Once upon a time, V-Twin motorcycle manufacturers waged a great bore war, a classic contest of one-upmanship to make the biggest, baddest cruiser on the market. Kawasaki put up a valiant fight full of Mean Streaks and the mighty Vulcan 2000, competitors parrying with mighty Warriors and VTX giants. Aww, the good ol’ days of the displacement wars.
And while those days are but a distant memory, Kawasaki still makes a solid cruiser motorcycle and the vaunted Vulcan name lives on. Kawasaki just released its full 2021 line of motorcycles, and beyond colorways and a $200 higher sticker price across the board, its cruiser offerings remain unchanged from 2020. Here’s a peek at Kawasaki’s 2021 cruisers with specs and prices.
2021 Vulcan 900 Classic ($8,199)
The Vulcan 900 has been a staple of Kawasaki’s Vulcan line since 2006. For 2021, Kawasaki offers it in three variations, each powered by the same 903cc liquid-cooled V-Twin. The 2021 Vulcan 900 Classic stays true to its name with spoked wheels, whitewalls, and floorboards with a heel/toe shifter. From its sweeping bars to its relaxed ergonomics and wide 180mm backside, the 2021 Vulcan 900 Classic is primed for cruising the PCH.
2021 Vulcan Custom ($8,699)
With its 21-inch tall front tire, cast wheels, trimmed fenders, jet black exhaust, and drag bars, the 2021 Vulcan Custom is the sportiest of the three. At 27 inches, seat height on the 2021 Vulcan 900 Custom is a little bit higher than the 26.8 inch height of the Vulcan Classic and Touring models. At a claimed 610.8 pounds, the Custom is easily the lightest of the three, the LT the heaviest at 657.1 pounds. Not only does the 2021 Vulcan Custom run a 21-inch-tall front hoop instead of a 16-incher like the other two, it’s fork is raked out an inch more and it has about a foot more trail. Overall, it’s 2.3 inches shorter and 4.4 inches slimmer than its 2021 Vulcan 900 stablemates.
2021 Vulcan 900 Classic LT ($9,199)
The 2021 Vulcan Classic LT sports a classy, traditional look like the Classic albeit with a handful of useful touring accoutrements. The LT package includes leather saddlebags, a touring seat, and a passenger backrest, all three accented by shiny studs. The extra grand also gets you a tall, height-adjustable windscreen and a 24-month limited warranty (both the Vulcan 900 Classic and Custom have 12-month warranties).
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS ($16,999)
The Vaquero returns as the lone bagger in the Kawasaki stable. The 2021 Kawasaki Vaquero ABS is equipped with a 52-degree, 1700cc V-Twin said to punch out a healthy 107.6 lb-ft. of torque at 2,750 rpm. It’s front fairing is frame-mounted and houses both instrumentation and an AM/FM/WB audio system with SiriusXM Radio compatibility. The hard saddlebags provide almost 10 gallons of storing each and are sealed and lockable. Cruise control comes standard, as does Kawasaki’s Advanced Coactive Braking Technology (K-ACT ABS). At $16,999, the 2021 Kawasaki Vaquero ABS undercuts its American frame-mounted fairing competitors by thousands of dollars, the 2021 Indian Challenger priced at $22,999 and the 2020 Harley Road Glide with a $21,699 MSRP (Harley hasn’t released its 2021 line yet).
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS ($17,699)
The 2021 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager ABS is for riders who like to go that extra mile. With the same distinctive frame-mounted front fairing and styling as the Vaquero, the Vulcan Voyager ABS sees the addition of a capacious topcase, passenger backrest, lower leg fairings and crash bars to protect the hard saddlebags. They’re both powered by Kawasaki’s capable 1700cc V-Twin and have the same suite of electronic rider aids (cruise control and K-ACT ABS). One thing the 2021 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager ABS lacks that its touring competitors has is a TFT display and a high-end infotainment system, opting for a standard AM/FM/WB audio system with SiriusXM and intercom-headset compatibility instead. Though the Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS has a few less frills, like the Vaquero it rings in thousands of dollars cheaper than comparable American-made tourers.
