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Kawasaki Vulcan 750 dedication

Hi there and welcome to my Kawasaki Vulcan 750 pages.
I have recently bought a 1986 Vulcan 750 and while looking for information about it online, I've noticed that it is rather hard to come by, so I've decided to collect what I can find, add some of my experience and create few pages dedicated to this motorcycle.

OK, it's time to make a first impression. Here is a description of this bike that I've copied from the Net. I do not know the author, but seems like a product of the Kawasaki marketing department:

The mid-size Kawasaki VulcanŽ 750 motorcycle may live in a world full of heavy-weight cruisers, but it is never outgunned. With its easy-to-ride nature, comfortable stepped seat, torquey liquid-cooled V-twin engine, modern technology and affordable price tag, it embodies the essence of the original "metric cruiser."

Powered by a liquid-cooled, double overhead cam 749cc V-twin engine, the Vulcan 750 is powerful and low-maintenance. Hydraulic valve lash adjusters ease maintenance and liquid cooling increases overall engine durability. Plus, the engine itself is rubber-mounted within the double-cradle, high-tensile steel frame to reduce vibration at the handlebar and footpegs.

A low-maintenance shaft drive transmits power from the five-speed transmission to the beefy 15-inch rear wheel. Plus, the easy-shifting gearbox features Kawasaki's exclusive Positive Neutral Finder, which allows for easy and accurate shifting from first into neutral when stopped. Air-assisted rear shocks with four clicks of rebound damping adjustment offer a smooth and controlled ride, while dual front discs provide reliable stopping power.
Full instrumentation, including both coolant-temperature and fuel-level gauges, and a centerstand are standard fare.

Stock image:

For me, it was a love from first sight. I still went online and I've checked the reviews I was able to find. Writings like this made be go back and buy my baby:

It's a v-twin cruiser. Raw and proud of it. Leather and chrome. Amateur tattoos barely visible on sunburnt skin. Long uncombed hair flowing in the wind. This is the bike your mother warned you about.
It's a civilized street bike. A sensible and reliable design. Practical. The well-groomed accountant that mother has been trying to hook you up with.
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The Vulcan 750 has acquired something of a cult following. People seem to like the practical design in a cruiser frame. I don't share that same perspective but I can see how some would be attracted to it. If you're a well-groomed accountant and you just have to have a cruiser this is the bike for you.
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This engine is a little unlike most v-twins in that it likes to rev. You'll spend a lot of time at 5,000 and 6,000 rpm but you still won't notice any vibration. It's that smooth. The only bike I've ridden that had less vibration was BMWs K75 and you could balance a quarter on that bike and rev the engine without it falling over. The quarter, that is.
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I haven't had this bike for long but I am gradually growing more fond of her each day. She has two sides to her personality and neither one is annoying.
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A wonderful purchase for the beginner biker who is of stature at 5'-8" or taller! At a modest and negotiable sticker price of $5999, it offers just about all the conveniences of low maintenance and road-worthiness on the Interstates. It's a bike you can grow into, as I've ridden it 79,000 miles in the three and half years I've been riding.
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The real powerhouses in the 800 class don't wear their performance, they just deliver it. Maybe it's because they were created in an age when the Japanese felt performance was critical, but the Vulcan 750 and Intruder 800 run away from their classmates. They were the only ones that laid down quarter-mile times in the 13-second range with terminal speeds over 90 mph. They were also the only ones that got into the high-70-mph range in our top-gear-acceleration test. ... And don't ignore the stodgy-looking Vulcan 750, which though a couple of tenths slower than the Intruder 800, actually had a higher terminal speed than either the 800 Intruder or its big, bad 1400cc brother. Out on the road, that kind of power translates to quick passes and immediate response when you squeeze the loud handle. ... Despite somewhat slushy suspension, the Vulcan VN750 impressed most riders in fast, smooth corners thanks to its considerable clearance when leaned over, stability and responsive, linear steering.

Next: the story of my baby >>