I own a vulcan and after owning it a while I think it has a handful of things that HAVE to be changed out. First the seat is garbage and very uncomfortable after an hour and must be changed. The exhaust needs to be switched to rebel arrow exhaust or something similar. And this bike does have areas that feel very cheap. But I like the riding position and ease of use. I love that it doesn't handle or feel like a heavy cruiser. It fits the person who loves the feel of a cruiser but wants to be able to move it around a corner. And I feel it's a good looking bike that is very unique in its style.
I like your channel, but you guys care waaaay too much about what other people think about the motorcycle you have. If I buy a motorcycle, I'm buying it for me, not anyone else. The whole "if its not a harley its not a real bike" mentality is childish and petty. And life is definitely too short to base your decisions on other people's opinions.
I think it's because US has Indian or specifically Scout. noted that Vulcan S is cheaper and more agile, but if ppl are looking for a cool cruiser with the expectation of twin cylinders and sounds thirsty, that thousand bucks is probably not the priority.
ya it's those extremist guys who think a muscle car can't be anything else than a v8 and manual or it's an abomination. Well there is a reason for cheaper bikes because not everyone wants to pay the same amount as a mid size suv for a goddamn bike... If anyone wants to get into riding bikes they have to pay 20+k ? Imagine budget cars didn't exist and everyone had to get a luxury or super car.... Cheapest car you can get starts at 50k... like clearly this guy doesn't understand business or lifestyle. Not everyone won't own a car and just ride a bike. I'd say the majority of the market is people who have bikes as a weekend hobby or easy cruiser to work.
So, I own a Vulcan 650 S. I've never watched a motorcycle video on youtube. I changed my oil for the first time, so TH-cam showed me you guys' review. I can't tell you how happy it made me. I AM the guy you described. I got my bike because it was economical, I ride it to work, I've never ridden with anyone, I have zero interest in associating with anyone else who owns a motorcycle. The "Honda Civic of motorcycles" line made me literally jump with joy. You guys are spot on, and it made my entire day. I wanted a motorcycle to get me around, and I chose a used Vulcan and I haven't been disappointed once. Thank you guys for validating me, and for a very spot on and honest review.
That's literally what I'm looking for, and the Vulcan seemed to check all those boxes, so I was really confused hearing these guys say they don't really love it.
I got a Vulcan S, it's my first bike and I started learning this month. I wanted a cruiser as to help prevent hooligan non-sense and the temptation to wheelie. I also am short, Korean, and I just don't feel that "Harley aesthetic" and everything that comes with it. I'm sorry, but Harley draws a certain crowd that I, a nerdy Korean dude just doesn't fit in with. The Vulcan S is great for me, it's easy to ride, easy to handle, and it just... fits me as a person. Isn't that's what motorcycling is all about? Just being you?
I Love your comment man and I really respect you, it really depends on the person who’s gonna ride it. For me it doesn’t really matter what kind of motorcycle you have what matters is you love it and your enjoying riding it.
Great comment. The first thing I did was picture a Sons of Anarchy spin off about a Korean MC on Harleys! Now a pack of Koreans riding super sport bikes is easy to imagine. Here’s my point: Hollywood and social media want to plant these images in our heads, and that’s strictly theater. Not how the world should be. We are all God’s children. If you ride, you ride and you’re one of “us!” I wish every rider would accept me and you as brothers regardless of what we ride. Weeeeell, maybe not people on scooters or those abominations with two wheels up front! 😜
I have the blacked out Vulcan S and I get constant compliments on that thing. This really sounded like a review from a couple of guys who had their minds made up and just really didn't want to admit they were mistaken. I've put just over 15k mils on my vulcan and it's been an amazing bike. 47 mpg. Looks amazing. And I have smoked every other cruiser that has challenged me (mostly Haleys lolz).
Exactly what this video was. They didn't want to admit they were wrong about it but constantly praised it but phrased things in such a way to make it not seem like a good choice.
@@wccrispy This is what happens when you drink too much of the Suzuki koolaid, cant even admit that Kawasaki makes anything good... Bet we could slap their rump on a H2 and they still wouldn't wanna admit its amazing.
Or they could simply have a different opinion than you?🤷 Just because someone expresses a different opinion than yours doesn't mean they're being dishonest about what they think
Not everyone has to like a 180 degree parallel twin. My bike has a Vtwin and there's no way in hell I would ever want a parallel twin, sorry not sorry, they are just boring. Your free to like your bike, and I'm free to dislike it just the same.
I love my Vulcan S. It’s my first bike 3 years later I’m still loving it. I do a couple 3-4 day road trips every year and it has no problems keeping up with the Springfield and Fat Boy my friends ride. I don’t give two craps less about the image I’m having a fun time riding.
Yep… And after 500 miles their bikes will constantly break down and need repairs, while your bike will always start right up and can easily take over 100k miles without ever giving you a problem. It’s the sad and honest truth about HD’s. They’re notoriously unreliable, they are 30+ years behind the times in just basic technology, and that’s not the worst part. They are also engineering abominations. Compare a Harley to any other cruiser, foreign or domestic it doesn’t matter, they will all surpass Harley in every single metric, mechanically or otherwise. The balance, efficiency, weight, handling, reliability, cooling etc.. the list is so long I can’t type it all. Simply put, HD’s have the name and the cult following, but when it comes to the actual bike itself? They are the worst.
@@phillybotz yeah HD is a brand. Let’s be real, almost no Harley rider buys a Harley because it’s a superior bike to its competitors. Most buy it because they’re Harleys. Which is sad, Japanese bikes are superior in almost all categories, especially in price.
@@phillybotz I've owned 5 Harleys, a 2-stroke Suzuki GT-250, a CBR600, a 400cc Honda Hawk, and several dirt bikes over the past 40 years. My Harleys have been VERY reliable and pleasant to own. Not sure where all the hate comes from, quite frankly. I know they don't have the greatest stats on paper, but they have a "cult following" for a reason.
So, basically, the Vulcan has the cruiser styling without the crappy handling of most other cruisers, but you still think it sucks? Sorry but I really don't get it... Or are the only "real man" cruisers supposed to be super heavy and ride like crap? Oh, and I don't have a Vulcan and have never ridden one.
If I would want a cruiser, I'd definitely want it to handle like a cruiser, the good and the bad This bike is neither fish nor fowl And I also never owned or rode a vulcan
Agree. Motorcycles have gotten so good over the years that we kinda forget how exhilarating it was when we rode our first "crappy" bike. That first bike meant freedom and feeling the wind in your face. The bikes of today are light years ahead of what I started on in the 70's. I'd take a Vulcan S in a second!
Not much pep, engine doesnt sound good, styling makes it look like an oversized anime hot wheels toy.... it probably handles fine because theres no torque to really test the bike. cruisers arent meant to handle like a dream cuz youre supposed to be "cruising", so all the other things start to matter more
I think it looks great but the motor is a bit bland. Had a ninja 650 and it had no character. Honestly a better choice than this if you want to carve a few corners and still be comfortable...
I have one of these Kawasaki Vulcan S 650's and I really like it - I'm older and retired and sold my Road King cuz its just getting too heavy for me, it served me well for a long time but the Kawasaki is just right for me now cuz its light, easy to ride and I really don't care much about the status anymore. I feel confident riding it and that's what I want.
Having just spent a whole Saturday on an Indian Scout, I can say that it has an awesome engine. The higher the rpms the harder it pulls all the way to it's top end, it's an arm puller. However, the handling was easily upset at 80mph, side winds, or uneven pavement. I was dragging pegs just turning corners at intersections. But worst of all, the seat was uncomfortable after the first hour. The Scout has the cool vibe, definitely the bike to show up at the biker bar. But I'd pick the Kawi Vulcan S.
We just bought my wife a 2015 Vulcan S 650. she moved up from a Rebel 300 and she's loving it. I rode it about 200 miles the day we bought it and I really enjoyed it as well. I am 6'4" 300 lbs and it carried me down the highway at 80 mph w/ no problems. It moved better than the Honda Shadow 750 Aero we had for a while plus it's much lighter and narrower. I have no complaints.
This is a weird video. The common theme I'm hearing is that the "Vulcans doesn't know what it wants to be". But listening to you describe it's characteristics it seems to me that it knows EXACTLY what it wants to be. It wants to be an entry level cruiser. It seems more like the reviewer doesn't know what this bike wants to be. Furthermore, Spite doesn't seem to understand how to ride this bike properly. He's way too low in the rev range so he's never hitting the power band, and then complaining it's gutless.
Exactly. I have a 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic with 3 inch drags. Looks and sounds so similar to most HD Soft tails that nearly everyone thinks it's a harley until I tell them otherwise or unless they actually pay attention to the Vulcan badge. Looks the same. Sounds the same. Cost a lot less. Rides a lot smoother. And cheaper to maintain.
Yup. Power band was at its highest between 5500 and 6500 rpm. He's also a heavier rider though. It has short gearing though, so it effects your 0-60 time for that shift at 30mph. It does have quite a bit of torque. It feels like it has a slipper clutch on hard launches though. Like professional launches where you're at the very edge of slipping the tire. It's an alright bike in hind sight. My 929 has my heart now.
I’m pushing 60 and have been riding for 20 years. I’ve have had every kind of bike imaginable. I will most likely get a Vulcan S and be perfectly happy with it.
@@wmopp9100 You could change out the headlight with a typical round headlight. Personally, I kind of like the stock headlight though. i like the fact that it's not just a typical 7" round headlight, but everyone has a different opinion
I feel like they actually had some fun riding the Vulcan, but really didn’t want to admit it 😂 I feel like Yammie would have been a bit more positive if he did a solo review.
That side-by-side review was mainly to demonstrate how the vulcan compares to a proper big boi cruiser. If I was a veteran biker who tested many different cruiser-style motorcycles and got use to having this typical torquy feeling and sound, the vulcan would probably be the last motorcycle I would want to "upgrade" to! As a beginner, like they said, it can be pretty good to learn on while having a cruiser-style platform to ride on. I personally like this bike and in all black with a round headlight, I think it even looks pretty nice!
I live in Brazil and I follow your videos. It's really funny to see the huge difference between having a motorcycle in the US and here in Brazil. I have a Vulcan, but here it's considered a great bike. Here a beginner's bike is either 125cc or 150cc. And there are lot of them!
You nailed it Yam! It's not your stereotypical cruiser! I bought mine because I wanted to be comfortable and be able to zip around corners. Not trying to fit in with "the cruiser boys" or any other group... just looking for the best of both worlds at a reasonable price. I appreciate you guys finally giving it a run!
Thinking of getting this as my first bike, I’m sure it’ll plenty for me, but I’m wondering, does this thing do ok and is able to keep up at highway speeds when you have a passenger?
@@jeovannimendez414 Absolutely, I have a passenger seat on mine and it does great at all speeds. Plenty of power and pretty comfortable too. Side note though my GF said that the OEM Kawasaki backrest is a little low and she would like if it were a little taller. Just something to consider when you are choosing which backrest to purchase. Some of the other brands have a higher backrest. Hope that helps!
Love my Vulcan S. Got it to commute 30 miles to work. Zero F's given about "soul" or "feel" heck, even sound. My ear plugs are in on the highway on my way to work. AMAZINGLY affordable. That can't be over stated.
Yeah, I commute daily, I ride the best bike for the commute. You find yourself picking one motorcycle over another. I ride my KLX250 (with road tyres) over my FJR1300 because of the mpg, nimble handling and rural road I have to take.
been thinking about this cruiser for a while now. Although i'm not sure if it's a good bike for a short person like myself lol. Albeit, the seating position looks pretty good because i'm 5,3 feet. But I feel like the steering is a bit too high and forward. What would you say?
@@lahoudtouma185 Exactly what @logan B said. Get the short reach bars with the short reach seat and short reach forward controls. You can be really short and still fit. Check out the Kawi website it is all there. I am 6 feet so I have the extended reach bars, seat and controls. Very comfortable bike and I got mine for $5k with 400 miles on it!
