Kawasaki Vulcan S

Rs. 5.48 lakh (ex-showroom)

WE SAY: KawasaKi’s entry-level premium cruiser gets a sporty heart.

- Aatish Mishra

The Kawasaki Vulcan S glides under the radar rather easily. Big bikes have a tendency to grab a lot of attention – they draw stares, envy and stupid questions – but not the Vulcan S. Here, in this Flat Ebony paint scheme, people just don’t seem to notice it. It’s a cruiser, and it is such a departure from the norm – there’s no chrome, no loud rumble and it even comes from the wrong side of the Pacific. Nevertheless, it has got a handsome stance. The headlamp’s inverted triangle shape is unconventional, sure, and the front isn’t the most flattering angle either. However, looked at from the side, the kicked-out forks and hunkereddown lines give it a muscular and lend some presence.

The looks aren’t the only unconventional bit on this machine, though. Nestled between that perimeter frame is a parallel twin engine – again, a departure from the V-twins we are accustomed to seeing on cruisers. This is the same liquid-cooled, eight-valve 649cc engine you’d find on the Ninja 650 and Versys 650, and it has been tuned for more accessible torque. Nevertheless, peak power of 60bhp is made all the way at 7500rpm (most cruisers don’t even rev that high) and the 63Nm of peak torque hits at 6,600rpm.