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan S ($7,199)
Though it doesn’t quite fit the typical cruiser mold, Kawasaki bills its Vulcan S as a “Sport Cruiser” so we thought we’d include it. Light, agile, and fun to ride, the 2021 Vulcan S ABS runs a DOHC Parallel Twin engine from the Ninja 650, albeit with more of an emphasis on low-end and midrange grunt. Like the engine, it’s chassis and suspension setup both borrow from Kawasaki’s sportbike line, too. It’s laydown, offset rear shock is seven-position preload adjustable. One of the best features of the Vulcan S is its Ergo-Fit system which allows riders to dial in ergonomics. The seat has three placement options, as do the footpegs, while the handlebar is two-way adjustable, and overall there’s 18 combinations. The motorcycle has another helpful feature, what Kawasaki calls its Economical Riding Indicator or “Eco” mode. The system continuously monitors fuel consumption, engine speed, throttle position and other riding conditions. When a rider is being easy on the throttle and using a low amount of fuel, the “Eco” indicator appears on the instrument panel’s LCD screen letting riders know they’re cruising at just the right speed to get the maximum gas mileage. There's also a cafe version of the 2021 Kawasaki Vulcan S which costs $8,199.
2021 Vulcan 900 Classic Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 55-degree V-Twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 903cc/55.10 cu-in.
Bore x Stroke: 88.0 x 74.2mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum Torque: 58.2 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 34mm Throttle Bodies (2), with sub-throttle valves
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 5-speed with positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Kevlar-reinforced belt
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 41mm Showa telescopic fork/5.9 in.
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Uni-Trak swingarm, 7-way adjustable spring preload/4.1 in.
Front Tire: 130/90-16
Rear Tire: 180/70-15
Front Brakes: Single 300mm hydraulic disc
Rear Brakes: Single 270mm hydraulic disc
DETAILS
Frame Type: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / Trail: 32/6.3 in.
Overall Length: 97.0 in.
Overall Width: 39.6 in.
Overall Height: 41.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.
Seat Height: 26.8 in.
Curb Weight: 619.6 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 64.8 in.
Color: PEARL STORM GRAY / PEARL BLIZZARD WHITE
Warranty: 12 Month Limited Warranty
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 55-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 903cc/55.10 cu in
Bore x Stroke: 88.0 x 74.2mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum Torque: 58.2 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 34mm Throttle Bodies (2), with sub-throttle valves
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 5-speed with positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Kevlar-reinforced belt
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 41mm Showa telescopic fork/5.9 in
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Uni-Trak swingarm, 7-way adjustable spring preload/4.1 in
Front Tire: 130/90-21
Rear Tire: 180/70-15
Front Brake: Single 300mm hydraulic disc
Rear Brake: Single 270mm hydraulic disc
DETAILS
Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / Trail: 33/7.2 in.
Overall Length: 94.7 in.
Overall Width: 35.2 in.
Overall Height: 44.1 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.5 in.
Seat Height: 27.0in.
Curb Weight: 610.8 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 64.8 in.
Color: CANDY STEEL FURNACE ORANGE / METALLIC SPARK BLACK
Warranty: 12 Month Limited Warranty
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 55-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 903cc/55.10 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke: 88.0 x 74.2mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum Torque: 58.2 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 34mm Throttle Bodies (2), with sub-throttle valves
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 5-speed with positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Kevlar-reinforced belt
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 41mm Showa telescopic fork/5.9 in.
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Uni-Trak swingarm, 7-way adjustable spring preload/4.1 in.
Front Tire: 130/90-16
Rear Tire: 180/70-15
Front Brake: Single 300mm hydraulic disc
Rear Brake: Single 270mm hydraulic disc
DETAILS
Frame Type: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / Trail: 32/6.3 in.
Overall Length: 97.0 in.
Overall Width: 39.6 in.
