2023 Kawasaki Vulcan S - Cruiser Styling! - Sport Bike Fun! - Complete walk around review!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2022
- The Kawasaki Vulcan S is a cruiser that punches way above its weight class (in part because it doesn't weigh as much!) If you're looking for fun in your cruiser, this is the bike for you! Check it out in person at Jim Gilbert's PowerSports. Connect with their team here: powersports.wheelsanddeals.ca...
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The ergo fit is so great! I have the package for short riders. No back pain or hip pain anymore even after a long day of riding. Also the adjustable clutch for short fingers is awesome!
Thanks for watching! I really appreciate when viewers take time to help out other people who are looking into this bike. My goal is to build a helpful community here, so I appreciate it!
Just ordered 1 of these can’t wait to get it, its gonna be my first bike.
Very nice representation of the Vulcan S. I live in Germany and have now reserved the Vulcan S as performance equipment with Arrow exhaust. It's a very nice bike for a passenger too. I love cruisers and naked bikes. The handling and the comfort were the decisive factors in buying this bike. Unfortunately, I have to wait another month until I have my open driver's license in Germany, but I can do that on leisurely tours through the Rhineland. Top speed of approx. 190km/h is perfectly sufficient. I'll just swap out the mirrors too😅😅
A very comprehensive video. I enjoyed watching this. The Vulcan is a cool bike for sure.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
I have a 2019 Vulcan S. I love it.
Great looking bike! Excellent overview Thanks!
Thanks for watching. Yeah. This bike is underrated. It's very good!
This is also a great bike for senior riders 😊
as someone whos 6 foot 7 this is the only cruiser id buy and im sure as hell trying to get one
Excellent dash. A cool mix of analog and digital.
Yeah, I just finished filming the Z900RS (it's uploading now) and it has a similar idea with its dash. Even though the Z900RS has more technology, they still blend it into a great combination of modern, easy to read information, while having dominant analog gauges as the primary information and style points.
Beginning (and older!) rider just investigating what might work. I'm 6' 3" and that ergo-fit feature sounds like just what I need. The Vulcan S might be the perfect one for me. Worth a trip to the dealer to check it out.
Yeah! Be patient. A good dealer should be able to show you what they can do, but I've seen this bike fit all kinds of people who are all different heights.
Just saw it today at the dealership good looking bike in person feels nice
Perfect! Yeah, it's so important to see things for yourself. It makes it easier to see if you have a connection with it or not. The specs only tell part of the story. Thanks for watching!
Beautiful bike!👌👌👌
Yeah! I like this one too! It's more fun to ride than your typical cruiser!
I live in New Zealand and I’m thinking of getting this for my first bike great review getting me excited for it 🙏🏽💯
Awesome! Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe, I'll have more on this bike in the future!
Great job at explaining thx
Thanks for watching!
Great review 👍👍.
Thanks for your support! Feel free to subscribe! I'll have plenty more reviews coming!
Great review. Very helpful. Thanks you for posting it. I am fascinated by the Vulcan S and this makes me realize it has three quite practical features that Kawasaki evidently deemed too modern for my 2020 W800: gear indicator, fuel gauge, and hazard lights. I am not about to trade in my W800 for anything, but, these features are noted!
Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe. I have more planned. I haven't reviewed the W800 yet, but I expect to do that in 2023! Kawasaki really nails it with their variety of bikes. I'm interested to dig into that one more.
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks Peter. Will do. I really love the W800, and will look out for your review! Actually in fairness to the bike, it does have a low fuel light, which is more than I have been used to previously.
Thanks for your detailed review 👍. I live in Germany & plan to buy this bike as I like to cruise around at 130km/ hr on the highway 🛣.
You have covered all the imp features of the bike which helped me make my decision.
I was earlier thinking of the HONDA rebel 500 but I think it is a bit small , I am 5f 11” & think the Kawasaki would suit me better & I like the balanced proportions 18” wheels 🛞 front & back.
The only think I would like to have is a top box that could accommodate 1 or 2 helmets as I don’t like to roam around with a helmet ⛑ once I park the bike.
I think it is a great bike for my style of riding.
Thanks for your review !
Awesome! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts!
i sat on the cmx 1100 rebel; that was terrible unless your 5'5 or under.
Last year I rode the Honda Rebel 500 which rides super smoothly. But I traded it in earlier this year for the Vulcan S for ergonomic reasons. Oh man I do NOT regret this. It is the best motorcycle I ever rode (it is bike number 10 for me). I am a short woman (5.01 ft, or 1.53 meter).
@@mie1jos Thanks so much for sharing!
