2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic

Pros: Styling, Comfort, Smooth ride, and over all beauty!!
Cons: After market accessories are slow coming out but they are coming little by little

I started riding cruiser style street bikes in Sept 2000. I grew up riding dirt bikes as a kid and had always wanted to get a cruiser style street bike one day. I started off with a 1999 Marauder 800 and LOVED that bike. It was very comfortable and ...

Pros: Size, handling/stability, styling, reliability
Cons: Still hard to get some aftermarket parts

Prior to this 1600, my ride was a Honda Shadow 750. A fine little ride in its own right, but a bit small and underpowered for any type of Interstate cruising. I have now had the 1600 for about 6 months, and am still grinning ear to ear. To date, I ...

Pros: Power, great stock sound, bike has the right size, handling, looks, price, Big gas tank
Cons: Paint job, lack of standard accessories, whiney gas cap, no passenger floorboards

I have been riding the Honda Shadow Spirit 1100 for the past two years and was not happy with the limited power, range and weight. I shopped for Yamaha Roadstar 1700 and found it to expensive for what you get. I looked at the Honda VTX 1300 and for ...

Pros: Lots of power, great looks
Cons: Gas cap rattle

When I first saw the 1600, I was a little intimidated by its size. But when I rode it, I was amazed at how easily it handled. It is a very well balanced bike and easily navigated a parking lot where I tried its turning abilities. The 1600 classic is ...

Pros: Great suspension/handling. Smooth, responsive engine. Riding Comfort. Advanced features.
Cons: Bulk might take some getting used to. Long break-in period.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND I'm a near-fifty Baby Boomer who, after giving up motorcycles to raise a fami ...

Pros: style, fuel injection, handling performance and value for the money
Cons: no tach, location of speedo on tank

I just purchased the 2004 version of the Vulcan 1600 Classic and I must say I couldn't be happier. This is one sweet machine. I was originally looking at the Yamaha Road Star since I've been a pretty loyal Yamaha rider (previously owned FJ1200 and ...

Pros: Price is within my budget. Great handling. Awesome classic style and chrome.
Cons: Windshield will be required. Black horn instead of chrome. Can't stop smiling.

How did Kawasaki take a good bike like the Vulcan and make it a great bike? Well let me tell you: F ...

Pros: Powerful,smooth ride, excellent looks, value for the price.
Cons: none yet

I purchased my 2003 1600 in April 2004. While looking at Yamaha,Honda, and searching for a 2004 1600 to look at, I discovered my 2003 1600 at the dealer in Tupelo, MS. It was left in inventory and had not been sold. I recieved a great reduced price. I ...

Pros: The entire package
Cons: Handlebars are a little wide for your average rider. Almost too wide for me, 6'.

In September of '03 I purchased my first motorcycle ever. It was A Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic. I knew nothing about motorcycles at the time. Purchased solely on looks and price. Turns out I have knack for choosing a good bike. I loved everything about ...

Pros: Looks, comfort, performance, sound...
Cons: Takes a while to warm up (aftermarket performance parts)

I purchased a used 2003 Vulcan 1600 Classic as my first bike. I had lots of people tell me that as a first bike it was "too big" and "would be difficult to handle at slow speeds". That has not been my experience. Granted I don't have a lot of experience with riding, being that this is the 3rd motorcycle I have ever ridden, and the first one that I have owned. The bike is suprisingly nimble at any cruising speed. Granted, manuvering around tight spaces in parking lots takes some getting used to, but after a couple of weeks, felt very comfortable man handling it through very tight spaces.

The bike I have is pretty modified, with lots of added chrome, light bar, HardKrome 3" pipes, hypercharger, saddlebags, etc. etc. It gets looks everywhere and compliments... even from HD owners!

Pros: great bike at an incredible value
Cons: slight buzzing - easily solved.

6' 2' 250 lb Aging baby boomer trading in 1500 fi (2000) because it needed new tires... looked at a lot of bikes, Honda 1800, Yamaha, etc... and for fun went back to my original dealer and took out the 1600 for a test - magic! Better styling, lines are great, lower, redone exhaust system (no more exhaust envy), broke it in over a weekend by doing a weekend trip to the interior of BC, over mountains, very hot desert, carrying 400 lbs of driver, passenger, gear, - a dream.

Lots of low end torque, trans nice and tight. Slight vibrations at low rpm compared to 1500 fi, kinda neat. Buzzing from gas cap solved by installing a 1"1/4 rubber gasket over existing gas cap gasket. Still a minor buzz which I have tracked down and will solve with another piece of foam insulation.

I don't understand why this bike didn't make cruiser of the year, price/performance.. a real buy. Take a test drive and I'm confident you will be impressed. I'll probably buy new tires for this one.

Pros: excellent looks and ride. Good power
Cons: needs more aftermarket accessories, and thats changing now that its been out a year

I bought my 1600 last May and promptly sold my touring bike because I no longer rode it. The 1600 is an excellent motorcycle.On 2/22/04 I T-boned a car that pulled out in front of me, my bike was totaled. I am not in the process of getting my 2nd 1600. This bike is just about perfect, and I have had absolutely no problems with it. The ride is smooth and the power is excellent, with a ton of low and midrange torque. I look forward to my 2nd Vulcan with great anticipation.
Rick

Pros: The Vulcan's pros are great styling, powerfull, well balanced, nimble, and reliable.
Cons: The Vulcan's only real cons is its limited aftermarket products.

I owned three Harley's prior to purchasing the Vulcan 1600. Due to the maintance and cost issues surrounding HD, I decided to investigate the "other" bikes. I needed power, style, and reliability. From what others said about the VTX's I decided they weren't worth the higher sticker. Yamaha's were just to boring. Then I met the Vulcan 1600. Perfect. It was like the fat boy - but better. Since owning my Vulcan I have sold all but own HD...it will go soon as well. Kawasaki did well with the 1600, now I'm curious about the new 2000.

The fact that its not a Harley or American made bike is still taking some time to get used to. Everyone thinks its a Harley (unbaffled drag pipes make it rumble just like a HD), but then I have to tell 'em "No, its a Kawasaki" - and that just never sounds cool.

Pros: Power, Comfort Looks, Reliability, This bike likes to make the rider look good.
Cons: Shes a little noisy. she doesn't like to bog down much but loves to scream

What a beauty she is. Having gone from a sporty to a fat boy now a reliable Rice burner. This bike is very simple and loves the road.Very well balanced and handles with ease.

Pros: Excellent value and a great ride
Cons: accessory items limited

I had been riding a Honda Shadow 750 ACE when at Honda Hoot this past June I took a demo ride on the 1600 Classic. I was stunned. This huge bike became light and agile at 10+mph and was rock solid on the 30 minute demo ride.I also test rode the Honda VTX 1300 and was not nearly so impressed. I began investigating the 1600 on the internet and discovered that my impression of the bike was born out in magazine reviews and comments by riders who had one. I bought mine the first of September. I am very pleased. The motorcycle is confidence inspiring in its stability and tracking through corners. It easily handles my wife and myself. Moreover, it looks great. I have the vulcan windshield and light bar, leatherlyke saddlebags, and cobra backrest. I would recommend this motorcycle to anyone. It is an excellent value and a great ride.