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2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic Motorcycle reviews

4.8 (19 reviews)
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Reliability
4.9
Overall quality
4.8
Performance
4.6
Comfort
4.6

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19 ratings and reviews

Voted most helpful review

jammin

Easton, Pennsylvania

Reviewed on February 13, 2008

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
This is the best bike for the price out there. It runs great and looks great. It has been three years and I have never had a problem. I love this bike.... read more
This is the best bike for the price out there. It runs great and looks great. It has been three years and I have never had a problem. I love this bike.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Eric

Fairfax, Virginia

Reviewed on December 28, 2007

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
This is my first bike. I bought it in June of '07 with 4,000 miles on it. I have not had any problems with it. I find that it is a heavy bike compared to others. Balancing it well when stopped is still something I am improving on, but other than that it seems to be a fine bike for a beginner of my size. ... read more
This is my first bike. I bought it in June of '07 with 4,000 miles on it. I have not had any problems with it. I find that it is a heavy bike compared to others. Balancing it well when stopped is still something I am improving on, but other than that it seems to be a fine bike for a beginner of my size. Shorter riders may find that it is too tall or wide. I find the bike to be very comfortable. Everyone that sits on it loves the stock seat and floorboards. My passenger (my girlfriend) tells me the back seat is comfortable for about an hour's ride. The only negative I can think of about this bike is that the low beam is not powerful enough. I have to ride around with the high beam on at night. I love this bike and expect to keep it for a long time.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Gary

Bahama, North Carolina

Reviewed on May 28, 2007

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
I am coming up on the 1-year anniversary of my purchase (a 2005 leftover with 0 miles), and must say I am still quite pleased with this bike. The stock seat is the envy of the guys I ride with, and it is really comfortable. Performance is good, although I have recently noticed some engine knocking that I do n... read more
I am coming up on the 1-year anniversary of my purchase (a 2005 leftover with 0 miles), and must say I am still quite pleased with this bike. The stock seat is the envy of the guys I ride with, and it is really comfortable. Performance is good, although I have recently noticed some engine knocking that I do not feel is fuel related (using 92-93 octane, different brands). Cruises nicely, good acceleration, averaging 45-49 mpg on my 1500 Fi engine.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
4.0
Performance
4.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

keith Bryan

halifax

Reviewed on February 7, 2007

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
My Vulcan was bought new in July of 05 (3km) and put away with 12000 on it in October at the end of the 2006 riding season, which for me is October since hunting season starts and there is too much salt and garbage on the roads till the April rains clean things up a bit. The bike has 24000 km now and like me ... read more
My Vulcan was bought new in July of 05 (3km) and put away with 12000 on it in October at the end of the 2006 riding season, which for me is October since hunting season starts and there is too much salt and garbage on the roads till the April rains clean things up a bit. The bike has 24000 km now and like me eagerly awaits the 2007 season. I make a point of traveling the periphery of Nova Scotia every year on both the 100 series and secondary highways. In general, the more scenic the drive, the worse the roads in this province. The bike works and rides fantastically on both. Mechanically the bike has given me no problems. There have been some teething problems such as slipping out of first into neutral. If you are not very positive with heel and toe selections, don't jump on it just be strong and feel the shift. Cruiser style is much different than my previous bikes and I found I needed a driver back rest. That is one of the best accessories I've put on a bike. I don't like roll bars and I'm having some difficulty purchasing floor board mounted heel rests. I wouldn't want anything smaller or bigger, just need 12 months of sun.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

harold may

worcester, Massachusetts

Reviewed on January 13, 2007

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

4.0
I love the bike. It's my second cruiser. The ride is great! I go out with my wife who loves the ride more than I do. The bike with two people on it, has a great feel and plenty of power. I am very pleased and that's with over 400 pounds of people on it!... read more
I love the bike. It's my second cruiser. The ride is great! I go out with my wife who loves the ride more than I do. The bike with two people on it, has a great feel and plenty of power. I am very pleased and that's with over 400 pounds of people on it!
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
3.0
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Max

