Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127772
NEW BIKES 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan cruisers Star , the 1500c c Vulc an Classic exudes nostalgia with its 1940-'505 styling, much of w hich has to d o w ith its lo w seat height , len gthy wheelbase, fat tires, 16inch spoked wheels, long-flared fenders, large chassis, tank- mounted s peedo, round and chromed air-filter cases and its monstrou s V-twin, eigh t-valve, watercooled engine. Not to mention, beautiful paint (Su nbea m Red I Ebony or Pearl Alpine white I Pearl Chateau gray to choose from) and glossy finish. The big Vulcan Classic did share some of th e spotl ight in Sa n Diego with its diminu tive broth er, the new Vulcan SOO Clas sic, based on the Vulca n 800 that made its debut just last yea r. The same Vulcan 800 returns for '96 with new colors, but the 800 Classic features similar bebop styling an d performance mod s to that of the new 1500Classic. The quickest way to tell the 800 and 1500Classics apa rt is th e rear sus pension. The 800 Classic featu res the "ha rd-tail" look with its single-shock sus pension and chain-d rive n systems, while its beefier brother boasts dual shocks and shaf t dri ve. There are many other differences, but they are more subtle. Kawasaki remained faithful to its original Vulcan models by keeping the more custom -looking and less expensive 1500, 15OOL, 750, 500 and 500 LTD cruisers in its lineup, making eight Vulcans in all to choose from. But it was the 1500 and SOO Classics that motorcycle journalists from around the world came to see and ride. The heart of the 1500 Classic is its big, water-coo led, 1470cc, SOHC, V-twin engine, d esigned to p rodu ce am pl e torqu e for "easy and relaxed riding," not to m ention pr ovide "powe rful exha us t soun d qual ity." To maintain that classic look of the early '50s when water-cooling was only a dream , Kawasaki went to (Above) The new Kawasaki Vulca n 1500 Class ic rivals Yamaha's Royal Star In the battle fo r made- in-Japan, big-bike cru ise r superior ity . Prlcewlse, the Vulc an costs nearly $3000 less. (Rig ht) The 1500 Class ic's styling concept was based on merging the classic des igns of the 1940s and '50s with modern tech nolog y. (Below) As shown here on the new 800 Class ic, Kawasak i off ers a long list of accessories for both the 1500 and BOO Class ics . By Kit Palmer awas aki Motor Corporation recently ho sted its world press introd uction of the company's complete line of Vulcan cruisers in San Dieg o, Ca lifornia, and without a doubt, the bike tha t stole the show was the all-new Vulcan 1500Classic. The b ig , low and long Classic is Kaw asak i's answer to Yamaha 's newest entry into the heavy-metal cruiser market, the 1300ccRoyal Star. Like the Royal J( 14 great lengths to make the Vulcan's rad iator as inconspicuous as possible, and did so b y flush-m ounting the rad iat or between the fra me 's tw o fron t downtu bes, and incorpora ting fins into the cylinder jugs. Big, round and chromed air-filter covers grace eac h side of the motorcycle (the 800 Classic has just one case on the right side of the bike). To give the 1500Classic that big, cruiser feeling, Kawasaki squeezed out every ounce of torque poss ible from the Classic's hu ge motor. As a result, Kawasaki