5 THINGS I DON'T LIKE: 2014 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CUSTOM

[@karenshepherd4389]

If you don;t like the engine size and no 6th gear why did you buy the bike?

[@chrisalexander6278]

Interesting 🤔❓

[@OswaldoAgurto]

Or the chrome 😶

[@donaldweaver5128]

On the highway yes needs that extra gear but ride it round the country roads with trees and windy roads its amazing and im 6.2 and it feels fine .

[@TSUNGFX]

I love the chrome!!! Super happy to see that the majority of this vid is personal preference. Very excited to get this as my first bike. Hopefully the brakes situation was fixed or dampened with the later models

[@loaderopp]

I have the same 2014 Vulcan VN900C, even the same color. I find the forward controls perfect for my five foot seven height. Brakes are fine for me 0 complaints. Not everything is built for sky scrapers. lol

[@DrSnobbles]

These comments are strange I bought a 2021 Vulcan 900 custom and it hauls ass on the highway but if you switch gears at low ass RPM duh .... There are accessories for everything online and the bike rides very smooth. This guy also has no mods and could make things much better. stock bike and gripes which is 90% of all riders. LOL the transmission is also geared perfect for a 5 gear it pulls just fine. go get an air kit and an upgraded exhaust and a power commander..

[@MrGchiasson]

Bought my 2020 Vulcan 900 custom in 2021... Love the bike. Big enough & nimble for a cruiser. Maybe a 6th gear would be nice...but hardly worth mentioning. The only thing mine needs is a coffee cup holder. Hah!

[@peteenns67]

Aside from the vibration at higher speeds, all these complaints are easily addressed. You can get forward control extensions for longer legs. You can pull off all of the chrome parts and either powdercoat them or just replace with darker colored parts. Change your drive pulley and it helps with the high revs at highway speeds. Upgrade the brakes with new calipers, pads and rotors. Add handlebar extensions if you feel it isn't comfortable. For me, part of owning a bike is to modify and upgrade it to suit your needs. I personally love my 2011 900 custom se. These bikes have been around for quite awhile already, and their parts havent really changed a lot, plus there are tons of aftermarket parts available for them now, I feel the majority of these complaints are just being nitpicky

[@mikelovestoride3518]

I have a vn 900c and have no problems with the 5 gears up to 75mph which is fast enough for me. You can install a taller profile rear tire. My brakes are fine, For a 900 cc bike, I like it.

[@Doomstrader]

You can also change the front and back sprockets that change the gear ratio that give you much less buzzing . It has a great transmission, why after alll these years they haven’t changed it is beyond me. My main bike is a street glide now but I still hop on my Classic LT and have so kuch fun riding it. What a smooth motor before 65mph.

[@itomtluis7355]

I have a 2010 Vulcan 900 Classic LT, I too have shifted for 6th Gear MANY times. You can fix that gear, put in a larger front and or rear pulley. I just got a Baron 34 tooth front pulley, will put on over the winter. I'm opting to put on a larger rear tire next tire change rather then changing the rear pulley. I'm also putting on a big air kit, the Kuryakyn Chrome (don't hate) Alley Cat air cleaner. Also doing the pipes, Cobra Speedster pipes. Can't wait for Spring time!!

[@collin1254]

Sounds like your bike is gonna be badass! I didnt even think about changing the pulley. Thanks I'm gonna look into that!

[@itomtluis7355]

@@collin1254 If your air and exhaust are stock I would only recommend the front pulley. With the air kit and pipes I'll gain more torque and a cpl more ponies. So that will help with 1st gear when i do the tire change. Quite a few vids on KZbin for this mod. It will lower the RPMs and get rid of the vibes during hwy cruising. BTW: I love the paint job on your 900 Custom!! Link to part: www.denniskirk.com/baron-custom-accessories/34-tooth-front-pulley-ba-6574-00.p80668534.prd/80668534.sku

[@collin1254]

@@itomtluis7355 thanks I appreciate it! Defintely my favorite paint they offer so far! I defintely want to switch out for some new pipes and air cleaner eventually. Maybe I'll try to do them all at the same time like you!

[@donaldweaver5128]

This bike flys round corners faster than my vtx 1300 great fun.

[@stephengrainger7586]

He should not be doing this vid it's only a 900

[@kamsdad6880]

If this bike is uncomfortable for you it's gotta be your size, I never met anyone that thinks this bike is uncomfortable

[@peteenns67]

The only comfort complaint i see regularly from people regarding the vn900 is the seat being uncomfortable after a couple hours

[@clydeosterhout1221]