13:40 you nailed exactly why I got a Vulcan. I love all bikes, wanted a cruiser, but have no interest in the “cruiser/Harley lifestyle”. I just wanted to, well, cruise.
Phil Zero Has it been easy to get through life without being part of a leather vest club where people get loans for expensive machines just so they can provide emotional support for each other?
Kawasaki is making some interesting bikes that kind of push the edges of the molds. The Versys is "adv styled," but realistically knows you aren't going off-road and is more of a modern take on an old "standard" style bike. The Vulcan 650 is cruiser styled, but doesn't have a shitty rattling low powered v-twin with reliability issues. If I was to do any touring on a cruiser style I'd probably take the 650 parallel twin over any big v-twin.
As a 3 year owner of the Vulcan S, I can say that it’s truly the best bang for buck. Throw some new pipes from delkevic on it and a windscreen and you can go anywhere and do anything. Spent 3.5k on the bike and never couldn’t have imagined that it would have been as great as it has been.
I rode dirt bikes in middle school and high school. In my 20's i rode a Honda CB750, and A Kawasaki 2 stroke S3 400 cc bike. Then i did boring responsible adult things for decades. My Vulcan S 650 is my first bike in 30 years. I cant imagine a better bike to get back on after 30 years.
btw yammie nailed it on who that bike was for, at least as far as i go. im not interested in riding with other people or joining a "club" i want a bike because i like it.
Agreed. The whole idea of what a motorcycle is "supposed" to be to join the club is a cancer to adding riders that don't really care for the club's theme.
Exactly, I traded in my zx6r for a 2021 Vulcan S last month and I couldn’t be happier. It has plenty of power for city and highway riding, it’s affordable, and insurance isn’t 100$+
So I've had a Vulcan S for a year , and honestly it was the best choice for me, if you're in my position, I think it might be one of the best options for you. I was coming from an old Vulcan 1500, so a big, heavy V-twin. While I loved that bike, it needed work that I was unequipped to do, and unable to afford having someone else do. So I sold it, and picked up the Vulcan S I was a student, so I was on a budget, and I was able to get a brand new Vulcan S for 6,600 off the factory floor with factory warranty (which was important for maintenance and anything going wrong in my situation). I am also a larger guy at 6'3", and I noticed that many of the other cruisers in that price range didn't fit me. the Bolt's airbox was where my knee had to go, the Rebel was too small, and Harley was out of my price range and maintenance abilities. The Shadow was interesting, but seemed underpowered for its weight. I also wanted a cruiser, but wasn't into the beer gut and fringe lifestyle. I just wanted the cruiser styling because I personally liked the look, and the weird modern cruiser styling of the Vulcan caught my eye. But I wanted something a bit more nimble too, hence the Vulcan. If I had the cash I would have opted for the Scout or something, but with my budget the Vulcan seemed the best fit. In a few years I may trade it in for the scout or something a bit more powerful, but there's not much with enough of a power jump to warrant me upgrading at the moment. A nimble, powerful cruiser that can handle itself in turns like the Vulcan is hard to come by, and practically nonexistent outside of the Diavel. So until then, (or if Kawasaki decides to give the Vulcan the H2 treatment just how they did the Z series)I'm perfectly happy with my bike. Since I've had it I've swapped to bar ends, swapped out the exhaust, and honestly there isn't much else I wanted to do. Delkevic's exhaust really helped make the Bike feel like you're sitting on a motorcycle, not a sewing machine, and with the bar end mirrors, the profile of the bike is unmatched in my opinion. If you can get the Scout, do it. If not, and you want a sporty cruiser, the Vulcan fits that niche perfectly.
This 👆. I have a black/gold 2020 and I like to think of it as a bit of a goblin bike to skirt around from city scape to city scape scraping peg like a wanna be fastboi while feeling like a cruiser dolt.
The Scout will not handle twisty roads or 90° turns in town like that Vulcan 650! That Scout will pull hard, and is made quality materials, but it's just a cruiser. The Vulcan is a "funner" bike all around. It's more comfortable than the Scout, too.
I think the main reason people like the vulcan is the same reason why you say it "is confused as to what exactly it wants to be". It is somewhere in between different types of motorcycles and for someone that can only afford to own one motorcycle I think that makes it very attractive as you can experience a little bit of everything with it
Ill outride spite on a vulcan s any day. Ive had one for 2 years now after 10 years of riding all sorts of bikes. Youd be biased to believe the vulcan isnt a wonderful bike
It’s also a great Bike for seniors who want to downsize from their bigger bikes 🏍️ I sold my Harley superglide custom because it was getting too much for me at 76 years old. But I can still ride and a smaller bike will be just fine!😊
I bought a Vulcan S today because I can't ride anything with standard pegs because of a spinal injury and I wanted something sporty but was comfortable for me
My worst bike was my 2nd bike a Suzuki GP125, handled like a bag of shit, my most confortable bike without a doubt is the kawasaki versys, Best fun bike Kawasaki Ninja 400 closely followed by the Vulcan s, Most exiting bike well ive owned 2 x zzr 1400's trans warp speed lol
I don’t like the American cruiser image at all. You don’t look cool because you have a sleeveless leather vest and no helmet, you look like an idiot. No one looks cool when their bare head is sliding across the road at 60mph. Edit: I say this as a sport bike rider, I don’t like the sport bike rider image either. We have a douchebag reputation as well
I've had my Vulcan S for three years now. Been from Bogotá to the south of Ecuador two times now. This is a 4000 km ride btw. If you want to really hear the engine you just need to change the exhaust, which is quiet because Euro 4. Max speed was 170km/h with full luggage (yes, most countries use metric system). I really doubt you could get this speed on a Sportster. The Vulcan has 61hp. Harley doesn't even say how much Hp the Sportster has because they know that 900cc engine can't compete with Japanese tech. And the price... Vulcan S cost me 30.000 COP vs the Sportster which costs 48.000 COP (yes, everything costs almost 7 times the price because of how expensive the dollar is. Minimum wage in Colombia is 249.24 USD btw. Only rich people can afford a Harley. You say it is a boring bike, maybe you guys have boring roads in the US. I bet a trip from Colombia to Patagonia on a Sportster would end up injuring your spine or back. Unless you want to go 80km/h, which is pretty much what a Sportster can handle in the roads of the Andes mountains. Harleys look awesome and are pretty great for the straight, even roads of the US. But for for a real challenge I would place all my money on Japanese performance. Nuff said.
Excelente respuesta amigo, en realidad lo que debe de importar es que tan comodo tu te sientas con tu motocicleta. Estas personas debieron haber comparado la Vulcan S con una motocicleta similar en CC de Harley o Indian, esa si seria una comoarativa real.
If you prefer, as I also prefer and agree with, the superior performance and value of Japanese bikes then why not buy a z650 or versys 650 or ninja 650 as they said many times? The cruiser design is not good for cornering or climbing mountains, it is a design meant only for straight and flat and boring American roads exactly as you said which is why it is the only style made by American bike manufacturers. If you prefer Japanese performance then why put it in an American costume?
@@dwbiggly6907 I cruise an hour to work at 75mph at like 5500 rpm. I have topped it out at 115mph and it's completely stable and 100 mph is easy. But it does drink the gas if your doing over 80. It's not luke warm like spite says ..lol. It is a great bike, it's not slow, but it's not so fast you will get yourself in trouble. I have put 5000 miles on mine in about 6 months and I love it. I have had all kinda bikes and I think I found the perfect bike for me. Only thing I did was add a windshield since I commute down the hwy. And put a back rest for my passenger seat. The seat was uncomfortable for the first 1500 miles or so but it's warm in now and just fine on my hour ride to work. Oh and it's cheap, well built, proven very reliable engine.
Hey y'all, sincerely appreciate the honest take on the Vulcan S. While I think Spite got a bit wrapped up in the identity aspect, I think it's important to remember that as a hybrid sport cruiser it's like a multiclass in DnD, not great OR terrible at one thing but more versatile. As a 5'6" beginner rider this was super approachable like Yams said and nimble enough that I could try out some easy twisties and at least get a taste of what the fastbois feel on their super agile bikes. This has let me figure out what kinda rider I'd LIKE to become without fully committing to either lifetstyle so it's been a great fit for me personally. From all the fellow level headed Vulcan Bois out there, we're sorry we called you Hitler Spite!
I have 100% agree with you about trying to find out if you're a sport bike type or cruiser type and this bike definitely will help you decide what you want next because you will want something after this but you'll probably keep this bike.
Picking up my 2017 Vulcan 650 this weekend! I couldn't agree more! I think it will give me all the benefits for a beginner and enough power to have fun!! Cheers and happy riding!
Thanks for this reply. As a 5'6" rider myself, I think this bike will be a great fit. You never see reviews from shorter guys who have to consider seat height and the reach distance for controls. The Vulcan 650 is super adjustable for different sized riders, and I think that is a huge overlooked advantage.
As someone planning on buying a Kawasaki Vulcan S, this video sealed the deal for me to come to a final conclusion. Throughout the whole video, you guys praise the utilitarian and functional aspects of the bike, while the negative aspects you guys mention are all limited to aesthetics, like appearance, style and sound, in other words, all subjective, non-practical points. The exception being the bike's torque, which was a really nice point to mention, and a point much more important than the aesthetics related points. And this is exactly what I'm searching on a Cruiser: Usefulness before looks. This ain't no beauty contest after all. It's a shame to see that part of the Cruiser bike community values more beauty related aspects on cruisers than actual practicality and versatility. "Oh, that's a really nice bike, but mines has a classier look and sounds better". Words like 'utilitarian' and 'functional' are used as negative points, for gods sake, when have we adopted this shallow and insubstantial mindset? Just see his body and face expressions at 20:48 - "It's very....utilitarian...". We need to get rid of this pseudo-Cruiser mentality. Cruisers should be mainly about utility. Aesthetics should always be left in the second plan. Not saying the classic cruiser style is not important, I recognize the tradition behind the style and how important it is to most people, even to me. But it should always be an accessory to the main strengths of a cruiser, and not the other way around. What makes me sad is that they valued and gave preference so much more to aesthetics that forgot to analyze and compare what truly makes a Cruiser a Cruiser: its cruising capability. Well, they actually did, partially, while mentioning that the Vulcan S cruises way better on curvy roads. It's one of the best cruisers out there in this aspect after all, thanks to its hybrid nature. But I wanted to hear more opinions on such major points. What about its engine performance on cruising speeds? Does it reach a pleasant RPM at cruise speed? What about its brakes? Can it handle windy roads well while being lighter than most cruisers? Etc... So many functional aspects to be analyzed cast aside for the preference over analyzing a bike that was clearly built NOT to follow the traditional cruiser style, as if it was trying to follow the trend. And this is what I love about the Vulcan S. It is a vanguard that has the personality and courage to dare to break out of the trend. It dares to be unique, and it manages to do so quite well considering all things. It doesn't care if the popular kids will make fun of it or not. If there's something it has that is yet to be recognized is personality. Call it simulacrum if you want. Truth is, it never wanted to look like what the traditional cruisers looks like in the first place. So, in the end, the 5/10 score is a beauty contest related score. Analyzing and scoring the Vulcan S based on what it is, it would easily reach, at least, a 7/10 score.
I think buying a motorcycle is a beauty test. I think it’s the behavioral equivalent to having a mistress. Your “wife” is, ummmm….well, it’s your wife, your kids, your job, your Honda Civic, your mortgage, etc. But your motorcycle is the mistress. It HAS to look good, or what the F is the point? ps - I looked at the Versys. It checks all the boxes. But I decided it was hard in the eyes and I bought something else.