Overall Height: 58.3 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.
Seat Height: 26.8 in.
Curb Weight: 657.1 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 64.8 in.
Color: PEARL METEOR GRAY / METALLIC SPARK BLACK
Warranty: 24 Month Limited Warranty
2021 Kawasaki Vaquero ABS Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 52-degree V-Twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 1,700cc/103.7 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke: 102.0 x 104.0mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum Torque: 107.6 lb-ft. @ 2750 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 42mm Throttle Bodies (2)
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 6-speed with overdrive and positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Carbon fiber-reinforced belt
Electronic Rider Aids: Electronic cruise control, Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-Braking Technology (K-ACT II) ABS
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 45mm Showa telescopic fork/5.5 in.
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Swingarm with twin air-assisted shocks, with 4-way rebound damping/3.1 in.
Front Tire: 130/90-16
Rear Tire: 170/70-16
Front Brakes: Dual 300mm discs, dual four-piston calipers, K-ACT II ABS
Rear Brake: Single 300mm disc, twin-piston caliper, K-ACT II ABS
DETAILS
Frame: Steel, double-cradle with box-section single-tube backbone
Rake/Trail: 30/7.0 in.
Overall Length: 98.8 in.
Overall Width: 38.2 in.
Overall Height: 50.8 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.7 in.
Seat Height: 28.7 in.
Curb Weight: 895.2 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Special Features: Integrated audio system with SiriusXM Radio compatibility
Color: METALLIC CARBON GRAY / METALLIC SPARK BLACK
Warranty: 36 Month Limited Warranty
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 52-degree V-Twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 1,700cc/103.7 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke: 102.0 x 104.0mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Maximum Torque: 107.6 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 42mm Throttle Bodies (2)
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 6-speed with overdrive and positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Carbon fiber-reinforced belt
Electronic Rider Aids: Electronic cruise control, Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-Braking Technology (K-ACT II) ABS
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 45mm Showa telescopic fork/5.5 in
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Swingarm with twin air-assisted shocks, with 4-way rebound damping/3.1 in.
Front Tire: 130/90-16
Rear Tire: 170/70-16
Front Brakes: Dual 300mm discs, dual four-piston calipers, K-ACT II ABS
Rear Brake: Single 300mm disc, twin-piston caliper, K-ACT II ABS
DETAILS
Frame: Steel, double-cradle with box-section single-tube backbone
Rake/Trail: 30/7.0 in.
Overall Length: 100.8 in.
Overall Width: 39.2 in.
Overall Height: 61.0 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.
Seat Height: 28.7 in.
Curb Weight: 895.2 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Special Features: Integrated audio system with SiriusXM and intercom headset compatibility
Color: PEARL METEOR GRAY / METALLIC SPARK BLACK
Warranty: 36 Month Limited Warranty
2021 Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS Specs
POWER
Engine: 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 649cc
Bore x Stroke: 83.0 x 60.0mm
Compression Ratio: 10.8:1
Maximum Torque: 46.3 lb-ft @ 6600 rpm
Fuel System: DFI 38mm Throttle Bodies (2), with sub-throttle valves
Ignition: TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
Transmission: 6-speed with positive neutral finder
Final Drive: Sealed Chain
PERFORMANCE
Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 41mm telescopic fork/5.1 in.
Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Lay-down offset rear shock with linkage and adjustable preload/3.1 in.
Front Tire: 120/70x18
Rear Tire: 160/60x17
Front Brake: Single 300mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear Brake: Single 250mm disc with single-piston caliper
DETAILS
Frame: High-tensile steel diamond frame
Rake / Trail: 31/4.7 in.
Overall Length: 90.9 in.
Overall Width: 34.6 in.
Overall Height: 43.3 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.1 in.
Seat Height: 27.8 in.
Curb Weight: 498.3 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gal.
Wheelbase: 62.0 in.
Colors: Metallic Flat Raw Graystone, Pearl Blizzard White
Warranty: 12 Month Limited Warranty
