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/128389
Vulcan 2[)[)[) Revi§it.ed, Leno'§ Garage Vi§it.ed A year after its introduction, Kawasaki's Vulcan 2000 still reigns as the behemoth of the big-inch, V-twin cruiser segment. The 52-degree, liquid-cooled, pushrod-actuated eight-valver displaces 2053cc - a displacement with no replacement as of the 2005 model year. Even though the Vulcan 2000 remains unchanged since it first took to the streets, Kawasaki recently invited members of the motorcycling press to revisit the colossal Vulcan 2000 via an offer that was too good to pass up. In addition to a leisurely street ride aboard a gaggle of Vulcan 2000s equipped with various accessory odds and ends from Kawasaki's Fire and Steel line of aftermarket accessories, Kawasaki set us up with the VIP treatment at NBC studios for a taping of the "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" featuring Jay Leno. After the show, we were then escorted to Leno's garage near Burbank airport and treated to a full tour of Leno's massive, elegant and eclectic car and motorcycle collection - by Leno himself. Not surprisingly, Leno also owns a Vulcan 2000, which he chose to ride to the studio on the day we visited. Since he is a certified gearhead who owns several "sleepers" - vehicles that appear totally stock to the untrained eye but that pack a highhorsepower wallop under the hood - we can only guess that Leno must appreciate the Vulcan 2000's Herculean power output, phenomenal brakes, smooth shifting and easy riding. Since he also owns several Duesenbergs and other such long-wheelbase classics from the '30s, ''lOs and '50s, we're betting that he probably doesn't mind wrestling the BOO-pound Vulcan 2000 around in his garage as much as we do in ours. Of course, his garage is a bit bigger! Scott Rousseau To cast your vote, log on to www.cyclenews.com. WEb INSiYE Cyclenews.com reader poll question of the week Now that the 2005 Team USA squad of Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham and Mike Brown has been announced, how do you think they'll do at the 2005 Motocross des Nations in France? A. Team USA is going to kick butt and take names! B. It'll be a tough fight, but Team USA should prevail. C. It sounds too good to be true: Something will derail the Team USA victory train. Michigan Boy§ To Men Jay Springsteen (center) pops the cork on the champagne after scoring his 19th career AMA Grand National victory and his third Louisville Half Mile victory in a row, June 2, 1979. Randy Goss, right, finished third. The cheeky kid on the left? That's Scott Parker, who's probably smiling more because of the fact that nobody has yet realized they're about to serve a minor on the podium. Together, these three members of the Michigan Mafia would account for 152 AMA Grand National wins and 14 AMA Grand National Championships. Hard to believe, but of the three, Springsteen is the only one still racing! Online poll results from last week Who do you think is a more dominant racer. Ricky Carmichael or Valentino Rossi? A. Carmichael Is king. B. Rossi rules. 4786 1761 (73.10%) (26.90%) Total Replies: 6547 CYCLE NEWS • AUGUST 3,2005 101