Month ago i had this beauty for a month druving in Thailand.
I own honda Gold 1500 but this bike must be my extra next ....
I just fell in love in this bike.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I really like it. 👍🏻
My biggest gripe with it is I wish it was belt driven or maybe shaft driven. Maintenance is far less that of chain drive.
I can see a belt drive would work, but a shaft drive would add weight and expense, two strong points of this bike. Thanks for watching! I love hearing people's opinions on what should be next with these bikes!
Currently looking to upgrade from my 300 to a Vulcan S or a 900 custom. I’m gonna be riding longer distances in the near future and doing more long road trips, but I’ll be daily driving in the city so I think I’m leaning more towards the Vulcan S. Great looking bikes!
I have a bias towards the Vulcan S, I'm not really a cruiser guy, but the Vulcan S would suit me, for sure! The Vulcan is also a great bike, but I just don't see myself on a big cruiser. I like lighter nimbler bikes!
I have a 2022 and it is as you say good job
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Good for you! :) There are differences between 2023 and 2022? Thank you in advance.
Great vid
Thanks so much for watching! Feel free to subscribe, I've got a lot more coming!
Awesome review...Hugs Jim
Hi, that looks really smart
Yeah, I love this bike!
Great bike 🔥
It really is! Thanks for watching!
@@PeterLoweOne l plan to buy this bike 🔥
@@minitsang6855 Awesome! You're going to love it! Feel free to subscribe! I have more videos coming of that bike!
i got 2023 and love it. i do hope they make a 1000 cc version with like ninja 1000 engine for more power but keep most the rest of this same just update few things.
Few months ago I saw of this bike 2022 edition, I decided that time I need this bike but first I need to make my license, so I registered myself to the school I will finish in January 2023, I hope I will pass easily. I am learning as hell :D. Thank you for the detailed review. By the way, what is the difference the 2022 between the 2023 edition?
Thanks for watching! The 2022 and 2023 should be essentially the exact same bike.
asia bikers must get the ergo fit seats from USA; amazing. can't find any news that the dipsplay shows gears Basics IMO ! looking at this vs. nightster S. that has modes, tpms, gears, temps etc.
no space taken up to have it all See bmw; roller wheel to get thru 10 pages of features. but more $$$. tpms is needed for sure along with gear display. looks like they finally added it. is there a powered plug to add aux lights w// relay ?
I'm considering getting my motorcycle license (I'm 24) and I'm seriously considering getting this bike. I've heard Kawasaki is a reliable brand, and with this being a cruiser with some zip to it (AND great looks), I think I just might make the jump for a Vulcan S...
This is a great bike if you want a cruiser! It's a lot of fun to ride too! Not every cruiser is as nimble as this. I think you'll enjoy it!
This was my reentry bike after not riding for 20yrs. It was really a lot of fun. I upgraded to a bigger bike so my wife could ride with me, but I think they are great bikes.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your experiences! Yeah, that 650 engine really does a lot. I used to have the Versys 650 with the same engine, and I think that engine is the perfect, on-road, sporty engine for 1 person. It's more than capable of taking two people on the bikes designed for that, but on the Versys 650 it lost some playfulness with the passenger on.
Been thinking about an upgrade to one of these, currently have an 06’ Vulcan 500 with the ninja 500 P-Twin and it moves well but want something a bit newer and more comfortable.
So I used to own a Ninja 500 with the same parallel twin that you have. I then bought a Versys 650 with this new engine, I can tell you that the power difference, and everything about that engine is a nice improvement. I really like this engine for just about any type of street riding. As far as comfort, I'm not sure how comfortable your bike is, but this one is very good for me. Thanks for watching!
It's not horrible for short rides but the pegs on the 500 are more centerline so after a while it starts to get uncomfortable. The seat is also pretty bad 😄 but the acceleration is great and handling amazing for what it is which is why I want to stay in the Vulcan sporty cruiser line.
I don't get the need for bigger and bigger engines for touring. However I think the 900 custom could be the sweet spot.
I had a 400 Eliminator (400 in-line 4 from the GPz 400 ninja, and shaft drive) was supposed to be sporty but had hardly any ground clearance. Was an enigma as it sounded awesome at the redline (15,000rpm) but you had to slow down so much to be able to get around a corner safely.
Yeah, I think different people are going to have different needs. Having owned a Versys 650 for years, I can tell you that this engine is plenty capable for all types of riding. I love that there's so much variety in the motorcycle world. One thing I would caution people though, is that some people think a 650 cruiser can't keep up with bigger bikes... This one is faster accelerating than a whole lot of bigger cruisers.