You don't understand the naked concept of the vulcan. You guys are obsessed with your big, heavy, loud American motorcycles. The vulcan is a naked one that captures the only good thing about American motorcycles: their riding comfort
I am actually looking at getting my first motorcycle. It was a toss up between a ninja 400 and the vulcan s. Pretty sure you just solidified my decision on getting the vulcan.
It depends on how you want to ride more relaxed and chill (cruiser) or relaxed but still haul ass (ninja 650) and depending on your height I would always go for a 650 and above because 400’s don’t hold up their value and I think it’s too easy to outgrow
This is EXACTLY where I am right now wanting to get back into riding after about 15 years without a bike. I came up with the 90's crotch rockets, so the 400 is very appealing to me, but I'm also 42 now so the Vulcan really has my attention too. Still sleek looks, but a more upright comfortable looking ride. Now I'm torn. If it was money, the 400 would win for sure, but it's not just money, I want to enjoy riding... I need to ride both.
Because they are the only cruisers Yammie currently has to shoot with. An Indian scout 60 would be a WAY better bike to compare to but Yammie already hates cruisers. I can’t see him getting another slower scout just for comparison sake. With Yams you just get random sometimes helpful sometimes not at all helpful information. Its up to YOU to decipher it (and just to enjoy it for what it is...more moto content) 😛
05:45 Spite not going over 4000rpm: "This is really NOT a rev happy engine" 11:46 Spite on the Scout: "I am actually having a little bit of difficulty on this bike just trying to keep up with you"
I just got a Vulcan 650 I use to ride dirt bikes and this is my first cruiser and it does have enough power for me. No one is trying to wreck or run from police it’s perfect.
15 minutes into the video (first 12 or so I was only listening) I was losing my mind how fast Yammie is going through these corners on the Vulcan, then I remembered I was watching at 1.5x speed...
I don't know why anyone cares what he thinks of Cruisers, he's legitimately one of the most biased against cruisers I've ever seen *edit* this is not a jab at Yammie, in fact I quite value his opinion on Sport and Sport Naked bikes. But in terms of cruisers I'll take the opinion of someone who prefers those more. Don't like it tough shit
@@LARGO125 and that's supposed to change a bias?? I don't like honda yet there are still Honda's I like, that doesn't change my bias against the company as a whole. All it says it unlike some other youtubers I don't care to watch he's at least willing to give them a try which is awesome, that said if I want his opinion on Sport and Sport naked bikes, not cruisers
Just got the 2021 vulcan I love the bike I am a new rider only 5'6 and it is pretty easy to get down I was a huge fan of this channel until I seen this video...I feel like if you dont thrown 1000 dollars into a bike or not getting a Harley it's not a good bike I feel like that's what they saying ....over all go with what feels good to you because safety is number 1. Get out and practice. I would recommend this bike to anyone wanting to get into riding.
@@adam8353 I'm looking t the 2022 Vulcan S. How are you liking your bike? It's been 10 months since this comment was posted, wanted to see how you feel about it now.
I am enjoying my new Kawasaki 2022 Vulcan S Cafe. I have had it for about 2 months and have road about 525 miles. This is my first purchase of any motorcycle and prior to buying this I road a Kawasaki when I took my motorcycle class back in March. This bike fits me. Oh yeah I'm 55 and it's right for me..
Coming off of a full dress, a sport tourer, a quarter king, and a supersport liter, I wanted something to ride around town and on canyon roads like a scooter. Light, nimble, fun, easy to drive. But I'm not in Italy, so the Vulcan S fit the bill. And I like the look. I'm not allowed in clubs.
Most of those "clubs" are stacked with wannabes. HD wouldn't exist without people buying their overpriced clothes, that should tell you all you need to know. I'm buying one of these next yr.
On the process of exchanging my 2007 HD XL 883 Low for a 2022 Vulcan S. Harley has the price factor on its side. They valuted It around 5000€ so i'm buying the Vulcan with 3000€ . If It was the other way around... who knows? I went Harley for my first/learning bike just because of this. I knew i would sell it/exchange it in the future
@@angryktulhu This bike has a high revving parallel twin, not a V-twin like most cruisers. You wouldn't stay in first gear on a stick shift just cuz you normally drive an auto. Gotta ride the bike how you're supposed to in order to evaluate it properly
This video helped settle the difference between me getting a rebel 500 and a vulcan s... Hard to argue when 2 people dedicated a whole video to attempting to hate a bike and still managed to make it sound good the entire time. I had been almost sold on the rebel until a few days ago, but I've made a full on decision to go the vulcan route now lol Thanks for helping solidify the decision for me to go vulcan over rebel... I'll likely end up running the vulcan until I step up to a rebel 1100 when I'm tired of the vulcan and am in a position to upgrade lol good looks whether you meant to or not
One thing about the Vulcan S that I did like, it fits a ton of different size riders. They have adjustments, seats, pegs, handle bars for people of all sizes.
I owned a 2015 Indian Scout from new for 5 years. I sold it when the extended warranty expired because of its unrelenting unreliability. I actually went to Kawasaki after the "Indian experience" - not a Vulcan though. The Kawasaki is utterly dependable. Frankly if I won a Polaris Indian in a lottery I would sell it. The issues I had with the Scout included: leaking thermostat, starter motor complete failure, would not start at all when cold even with good starter motor (very handy in Canada!!) paint that chipped VERY easily, super flimsy detachable windscreen that was super expensive, ran VERY hot in traffic, impossible to check or change front spark plug without major work, poor handling (specifically tendency of rear wheel to "skip" sideways in curves, terrible fuel tank capacity and hence range, very susceptible to cross winds and windy conditions generally, diabolical uncomfortable leather seat, super expensive nice looking leather bags with pathetic capacity. Hey my bike was early 2015 so maybe they improved? Warranty and dealer support was awesome but with no dealers near by still very inconvenient issues.
I can't wrap my head around them, saying the Vulcan looks bad & cheap. If we were to ask a random 20 people. I'm pretty sure 80% would hate how the indain looks. It literally looks like a bike someone would come out riding from a KKK meeting. Looks old & really out of fashion. Second, the big reason people love the Vulcan along with its maneuverlity, ease of ride & great looks, is how reliable it is. I've seen people cry about how their 1st Harley is going to be their last. Lastly, just look at the way that Vulcan was riding. It was so smooth & giave the feeling of being in a relaxed chill ride. (Disclaimer: Indian was reaallly struggling to keep up with the Vulcan).
@@Voltomess It's not perfect because of two reasons. First, the classic cruiser look and feel. As mentioned, it really does sound like a lawn mower so sinking a lot money into a new exhaust would make it sound like a cruiser but that's money that could be saved for your second bike. Second, there's a lot of room for improvement. For example, the power is decent but get's much better after installing a power booster. Again, $500 that could be put toward your next bike. With that said, however, it is a fantastic beginner bike. You can keep up with highway traffic, it's easy to get used to for controls and counter steering, great to take to a parking lot and practice, and it's easy to repair. I admittedly dropped mine twice at slow speeds and broke a turn signal, less than $50 including shipping, and I replaced it easily. I dented my gas tank too but that's a dollar amount I don't have right now.
@@1prshark No sarcasm, I’m actually curious as I ride a naked. How did you drop it twice at slow speeds? Is it because you don’t want to lean the bike too much in fear of the foot pegs scraping the ground? I’d imagine you’d be able to catch yourself with your legs seeing how low the bike is.
@@johnpierson2737 No worries. Usually, I catch myself and just keep going. First one, I was fresh out of the MSF and just practicing in a contained area and it was my first time on the bike, so my entire motorcycling life had been about 11 hours. I was still getting familiar with the throttle and blipped it while turning left. I panicked and felt it start to fall. I tried to catch myself but couldn't. I got my left foot down and everything, but I couldn't catch the bike and it fell. The part that really scraped her up was trying to pick her up. I didn't turn the bike off, grabbed the bike by the grips to lift, and I twisted the throttle. The rear tire spun and dragged the bike in a circle. The fall didn't do much of anything, but that idiotic move did plenty. The second time, I had more time with her and I was coming back from the neighborhood pool's parking lot. There was a guy paving a driveway and he had a 20 ft smoothing tool, painted red. I was going about 15 - 20 mph so, still slow speed. He was working and the end of that pole was coming down into the road and I thought it would hit me, but I panic-breaked. I felt like I went over the bars that time.
I really want to get a Vulcan S & turn it into my version of a first gen vmax! 70 lb ft of torque & about 80 - 90 hp. I just love the way the first gen ones look in white. A perfect blank canvas to work with! Can’t wait for this to be my first bike!
I've been riding an SV650S for 17 years. I'm thinking I want the comfort of a cruiser for longer rides but I don't want to give up the nimbleness of my SV. In your opinion, is the handling of the Vulcan comparable to your Ninja? For your average, keeping close to the speed limit, twisties I mean, nothing high speed crazy.
Slap a full exhaust on it and it brings it alive. My vulcan s has a aftermarket seat, full exhaust, grips, the whole shebang. And its an amazing handling bike, it is so nimble and quick in the turns. Engine is very potent. 0-60 in just 4 secs? Hello? Definitely more than enough for anyone. Someone could buy this bike and be more than happy with it for the rest of their life. Would 110% recommend this bike to anyone.
I only started getting interested in 4Runners after I heard every Jeep guy I knew smack talking them. Because of this channel's hatred towards this bike I threw a leg over one at my local dealer out of curiosity and it felt GREAT. They say it feels plasticky and cheap, but the new Nightster feels equally as plasticky but for TWICE the cost. The dash does feel dated, but at least it has a tach, fuel gauge, and gear indicator unlike, say the Shadow which stickers for $1k more. The only part of the bike I think is ugly is the headlight. Everything else feels like a good blend of sport and cruiser. As someone who can only afford one bike at a time, having the blend of a comfy bike that can daily, cross country, but can still take a corner is a great compromise. My 2006 4Runner isn't fast, spacious, luxurious, off-road capable, fuel efficient, or agile. But it's competent ENOUGH at all of those tasks to make it good. Jack of all trades, master of none, sure. But if you can't afford to stock your garage with both an R7 and a Road Glide, then something like the Vulcan S makes a lot of sense
Just saw this, and enjoyed your commentary on the Vulcan S. I love my Vulcan S for precisely all the reasons you called it milk toast. It is very comfortable, easy to ride, easy to control, but plenty of pick up for me, and corners great. I don't particularly like the deep Harley rumble everyone seems to love. I like my quiet Vulcan, so I can enjoy the music playing in my helmet. I do agree that the best bike for each of us is the one we love, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I do enjoy your videos, even this one where you diss on my Vulcan a bit.
So it handles better than any other cruiser but it’s not ‘the best handling cruiser’ you guys need to stop with the crap... it always comes back to the same thing: “iTs NoT a SpOrTbIkE’ ‘iTs NoT aS gOoD aS a HaRLeY’ The big problems aren’t the bikes, but just the fact you can’t ride! If I can scrape the foodpegs through every corner on a Vulcan, and you still think it’s not handling good? You are the problem... the Vulcan hits a 0 to 60 in 4.2 sec (with my setup even 3.9sec) Maybe instead of taking that same baby corner road every time, you guys should look into getting a 300cc and really learn to ride
I am a 50 year old man under 5'6"....I sat on one today....I liked it....took a class on the HD 500. I fit the Kawasaki like a glove....I fit the HD like a thrift store pair of shoes.
I'm 64yrs and have ridden a number of bikes over the years. When I sat on a Vulcan S at a dealer, the ergos felt right. I haven't ridden one yet, but I like the ergo-fit design that can adjust to more people. If I pick up a used one as a 2nd bike, I'll use it for around town-short trips. My current ride is a 2013 Super Tenere...🙏😺
Easy to control, reliable, comfortable, not obnoxiously priced, everyday rider, weekend warrior - day triping capable. Seems like an easy sell to me. Thanks for the review!
