however - is not something you normally ride to work on.

With two leather saddlebags, touring seats and that huge windscreen that keeps dirt, insects as well as other road grime from hitting you in the face - this bike is designed for the open road. Although it looks like something a person having a mid-life crisis would buy, the bike is actually very decent. Fuel injection and a belt drive equates to smooth power delivery. Those fat tyres grip the road pretty well, so you will soon be scrapping the massive footrests onto the tarmac. Fuel consumption is frugal - making this bike a pretty decent tourer.

 On top of this, there is an ample seat rest on the rear, giving your passenger pretty decent comfort to travel long distance. Gear shifts are smooth, and dials are simple and easy to use. In all this bike is something you can ride from Singapore to Bukit Kayu Hitam, making good time and in comfort.

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom

I love that massive 21-inch cast alloy rim, I told myself when I first laid eyes on the Custom. It doesn't matter that the rear wheel doesnt match the front one - that huge rim makes the bike look really special - just like any bike that carries the name 'Custom' should. Unfortunately though, it leads to some drawbacks in terms of handling - because the bike doesn't really feel comfortable when riding over even small potholes and bumps. Still, it's a small price to pay to look this good. The bike is clean and simple, but attracts attention. Despite it's abhorence for bumps - it corners very well and feels really light for something that weighs in at 250kg.
The engine pulls strongly - and thanks to fuel injection - gives impressive fuel economy. This alone is enough reason to own one of the 900. Cruising at about 100km/h, one owner said that he managed to get 100 kms with just 4.7 litres of petrol. This equates to 100kms for just RM9. The tank can hold about 19 litres - which theoratically will give you a range of almost 400kms. Pretty amazing.
The V-twin produces 60.8 lb ft at 3,700 rpm, making the bike quick off the line. The wonderful thing is that this bike feels just as powerful as the Mean Streak, which has an 649cc advantage  over it (which is equivelent to one Versys).

Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak Special Edition

Kawasaki painted the frame and wheels of an ordinary Vulcan a shade of metallic red, before coloring the bodywork flat black to create this monster. Add some red, silver and black flame motifs and you have one of the most distinct cruisers to come out from a Kawasaki factory. The usual chrome pieces have gone dark with either black chrome or gloss black paint. If you parked a Mean Streak next to any other Vulcan, it would be hard to find out their similarities. But hop on one, and you would still recognise the silk smooth ride. Power for the 1,552cc cruiser flows out in a steady, linear fashion but starts fading relatively low in the rev range. Despite it's inverted forks and capable chassis - this is no sport bike. The power is transmitted to the rear 17 inch wheel via a driveshaft. Step on board, the first thing that hits you is how low slung the bike is. The seating position is radical, and the rear passenger will likely suffer due to the lack of a proper rear seat. The meters are well positioned although in American cruiser fashion - with the big readouts are in MPH instead of KMH. While riding the SE in Kedah, one of the sparkplug cables unwittingly popped out, but amazingly, I hardly realised it while cruising. With just one cylinder, the bike chugged along at about 130km/h for some time before I made a stop. It was only then that it began stalling while moving at slow speed. Due to the massive size of it's engine - the Mean Streak has a truly monstrous appetite. While I was riding it on the PLUS highway, it burnt through an entire tank of fuel in less than 150kms. With such a ravenous appetite, it is neccesary to plan your trip carefully to avoid getting stranded in between stops. The looks however, are incredible. This bike attracts attention every time you park it. The only complaint is that some of finishing details are a bit cheap. For example, the Mean Streak logo is a sticker instead of being engraved into the metal. People like Paul Jr from Orange County Choppers would probably call this nothing short of blasphemy.