I owned VN 900 classic for 15 years and it’s only because I couldn’t lug her around anymore is why I finally had to to part with her, and I can honestly say that she she was in as good a condition when I sold her as the day I purchased her and she never ever let me down . If you can find a decent VN try it as you may be pleasantly surprised but remember that they are true cruisers and not sport bikes
750cc would be good; more power then they don't like to ride in 3,4th gear for heavy traffic, in city.
does this display show gears ? i assume no tpms yet.
Is the 650 a 180-degree crank or 270?
Can you change the km/h to Mph?
How tall are you? Im 6ft tall and im just wondering if it is too big or small for me, great review btw. Thankyou.
I'm six feet as well. The foot pegs weren't installed correctly in this video (they were switched just afterwards) but you'll be perfectly comfortable on this bike. Thanks for watching!
Are you in NJ? Also, when will the ABS version be available?
We're in New Brunswick, Canada. My understanding is that you can still order them with ABS. They may not be in stock right now. But I'd have to double check to be sure.
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks :). it's been quite difficult getting one because of the chip shortage, from what I'm told. Very frustrating.fustrating
I'm returning to riding after 10 years and I am 66 years old. Due to my age, I thought a lighter bike like this would be a good choice to keep me riding for a lot more years. What you think?
If you like the cruiser style, you can't really go wrong with the Vulcan S. It's much lighter and more nimble than a traditional cruiser, and because it uses the Ninja 650 engine, it's actually faster than many cruisers with much bigger engines. I really like the 650 twin engine because I feel like it's easy to drive, but still gives you all the power you would want on the streets. Another underrated bike that uses the same engine is the Z650RS. The RS stands for retro sport, so it has that classic bike look, but it's a fully modern bike. I say that it's underrated because the styling has the side effect of having a very comfortable riding position. Having said that, if you want the cruiser look, the Vulcan S is still a great option!
Do you know if there are any differences between the 2022 and 2023 models?
They're supposed to be identical. I haven't found any differences yet.
country dependent. Asia has no ABS. usually black only.
@@PeterLoweOne
sad kaw does not have hard panniers and then add new bars for side and tiop box . So I'll get it all from Shad. !
How did you get a 23 model in black with abs? As far as i can tell, abs is only on the olive model. the black is base no abs
I film in Canada, so I'm guessing you're watching from somewhere else?
@@PeterLoweOne Ahh that must be it! Might have to take a ride up there. Thanks!
Can anyone tell me how to get one that is blacked out with abs? Everywhere I look online (including kawasaki website) says abs is only on the green model. Just curious if this is something I will have to do custom, or call around
ABS was limited due to chip shortage issues. We don't have the green in Canada, but maybe that's how they allocated things, by color?
@PeterLoweOne Ah, thank you, I was getting really confused about it. I suppose I'll look and see if maybe it's the same thing in thing in my area, I've mostly been doing online looking so far.
Can you change it between mph, and kph? I'm from the States, but live in Canada.
Oooh.. I'm not sure. My Z900RS SE has analog gauges, but no MPH shown. American versions of the same bike have both MPH and KPH. So I haven't checked the Vulcan S. I'll have to dig into that. If you want to check for yourself, the digital versions of the owner's manuals for all the Canadians bikes can be found at www.kawasaki.ca
@@PeterLoweOne I'll give that a look. I just figured the RPMs will stay the same, but with the digital speedometer it might have that ability. Easier than trying to calculate it out in my head. lol
I love the Kawasaki Vulcan S but my only complaint is the display. Like its a 2023 model, time to move towards a TFT display like on the NInja/Z 650 models and above
Yeah, somebody mentioned earlier that they wish it had LED signal lights. It seems like it's later in the schedule to receive updates compared to the rest of the lineup with the same engine. Thanks for watching!
yes sure; bmw tft is great; new versys has a tft; that copied bmw. 500x has a tft. but it will chane in 2024
No! Part analog is cool.
Analog is good enough, led signal is quite easy fix, not a big deal. The biggest problem with vulcan is exhaust sound ... this is what kawasaki should aim to fix
@@MrPoliarinis analog is old school so no it not good enough in this day and age. It’s not even a decently designed analog gauge. Kawasaki’s 400’s and 650s aren’t known for the exhaust sound.
Im about 6'3 340 looking for my first bike. Everyone saus bigger is better for me. But i dont have the road confidence.... would this be a good beginner bike?