Atlanta, Georgia

Reviewed on December 7, 2006

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
I've grown accustomed to the size and found it's not nearly as ponderous as I originally found it to be. I've only logged a few winter miles but have seen that it can be ridden nimbly and with zest if you keep the bike within it's comfort zone and your skill set. It's far from being mistaken for a bicycle a... read more
I've grown accustomed to the size and found it's not nearly as ponderous as I originally found it to be. I've only logged a few winter miles but have seen that it can be ridden nimbly and with zest if you keep the bike within it's comfort zone and your skill set. It's far from being mistaken for a bicycle and it needs a few MPH to be really comfortable; if you don't mind these factors, it can be fun even in the confines of backroads or neighborhood cruising. Would still like the ease and forgivability of a smaller bike in some situations but a skilled rider could go anywhere on one of these. It's very smooth and I haven't had any noise problems that seem to plague other riders. The 4 star on comfort is only for its weight, the seats (once broken in) are quite nice. I should also note; mine was given the dresser treatment and the cases, chromes, bars, lights, farrings, and seats only added to the weight. I bet the bobbed version would be quite easy handling. Watch out for that power comming on though!
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
4.0
Comfort
4.0
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Voted most helpful review

Jim

Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

4.0
I have reviewed this bike before and wanted to do an update. I have given the bike steller reviews and still love the bike but wanted to give buyers a couple of things to think about. 1. In the last 1000 or so miles, the engine noise on the bike has become very bad. It's 2 different loud clattering sou... read more
I have reviewed this bike before and wanted to do an update. I have given the bike steller reviews and still love the bike but wanted to give buyers a couple of things to think about. 1. In the last 1000 or so miles, the engine noise on the bike has become very bad. It's 2 different loud clattering sounds. I can hear it clearly over the exhaust, with earplugs in and rumbleroad speakers playing. The bike runs great and my mechanic says not to worry about the noise, but I wanted to give prospective buyers a heads up. It turns out that these bikes are known to make a lot of noise.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
4.0
Performance
4.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

myles

ft st john , British Columbia

Reviewed on July 28, 2006

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
I love this bike. It runs great and is very comfortable. I have had a few bikes in the past but none as nice as this. The Power is sweet for a bike of this size. I think I will hang on to this one for quite some time.... read more
I love this bike. It runs great and is very comfortable. I have had a few bikes in the past but none as nice as this. The Power is sweet for a bike of this size. I think I will hang on to this one for quite some time.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
4.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Greg

Tillsonburg, Ontario

Reviewed on December 20, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
After a 30-year absence from riding, I got the itch this summer and bought a Honda 750 ACE. Remember that 30 years ago a 750 was considered a big bike and this bike felt big to me for about 2 weeks. After 3 weeks, I was thinking bigger bike. After 6 weeks, I rode home my 2005 1500 classic. Wow what a bike. T... read more
After a 30-year absence from riding, I got the itch this summer and bought a Honda 750 ACE. Remember that 30 years ago a 750 was considered a big bike and this bike felt big to me for about 2 weeks. After 3 weeks, I was thinking bigger bike. After 6 weeks, I rode home my 2005 1500 classic. Wow what a bike. The only similarity with the 750 is that each of them had two wheels. The Vulcan has gobs of torque, the seats are both comfortable for extended riding, the bike is incredible on the highway and revs low at highway speeds. My four-star rating on performance relates to a sound that I call "birds in my engine". I'm not sure what it is and the dealer has been unable to locate it but it's like a chirping noise. I think it's something vibrating but can't find it. Other than that, I love this bike and my wife and I are eagerly awaiting summer to do a lot of long distance touring. You see, I'm 56 and retired so touring is what I worked all my life for.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
4.0
Comfort
5.0
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Voted most helpful review

Derrick Dotson

Knoxville, Tennessee

Reviewed on September 26, 2005

Motorcycle reviewed 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic view listing

5.0
The over all performance and handling of the motorcycle is excellent, even with a passenger. The passenger riding is as comfortable as the driver. I have turned several heads and convinced several others to truly consider it over competitors.... read more
The over all performance and handling of the motorcycle is excellent, even with a passenger. The passenger riding is as comfortable as the driver. I have turned several heads and convinced several others to truly consider it over competitors.
Reliability
5.0
Quality
5.0
Performance
5.0
Comfort
5.0
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