I picked the Kawasaki Vulcan S 650 because it was the right bike for me, and that's all that matters. I'll continue watching your video's. They're a great to watch, learn and practice. I'm 53 and just learning to ride S.M.A.R.T. 👍✌and have fun while doing so. Dave K.
I've owned almost every cruiser Yamaha has made, minus the Royal Stars. I have owned an R1 and a FZ07. I'm currently on a Suzuki VStrom 650, and I've never been more happy. It's all about the rider. I literally traded my 1900 Raider for this bike. 0 regrets, and I've owned it 3.5 years now. I put 35k on the Raider and 40k+ on all the other bikes separately, even the FZ07(45k when I traded it for the Raider). Once you stop caring about what others think about your bike and focus on what makes you happy, you are just more happy. I don't feel like I have to prove anything on this bike like I did some of the others(R1 and Raider specifically).
I fell in love with this bike when I tried it. I came from a little Suzuki 150 to this, and I'm 5'2, so jumping to a C50 was not an option. I love that the bike looks so odd, and I had the chance to ride 550km next to a HD 1230, and while I was pushing my bike to the limit, I wasn't left behind at all - plus mine didn't spill oil and bolts after the ride (just kidding!) Thanks for the review, it certainly is more like an acquired taste, but the bike is perfect for small riders and works so, so nicely.
I love the idiocracy reference. The vulcan 650 is “not sure”. I have a 09 vulcan 900 as my first bike. I’ve been riding it for a year and it’s been good to me.
From a guy that’s only ridden three different bikes. The MSF course 250 cruiser I believe it was a Suzuki. A 2016 R3 and a 2017 modded out ZX10R, I look at the Vulcan S as first off a reliable bullet proof engine with some punch in horsepower and torque but nothing ridiculous. Also from everything I’ve seen it handles well in the corners and it’s super comfortable at an affordable price point. I’m not into the big V-Twin leather jacket or vest wearing, big beard Harley lifestyle. Where I live in West Central Pa that’s virtually all you see. Everybody and I mean about 95% of riders are on a Harley or some other big V-Twin. They all look the same. I like the Vulcan S looks too. I think it’s a bike that’s supposed to give you some of the feeling of a sport bike with the comfort and look of a cruiser. It’s not trying to be a big v- twin and to compare it to one is kind of unfair.
Started laughing when you mentioned “All the Vulcan boys popping champagne!” As a new rider and owner of Vulcan, I personally love it. Definitely would like more power.
This is my dream bike and all I heard from this video is it’s good so it’s bad and the engine isn’t loud or powerful enough, (thus forgetting its a beginner bike)
the vulcan s is like 2 guys (one on a chopper and one on a sportbike) who are friends and drive with one another BUT in one bike, one wanting to speed up and one wanting to chill / lay back. I picture the chopper dude like constantly pulling the collar on the sportbike one whilst riding along (again viewed as one 'soul/bike') hope it makes sense english's not my first language...love my vulcan s 650 and am never gonna sell it
I ride an xsr900. My friend got a Vulcan S as a fist bike and we both love it! It's a super fun little bike that is comfy, easy to ride, and handles really well. The power is more than enough to keep you entertained and it will cruise at 80mph+ all day long.
I'm a new, shorty rider. Wanted a bike that was easy for me to handle but could keep up with my boyfriend's Triumph and go on the freeway comfortably. I personally love the way it looks and it suits my needs perfectly. Love my Vulcan S!
@@jjfromthebigland781 - Maybe don’t assume SikSh0oter was being a jerk? It looks like his misplaced his decimal point, but wasn’t being sarcastic. We’re all in this together, so let’s be nice to each other.
I ride a vulcan S as my daily rider. Comfy and fun, they got a lot of things right. Plus I would describe it as the weird kid at school who's just trying to fit in.
Hey y'all! Coming in really late here, but gotta throw in my two cents. For reference, my personal bike is a 2021 Ninja 1000sx. My wife, however, rides a 2020 Vulcan S, and absolutely loves it. The biggest selling point for her (that wasn't mentioned AT ALL in the video) was Kawasaki's Ergo-Fit system. See, she's 5'2", with really short legs. The Vulcan S was the only bike that she could *touch the pegs* on. From my perspective as a sportbike rider, the Vulcan S is a fantastic second bike. The one you take out when you decide to do something a little different that day. It handles superbly well (as was said), and is a lot of fun to ride. It won't blow your socks off, but you'll still enjoy the ride.
I heard the fury isnt bad at handling. Reviewers say looks make you think it wont handle well but once they ride it they say it's ok. Not sure myself, I never rode one.
I would never accuse the Fury of handling well, but it does handle much better than it should (especially when compared to something like the Raider). The M109R on the other hand doesn't seem to realize that sometimes you don't want to just go where you're pointing. Can't blame the fat tire on it, I have a 240 rear and can carve just fine.
@@TRathOriginals Funny, decided to flip my 109 after owning a few weeks. On my second Raider after selling my vrod. And you can't carve on any cruiser. Got a cbr1000rr for that.
idk guys... I see you going and riding it like a cruiser in the 3-5k rpm range... Take that bike into the 7-9k rpm range and it gets a whole lot more fun. If you ride it like a girl then it's a girly bike. I ride my road king on the highway with no windshield and get blown all over the place at 80mph... this little vulcan, highway, no windshield, and I'm going over 100 without even noticing. I bought this bike for my fiance's first bike and it's absolutely perfect for that. She loves it and I think how easy it handles helped her build confidence riding. Not to mention that there are 3 settings for 3 different options so 9 total different configurations. You can adjust the placement of the shifter, the seat, and the handlebars in three different positions each. For a beginner, it's perfect. Sure it sounds like a sowing machine, but you can either upgrade the exhaust or modify it yourself. There's several videos showing how to make it sound way better with a drill and some bolts. I bought a 2015 with 3k miles for $3k... fuck wit it
The Vulcan is a 5/10 - sorry. Fight me on www.yammienoob.co
While we are on this path of testing bikes we don't love, can we please get you to do a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 review? lol
For a first time bike, it's a 10/10. Your the 1 dentist that doesn't recommend colgate
nah I actually agree with ya on that
I own a vulcan and after owning it a while I think it has a handful of things that HAVE to be changed out. First the seat is garbage and very uncomfortable after an hour and must be changed. The exhaust needs to be switched to rebel arrow exhaust or something similar. And this bike does have areas that feel very cheap. But I like the riding position and ease of use. I love that it doesn't handle or feel like a heavy cruiser. It fits the person who loves the feel of a cruiser but wants to be able to move it around a corner. And I feel it's a good looking bike that is very unique in its style.
@@TheRealJohnDoe it trash
I like your channel, but you guys care waaaay too much about what other people think about the motorcycle you have. If I buy a motorcycle, I'm buying it for me, not anyone else. The whole "if its not a harley its not a real bike" mentality is childish and petty. And life is definitely too short to base your decisions on other people's opinions.
I agree I love sport bikes but I want to get a low rider s one day too😂 in my opinion Harley is the best cruiser maker
I think it's because US has Indian or specifically Scout. noted that Vulcan S is cheaper and more agile, but if ppl are looking for a cool cruiser with the expectation of twin cylinders and sounds thirsty, that thousand bucks is probably not the priority.
That's a very metric cruiser rider attitude
Crying on TH-cam is their past time
ya it's those extremist guys who think a muscle car can't be anything else than a v8 and manual or it's an abomination. Well there is a reason for cheaper bikes because not everyone wants to pay the same amount as a mid size suv for a goddamn bike... If anyone wants to get into riding bikes they have to pay 20+k ? Imagine budget cars didn't exist and everyone had to get a luxury or super car.... Cheapest car you can get starts at 50k... like clearly this guy doesn't understand business or lifestyle. Not everyone won't own a car and just ride a bike. I'd say the majority of the market is people who have bikes as a weekend hobby or easy cruiser to work.
So, I own a Vulcan 650 S.
I've never watched a motorcycle video on youtube. I changed my oil for the first time, so TH-cam showed me you guys' review.
I can't tell you how happy it made me. I AM the guy you described. I got my bike because it was economical, I ride it to work, I've never ridden with anyone, I have zero interest in associating with anyone else who owns a motorcycle.
The "Honda Civic of motorcycles" line made me literally jump with joy. You guys are spot on, and it made my entire day. I wanted a motorcycle to get me around, and I chose a used Vulcan and I haven't been disappointed once.
Thank you guys for validating me, and for a very spot on and honest review.
That's literally what I'm looking for, and the Vulcan seemed to check all those boxes, so I was really confused hearing these guys say they don't really love it.
@@davidboeger6766 it's just not a motorcycle enthusiasts bike imo. It's a frugal man's bike.
That’s why I want one. HD and Indian guys have their needs, I have mine. It’s all good.
Agreed ❤
I got a Vulcan S, it's my first bike and I started learning this month. I wanted a cruiser as to help prevent hooligan non-sense and the temptation to wheelie. I also am short, Korean, and I just don't feel that "Harley aesthetic" and everything that comes with it. I'm sorry, but Harley draws a certain crowd that I, a nerdy Korean dude just doesn't fit in with.
The Vulcan S is great for me, it's easy to ride, easy to handle, and it just... fits me as a person. Isn't that's what motorcycling is all about? Just being you?
Agree man
Dead on mate keep riding your way
The Vulcan S can do wheelies
I Love your comment man and I really respect you, it really depends on the person who’s gonna ride it. For me it doesn’t really matter what kind of motorcycle you have what matters is you love it and your enjoying riding it.
Great comment. The first thing I did was picture a Sons of Anarchy spin off about a Korean MC on Harleys! Now a pack of Koreans riding super sport bikes is easy to imagine. Here’s my point: Hollywood and social media want to plant these images in our heads, and that’s strictly theater. Not how the world should be. We are all God’s children. If you ride, you ride and you’re one of “us!” I wish every rider would accept me and you as brothers regardless of what we ride. Weeeeell, maybe not people on scooters or those abominations with two wheels up front! 😜
I have the blacked out Vulcan S and I get constant compliments on that thing. This really sounded like a review from a couple of guys who had their minds made up and just really didn't want to admit they were mistaken. I've put just over 15k mils on my vulcan and it's been an amazing bike. 47 mpg. Looks amazing. And I have smoked every other cruiser that has challenged me (mostly Haleys lolz).
Exactly what this video was. They didn't want to admit they were wrong about it but constantly praised it but phrased things in such a way to make it not seem like a good choice.
@@wccrispy This is what happens when you drink too much of the Suzuki koolaid, cant even admit that Kawasaki makes anything good... Bet we could slap their rump on a H2 and they still wouldn't wanna admit its amazing.
Or they could simply have a different opinion than you?🤷 Just because someone expresses a different opinion than yours doesn't mean they're being dishonest about what they think
Not everyone has to like a 180 degree parallel twin. My bike has a Vtwin and there's no way in hell I would ever want a parallel twin, sorry not sorry, they are just boring. Your free to like your bike, and I'm free to dislike it just the same.
Sorry that you bought the most okayest motorcycle ever. Maybe step up to the NC700X?
I love my Vulcan S. It’s my first bike 3 years later I’m still loving it. I do a couple 3-4 day road trips every year and it has no problems keeping up with the Springfield and Fat Boy my friends ride. I don’t give two craps less about the image I’m having a fun time riding.
Wish the Vulcan had upside down forks and shaft drive.
Yep… And after 500 miles their bikes will constantly break down and need repairs, while your bike will always start right up and can easily take over 100k miles without ever giving you a problem. It’s the sad and honest truth about HD’s. They’re notoriously unreliable, they are 30+ years behind the times in just basic technology, and that’s not the worst part. They are also engineering abominations. Compare a Harley to any other cruiser, foreign or domestic it doesn’t matter, they will all surpass Harley in every single metric, mechanically or otherwise. The balance, efficiency, weight, handling, reliability, cooling etc.. the list is so long I can’t type it all. Simply put, HD’s have the name and the cult following, but when it comes to the actual bike itself? They are the worst.
