Kawasaki VN 900 Vulcan Classic Light Tour  Special Edition

The Kawasaki VN900 Classic Light Tour Edition adds leather panniers plus pannier brackets to the VN900 Classic. It gets a windscreen and fork leg wind deflectors too.

Review

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT motorcycle takes the class-leading attributes of its Vulcan 900 Classic sibling and ups the ante with additional custom touring features and enhanced style. Kawasaki accessorizes the Vulcan 900 LT with saddlebags, a special seat, passenger backrest and an adjustable windshield. The only add-on that doesn’t show-up on the showroom hang-tag is the riding enjoyment that this new Vulcan addition will provide its owners.

This mid-size entry from Kawasaki not only delivers the same excellent riding characteristics as the Vulcan 900 Classic –featuring a category-leading 903cc engine displacement combined with “big-bike” look and feel– but does it with eye-catching features for riders that think touring represents the ultimate get-away.

The stylish saddlebags are made of reinforced top grain cowhide that has been carefully selected to minimize leather flaws and deep-dyed so the finish can’t be scraped off. These perfectly sized bags provide a slant-top opening, fastened with two 1.5-inch wide leather straps that feature chrome buckles and quick release stealth fasteners. Rounding out the look of these bags is an embossed Vulcan logo on the reinforced, dual panel lids, and chrome plated brass stud accents. Helping to protect both the bags and their contents are metal reinforced upper edges to help maintain shape, and rolled and riveted top lids to help keep unwanted moisture out.

The rider’s seat and passenger backrest combine to offer both comfort and a look that allows the Classic LT to take its place among the most stylish motorcycles on the highway. The seat is detailed with chrome plated brass studs to match the bags, while the classic, tombstone-shaped passenger backrest sports identical studding. In addition to comfortable seating, this long, low cruiser offers some serious wind protection; thick, optically correct acrylic plastic is used in a windscreen that’s shaped to smooth airflow around the rider.

In addition to appreciating the 900 Classic LT’s good looks, riders will find themselves enjoying a ride that was previously found only on larger cruisers. Based on much of what has propelled acceptance of the Kawasaki’s Vulcan 2000, the Vulcan 900 models deliver exceptional roll-on acceleration, easy maneuverability, and performance the equal of larger displacement competitors.

The Vulcan 900 Classic LT employs a low-maintenance belt drive to keep the overall weight down and improve rear-end styling. Any mention of rear-end styling has to include this unit’s use of a large, 180mm wide rear tire, and largest in the category. The beefy, “big-bike” look inherited with the larger tire adds to the guttural, classic V-twin sound that is produced by the use of a single-pin crankshaft. Both look and sound evoke the feel of a much larger motorcycle.

The Vulcan 900’s larger look and feel need not exclude any potential rider. The low seat height makes it accessible for shorter riders and its tapered and studded seat design flows comfortably into the tank. The lower chassis rails also provide a narrowed shape, which makes it comfortable for all riders.

Equally at home around town or when the open road calls, this motorcycle is built for hour after hour of touring pleasure. The combination of wide handlebars and an ideal relationship between the bars, seat, and floorboards offer an extremely comfortable mount for any motorcyclist.

The Vulcan 900 Classic LT is available in the following two-tone color combinations: Candy Fire Red / Metallic Titanium or Ebony / Galaxy Silver. With either selection, the Classic LT owners will be noticed by everyone they pass along the highway.

Features

Engine
903cc V-twin SOHC engine tuned to deliver lots of torque from low rpm
Smooth and reliable
Gear-driven balancer allows use of single pin crankshaft without heavy vibration
Four-valve Cylinder Head
Better breathing for more power and low-end torque
Provides maximum valve area for optimum flow
Single overhead cam design is simple, lightweight and practical
Extremely efficient intake tracts feature ports that narrow near the combustion chamber to increase intake flow speed for more efficient filling and increased torque
Long intake tracts for great low-end response

Liquid and Air Cooling
Finned cylinders and head combine with liquid cooling to provide exception thermal control
Maintains consistent engine temperatures for long engine life and sustained power
Automatic fan keeps things cool even in traffic
Includes temperature warning light

Concealed Automatic Cam Chain Tensioner
Maintains precise valve timing
Maintenance Free
Assures greater reliability
Hidden from view to preserve the engine’s clean, basic look

Rubber-Mounted Engine
Eliminates engine vibration at all speeds

Dual Slash-Cut Mufflers
Big slash-cut mufflers look great and contain honeycomb catalyzers to reduce emissions

Positive Neutral Finder
Just lift the shift pedal from first gear at a stop to find neutral easy, every time

Electronic Fuel Injection
Dual throttle bodies with sub throttles provide optimum performance and rideability
The sub throttles, located behind the main throttle valve, are controlled by the ECU so that the DFI system retains more precise throttle response, similar to a constant velocity carburetor
Fine-atomizing fuel injectors produce a fine fuel mist for better acceleration and fuel consumption

Belt Drive
Lower unsprung weight than shaft drive to improve ride quality and suspension action
More efficient so more power reaches the rear wheel
Low maintenance and low noise

Double Cradle Frame
Large-diameter box section backbone is very rigid, allows use of a larger fuel tank, and helps contribute to high stability and lightweight handling at low speeds
Triangular swingarm looks like a hardtail design
Single rear shock hidden beneath the seat
Long and low for minimal seat height, maximum visual impact
Fork offset and frame geometry combine for light, low-effort handling at ultra-low speeds
Long wheelbase adds to highway stability

Tank-Mounted Speedometer with Turn Signal Indicators and Caution Lamps
Gives you the information you need at-a-glance
Compact design complements the bike’s clean look

Push-to-Cancel Turn Signals
No fumbling, just a simple push on the switch cancels the turn signals

41mm Front Fork
Excellent rigidity and 5.9 inches of travel
32 degrees rake angle for excellent straight line ability
Wide fork pitch for classic look

Front and Rear Disc Brakes
A 272mm front and 242mm rear disc have twin-piston calipers for great power and feel

Spoke Custom Wheels
Chromed steel rims and spokes
“Spool-style” polished aluminum front hub

Wide Rear Tire
180mm rear tire provides added stability while projecting a powerful image
Wider tire than that found on most large-displacement cruisers

Windscreen
Thick optically correct acrylic plastic windscreen is shaped for smooth airflow and cruiser style
Strong chrome plated steel supports
Adjustable height

Saddlebags
Made of reinforced top grain cowhide that is carefully selected with minimal flaws and deep dyed so that the finish can’t be scraped off
Slant top opening lid, with two 1.5-inch wide leather straps, chrome buckles and quick release stealth fasteners
Dual panel lid construction with embossed Vulcan logo detail
One-half inch diameter chrome plated brass stud accents
Metal reinforced upper edge so bags hold their shape
Rolled and riveted top lid minimizes water entry

Passenger Backrest
Classic tombstone shape
Strong chrome plated steel supports
Pad cover detailed with chrome plated brass studs

Low Stepped Seat
Ultra-low 26.8-inch seat height allows riders to easily plant both feet on the ground at stops
Laid-back riding comfort for two
Detailed with ˝-inch diameter chrome plated brass studs