Kawasaki 1700 Vulcan Vaqu...
Kawasaki 1700 Vulcan Vaquero
Over the years, the bagger scene has been dominated by Harley-Davidson, but recently, Victory upped the ante with its Cross Country, while Star came back with the Stratoliner Deluxe. This year, it's Kawasaki's turn.
For 2011, Team Green steps into the casual-touring fray with its Vulcan Vaquero, a dark bagger that joins the Vulcan 1700 line of cruisers. Kawasaki gave the Vaquero a sleek custom stance (a la the Street Glide), while also imbuing it with a trendy blacked-out treatment.
All the usual components get the ebony touch on the Vaquero: the engine, wheels, fork assembly and fender, air-cleaner cover, and tank are all dark, though a few chrome accents make their way onto the engine guards, exhaust and mirrors for some contrast. The attitude infusion readily sets the Vaquero apart from its more staid Vulcan relatives (though it's also available in red).
Holding up all that shadowy stuff is a single backbone, double-cradle steel frame, with a stout 43mm fork up front. Like the rest of the 1700s, the Vaquero is powered by the same 52-degree, 1700cc V-twin.
And that's not where it ends: the Vaquero gets the same 5.3-gallon fuel capacity (and probably the same tank) as the other 1700 Vulcans, and its 28.7-inch seat height is at the same level as the Voyager's and Nomad's. Even the fairing has been borrowed from the Vulcan Voyager and nipped and tucked. Inside the plastic, it feels like the Voyager too: an LCD readout is framed on either side by an analog tachometer and speedometer dials, with fuel and temperature gauges on the edges, and the sound system is the familiar AM/FM/WX tuner, compatible with iPod, XM tuner or CB radio.
It's a bagger, so the new Vaquero's rear end gets lockable, side-loading bags (with 10-gallon capacity per bag). Underneath it all are dual air-assisted shocks with spring preload and four-way adjustable rebound damping, working on a 170mm-wide rear tire. Naturally, Kawasaki has also simultaneously released a swath of new accessories to help you personalize your 2011 Vaquero, which should be in dealers by the time you read this, with an MSRP of $16,499.
Specifications
2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero
Base Price: $16,499
Engine
Type: liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valve per cylinder, 52° V-twin
Displacement, bore x stroke: 1700cc / 102 x 104mm
Valve Train: SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Fuel System: Digital fuel injection, dual 42mm throttle bodies
Transmission: 6-speed w/overdrive
Final drive: Belt
Chassis
Rake / trail: 30 degrees / 7.0 in.
Overall length: 98.8 in.
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Wet weight: 835.7 lbs.
Seat height: 28.7 in.
Rake / trail: 30 degrees / 7.0 in.
Front tire: 130/90x16
Rear tire: 170/70x16
Front brakes: Dual 300mm discs, twin-piston calipers
Rear brakes: 300mm disc, twin-piston caliper
Front suspension: 43mm fork; 5.5 in. travel
Rear suspension: dual air-assisted dampers; 3.1 in. travel
Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.