Like all bikes, the 900 is the result of numerous design compromises. It had to be inexpensive, as it was a bike for those who wanted a Harley but couldn’t afford one. It had to be (relatively) light and low powered as many of those Harley wannabes were new riders who would have killed themselves on a bigger, faster bike. It had to have lots of chrome because Harleys all had lots of chrome back in 2006 when the bike was designed. It doesn’t have better brakes because of pricing and because Kawasaki didn’t want to have a bunch of newbies wrecking their bikes by locking their brakes up. It is the size it is so that shorter riders and newbies will feel more comfortable on it. Yes, the 900 is a very compromised bike. All mass produced bikes are. The 900 aims for the lower end of the cruiser market, so those compromises can easily irritate and frustrate some more experienced riders. I am an experienced rider, and the 900’s many compromises really annoy me. But it is the cheapest bike I could find that provides me and especially my wife with the leg room we needed as we grow older. When equipped with a Mustang seat the 900 LT is all day comfortable and can easily carry both us and enough camping gear for a week at the very moderate speeds at which we prefer to travel. Is the 900 a great bike? Absolutely not! It doesn’t excel in any area, and is mediocre in most. But it is a good enough bike in every way. It is fast enough. It is comfortable enough. It handles well enough. It stops well enough. And above all it is cheap enough. $10,000 for a new fully equipped touring bike is pretty good, $2000-$3000 for a very low mileage used one is fantastic, and there are a LOT of them out there. A good enough bike that does everything you need it to do is far more valuable to us than a bike which absolutely excels in many ways but is too heavy, too small, or too expensive. I don’t love my 900, but my wife does. The passenger accommodations are perfect for her. Sometimes that’s what matters most!

[@ericoswald5222]

Why did u buy a bike that your putting down ? You must of known all this before hand .. but thanks mentioning the forward controls, cause your short compared to me at 6’6” , makes me want to rethink

[@amicusdraco5526]

I am still considering this one for my first bike. Thanks for your thoughts. I did get a chuckle when it dawned on me why the Joyce/ Crossover intersection looked so familiar. LOL...

[@tonyaviles5308]

I just bought a 2012 900 as my first bike. I can't compare it to anything else but I love my Bike. No it's not super fast and nothing fancy but I think it's a great bike and I paid five Grand for it. It had less than five thousand miles on it

[@hassassin091]

I bought this exact bike new as my first. It is perfect not too bug but not too small to where you will grow out of it. I feel like his criticism is picky with the chrome, 6th gear and controls. The ONLY bad thing is it is quiet after 35mph you wont hear the engine but that's the only criticism I would give. Buy it you will be super happy you did

[@CHIM601]

This dude desperately needs to come out of the closet! 💯 Lol

[@j.b.5348]

I was thinking about buying this as my first bike after passing the MFS course. I'm also 6' 2" and thought the ergonomics of this would be perfect until hearing about your issues with the forward controls. Also the weak brakes might be a deal braker for me as I'm just starting out and safety is the most important thing for me.

[@collin1254]

It's not an uncomfortable ride for us tall guys, but it can be a bit cramped as compared to a full size touring cruiser or ADV bike. The brakes also could be better, but I think if you upgraded the cables and pads they would be a lot better. I'm glad I was able to give some insight for you. If anything try to take one for a test ride and really feel it. Thanks for watching!

[@glockuser8584]

Was looking for my first bike as well and was considering this or the Yamaha vstar 950 but this one seems sportier and I've always liked the dyna style bikes.

[@collin1254]

The Vulcan is definitely sportier and has that more aggressive Dyna style to it. It has worked out very well as my first bike!

[@dyz_5199]

i would say the forward controls are better for taller people im 6'2 and I LOVE the forward controls absolutely love them never had them before and theyre so comfy

[@jhawk1897]

I’m 6-2 and love this bike! I did put handlebar risers on because I felt slumped. I’ve had mine 3 years now and it is SO dependable! I have a red 08 and I get a lot of compliments on this bike

[@grumpymonk3661]

How is chrome a fault of the bike. That's just your preference

[@just-dl]

A few thoughts and I think you’re already all over this….seats pegs and handlebar lifters will begin to address the comfort issues. Will it do enough? I’d be curious to know how it goes for you . I’m 5’7” so my interest is academic only! 🤓 Lack of sixth gear. Agree. And, I’d like to see a Vulcan 1200. The brakes. I’m no expert but I’d say something is wrong if you’re worried about it’s stopping power. Beg, borrow or steal another 900 to see if it’s a one off brake issue. If the master has been rebuilt, get steel braided brake lines. Beyond that, a brake guy for the calipers and the rest. My guess is something is absorbing brake pressure that ought not to! I really only have one complaint about the 900. I don’t have one. (Yet.)

[@just-dl]

I just realized this is a 4-year old video. How did it go? What worked, what didn’t?

[@corneilcorneil]

Missing 6th gear, correct, high rpm, correct ... use Baron F and R pulley's Chroom ... paint it FW controles ... there is a extention kit on the market. Stronger engine? Just buy one. 😆 Brakes ... i agree 100%, they are just BAD and i can't find upgrades.

[@cheezyridr]

i have a 2017, and i would agree with alot of your critiques. mine's blacked out, so i don't have hardly any chrome to polish. however, some of your picks are not the bike's fault. yeah, it could use another gear, but no other cruiser i know of has a 6th gear. if you feel it could use more power, i would say, it's only 900cc v twin. if you want more power, you need a bigger bike. per your size, a bigger bike would address your comfort issue as well. a vaquero is actually double the price. i would steer you to a boulevard c90 or a honda fury. the fury is chromed out, but you can have some of it painted or powder coated if you wish, just like people who buy chrome parts. there are no v stars made anymore, or i would include the 1100 custom.

