Vulcan 900 Custom

2018 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 2018 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom custom - cruiser motorcycle, Kawasaki relies on a 903 cc (55.1 cu in) liquid-cooled v2, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 48 HP (35 kW) at 5,700 rpm while maximum torque reaches 78.9 Nm (58.2 lb-ft) at 3,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and belt final drive. With a specific output of 53.2 HP per liter and a 2,200 rpm working window between peak torque (3,500 rpm) and peak power (5,700 rpm), the engine character is prioritizing low-RPM tractability, mechanical longevity and relaxed throttle response over peak redline numbers.

On the scales, the Vulcan 900 Custom measures 277.1 kg (611 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.17 HP/kg (5.77 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 686 mm (27 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops, combined with a 1,646 mm (64.8 in) wheelbase engineered for planted straight-line stability. The 20.06-liter (5.3 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints.

Within MotoLibrary's Kawasaki archive, this model family spans 19 indexed model years from 2007 to 2026, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.