@@phillybotz : HD cant even perfect its old technology.
@@phillybotz yeah HD is a brand. Let’s be real, almost no Harley rider buys a Harley because it’s a superior bike to its competitors. Most buy it because they’re Harleys. Which is sad, Japanese bikes are superior in almost all categories, especially in price.
@@phillybotz I've owned 5 Harleys, a 2-stroke Suzuki GT-250, a CBR600, a 400cc Honda Hawk, and several dirt bikes over the past 40 years. My Harleys have been VERY reliable and pleasant to own. Not sure where all the hate comes from, quite frankly. I know they don't have the greatest stats on paper, but they have a "cult following" for a reason.
So, basically, the Vulcan has the cruiser styling without the crappy handling of most other cruisers, but you still think it sucks? Sorry but I really don't get it... Or are the only "real man" cruisers supposed to be super heavy and ride like crap?
Oh, and I don't have a Vulcan and have never ridden one.
If I would want a cruiser, I'd definitely want it to handle like a cruiser, the good and the bad
This bike is neither fish nor fowl
And I also never owned or rode a vulcan
Agree. Motorcycles have gotten so good over the years that we kinda forget how exhilarating it was when we rode our first "crappy" bike. That first bike meant freedom and feeling the wind in your face. The bikes of today are light years ahead of what I started on in the 70's. I'd take a Vulcan S in a second!
Not much pep, engine doesnt sound good, styling makes it look like an oversized anime hot wheels toy.... it probably handles fine because theres no torque to really test the bike. cruisers arent meant to handle like a dream cuz youre supposed to be "cruising", so all the other things start to matter more
It may be too nice and lack personality. I'd like a green one like that I'd probably ride it to work everyday
I think it looks great but the motor is a bit bland. Had a ninja 650 and it had no character. Honestly a better choice than this if you want to carve a few corners and still be comfortable...
I have one of these Kawasaki Vulcan S 650's and I really like it - I'm older and retired and sold my Road King cuz its just getting too heavy for me, it served me well for a long time but the Kawasaki is just right for me now cuz its light, easy to ride and I really don't care much about the status anymore. I feel confident riding it and that's what I want.
"The Indian is allover a better motorcycle"
No shit, it costs twice as much.
hey its only 11500 entry level lol
@@karavalentine920 it depents on your country. I'm from Germany and we have to pay at least 15 hundred on it. It's more or less the doubled price
Even the scout bobber sixty is better
Having just spent a whole Saturday on an Indian Scout, I can say that it has an awesome engine. The higher the rpms the harder it pulls all the way to it's top end, it's an arm puller. However, the handling was easily upset at 80mph, side winds, or uneven pavement. I was dragging pegs just turning corners at intersections. But worst of all, the seat was uncomfortable after the first hour. The Scout has the cool vibe, definitely the bike to show up at the biker bar. But I'd pick the Kawi Vulcan S.
It's also twice the motorcycle you get than a Vulcan, so it evens out.
We just bought my wife a 2015 Vulcan S 650. she moved up from a Rebel 300 and she's loving it. I rode it about 200 miles the day we bought it and I really enjoyed it as well. I am 6'4" 300 lbs and it carried me down the highway at 80 mph w/ no problems. It moved better than the Honda Shadow 750 Aero we had for a while plus it's much lighter and narrower. I have no complaints.
This is a weird video.
The common theme I'm hearing is that the "Vulcans doesn't know what it wants to be". But listening to you describe it's characteristics it seems to me that it knows EXACTLY what it wants to be. It wants to be an entry level cruiser. It seems more like the reviewer doesn't know what this bike wants to be.
Furthermore, Spite doesn't seem to understand how to ride this bike properly. He's way too low in the rev range so he's never hitting the power band, and then complaining it's gutless.
Exactly. I have a 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic with 3 inch drags. Looks and sounds so similar to most HD Soft tails that nearly everyone thinks it's a harley until I tell them otherwise or unless they actually pay attention to the Vulcan badge. Looks the same. Sounds the same. Cost a lot less. Rides a lot smoother. And cheaper to maintain.
Yup. Power band was at its highest between 5500 and 6500 rpm. He's also a heavier rider though. It has short gearing though, so it effects your 0-60 time for that shift at 30mph. It does have quite a bit of torque. It feels like it has a slipper clutch on hard launches though. Like professional launches where you're at the very edge of slipping the tire. It's an alright bike in hind sight. My 929 has my heart now.
Yeah people don't understand it's a detuned sportbike engine, it's not going to have the same powerband as regular cruisers.
Also spite hates jews
@@___Eldritch how short is the gearing compared to the z650, mine hits 60 in 2nd
I’m pushing 60 and have been riding for 20 years. I’ve have had every kind of bike imaginable. I will most likely get a Vulcan S and be perfectly happy with it.
I actually like how it looks. And I like the fact it's not enormous.
styling is fine expect the headlight, thats just ugly
@@wmopp9100 You could change out the headlight with a typical round headlight. Personally, I kind of like the stock headlight though. i like the fact that it's not just a typical 7" round headlight, but everyone has a different opinion
They're super nimble and you can have plenty of fun on them!
@@wmopp9100 purely subjective, dude
I feel like they actually had some fun riding the Vulcan, but really didn’t want to admit it 😂 I feel like Yammie would have been a bit more positive if he did a solo review.
exactly
That side-by-side review was mainly to demonstrate how the vulcan compares to a proper big boi cruiser.
If I was a veteran biker who tested many different cruiser-style motorcycles and got use to having this typical torquy feeling and sound, the vulcan would probably be the last motorcycle I would want to "upgrade" to!
As a beginner, like they said, it can be pretty good to learn on while having a cruiser-style platform to ride on. I personally like this bike and in all black with a round headlight, I think it even looks pretty nice!
Literally the entire draw of it for me is its not attached to the Harley cruiser image.
I live in Brazil and I follow your videos. It's really funny to see the huge difference between having a motorcycle in the US and here in Brazil. I have a Vulcan, but here it's considered a great bike. Here a beginner's bike is either 125cc or 150cc. And there are lot of them!
Same in Croatia... this is big bike
@@Perica-j3o here in Brazil there very fill options!
You nailed it Yam! It's not your stereotypical cruiser! I bought mine because I wanted to be comfortable and be able to zip around corners. Not trying to fit in with "the cruiser boys" or any other group... just looking for the best of both worlds at a reasonable price. I appreciate you guys finally giving it a run!
@Kevin May Absolutely, super reliable!
Thinking of getting this as my first bike, I’m sure it’ll plenty for me, but I’m wondering, does this thing do ok and is able to keep up at highway speeds when you have a passenger?
@@jeovannimendez414 Absolutely, I have a passenger seat on mine and it does great at all speeds. Plenty of power and pretty comfortable too. Side note though my GF said that the OEM Kawasaki backrest is a little low and she would like if it were a little taller. Just something to consider when you are choosing which backrest to purchase. Some of the other brands have a higher backrest. Hope that helps!
@@clintschradle9355 Awesome, thanks for the reply
@@jeovannimendez414 No problem! You will really like the bike, it is so much fun! Ride safe✌🏻
Love my Vulcan S. Got it to commute 30 miles to work. Zero F's given about "soul" or "feel" heck, even sound. My ear plugs are in on the highway on my way to work. AMAZINGLY affordable. That can't be over stated.
Yeah, I commute daily, I ride the best bike for the commute. You find yourself picking one motorcycle over another. I ride my KLX250 (with road tyres) over my FJR1300 because of the mpg, nimble handling and rural road I have to take.
been thinking about this cruiser for a while now. Although i'm not sure if it's a good bike for a short person like myself lol. Albeit, the seating position looks pretty good because i'm 5,3 feet. But I feel like the steering is a bit too high and forward. What would you say?
@@lahoudtouma185 everything in the bike is adjustable so height shouldn’t be a problem
@@loganb6361 alright cheers my friend
@@lahoudtouma185 Exactly what @logan B said. Get the short reach bars with the short reach seat and short reach forward controls. You can be really short and still fit. Check out the Kawi website it is all there. I am 6 feet so I have the extended reach bars, seat and controls. Very comfortable bike and I got mine for $5k with 400 miles on it!
13:40 you nailed exactly why I got a Vulcan. I love all bikes, wanted a cruiser, but have no interest in the “cruiser/Harley lifestyle”. I just wanted to, well, cruise.
It is literally called a cruiser. 🤣
@@treasurewuji8740 because it is cruiser but it's not a traditional cruiser.
Phil Zero Has it been easy to get through life without being part of a leather vest club where people get loans for expensive machines just so they can provide emotional support for each other?
And not leak oil
Kawasaki is making some interesting bikes that kind of push the edges of the molds. The Versys is "adv styled," but realistically knows you aren't going off-road and is more of a modern take on an old "standard" style bike.
The Vulcan 650 is cruiser styled, but doesn't have a shitty rattling low powered v-twin with reliability issues.
If I was to do any touring on a cruiser style I'd probably take the 650 parallel twin over any big v-twin.
As a 3 year owner of the Vulcan S, I can say that it’s truly the best bang for buck. Throw some new pipes from delkevic on it and a windscreen and you can go anywhere and do anything. Spent 3.5k on the bike and never couldn’t have imagined that it would have been as great as it has been.
3.5k in aftermarket?
I rode dirt bikes in middle school and high school. In my 20's i rode a Honda CB750, and A Kawasaki 2 stroke S3 400 cc bike. Then i did boring responsible adult things for decades. My Vulcan S 650 is my first bike in 30 years. I cant imagine a better bike to get back on after 30 years.
btw yammie nailed it on who that bike was for, at least as far as i go. im not interested in riding with other people or joining a "club" i want a bike because i like it.
It's the perfect bike for you!
Agreed. The whole idea of what a motorcycle is "supposed" to be to join the club is a cancer to adding riders that don't really care for the club's theme.
Every harley riders are not "clubers" as you say.
Exactly, I traded in my zx6r for a 2021 Vulcan S last month and I couldn’t be happier. It has plenty of power for city and highway riding, it’s affordable, and insurance isn’t 100$+
Yep! Love my Vulcan S. I fit exactly what Yammie said about who it’s for. I like the Scout, don’t get me wrong, but I prefer the Vulcan.
So I've had a Vulcan S for a year , and honestly it was the best choice for me, if you're in my position, I think it might be one of the best options for you.
I was coming from an old Vulcan 1500, so a big, heavy V-twin. While I loved that bike, it needed work that I was unequipped to do, and unable to afford having someone else do. So I sold it, and picked up the Vulcan S
I was a student, so I was on a budget, and I was able to get a brand new Vulcan S for 6,600 off the factory floor with factory warranty (which was important for maintenance and anything going wrong in my situation). I am also a larger guy at 6'3", and I noticed that many of the other cruisers in that price range didn't fit me. the Bolt's airbox was where my knee had to go, the Rebel was too small, and Harley was out of my price range and maintenance abilities. The Shadow was interesting, but seemed underpowered for its weight.
I also wanted a cruiser, but wasn't into the beer gut and fringe lifestyle. I just wanted the cruiser styling because I personally liked the look, and the weird modern cruiser styling of the Vulcan caught my eye. But I wanted something a bit more nimble too, hence the Vulcan. If I had the cash I would have opted for the Scout or something, but with my budget the Vulcan seemed the best fit. In a few years I may trade it in for the scout or something a bit more powerful, but there's not much with enough of a power jump to warrant me upgrading at the moment. A nimble, powerful cruiser that can handle itself in turns like the Vulcan is hard to come by, and practically nonexistent outside of the Diavel. So until then, (or if Kawasaki decides to give the Vulcan the H2 treatment just how they did the Z series)I'm perfectly happy with my bike.