[@jamessavidge6382]

cheezyridr the Vulcan S has 6spd and and options. It’s a 650 but it really punches higher than its weight. Check out srk cycles.. the have done a lot of comparisons and the Vulcan s outperforms almost every time

[@cheezyridr]

@@jamessavidge6382 i know of srk and bikes & beards chanell. i like them alot. no argument the vulcan s is a cool bike. when this wuhan virus subsides and dealership re opens, i plan to test ride one. everyone has good things to say about them.

[@omnifx]

I have the 2007 Vulcan 900 custom. I replaced the stock 32 tooth front pulley with an after market Baron Custom 34 tooth pulley from Amazon Shopping and it is like I got another gear. It is much smoother on highway and I could ride all day comfortably. Also gas milage is much improved. My fuel light used to come on around 170 miles. Now it comes on around 200 plus miles. Still have plenty of power. You can google this and find out what other people have to say on this subject. KZbin even has video's.

[@noelj10]

Maybe something is wrong with your bike? Some people say Vulcan 900's are "buzzy" at highway speeds and seem to need a 6th gear but this guy takes his to over 80 mph and it doesn't sound like the motor is struggling at all. It doesn't seem to be vibrating a lot either. Maybe it's a manufacturers defect on some of the bikes? Here is the link to his road test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWKpgI2egd2Yd8k

[@GamingMaster007]

my shadow 600 has 4 gears and at 60 its screaming got a 07 shadow 900 and in 5th it cruises the highway fine lol iv hit 115 already XD

[@0Rthx]

ya would be nice if it was 1200-1300 instead of 900

[@vackyvlada1]

Its your first bike and you are expert to say Bike need 6th gear. That comes from person (you) who didn't do any research about that 900cc engine. On cruiser 6th gear usually on 1800cc which are Indian, Harley, is overdrive. Overdrive put engine to work on cruising speed 50-60-70 mph in low RPMs, which are around 3000RPMs. Now you are on highway cruising on 50mph in 6th grar with low RPMs and torque on this bike comes on 3500 RPMs till max 8000RPMs, and you want to accelerate in 6th geat and you want to pass car, and here comes safety issues problem, you will accelerate super slow in 6th geat on 900cc Vulcan. This engine not similar at all as Harley low RPMs 1800cc engines air coo,this engine works normal for hours over 5000RPMs because its water cooled and its designed like that. So please do some research, since its your first bike. This come from personal with 100k miles for last 10 years on various cruiser bikes.

[@sanj5026]

I agree with you fully

[@thegoblin2684]

And number six IT NEEDS CRUISE CONTROL .

[@lyzfarrar7352]

This guy is a whinner. He probably would whine if someone gave him a Boss Hog.

[@j.s.hutchens7623]

You're right about the chrome. The 1960s called, they want their chrome back.

[@7thsignthenorthcoast146]

Damn I’m 6’2 and was going to buy this bike

[@collin1254]

It's not a bad bike but I'm the same height and it does feel like I'm a bit big for it 😬

[@cleatiesshackelford]

i own this bike im 6'1" 300 pounds love it

[@BassOutcast]

Same height as you and never had an issue with it. it feels totally comfortable for me.

[@Voltomess]

@@collin1254 have you ever seen a bigfoot or yeti on a motorcycle? sell it and don't ride any bike, go back to the forest ........

[@2tallnegrito7cmn55]

Wtf is this guy speaking bout

[@juangarza6684]

It's got enough stopping power.. 😐

[@kelmac111]

Use both front and rear brakes all the time

[@juangarza6684]

I actually do.. its just i previously read.. that it does not have enough stopping power.. but i think it does... a bud of mine has one.. and i just find it fine.

[@corneilcorneil]

@@juangarza6684 Sure not. Daily rider here.

[@danf8047]

Got the same year and model but mine is dark grey with red accents... I wholeheartedly agree, I wish it either had an extra gear or more power.. unfortunately as much as I love this, I'll need to get up to at least 1200cc+

[@collin1254]

Yeah I hear you. Great bike to get started on, but past that most will want something bigger.

[@vackyvlada1]

You are changing gears way to early and your torque is always in minimum, thays why you as a expert things bike is slow pulling. RPMs on This bike goes till 8000 with no pressure on engine. But you as a expert never try to ride this bike as you should you have to rev high and then you can feel torque.

[@ronphilpott9199]

Start walking.

[@robertkillingsworth4461]

Go buy another bike I hope you already have complainer

[@mikelovestoride3518]

I have a vn 900c and have no problems with the 5 gears up to 75mph which is fast enough for me. You can install a taller profile rear tire. My brakes are fine, For a 900 cc bike, I like it.

[@mikelovestoride2367]

I meant to say 70 mph, overall gearing should be taller/ wider.