The Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT as Long-Distance Cruiser

The Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT, what we have here is a big engine in a big bike, from Kawasaki. The Vulcan 2000 Classic LT is 385kg bike with a 2,000cc engine that kicks out major torque and the best 0 to 100 time of all big bikes in the cruiser class.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT has a little more edge than the other Japanese V-Twin cruisers, and the beat of those two big pistons can be felt through the solidly mounted handlebars a little more distinctly than on other big bore V-Twin cruisers, what the Kawasaki engineers, call 'pulse feeling'.

You sit low in the deep-dish saddle on the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT, and the handlebars do a pretty good job of traveling back to meet you for the ride, but a high level of windshield buffeting was noted by almost everybody who rides this bike. Some of the buffeting problems on, of course, is a function of wind direction along with rider height and the height of the windshield itself. As a general rule, tose bikes on which you could look ever the screen produce the least wind noise and turbulence. So an alternate windshield height – or a good bandsaw – might solve some of these problems.

Suspension on the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT is somewhat soft, so the bike dives under braking and chatters over ripples when the brakes are on, and the rear end lacks rebound damping, so it tends to pogo a bit over big bumps. The suspension is soft and comfortable for cruising or casual riding but lacks tautness when the riding heats up. Brakes, however, are among the best you can find on a powerful bike like this, and are easily modulated with just two fingers.

Overall, the big Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT is a locomotive class touring cruiser, because the torque, slightly raw engine makes the bike fun to ride when you pull out on the highway and twist that grip. But as the kilometers wear on, the whole package doesn't hold together too well as a long-distance mount. It's a pleasant enough cruiser with a big engine, but it doesn't win any honors as long-distance touring bike.