Big easy: the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic.

Publication: Rider

Publication Date: 01-JUL-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Ehlert Publishing Group

Wait a minute--this isn't the Way it's supposed to work. When a motorcycle cost less, should if? Yet the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic longer, lower more stylish and powerful, and at $10,499, it's $500 easier on the wallet that the 2002 Vulean 1500 Classic FI which it replaces. Maybe it's the new math

The Vulcan cruiser series has always been a terrific value, especially once Kawasaki figured out that it should gear them lower and more rumbly for the open road. The 1600 is the only all-new Vulcan for 2003--the culmination of 17 years of experience with the liter-and-a-half V-twin, and it really shows.

Much has changed, little has stayed the same. Like all of the big Vulcans, the 1600 is based upon Kawasaki's liquid-cooled, 50-degree V-twin with single overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. A single pin crankshaft gives the Vulcans a lope and feel quite similar to a popular American brand. By increasing the 1500's stroke 5mm, displacement jumps to 1,552cc in the biggest new Vulcan 1600--this and refinements to its pistons, crankshaft, dual-plug ignition and digital fuel injection result in about five percent more, horsepower than the last Vulcan 1500 FI we had on the dyno.

But torque, twisting force--grunt--is the all-important number in this big-inch, stoplight-to-stoplight class. With 10 percent more than the Vulcan 1500 FI--about 78 pounds-feet total--the-Vulcan 1600 surpasses a stock Harley-Davidson big twin now, but surprisingly for a recent release still isn't in the sane league as the Honda VTX1800, Yamaha Road Star or Victory Vegas. Why?

Perhaps because it costs money to develop...

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