It's something that you'd have to try out for your size. For reference, I'm about 6 feet tall, but only 180 or so. You and I are going to fit this bike very differently. You'll want to dial up the preload on the shocks to keep the ride height, but as far as power goes, this should be very manageable for you.
@@PeterLoweOne thanks alot. I appreciate the reply!
@@PeterLoweOne 6' and 200 lbs; the pegs to be moved out and ext seats will make a big difference.
Torn between this and the classic.
They're both really good. The Classic is bigger, and a little more (as the name suggests) a traditional cruiser. The Vulcan S is a little smaller, more nimble, and personally, it's the one that I would choose... but that doesn't mean it's the one that you should choose. I've had a cruiser in the past, but it was a very small displacement, first bike. Most of the experience that I have is with sportier bikes, and my most recent bike was the Versys 650. I really liked that bike, and the Vulcan S shares an engine (and other parts) with the Versys, and has a lot of the same character. It's a little more sports car, where as the Classic is a little more pick-up truck. Both great, but different feel and different character.
Do these bikes have slipper clutch assist
Great question. This one does not. Most of the other 650 cc bikes do, but most of them have been updated since this one has.
I’m curious what seat was on the bike & foot pegs position in the vid, from what I’ve researched the bike has 3 seat options I’m 6’2 250lbs my goal is losing about 40lbs more. Guess I’ll just have to head to my local dealer & sit on one
Yeah, this was likely set up for the mid position. The footpegs were actually installed incorrectly when I stole it for the video, and they were corrected right after the video. But yeah, you need to see this with your dealer to make sure you get set up to fit the way you want.
I just have one question, What does it sound like.
I plan to record a number of the Kawasaki exhaust notes in future videos.
The ninja 650 and z650 is like 80lbs lighter than the Vulcan S. How come this bike is so much heavier and where is the weight?
I haven't checked the specs, but this bike is definitely longer. It would surprise me if it's 80 lbs heavier, I'm not saying that you're wrong, but it doesn't feel heavy as the weight is down low, but for sure some of that would be in the length of the bike.
What year/model is it? Sadly, 2023 does not come with Matt black color.
I film in Canada and it does come in this colour here for 2023.
Yes it does, I just bought one. It's called Spark matte black.
seems like everye wants a large windshield for rain/ winds but not in the design.
Which bike is better for a beginner female rider Vulcan or rebel 500
I think they're both good bikes. To me, the Vulcan S is a better bike, I think you'll have more fun on it in the long run, I'm definitely biased towards the Kawasaki model line, but that's my opinion.
Not sure why I’m here cause I’m not into heavy bikes definitely not cruisers but if I had to get one it will be a Vulcan S
The Vulcan S isn't really a big or heavy cruiser. It's a lot of fun!
Kawasaki needs to come out with a 1000cc version because every cruiser out now has a 500-1000cc class to choose from and even Honda has a 300cc version too.
There is a Vulcan 900 and 1700. I'll admit that those are different bikes than this one, but they do build models to compete across the cruiser lineup. And to be fair, the 300cc from Honda is not a huge seller. I don't think it would make sense for Kawasaki to launch a model in that category. Kawasaki has a lot of options for small displacement motorcycles, I'm not sure a cruiser would pay off for them, and as much as we'd like certain things, there has to be a business case for them.
@@PeterLoweOne I mean in the looks department’s if they kept the same looks for the 1000cc variants I’d be sold, I personally like the looks of this Vulcan but a 600cc liquid cooled producing 49Hp just isn’t enough
@@PeterLoweOne I guess what I’m trying to say is if they kept the same looks from this Vulcan and just put a bigger power plant I’d love it
@@lucianoromero777 yeah. That would be cool!
@@lucianoromero777 its 61HP not 49HP
Isn’t ABS mandatory over there?
Not on motorcycles in Canada. But it wouldn't surprise me if this changes soon.
@@PeterLoweOne for the better right? I mean I’d think ABS is the most important extra you can have on a bike.
👍💪
Thanks for watching!
I was sold on one of these, took a ride on a friend's early model, and it just felt loose, even though it didn't have many miles. Disappointing because my Kawasaki Z400 felt very precise. I ended up with a Rebel 1100, which goes and sounds much better than the 650 does. Hopefully, Kawasaki comes up with a real sport cruiser to compete with the Rebel, Sportster S, Nightster, and Scout at some point.
I haven't experienced that looseness that you feel, but it does handle sport riding differently than the Z400 for sure. I'm all for more sport cruisers from Kawasaki though! Thanks for watching!
rebel1100 is not where as comfy; pegs all in wrong position, no rear seat, mini gas tank. A total mis design.