Since I've had it I've swapped to bar ends, swapped out the exhaust, and honestly there isn't much else I wanted to do. Delkevic's exhaust really helped make the Bike feel like you're sitting on a motorcycle, not a sewing machine, and with the bar end mirrors, the profile of the bike is unmatched in my opinion. If you can get the Scout, do it. If not, and you want a sporty cruiser, the Vulcan fits that niche perfectly.
This 👆. I have a black/gold 2020 and I like to think of it as a bit of a goblin bike to skirt around from city scape to city scape scraping peg like a wanna be fastboi while feeling like a cruiser dolt.
The Scout will not handle twisty roads or 90° turns in town like that Vulcan 650! That Scout will pull hard, and is made quality materials, but it's just a cruiser. The Vulcan is a "funner" bike all around. It's more comfortable than the Scout, too.
I think the main reason people like the vulcan is the same reason why you say it "is confused as to what exactly it wants to be". It is somewhere in between different types of motorcycles and for someone that can only afford to own one motorcycle I think that makes it very attractive as you can experience a little bit of everything with it
I feel like if spite wasn't there. Yammie would have enjoyed it more. You can feel spite dragging down every positive thing that Yammie talks about.
Yes and also spite can't even ride a corner correctly but is speaking about what "real bikes are" 😂
Spite - lol appropriate name in this context 😂
Ill outride spite on a vulcan s any day. Ive had one for 2 years now after 10 years of riding all sorts of bikes. Youd be biased to believe the vulcan isnt a wonderful bike
It’s also a great Bike for seniors who want to downsize from their bigger bikes 🏍️ I sold my Harley superglide custom because it was getting too much for me at 76 years old. But I can still ride and a smaller bike will be just fine!😊
I bought a Vulcan S today because I can't ride anything with standard pegs because of a spinal injury and I wanted something sporty but was comfortable for me
Kawasaki has an absolute powerhouse line up of like every class of bike right now.
Well i have been riding since 79 owned about 80 bikes & i am now on my second Vulcan s , I think that says it all
80 bikes what the hell
@@j.t.bumbaday1489 Yes i know i am a bit impulsive lol
Out of all the bikes you've ridden what was the absolute worst? And which was the most fun?
My worst bike was my 2nd bike a Suzuki GP125, handled like a bag of shit, my most confortable bike without a doubt is the kawasaki versys, Best fun bike Kawasaki Ninja 400 closely followed by the Vulcan s, Most exiting bike well ive owned 2 x zzr 1400's trans warp speed lol
You are not sponsored like these noobs, so you have your own opinion.
Some people really don't LIKE the american cruiser image. I feel like Spite doesn't realize that a lot of his issues are it's selling points.
like seriously, sorry I don't want to listen to boomers who spent 20gs on there bikes telling me shit tier millennial jokes.
I don’t like the American cruiser image at all. You don’t look cool because you have a sleeveless leather vest and no helmet, you look like an idiot. No one looks cool when their bare head is sliding across the road at 60mph. Edit: I say this as a sport bike rider, I don’t like the sport bike rider image either. We have a douchebag reputation as well
@@karavalentine920 I think your real issue is that us boomers make more money and can buy those $20K bikes! LOL!!
@@MrTPF1 LOL GOOD ONE! LOL! Pardon me while my Goldwing shits all over your stuff even after 100k on the clock.
100% agree. I'll have my triumph thunderbird over any harly or Indian.
I've had my Vulcan S for three years now. Been from Bogotá to the south of Ecuador two times now. This is a 4000 km ride btw. If you want to really hear the engine you just need to change the exhaust, which is quiet because Euro 4. Max speed was 170km/h with full luggage (yes, most countries use metric system). I really doubt you could get this speed on a Sportster. The Vulcan has 61hp. Harley doesn't even say how much Hp the Sportster has because they know that 900cc engine can't compete with Japanese tech. And the price... Vulcan S cost me 30.000 COP vs the Sportster which costs 48.000 COP (yes, everything costs almost 7 times the price because of how expensive the dollar is. Minimum wage in Colombia is 249.24 USD btw. Only rich people can afford a Harley. You say it is a boring bike, maybe you guys have boring roads in the US. I bet a trip from Colombia to Patagonia on a Sportster would end up injuring your spine or back. Unless you want to go 80km/h, which is pretty much what a Sportster can handle in the roads of the Andes mountains. Harleys look awesome and are pretty great for the straight, even roads of the US. But for for a real challenge I would place all my money on Japanese performance. Nuff said.
Y le hiciste algo al asiento? por que a mi me empieza a incomodar despues de una hora en recorrido.
Well said. I agree with you 👍🏼👍🏼👌👌
Excelente respuesta amigo, en realidad lo que debe de importar es que tan comodo tu te sientas con tu motocicleta. Estas personas debieron haber comparado la Vulcan S con una motocicleta similar en CC de Harley o Indian, esa si seria una comoarativa real.
Well said.
If you prefer, as I also prefer and agree with, the superior performance and value of Japanese bikes then why not buy a z650 or versys 650 or ninja 650 as they said many times?
The cruiser design is not good for cornering or climbing mountains, it is a design meant only for straight and flat and boring American roads exactly as you said which is why it is the only style made by American bike manufacturers. If you prefer Japanese performance then why put it in an American costume?
The vulcan s is one of the quickest cruisers out there. They only hate it because of its low top speed.
Not necessarily. I don't hate it...I just don't like it for the way it looks. your mileage may vary...
@@spike6487 I love the way it looks, it kinda has the VRod vibe to it
@@TheAsheybabe89 this could not be said better.
How does it handle at 75 mph/ 120 mph? What are the revs at that speed ...thinking of getting one. Thank you in advance.
@@dwbiggly6907 I cruise an hour to work at 75mph at like 5500 rpm. I have topped it out at 115mph and it's completely stable and 100 mph is easy. But it does drink the gas if your doing over 80. It's not luke warm like spite says ..lol. It is a great bike, it's not slow, but it's not so fast you will get yourself in trouble. I have put 5000 miles on mine in about 6 months and I love it. I have had all kinda bikes and I think I found the perfect bike for me. Only thing I did was add a windshield since I commute down the hwy. And put a back rest for my passenger seat. The seat was uncomfortable for the first 1500 miles or so but it's warm in now and just fine on my hour ride to work. Oh and it's cheap, well built, proven very reliable engine.
Hey y'all, sincerely appreciate the honest take on the Vulcan S. While I think Spite got a bit wrapped up in the identity aspect, I think it's important to remember that as a hybrid sport cruiser it's like a multiclass in DnD, not great OR terrible at one thing but more versatile. As a 5'6" beginner rider this was super approachable like Yams said and nimble enough that I could try out some easy twisties and at least get a taste of what the fastbois feel on their super agile bikes. This has let me figure out what kinda rider I'd LIKE to become without fully committing to either lifetstyle so it's been a great fit for me personally. From all the fellow level headed Vulcan Bois out there, we're sorry we called you Hitler Spite!
I have 100% agree with you about trying to find out if you're a sport bike type or cruiser type and this bike definitely will help you decide what you want next because you will want something after this but you'll probably keep this bike.
Picking up my 2017 Vulcan 650 this weekend! I couldn't agree more! I think it will give me all the benefits for a beginner and enough power to have fun!! Cheers and happy riding!
Thanks for this reply. As a 5'6" rider myself, I think this bike will be a great fit. You never see reviews from shorter guys who have to consider seat height and the reach distance for controls. The Vulcan 650 is super adjustable for different sized riders, and I think that is a huge overlooked advantage.
As someone planning on buying a Kawasaki Vulcan S, this video sealed the deal for me to come to a final conclusion.
Throughout the whole video, you guys praise the utilitarian and functional aspects of the bike, while the negative aspects you guys mention are all limited to aesthetics, like appearance, style and sound, in other words, all subjective, non-practical points. The exception being the bike's torque, which was a really nice point to mention, and a point much more important than the aesthetics related points.
And this is exactly what I'm searching on a Cruiser: Usefulness before looks. This ain't no beauty contest after all.
It's a shame to see that part of the Cruiser bike community values more beauty related aspects on cruisers than actual practicality and versatility. "Oh, that's a really nice bike, but mines has a classier look and sounds better". Words like 'utilitarian' and 'functional' are used as negative points, for gods sake, when have we adopted this shallow and insubstantial mindset?
Just see his body and face expressions at 20:48 - "It's very....utilitarian...". We need to get rid of this pseudo-Cruiser mentality. Cruisers should be mainly about utility. Aesthetics should always be left in the second plan. Not saying the classic cruiser style is not important, I recognize the tradition behind the style and how important it is to most people, even to me. But it should always be an accessory to the main strengths of a cruiser, and not the other way around.
What makes me sad is that they valued and gave preference so much more to aesthetics that forgot to analyze and compare what truly makes a Cruiser a Cruiser: its cruising capability. Well, they actually did, partially, while mentioning that the Vulcan S cruises way better on curvy roads. It's one of the best cruisers out there in this aspect after all, thanks to its hybrid nature.
But I wanted to hear more opinions on such major points. What about its engine performance on cruising speeds? Does it reach a pleasant RPM at cruise speed? What about its brakes? Can it handle windy roads well while being lighter than most cruisers? Etc... So many functional aspects to be analyzed cast aside for the preference over analyzing a bike that was clearly built NOT to follow the traditional cruiser style, as if it was trying to follow the trend.
And this is what I love about the Vulcan S. It is a vanguard that has the personality and courage to dare to break out of the trend. It dares to be unique, and it manages to do so quite well considering all things. It doesn't care if the popular kids will make fun of it or not. If there's something it has that is yet to be recognized is personality. Call it simulacrum if you want. Truth is, it never wanted to look like what the traditional cruisers looks like in the first place.
So, in the end, the 5/10 score is a beauty contest related score. Analyzing and scoring the Vulcan S based on what it is, it would easily reach, at least, a 7/10 score.
I think buying a motorcycle is a beauty test.
I think it’s the behavioral equivalent to having a mistress.
Your “wife” is, ummmm….well, it’s your wife, your kids, your job, your Honda Civic, your mortgage, etc.
But your motorcycle is the mistress. It HAS to look good, or what the F is the point?
ps - I looked at the Versys. It checks all the boxes. But I decided it was hard in the eyes and I bought something else.
You don't understand the naked concept of the vulcan. You guys are obsessed with your big, heavy, loud American motorcycles. The vulcan is a naked one that captures the only good thing about American motorcycles: their riding comfort
I am actually looking at getting my first motorcycle. It was a toss up between a ninja 400 and the vulcan s. Pretty sure you just solidified my decision on getting the vulcan.
It depends on how you want to ride more relaxed and chill (cruiser) or relaxed but still haul ass (ninja 650) and depending on your height I would always go for a 650 and above because 400’s don’t hold up their value and I think it’s too easy to outgrow
This is EXACTLY where I am right now wanting to get back into riding after about 15 years without a bike. I came up with the 90's crotch rockets, so the 400 is very appealing to me, but I'm also 42 now so the Vulcan really has my attention too. Still sleek looks, but a more upright comfortable looking ride.
Now I'm torn. If it was money, the 400 would win for sure, but it's not just money, I want to enjoy riding... I need to ride both.
A 2021 Vulcan s is about $7400 and the Scout is $12,000+ base. Why are they comparing these bikes?
Not just about price. Also the scout isn’t $12,000+
Wouldn't the Scout Sixty be a closer comparison like Spite mentioned at the beginning of the vid.
Because they are the only cruisers Yammie currently has to shoot with. An Indian scout 60 would be a WAY better bike to compare to but Yammie already hates cruisers. I can’t see him getting another slower scout just for comparison sake. With Yams you just get random sometimes helpful sometimes not at all helpful information. Its up to YOU to decipher it (and just to enjoy it for what it is...more moto content) 😛
@@Jagknorr fair point
Motorcycles like the Vulcan and the Z650 are like the control group in an experiment that you compare other stuff to.
