Kawasaki’s Vulcan cruiser is tired of residing in the shadows of the Big Twin market. Just introduced is a new-from-the-wheels-up 1700cc cruiser that includes a more powerful drivetrain and a nimbler, stronger chassis than the previous Vulcan 1600. The new Vulcan 1700 is a significant upgrade over the old Vulcan 1600 line, starting with a motor said to offer 20% more horsepower. The new mill is indeed new, not some enlarged version of the old 1552cc “1600.” Kawi says the engine is based loosely on the giant Vulcan 2000, although it uses a single-overhead-cam design with four valves per cylinder instead of the V2000’s pushrods. A 102mm bore was retained from the V1600, but the stroke was stretched from 95mm to 104mm to create an even 1700cc – that’s 103.7 cubic inches for those adverse to the metric system. Power production is smoothed out with the addition of Kawasaki’s first electronic throttle valve to the fuel-injection system that adapts to inputs from throttle position, load, temperature and air pressure. If the on-board diagnostic system detects a problem, the ECU can default to one of three fail-safe modes. The cruiser genre’s currency is big torque, and the new Vulc purportedly has 108 ft-lbs to trade, its peak arriving at just 2250 rpm. Horsepower crests at 4500 rpm. Kawi says the V17 motor produces 15% more torque than the V1600. Even more impressive is a claimed 20% boost in horsepower. Shedding heat is a combination of nicely machined/contoured cylinder finning for air cooling and liquid-cooled upper cylinders. Cruisers aren't exactly known for high-end brakes, but the new Vulcan gets a nod for its triple-disc setup. Sure, twin-piston calipers are kind of low-tech nowadays, but combined with the 300mm rotors, the unit does a pretty nice job of hauling the Vulcan down from speed. Modulation is a breeze, and you can howl both tires if you squeeze really hard. Current cruiser vogue demands a companion bagger version of the base model so you can hit the high road in style. The call is answered by the Vulcan 1700 Classic LT, which offers a full complement of touring accessories, including a studded touring seat, a pair of studded leather saddlebags, a large height-adjustable windshield and a passenger backrest. The LT (Light Touring in Kawasaki parlance) is the functional equivalent of the base Classic--other than the bags and shield, there's not much else to distinguish it, which is why Kawasaki has rolled out the "value" argument to bolster its appeal. This bike like all our bikes will be fully serviced, inspected and detailed at the time you take delivery. See this and other great deals at www.cyclehunters.com haldemanAuto/cyclehunters.com 102 Old Ebenezer Rd Lebanon Pa, 17046 717-273-1809
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