Amazing; kaw does not offer a rear rail package for a top box !
The manufacturer is never going to offer as many accessories as the aftermarket, but you can get a LOT of accessories for this bike.
I have the 2023 with no abs and stops just fine. Don't be afraid.
ABS isn't about it stopping fine or not. ABS can assist in keeping a wheel from locking up and helping keep a rider in control, especially in an emergency situation, or in slippery conditions. I don't think it's about being afraid or not, it's just a nice feature for some people to have.
I have a 2021 Vulcan S and I find myself riding it a lot harder then my sport bike lol.
Haha! That engine, and the overall package makes this a really intriguing cruiser. I'm not a cruiser guy, but I'd ride this in a heartbeat, and it looks cool too!
Is there a vibration at high speed?
The 650 isn't as silky smooth as something like the Versys 1000 inline 4 engine, but I think you'll find that for what it is, it's excellent. No motorcycle is without vibration, but I don't think you'll have any issue living with this bike. It's plenty smooth enough for me.
@@PeterLoweOne thank you
@@PeterLoweOne what about comparing rebel 500 vs vulcan S for vibration???
@@joonhokim79 Great comparison! Neither engine has very much vibration at all. They both function the exact same way. When one cylinder goes up, the other (parallel) cylinder goes down, effectively cancelling out the vibration. The biggest difference between those two engines is the massive performance difference. The Honda engine has around 45 HP and 30 ft-lbs of torque. The Kawasaki has around 61 hp and 46.5 ft-lbs of torque. That's a significant percentage difference. It's immediately noticeable, and makes the Vulcan S a much more fun bike that you won't immediately outgrow.
@@PeterLoweOne thx for replying
single disk in front; cb500x just went with dual disks out front; inverted forks. Great . nothing new for 23' vs. earlier years.
selling my new bmw f900xr for one of these; ride lower, more comfy for touring with a passenger. Spare parts are problem for bmw in Asia.
I like the style but I don’t like the heart shape headlight.
Yeah, I'd like to see them update that. I think they tried to make it unique, but it's not the uniqueness that I would have chosen, I think. Having said that, it wouldn't stop me from buying the bike. It's a great bike!
Can a 5’ 9 guy handle this motorcycle easily?
For sure! this is great for riders of all sizes. It has an ERGO-FIT design that allows it to fit people who are very short, to very tall by swapping things like seats, and foot peg positions at the time of purchase. There are VERY few people who won't fit this bike.
@@PeterLoweOne thank you for your reply
1st
Why does it have to be so quiet😢
Footpegs are installed incorrectly on this bike.. The scraping metal part should be facing down, not forward.
Interesting. I'll have to connect with the team here.
@@PeterLoweOne Swap them left - right / right - left and it will solve the problem.
@@pinecone76 I just checked with them, and they already saw the video and thought the same thing. They're fixed.
@@pinecone76 prefer to have foot pads on both.
2023 wont make to asia till oct 23 !
yOU DON'T GET anything custom at the dealers; in Asia; you get what they have,and pay for the rest.
Kawasaki really cheapen out not putting led lights all the way around
It seems like they're updating some of the other bikes before this one. I'm sure it'll receive an update in the next couple model years. On this bike I don't mind it as much because cruisers are more of a timeless style, but I hear you.
they will have to next your since the versys 650 is all new tft/led along with 500x but. they are not cruisers. Someone should have 3rd party options.
Everything but start the bike
I prefer the Ninja display.
whoever fitted the foot pegs needs glasses, they are 90deg out of position
Yeah, This bike was fixed immediately after this video. You're correct. I grabbed a bike that wasn't ready for the showroom for this video. That's on me.
I like the bike, but will NEVER buy it with that horrible paint job.
Haha! This has been a popular paint scheme for them! That's the thing with paint colours though, they can't offer bikes in 30 different colours, so they'll never please everyone. They often change them year over year if they feel that it needs an update, but as I say, this has been popular for them.
@@PeterLoweOne I would be happy with any high gloss color,..... Flat Black NO....
That’s one ugly motorcycle
Haha. Sounds like it's not for you! A lot of people love the look.
Please stick to automobiles...
No... I'm not going to do that. I'll regularly cover automobiles on this channel, but I'm also going to regularly cover Kawasaki, Piaggio, Vespa, Pedego and more. Instead of telling someone you've never met what they should do with their work, just find a different channel to watch. If you're subscribed, and not seeing what you want to see, I won't be offended if you unsubscribe and search for a channel that suits what you're looking for, but don't tell others what to do with their channel. I put a lot of time and effort into this, and you're just being rude.