2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS

Streamlined style on a bagger that will also eat up the miles.

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABSKawasaki

Kawasaki positions its Vulcan 1700 Vaquero as “the pinnacle of elegance,” but it’s more like the height of street style, with its sculpted, frame-mounted fairing, cut-down and tinted windshield and blacked-out engine components. The streamlined saddle and dynamic graphics also hint at a hot-rod vibe, but the 1,700cc V-twin-powered Vaquero shares most of its foundation—as well as certain touring amenities—with the full-dress Voyager flagship bike. That means you’ll also see cruise control, floorboards, triple disc brakes with standard K-ACT ABS, belt drive, AM/FM audio and integrated hard bags on the more laid-back Vaquero bagger too.

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero, Comparisons, And Competition

Its 107.6 pound-feet of torque is nothing to laugh at, and that along with a healthy midrange, wide bars, strong brakes, and good weather protection are part of the reason the Vaquero makes for such a good touring companion. When we rode it at the launch—now nearly a decade ago—we were impressed with the overall package, saying, “Kawasaki has bet lots of time, work, and money on a cruiser that works better than the class image.…” The class image in this case was defined by the Harley-Davidson Road Glide, the Vaquero’s main competitor when it launched, but nowadays you’ll also find Yamaha’s big Star Eluder and the Indian Challenger—all significantly pricier—in the V-twin, fixed-fairing bagger class.

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABSKawasaki

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero Updates For 2020

For 2020, Kawasaki has left the Vaquero bagger relatively untouched, save for the new Candy Imperial Blue paint color. It retails for a suggested $16,799.

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABSKawasaki

2020 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS Claimed Specifications

Price $16,799
Engine Liquid-cooled, SOHC V-twin; 4 valves/cyl.
Displacement 1,700cc
Bore x Stroke 102.0 x 104.0mm
Torque 107.6 lb.-ft. @ 2,750 rpm
Transmission 6-speed
Final Drive Belt
Seat Height 28.7 in.
Rake 30.0°
Trail 7.0 in.
Front Suspension 45mm hydraulic fork, 5.5-in. travel
Rear Suspension Twin shocks; 3.1-in. travel
Front Tire 130/90-16
Rear Tire 170/70-16
Wheelbase 65.6 in.
Fuel Capacity 5.3 gal.
Curb Weight 844 lb.