This is my 7th bike in 30 years of riding. I give the Vulcan a 5 star rating. Like others, I too would love to ride an American made product that gives you the dependability that is offered in many Jap bikes. Many of my friends ride HD and I do like the style and look. But when it comes down to buying, I look for style, comfort, dependability, cost, you know get the best bang for the buck. I have never gone wrong with any KZ or Honda that I have owned. My new 900 Custom LT has everything. I added tach, has mustang seats and is very comfortable. Color is a red with silver/gold metalic trim. Nice look but more color choices would be nice. I did check out my spedo against the GPS and it is off about 3 mph at 45 and about 5 mph at 75. I had heard that it is common for the Vulcan to be off on the spedo a little bit. That was good for me last week when I was going to SD and met a HP in IA. I was about 10 over so that cushion saved me. I did not have the GPS on at the time so not sure how accurate it gets over 80 - 85 mph. Another Vulcan owner told me if I hear a high pitch whine from the belt like he does. Until he said something I had not noticed it but now I do hear some sound that I am not sure what that is. I think it is same on larger bikes tho because I remember it in another belt driven bike I had. I do have to get off the bike every 100 miles which is when its down to about a 1/4 tank of gas. Getting old, and my but needs a break.
(Still more comfortable than any Harley I have ridden). I ride about 30 miles a day to work (interstate mostly) and even on road trips have got any where from 45 - 57 mpg. My avg is about 52 which surprised me for that size of bike but I am told it is because it is fuel injected. I tend to use high test gas and only will put in ethonhal if at 1/2 tank. The only other thing I would have liked on the bike is if it had a easier helmet lock to use. You have to take the seat off to expose the helmet hook. Oh and for you young whips out there, I do miss the ol kick starters we had years ago. But no doubt this is the sweatest ride I have ever owned.

I own an '06 Classic LT. Best bike I've ever owned and ridden. I've owned Honda/Yamaha/Harley and driven Ducati, Suzuki...this is the sweetest ride of them all. My only suggestion is offer more color schemes. But as for the bike...I love it!

What a bike! Will wallop any 1200 or less on the road!

Easy to handle, not complicated to operate, and for the 500 cc model, it is a very good starter bike, which will last you more than 1 season of riding.

Good mileage, and can probably keep up with some of the sportier models when put to the test.

Get ready for some good time riding, on a cruiser that is not such a lightweight compared.

I keep hearing all you “Metric Bike Bashers” referring to the Japanese bikes as clones. Fact is if it were not for the competition of the metric bikes, Harley would still be building crap! Harley did the same thing the metric bike manufacturers did. They went back to a style that was considered by many to be a “Classic Motorcycle” look. This style has never been owned by Harley Davidson, but was created by many manufacturers throughout the years. Indian made a “classic” style bike, as did many others. So to refer to the Japanese bikes as clones is in error. They are only doing what the consumer wants, building a good-looking motorcycle that the general public can afford. What really steam’s me is all the Harley riders that drive Japanese Cars! Even though I believe that the Japanese build better cars, I drive an American car. If I had to pay twice as much for that American car, then I may be driving Japanese instead. I looked seriously at Harley and even Victory when I went shopping for a new bike, but ended up on a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad. First because Kawasaki has a better track record for reliability than Harley, second because it was half the price of either Harley or Victory and third because it rode nicer than any American bike out there. I have since taken my bike on many long distance rides without having to worry about a thing going wrong. I can’t tell you how many times I see a Harley sitting on the side of the road waiting for a trailer. The Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad is an excellent bike for the money. You get a great ride, great features and great reliability. If there is any downside to the bike it is in the cost of replacement parts. Kawasaki is way over priced with their parts. Fortunately, you rarely need to replace any.

I've been riding a 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic for the past two years and what a wonderful bike. The best balance of any bike I've ever ridden. The ergonomics are perfect for short or long (4+ hours) rides and some simple add-ons like a sissybar for the newer types of travel gear and a detachable windscreen complete the whole package. I've recently added floorboards which are nice, but not really necessary. I commute on the highway at around 75 MPH for 34 miles each way and the bike is smooth. Because the 800 is not too heavy (520 lbs) it is also good for those intense twisty or curvey on and off ramps that always give you a thrill. I know I could always buy a bike with more power, but why. I get a true 50 MPG, I have enough power to pass SUVs and Volvos, and the reliabilty is beyond question. If this one ever wears out, I'll simply get another Kawi 800 or 900 to replace it. I'm a fan.

If you like the bike, buy it. Personally I feel the stock fenders and tanks on the Jap bikes look a little cheesey. Almost the Limburger or Roquefort variety. If you're going to copy the Harley Davidson Fat Boy, make it a good copy for pity's sake. The tanks all sit unaesthetically horizontal, the bobbed fender variety doesn't bob right, the factory colors are ALWAYS crap(I saw one in baby blue in a showroom!--who the hell would be caught dead riding a baby blue Harley?)! Bikes like the Fat Boy need no further alterations- they look good right out of the showroom and it's the only bike the Japs have truly envied as evidenced by all the clones- Suzuki Volusia, Kawasaki Vulcan Classic, Honda Shadow ACE(or rather the new VTX line), and the Yamaha V-Star line. Of all these, the Honda aftermarket reigns supreme in beautifying your ride. But how about coming out with one that's pretty right off the runway? Engineering is no contest, the Japs rule. Performance parts? There's always a large aftermarket for all bikes. But the LOOK...let's not kid ourselves here... the Japanese homage to the FAT BOY is VERY evident. I for one agree with it- it's the MOST beautiful bike ever(okay that's just my frickin' opinion)! But hey...there ARE other Harleys to clone, my Japanese buds from across the pond! How 'bout a nice SPRINGER SOFTTAIL line? Or a HERITAGE SPRINGER line with those ALWAYS COOL twin pipes jutting out from BOTH sides of the bike? Chill out with the FAT BOY theme already! A pint-sized 1100cc Heritage Springer would bring tears to my eyes! You see, for all the hype and bravado of our great American bike company, they are FAILURES when it comes to selling bikes to the throngs of PINT-SIZED people such as myself whose heart sank when he realized the Fat Boy was just...just a little bit too big for his 5'2 frame(sob,sniff!)- and I'm truly serious about that. One arrogant response from the salesmen convinced me that Harley's arrogance is the reason the Japanese bike market is expanding beyond belief now. His response, Well, son...some people just weren't born to ride. This said as he walked off in the other direction to tend to a burly six footer with a beard and belly only Santa Claus would envy. Born to ride? Is this fool convinced only 1-percenters buy Harleys? Am I supposed to earn my right to ride by joining the Hells Angels? Bandidos? Warlocks? Vagabonds? Would I earn respect walking into a Harley dealership wearing their colors? Sorry, Mister Harley man...the BIKE still won't fit. And people like me represent quite a large populations of riders YOU will never be able to sell a bike to because of your arrogance. To the Jap manufacturers: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....and clone the rest of the Harley line soon: the Deuces, Springer Softtails, Heritage Springers, Lowriders....and continue kicking Harley's ass in sales and reliability.

I had a '98 800. Smooth acceleration, wobbled a bit around 75, but evened out at 80. One of the most comfortable bikes I have ever ridden, even better than a custom Springer Softtail with a Corbin seat! The best bike I've ever owned!

I have a 2000 Vulcan 750. Great mid-size bike!! Smooth drive shaft operation - no dirty chain to worry about. Tach, Speed, Fuel indicators include in base model.