| Welcome to the Kawasaki Owners Club. We hope you enjoy your visit. CLICK here to Join Kawasaki Owners Club! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| VN900 ...... | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Sep 1 2009, 05:23 PM (2,430 Views) | |
| Pluck | Sep 1 2009, 05:23 PM Post #1 |
|
Member
|
Hi guys - newbie here from the UK. I've registered in order to pick a few brains if nobody objects? I've been a biker for more years than I care to remember and had all sorts of stuff, mostly tourer / sports tourer type stuff, from BMWs to Hondas via Yamahas. Now as I get a bit older (not too far off 60) I'm starting to find that taller bikes are becoming a bit of a struggle for my 5'6" height and 29" inside leg!  I've just completed a 3 week 3000 mile tour of Europe with my wife on our present bike, a 2007 Honda VFR800 V.Tec and she is also struggling with getting on the pillion seat now - like me she's a bit of a shorty! This was fine when we were younger but now as I say, age is starting to make itself felt. So, after a lot of deliberation we've decided that the future of biking for us is going to have to be a cruiser with a nice low seat! Now, I've never been a cruiser lover I must admit, but I'm willing to give anything a try if it means we can continue to ride. One thing I really don't want is one of those HUGE Behemoth things that weigh about 60 ton and has a larger turning circle than the Ark Royal! I've got a short list of things I'm interested in - Harley 1200 Sportster, Yamaha XVS1100, and top of the list so far, the VN900 Classic. I've been down to my local dealer and sat on one and I've got to say - it fits me quite well and I'm very impressed with the build quality of it - great for the price! What concerns me is that after having bikes that put out well over 100 horsepower, am I going to find the VN900 a bit "pedestrian"? I realise that cruising is a whole different ball game to the type of biking I'm used to, but will the VN900 cope ok with a pillion both power wise and handling? I do a fair bit of of motorway riding so the bike needs to keep a steady 80mph without revving it's nuts off. The VFR is only an 800 but it packs an incredible amount of torque for such a small engine due to the V.Tec system - it also has 6 gears which  keep the revs down at motorway speeds. So what I really need are some good honest opinions from any VN900 owners. Also not decided if I'm buying new or secondhand yet (depends on how much I get for the V.Tec which is now up for sale). Are there any problems that are common to the VN900 that I should be looking for if I go for a used one? Sorry this is so long - but I'm sure you enjoyed the read!   Pluck 
|
 |
 
|
| JOHNNY - M | Sep 7 2009, 07:36 PM Post #2 |
Member
|
 M8 I moved from a 900cc Hornet of 5 years :rolleyes: Bought my VN900 Custom in June 09..  It hasnt dissapointed obviously it aint as quick out the blocks but it does exactly what it says on the tin ...plus just as you say it fits like a glove.........  Ride Safe Mr.M 
|
| Templars mcc Birmingham | |
|
|
|
| Pluck | Sep 7 2009, 08:45 PM Post #3 |
|
Member
|
Thanks Johnny, it's quite reassuring to know that you came from a Hornet 9 to the VN900 and have no complaints. Do you or anybody else here take pillion passengers? It's quite important for me to know that the VN900 has the power and handling for two up riding, as most of the mileage done with my wife is on long tours (mostly in Europe) Pluck |
|
|
|
| JOHNNY - M | Sep 8 2009, 06:53 PM Post #4 |
|
Member
|
No m8 I am solo............... :rolleyes: |
| Templars mcc Birmingham | |
|
|
|
| RKINN76 | Sep 9 2009, 09:10 PM Post #5 |
|
Member
|
I'll tell ya, I took my wife out on my new 900 custom for a 2hr ride. Plenty of power for the both of us, and we ain't small people. She did complain a bit, but who listens. Only joking she was ok..... |
|
|
|
| KFC1404 | Sep 30 2009, 07:57 PM Post #6 |
|
Member
|
Hi Just purchased a new 900vn classic, $%^^ fantastic! wife on the back, combined weight of 170 kilos, no problem! Obviously not as much torque, although to be fair not a lot of difference between my last bike, a Suzuki 1500 Intruder. Much better to ride, as they say, fits like a glove.. Regards Graham (KFC1404) 
|
|
|
|
| VNCM | Aug 21 2010, 09:46 AM Post #7 |
|
Member
|
This is very late for a reply, and you could have ridden a VN900 for almost a year by now but....my advice to anyone with the same thoughts would be, if you want to cruise at 80mph then a cruiser probably isn't for you, or at least get a large capacity one like a 1700cc which will cruise easier at that speed. The VN will do the speed but its a bit buzzy and irritating after riding a much faster and more powerful machine. Max power is around 5800rpm which equates to about 102mph true or 108 indicated speed. So it will cruise at 80mph if that's what you desire. If you need two-up comfort and long distance fast cruising then buy a Suzuki 1250 Bandit. The Suzuki is about the same price as a VN900 in the UK and is surprisingly compact and well balanced for such a large capacity machine. By the way, on the subject of torque, the VN900 has roughly the same maximum torque as a Z750 Kawasaki or a VFR800, it just lacks outright power reaching about half that of the bikes mentioned. What it does do is hit 45ft lbs of torque at only 2000rpm which makes it extremely tractable at low speeds in high gears. I do most of my riding between 45 and 60mph and the VN900 is perfect for that style of riding. At those speeds and a gentle right hand it will give 69mpg (57mpg US gallons) which is awesome for a 900cc bike. |
|
|
|
| cyfishcygnus | Aug 21 2010, 11:01 AM Post #8 |
|
Member
|
VNCM I agree, the vn 900 is great at what it is meant to do, i looked at a few bikes and went for the vn for looks and for the belt drive, also more hp and torque in the mid range cruiser class having said that i can't live with the matt black bits so removing them and having them painted gloss black, also doing away with the decals and stripes so far have had the tank done, see pic. I did my test on a 125 and this is restricted from new by kawasaki electronically AND mechanically, very simple to remove and refit, i get 75 to 80 mpg and although it is restricted i am very happy so far with the performance, when my two years is up i may look at a vn 1400 if i think i can handle it, i found this a bit of lump to start with, but now find it easy to handle any vn900's in pembrokeshire ? cheers jerry
|
|
|
|
| swansea jack | Aug 23 2010, 08:14 PM Post #9 |
|
Member
|
I'm in swansea. just bought a vn 900 custom. paul |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
vn900_new_paint.jpg (326.24 KB)| « Previous Topic · Kawasaki Cruisers. · Next Topic » |
2:42 PM Feb 6