05:45 Spite not going over 4000rpm: "This is really NOT a rev happy engine"
11:46 Spite on the Scout: "I am actually having a little bit of difficulty on this bike just trying to keep up with you"
💯% FACTS!
Yeah it didn't seem like he knew how to ride the vulcan.
I shift at 7500 rpms when pushing my S. Always blow my HD buds away.
I'm glad someone else noticed it
hahahaha, ikr he dosent know how to ride a japanese bike
I AM A VULCAN OWNER HOWEVER IT WAS VERY CLEAR FROM THE START YOU GUYS WERE VERY BIAS , ALSO 650 VS 1100 ? COMMON NOW
I just got a Vulcan 650 I use to ride dirt bikes and this is my first cruiser and it does have enough power for me. No one is trying to wreck or run from police it’s perfect.
15 minutes into the video (first 12 or so I was only listening) I was losing my mind how fast Yammie is going through these corners on the Vulcan, then I remembered I was watching at 1.5x speed...
Still took them faster than Spite on either bike
I don't know why anyone cares what he thinks of Cruisers, he's legitimately one of the most biased against cruisers I've ever seen
*edit* this is not a jab at Yammie, in fact I quite value his opinion on Sport and Sport Naked bikes. But in terms of cruisers I'll take the opinion of someone who prefers those more. Don't like it tough shit
Yet he actually likes the Scout.
@@LARGO125 and that's supposed to change a bias?? I don't like honda yet there are still Honda's I like, that doesn't change my bias against the company as a whole. All it says it unlike some other youtubers I don't care to watch he's at least willing to give them a try which is awesome, that said if I want his opinion on Sport and Sport naked bikes, not cruisers
Not gonna lie... kinda makes me wanna consider the Vulcan for my first bike.
Just got the 2021 vulcan I love the bike I am a new rider only 5'6 and it is pretty easy to get down I was a huge fan of this channel until I seen this video...I feel like if you dont thrown 1000 dollars into a bike or not getting a Harley it's not a good bike I feel like that's what they saying ....over all go with what feels good to you because safety is number 1. Get out and practice. I would recommend this bike to anyone wanting to get into riding.
@@adam8353 I'm looking t the 2022 Vulcan S. How are you liking your bike? It's been 10 months since this comment was posted, wanted to see how you feel about it now.
Im caught between this bike and the yamaha bolt. Any advice?
65,000 miles later and still loving mine.
@@xxwagyllamabootyxx8554 I’d go Vulcan
I am enjoying my new Kawasaki 2022 Vulcan S Cafe. I have had it for about 2 months and have road about 525 miles. This is my first purchase of any motorcycle and prior to buying this I road a Kawasaki when I took my motorcycle class back in March. This bike fits me. Oh yeah I'm 55 and it's right for me..
Love my Vulcan. My first bike I’ve ever had and couldn’t be happier with how my money was spent.
I love my Vulcan 650 so much 😭 thank you for giving her a chance
You’re welcome :)
@@yammienoob Now it's time for the Royal Enfield Continental GT.
Love my Vulcan S as well, it's so comfortable, has good power, and awesome mods for quality of life. I have an R1 for other thrills.
Came across a Vulcan 650 the other day
It sounded great with aftermarket pipes
Looked good too 👍
@@brendanbongiovanni6394 have a lil stubby on mine. A little obnoxious, but cool to me 🤣
Coming off of a full dress, a sport tourer, a quarter king, and a supersport liter, I wanted something to ride around town and on canyon roads like a scooter. Light, nimble, fun, easy to drive. But I'm not in Italy, so the Vulcan S fit the bill. And I like the look. I'm not allowed in clubs.
Most of those "clubs" are stacked with wannabes. HD wouldn't exist without people buying their overpriced clothes, that should tell you all you need to know. I'm buying one of these next yr.
On the process of exchanging my 2007 HD XL 883 Low for a 2022 Vulcan S. Harley has the price factor on its side. They valuted It around 5000€ so i'm buying the Vulcan with 3000€ . If It was the other way around... who knows? I went Harley for my first/learning bike just because of this. I knew i would sell it/exchange it in the future
It's a bummer you guys didn't get the revs higher than 6k. The bike really shines at high revs
Yes indeed bro... l own a 2015 vulcan s 650cc more than a year now and lm loving it very much... High rev is the pinnacle of the power..
Its a rocket past 5k for me. Remove the governor, the difference is wild.
@@lueccayton7907 How do you remove the governor?
cruiser? over 6k revs? it's NOT how we ride cruisers :D That's why torque is a thing. Or atmospheric vs turbo engines on cars, if you will
@@angryktulhu This bike has a high revving parallel twin, not a V-twin like most cruisers. You wouldn't stay in first gear on a stick shift just cuz you normally drive an auto. Gotta ride the bike how you're supposed to in order to evaluate it properly
This video helped settle the difference between me getting a rebel 500 and a vulcan s... Hard to argue when 2 people dedicated a whole video to attempting to hate a bike and still managed to make it sound good the entire time. I had been almost sold on the rebel until a few days ago, but I've made a full on decision to go the vulcan route now lol
Thanks for helping solidify the decision for me to go vulcan over rebel... I'll likely end up running the vulcan until I step up to a rebel 1100 when I'm tired of the vulcan and am in a position to upgrade lol good looks whether you meant to or not
This was a decision I was mulling over as well. I want the 1100 but the money is too much but I hadn't decided if I wanted this or the 500
I could smoke basically any Harley on this bike.
It was my second bike and I LOVED it.
Now I ride a Triumph Rocket 3. It’s amazing as well.
Now get your hands on a Z900RS Cafe and let me know how it feels letting your inner latte-sipping hipster out! My beard says you’ll love it!
Got passed by a Z900RS in the car today, that thing is a monster in flannel shirts
@@redo1dr yeah man. I’ve had mine for a few months now and it makes me grin ear to ear every time I saddle up.
If Yammie sees this, I have a 2020 Z900RS Cafe here in Austin available for that review!
The Z900RS is a heck of a bike!! Would also like to see if reviewed by Yam.
The seat is too high for a 5.7" tall person.
If the Vulcan S is the Honda Civic of cruisers, Then the Honda Rebel 500 is the Mazda Miata of cruisers!
This is very accurate
I'm not a car person... Is this a compliment or roast? Haha
@@cameronmchugh4153 The Miata is a complement the Civic can be interpreted in many ways
@@okiefreemen ...where u got that from?
@@okiefreemen Unreliable?
One thing about the Vulcan S that I did like, it fits a ton of different size riders. They have adjustments, seats, pegs, handle bars for people of all sizes.
I owned a 2015 Indian Scout from new for 5 years. I sold it when the extended warranty expired because of its unrelenting unreliability. I actually went to Kawasaki after the "Indian experience" - not a Vulcan though. The Kawasaki is utterly dependable. Frankly if I won a Polaris Indian in a lottery I would sell it. The issues I had with the Scout included: leaking thermostat, starter motor complete failure, would not start at all when cold even with good starter motor (very handy in Canada!!) paint that chipped VERY easily, super flimsy detachable windscreen that was super expensive, ran VERY hot in traffic, impossible to check or change front spark plug without major work, poor handling (specifically tendency of rear wheel to "skip" sideways in curves, terrible fuel tank capacity and hence range, very susceptible to cross winds and windy conditions generally, diabolical uncomfortable leather seat, super expensive nice looking leather bags with pathetic capacity. Hey my bike was early 2015 so maybe they improved? Warranty and dealer support was awesome but with no dealers near by still very inconvenient issues.
I can't wrap my head around them, saying the Vulcan looks bad & cheap. If we were to ask a random 20 people. I'm pretty sure 80% would hate how the indain looks. It literally looks like a bike someone would come out riding from a KKK meeting. Looks old & really out of fashion. Second, the big reason people love the Vulcan along with its maneuverlity, ease of ride & great looks, is how reliable it is. I've seen people cry about how their 1st Harley is going to be their last. Lastly, just look at the way that Vulcan was riding. It was so smooth & giave the feeling of being in a relaxed chill ride. (Disclaimer: Indian was reaallly struggling to keep up with the Vulcan).
Oh, you’re “pretty sure” of that, huh? 😂😂😂😂
I appreciate this... I ride a Vulcan S as a beginner bike... it's not perfect, but it does help me learn
My wife has had hers for a year now and she still loves it....
oh man, I want to get him as my first bike, why it's not perfect?
@@Voltomess It's not perfect because of two reasons. First, the classic cruiser look and feel. As mentioned, it really does sound like a lawn mower so sinking a lot money into a new exhaust would make it sound like a cruiser but that's money that could be saved for your second bike. Second, there's a lot of room for improvement. For example, the power is decent but get's much better after installing a power booster. Again, $500 that could be put toward your next bike. With that said, however, it is a fantastic beginner bike. You can keep up with highway traffic, it's easy to get used to for controls and counter steering, great to take to a parking lot and practice, and it's easy to repair. I admittedly dropped mine twice at slow speeds and broke a turn signal, less than $50 including shipping, and I replaced it easily. I dented my gas tank too but that's a dollar amount I don't have right now.
@@1prshark No sarcasm, I’m actually curious as I ride a naked. How did you drop it twice at slow speeds? Is it because you don’t want to lean the bike too much in fear of the foot pegs scraping the ground? I’d imagine you’d be able to catch yourself with your legs seeing how low the bike is.
@@johnpierson2737 No worries. Usually, I catch myself and just keep going. First one, I was fresh out of the MSF and just practicing in a contained area and it was my first time on the bike, so my entire motorcycling life had been about 11 hours. I was still getting familiar with the throttle and blipped it while turning left. I panicked and felt it start to fall. I tried to catch myself but couldn't. I got my left foot down and everything, but I couldn't catch the bike and it fell. The part that really scraped her up was trying to pick her up. I didn't turn the bike off, grabbed the bike by the grips to lift, and I twisted the throttle. The rear tire spun and dragged the bike in a circle. The fall didn't do much of anything, but that idiotic move did plenty. The second time, I had more time with her and I was coming back from the neighborhood pool's parking lot. There was a guy paving a driveway and he had a 20 ft smoothing tool, painted red. I was going about 15 - 20 mph so, still slow speed. He was working and the end of that pole was coming down into the road and I thought it would hit me, but I panic-breaked. I felt like I went over the bars that time.
You guys are crazy. A vulcan s for $7500 is way high. Also please point me to the dealer selling the scout for $9000 I will buy one today.
I currently own a Vulcan S and a Ninja 400 and I couldn't be happier 💁♂️
I really want to get a Vulcan S & turn it into my version of a first gen vmax! 70 lb ft of torque & about 80 - 90 hp. I just love the way the first gen ones look in white. A perfect blank canvas to work with! Can’t wait for this to be my first bike!
I've been riding an SV650S for 17 years. I'm thinking I want the comfort of a cruiser for longer rides but I don't want to give up the nimbleness of my SV. In your opinion, is the handling of the Vulcan comparable to your Ninja? For your average, keeping close to the speed limit, twisties I mean, nothing high speed crazy.
@@lisa69ma the ninja handles way better than the Vulcan, but the Vulcan handles better than your typical crusier
Slap a full exhaust on it and it brings it alive. My vulcan s has a aftermarket seat, full exhaust, grips, the whole shebang. And its an amazing handling bike, it is so nimble and quick in the turns. Engine is very potent. 0-60 in just 4 secs? Hello? Definitely more than enough for anyone. Someone could buy this bike and be more than happy with it for the rest of their life. Would 110% recommend this bike to anyone.
