Kawasaki Vulcan 88
Mon, July 19th, 2010
IT’S MEGA CRUISER WEEK!
Featuring a different large-displacement cruiser each day.
| 1987–1998 Kawasaki VN1500A Vulcan 88 | |
|---|---|
| Performance |   |
| The Vulcan 88 was the largest motorcycle on the planet when it was introduced, and while it is no drag racer, it proved that Harley wasn't the only one that could generate remarkable amounts of torque from a big V-twin. | |
| Handling |  |
| The Vulcan 88 had too little ground clearance and a monstrous wheelbase, very little suspension travel ... and most riders didn't care. It contributed in a big way to the current trend of metric cruisers that can't turn a corner. | |
| Looks | |
| Meh. There's nothing really wrong with the Vulcan 88's styling, but it doesn't have much to grab you. | |
| Reliability | |
| A trouble-free bike overall. It stayed in production for 12 years and the majority of those are probably still on the road. | |
| Practicality | |
| For being as big as it is, it really doesn't feel very ponderous on the road. | |
| Desirability | |
| Bigger is not always better. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Proof that it's easier to make a great big bike than to make a great bike, period. | |