2009 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
The Big-Twin Highway Classic
The VN 1700 Classic is a cruiser in the old-school sense: a 1700 cc, 52° V-twin in a steel double-cradle frame, weighing 761 lb (345 kg) wet. Kawasaki didn't chase a horsepower headline here. The figures put torque first, 105 lb-ft against 75 hp, and that balance tells you exactly where this engine lives. Liquid cooling, a six-speed gearbox and a clean belt final drive complete a drivetrain laid out for low revs and long days. Around it sits a deliberately retro, long-and-low shape with real character, and the build quality backs up the look. Lots of metal. That's the point.
On paper, this hardware is built for the open highway, not the city grid. A 28.3 in (720 mm) seat keeps the reach to the ground short. The 5.3 gal (20 L) tank suits proper stints between stops, and fat 16-inch tires at both ends (130/90 front, 170/70 rear) carry the low stance through. The rear shock takes preload adjustment for a passenger or a loaded bike, and Kawasaki offers a luggage system as an option. It all points to a rider who wants a big-twin classic that works without complication. Honest metal, no fuss.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 75 hp (55 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 105 lb-ft (142 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1700 cc |
| Engine | 52° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 170/70-16 |
| Seat height | 28.3 in (720 mm) |
| Wet weight | 761 lb (345 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
ECU setting causing stalling under deceleration
Improper setting of the electronic control unit can cause the engine to stall when the clutch is pulled at speed, particularly during downshifts. Kawasaki issued a separate recall to reprogram or replace the ECU on affected models.
Transmission output shaft bearing failure
Some owners have reported premature wear or failure of the transmission output shaft bearing on engines, which can require a full engine teardown to repair. The issue is discussed on Vulcan forums, though its exact frequency is not widely documented.
Intermittent starting faults and immediate stall
Some owners report bikes that crank, fire for a second, and then die. Often traced to wiring damage under the tank (possibly rodent-related) or a faulty air switching valve, leading to multiple diagnostic trouble codes (24, 51, 52, 64).
Where this Kawasaki VN 1700 Classic pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the VN 1700 Classic is actually built for.
Rally week, the ride there and the parking-lot lineup: this is your best fit. A 1700 cc V-twin, a long, low classic shape and 105 lb-ft give you the presence and easy pull the ritual asks for.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Small towns, old routes, an unhurried pace: the retro styling and torque-first engine suit you well. It's a full-size cruiser at 761 lb (345 kg), though, so call it a solid fit rather than a perfect one.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
The torque-first engine and preload-adjustable rear shock point the right way for big miles two-up, but cruise control isn't fitted and luggage is optional. A workable base, not a turnkey tourer.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