I only started getting interested in 4Runners after I heard every Jeep guy I knew smack talking them. Because of this channel's hatred towards this bike I threw a leg over one at my local dealer out of curiosity and it felt GREAT. They say it feels plasticky and cheap, but the new Nightster feels equally as plasticky but for TWICE the cost. The dash does feel dated, but at least it has a tach, fuel gauge, and gear indicator unlike, say the Shadow which stickers for $1k more. The only part of the bike I think is ugly is the headlight. Everything else feels like a good blend of sport and cruiser. As someone who can only afford one bike at a time, having the blend of a comfy bike that can daily, cross country, but can still take a corner is a great compromise. My 2006 4Runner isn't fast, spacious, luxurious, off-road capable, fuel efficient, or agile. But it's competent ENOUGH at all of those tasks to make it good. Jack of all trades, master of none, sure. But if you can't afford to stock your garage with both an R7 and a Road Glide, then something like the Vulcan S makes a lot of sense
The obvious comparison to make is the Scout vs the Rebel 1100! Also, it would be fun to see Spite do a Street bob vs Chief comparison ;)
I was considering a rebel 500 but now I’m leaning more towards a Vulcan s as a beginner cruiser. Cannot wait to learn to ride.
i had the same thoughts, but the rebel is so much smaller than the vulcan, thats why i chose the vulcan
Same here. Got the Vulcan S instead of the rebel 500.
@@hcdangan Well done Rebel 500 is lovely but too hard at the back!
Just saw this, and enjoyed your commentary on the Vulcan S. I love my Vulcan S for precisely all the reasons you called it milk toast. It is very comfortable, easy to ride, easy to control, but plenty of pick up for me, and corners great. I don't particularly like the deep Harley rumble everyone seems to love. I like my quiet Vulcan, so I can enjoy the music playing in my helmet. I do agree that the best bike for each of us is the one we love, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I do enjoy your videos, even this one where you diss on my Vulcan a bit.
So it handles better than any other cruiser but it’s not ‘the best handling cruiser’ you guys need to stop with the crap... it always comes back to the same thing: “iTs NoT a SpOrTbIkE’ ‘iTs NoT aS gOoD aS a HaRLeY’
The big problems aren’t the bikes, but just the fact you can’t ride! If I can scrape the foodpegs through every corner on a Vulcan, and you still think it’s not handling good? You are the problem... the Vulcan hits a 0 to 60 in 4.2 sec (with my setup even 3.9sec)
Maybe instead of taking that same baby corner road every time, you guys should look into getting a 300cc and really learn to ride
I am a 50 year old man under 5'6"....I sat on one today....I liked it....took a class on the HD 500. I fit the Kawasaki like a glove....I fit the HD like a thrift store pair of shoes.
100% would have a Vulcan over a sporty
I love the Vulcan, it’s easy to pass on the interstate, or the backroads around town, or anywhere
Exactly, why get in the way when you don't have to.
The Vulcan is my third bike and love it. Looking forward to many more miles on it.
You guys convinced me to go look at a Vulcan. Thanks.
I'm 64yrs and have ridden a number of bikes over the years. When I sat on a Vulcan S at a dealer, the ergos felt right. I haven't ridden one yet, but I like the ergo-fit design that can adjust to more people. If I pick up a used one as a 2nd bike, I'll use it for around town-short trips. My current ride is a 2013 Super Tenere...🙏😺
Easy to control, reliable, comfortable, not obnoxiously priced, everyday rider, weekend warrior - day triping capable. Seems like an easy sell to me. Thanks for the review!
I picked the Kawasaki Vulcan S 650 because it was the right bike for me, and that's all that matters. I'll continue watching your video's. They're a great to watch, learn and practice. I'm 53 and just learning to ride
S.M.A.R.T. 👍✌and have fun while doing so. Dave K.
This was my first bike, i loved it. I upgraded to an MT-10 and i love that as well.
Damn that’s a hell of an upgrade lol, that’s badass tho
@@italkgory99 definetly was alot to get used to but I wouldn't have changed anything. I love it
Thats a huge jump...I went from vulcan 800 to a couple 600s....and now the mt10...😆
Same here I have the Vulcan thinking of going to a Duke 1200
@@Goyote for sure, my next bike is gonna be the z H2 when I can actually afford it lol
I sold my HD 883 custom after 8 years and went for the 22 Vulcan. Much better on my back.
I've owned almost every cruiser Yamaha has made, minus the Royal Stars. I have owned an R1 and a FZ07. I'm currently on a Suzuki VStrom 650, and I've never been more happy. It's all about the rider. I literally traded my 1900 Raider for this bike. 0 regrets, and I've owned it 3.5 years now. I put 35k on the Raider and 40k+ on all the other bikes separately, even the FZ07(45k when I traded it for the Raider). Once you stop caring about what others think about your bike and focus on what makes you happy, you are just more happy. I don't feel like I have to prove anything on this bike like I did some of the others(R1 and Raider specifically).
I fell in love with this bike when I tried it. I came from a little Suzuki 150 to this, and I'm 5'2, so jumping to a C50 was not an option. I love that the bike looks so odd, and I had the chance to ride 550km next to a HD 1230, and while I was pushing my bike to the limit, I wasn't left behind at all - plus mine didn't spill oil and bolts after the ride (just kidding!) Thanks for the review, it certainly is more like an acquired taste, but the bike is perfect for small riders and works so, so nicely.
At the end of day it all comes down to being on 2 wheels...
Good video
I love the idiocracy reference. The vulcan 650 is “not sure”. I have a 09 vulcan 900 as my first bike. I’ve been riding it for a year and it’s been good to me.
From a guy that’s only ridden three different bikes. The MSF course 250 cruiser I believe it was a Suzuki. A 2016 R3 and a 2017 modded out ZX10R, I look at the Vulcan S as first off a reliable bullet proof engine with some punch in horsepower and torque but nothing ridiculous. Also from everything I’ve seen it handles well in the corners and it’s super comfortable at an affordable price point. I’m not into the big V-Twin leather jacket or vest wearing, big beard Harley lifestyle. Where I live in West Central Pa that’s virtually all you see. Everybody and I mean about 95% of riders are on a Harley or some other big V-Twin. They all look the same. I like the Vulcan S looks too. I think it’s a bike that’s supposed to give you some of the feeling of a sport bike with the comfort and look of a cruiser. It’s not trying to be a big v- twin and to compare it to one is kind of unfair.
15:42 “I would rather this bike (the Vulcan S) than a Rebel 500, for sure.”
I'm finally really a part of this community 😭 just got my license and Z400 today and I've never been happier
You get the blue or red? Just got a leftover orange one last week and everyone asks me if it's a ktm lol
@@ricardonorton2383 had to go with the red though I did like the blue one too
I want to add the Z 400 to my stable for the ever challenging city rides, I already have the Vulcan 650 S, which I love by the way.
@@kenspix I love my Z400 so far and it feels great cruising through the city/traffic.
Started laughing when you mentioned “All the Vulcan boys popping champagne!” As a new rider and owner of Vulcan, I personally love it. Definitely would like more power.
Haha same here, new rider m Vulcan rider.
Imagine if kawi jumped on the muscle cruiser bandwagon and threw an H2 engine in the vulcan s.....
Love taking my Vulcan 650 up to the mountain twisties!
This is my dream bike and all I heard from this video is it’s good so it’s bad and the engine isn’t loud or powerful enough, (thus forgetting its a beginner bike)
the vulcan s is like 2 guys (one on a chopper and one on a sportbike) who are friends and drive with one another BUT in one bike, one wanting to speed up and one wanting to chill / lay back. I picture the chopper dude like constantly pulling the collar on the sportbike one whilst riding along (again viewed as one 'soul/bike') hope it makes sense english's not my first language...love my vulcan s 650 and am never gonna sell it
The Vulcan is still an idea for my first bike
Me too
I’d say the softail standard if you’re a taller rider in decent shape.
@@keirekcharm not too tall 5'10" and I haven't been to the gym much since well...covid :/
I ride an xsr900. My friend got a Vulcan S as a fist bike and we both love it! It's a super fun little bike that is comfy, easy to ride, and handles really well. The power is more than enough to keep you entertained and it will cruise at 80mph+ all day long.
Now we need a video of Spite milking a grape
You can see that on his only fans account.
This was the video
he gotta lie
I sat on one in the dealership and it felt and looked really nice.
ive had over 15 bikes over the years and the vulcan s is the best in its price class
I'm a new, shorty rider. Wanted a bike that was easy for me to handle but could keep up with my boyfriend's Triumph and go on the freeway comfortably. I personally love the way it looks and it suits my needs perfectly. Love my Vulcan S!
I actually wanna see what Spite thinks of the vulcan 900
I rode an 08 Vulcan 900 for almost a decade. It had almost 100000 kms (I'm Canadian) on it by the time I replaced it...
6213.712 miles. That's barely broken in. Good job 👍
@@SikSh0oter its 100,000 not 10,000, genius...
@@SikSh0oter It's 62,000 miles..... you're a regular math wiz, aren't you...
@@jjfromthebigland781 - Maybe don’t assume SikSh0oter was being a jerk? It looks like his misplaced his decimal point, but wasn’t being sarcastic. We’re all in this together, so let’s be nice to each other.
I ride a vulcan S as my daily rider. Comfy and fun, they got a lot of things right.
Plus I would describe it as the weird kid at school who's just trying to fit in.
The Vulcan needs some slight work to be a great bike (lights, seat, EXHAUST, fairing) but it is a good bike to start for sure
Hey y'all! Coming in really late here, but gotta throw in my two cents. For reference, my personal bike is a 2021 Ninja 1000sx. My wife, however, rides a 2020 Vulcan S, and absolutely loves it. The biggest selling point for her (that wasn't mentioned AT ALL in the video) was Kawasaki's Ergo-Fit system. See, she's 5'2", with really short legs. The Vulcan S was the only bike that she could *touch the pegs* on. From my perspective as a sportbike rider, the Vulcan S is a fantastic second bike. The one you take out when you decide to do something a little different that day. It handles superbly well (as was said), and is a lot of fun to ride. It won't blow your socks off, but you'll still enjoy the ride.
I bet you rev your bike at every stop light... Because you're sooo cool. The Vulcan is a solid bike for sure
how dare he include the versys in his rant. Trigger happy with his complaints
Yammie: it's like Japanese manufacturers can't make a bike that handles that bad.
*Honda Fury and Suzuki M109R have entered the chat*
I heard the fury isnt bad at handling. Reviewers say looks make you think it wont handle well but once they ride it they say it's ok. Not sure myself, I never rode one.
Fury handles fine. 109 does good for a big tire bike. Neither bike good for beginners.
I would never accuse the Fury of handling well, but it does handle much better than it should (especially when compared to something like the Raider). The M109R on the other hand doesn't seem to realize that sometimes you don't want to just go where you're pointing. Can't blame the fat tire on it, I have a 240 rear and can carve just fine.
@@TRathOriginals Funny, decided to flip my 109 after owning a few weeks. On my second Raider after selling my vrod. And you can't carve on any cruiser. Got a cbr1000rr for that.
Only problem with the Fury is the lean angle. Handles very well aside from that.
idk guys... I see you going and riding it like a cruiser in the 3-5k rpm range... Take that bike into the 7-9k rpm range and it gets a whole lot more fun. If you ride it like a girl then it's a girly bike. I ride my road king on the highway with no windshield and get blown all over the place at 80mph... this little vulcan, highway, no windshield, and I'm going over 100 without even noticing.
I bought this bike for my fiance's first bike and it's absolutely perfect for that. She loves it and I think how easy it handles helped her build confidence riding. Not to mention that there are 3 settings for 3 different options so 9 total different configurations. You can adjust the placement of the shifter, the seat, and the handlebars in three different positions each. For a beginner, it's perfect.
Sure it sounds like a sowing machine, but you can either upgrade the exhaust or modify it yourself. There's several videos showing how to make it sound way better with a drill and some bolts. I bought a 2015 with 3k miles for $3k... fuck wit it
There’s no point revving it out
Reviewing a bike and still saluted another rider in the middle of it… good man.. good man