The engine is what makes the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT so popular among experienced riders and we couldn’t understand this aspect better as we’re talking about a 125-cubic-inch (2,053cc), 52-degree V-twin with dual cams and four valves per cylinder. This thing is built for quick acceleration even though it will have to move the 884.2 lbs wet weight of the fully accessorized Vulcan 2000 Classic LT. With a bore and stroke of 103mm x 123.2mm it’s hard to thing that virtually anything else related to that engine even matters, but the great part about it is that it determines all the other systems to grow with it. Take fueling system for example. The Digital Fuel Injection features dual 46mm Keihin throttle bodies in order to supply the engine with the needed amount of gas which sometimes can be in a more than decent quantity.
The greatest quality of big V-twin motors is that they deliver loads of torque from just above idle and that of Vulcan’s achieves peak 141 lb-ft of torque at just 2,800 rpm. That’s why you don’t get a sixth gear and also why fuel consumption won’t be that bad after all. The engine and tranny connect through a 220mm flywheel just so that power delivery would be smooth, not only impressive.
Given the specific engine and tranny, all Vulcans are built on a steel double-cradle frame bolted in between a 49mm telescopic fork offering 5.9 inches of travel and a triangulated steel tube swingarm offering 3.9 inches of travel. This thing rides on a pair of 16-inch wheels and the rear one features a 200mm tire, just so you get a clue on how the engine influences all of the other features of this motorcycle. But because it is mounted so low on the frame, the engine (which also features forged pistons and alloy connecting rods) has everything to do with the 5.3 inches of ground clearance which also allows for a fairly low seat height of only 26.8 inches.
Any sport bike would be proud of the front 300mm discs with four-piston calipers brakes while secure rear braking performance is ensured by a cruiser-like disc measuring 320mm in diameter and working with dual piston caliper.
