Kawasaki VN1500 Vulcan Mean Streak
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| Kawasaki VN1500 Vulcan Mean Streak | |
| Manufacturer | |
|---|---|
| Production | 2001 - 02 |
| Class | Cruiser |
| Engine | Four stroke, 50° V-Twin, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 181.7 km/h |
| Ignition | Digital |
| Transmission | 5 Speed |
| Frame | High-tensile steel, double cradle |
| Suspension | Front: 43 mm inverted telescopic fork Rear: Swingarm with twin shocks with 4-way rebound damping |
| Brakes | Front: 2x 320mm discs 6 piston calipers Rear: Single 300mm disc 2 piston caliper |
| Front Tire | 130/70R -17 |
| Rear Tire | 170/60R -17 |
| Wheelbase | 1705 mm / 67.1 in |
| Seat Height | 701 mm / 27.6 in |
| Weight | |
| Recommended Oil | K-tech 10W-40 |
| Fuel Capacity | 17 Liters / 4.4 US gal |
| Manuals | Service Manual |
It could reach a top speed of 181.7 km/h.
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Liquid cooled cooled Four stroke, 50° V-Twin, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder. The engine featured a 9.0:1 compression ratio.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
It came with a 130/70R -17 front tire and a 170/60R -17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x 320mm discs 6 piston calipers in the front and a Single 300mm disc 2 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a 43 mm inverted telescopic fork while the rear was equipped with a Swingarm with twin shocks with 4-way rebound damping. The VN1500 Vulcan Mean Streak was fitted with a 17 Liters / 4.4 US gal fuel tank. The wheelbase was 1705 mm / 67.1 in long.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Kawasaki VN 1500 Mean Streak
The new performance class is rapidly heating up in the highly
competitive cruiser segment, and Kawasaki is ready now to get in early and grab
the lion's share with the new Vulcan 1500 Mean Streak.
This new machine truly sets the overall mark when it comes to power cruisers. Recently introduced to the media, the magazine editors said things like: "This is a cruiser where everything works like it's supposed to. At last!", "I've ridden the other power cruisers that are available and this offers the best handling". and, "The brakes on this thing are better than the other machines in the class". When set side-by-side to other machines in the power cruiser class, the Mean Streak is a clear winner. Compared to Honda's new VTX 1800 and Yamaha's recently announced Road Star Warrior, the Mean Streak MSRP is priced between $1,000 and $1,500 less. The Mean Streak is the only machine with self-adjusting hydraulic valve lifters; air and damping-adjustable rear suspension; has the longest fork travel; the biggest, most powerful front disc brakes and a low, low 27.5-inch seat height.
The Mean Streak comes from the relationship to the Vulcan models developed since 1996. The Classic, Nomad and Drifter are all based on a more retro look and feel. They are your fathers Vulcan and in comparison the Mean Streak is a Vulcan with attitude. It is the Vulcan with a Mean Streak that offers a more aggressive styling and performance. The Mean Streak will have broad appeal a true factory custom emphasizing; handling performance, superior braking and unbelievable comfort with an engine that provides dependable, predictable performance, through a linear power curve, smooth operation and high technology features.
The wheel-base is a long 67.1 inches but with a 32 degree rank and 5.66 inch trail the bike turns very quick. It does have a true sportbike feel in the corners. The twin 6 pot caliper front brakes are serious so dont think you have to grab a big hand full to stop the 637 lb. Mean Streak. Two fingers are more than enough to bring the bike to a stop. The handling is very neutral and you do not have to fight the bike to go through a fast corner or slow parking lot. Youll be very pleased with how this bike stops and handles and compared to the VTX, the Mean Streak is far better. In addition, the inverted 43mm front forks provide 5.9 inches of travel, which is more than the VTX and the Warrior. The rear adjustable air shocks allow you to adjust the ride height and comfort level depending on the type of riding you plan to do. If you want to go through the twisties without dragging the pegs just add air to 15 to 20 psi to both rear shocks. Youll be amazed how well it handles. The adjustable air-shocks are key features as no other bike in the performance cruiser category provides this feature.
The overall styling is the best in the category. Enthusiasts that have seen the actual bike had a first impression that the Mean Streak is a custom, one-off and not a production model. The key features that give this impression are the exhaust pipes, paint, wheels, seat, fenders, handlebars and front end.
The seat is very comfortable and still maintains a very sporting look. You can ride all day without feeling the seat is too hard or uncomfortable. Aftermarket exhausts are available through Vance and Hines and Cobra since the mounting point are the same as the Vulcan classic. There will be other pipes with designs specifically for the Mean Streak.
The Mean Streak delivers 30% increase in horsepower over the Vulcan Classic FI. It has 72hp at 5500 rpm and 85lbs torque at 3000 rpm. This is accomplished by adding many new and upgraded features to the 90ci engine. The new fuel injectors are dual-throat 40mm that provides great acceleration in the mid-range. The new and larger valves are similar in design to our Ninja motors. The new cams provide higher lift and more duration for increased power. The ECU is new and allows the engine to rev well past the indicated red-line of 6000 rpm before the limiter is activated. The new clutch utilizes paper-based plates instead of cork-based plates to provide smoother engagement from a standing start. These plates are the same materials used in most high performance sport bikes. The new plates also prevent the clutch from grabbing when cold.
The new close ratio 5 speed transmission has wider gears that allow smoother, positive shifting at all speeds. The new flangeless fuel tank is a large 4.5 gallons and provides good range up to past 175 miles. The swing-arm is lengthened 1.5 inches for a smoother overall ride and the wheels are 17 inch cast with 220 Dunlop Radials.
Major companies like Muzzy and Thunder are hard at work making upgrade performance products for the Mean Streak to make this the meanest and best V-twin on the street.
Kawasaki Vulcan® Cruisers
By introducing the KZ900 LTD in 1976, Kawasaki was an early metric leader in what has become todays cruiser movement. When the Vulcan® 750 cruiser debuted 10 years later, it was Kawasakis first V-twin-powered cruiser and featured high-tech items such as liquid cooling, double overhead cams, shaft drive, dual disc front brakes and mag wheels. In 1995, Kawasaki unveiled the Vulcan 800, one of the industrys first V-twin metric cruisers to feature modern cruiser styling.
| Make Model | Kawasaki VN 1500 Mean Streak |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 - 02 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, 50° V-Twin, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement | 1470 cc / 89.7 cu-in |
| Bore X Stroke | 102 x 90 mm |
| Cooling System | Liquid cooled |
| Compression | 9.0:1 |
| Induction | Digital Fuel Injection with dual 36mm throttle bodies |
| Ignition | Digital |
| Max Power | 72 hp / 52.5 kW @ 5500 rpm |
| Max Torque | 114 Nm / 84.1 lb -ft @ 3000 rpm |
| Transmission | 5 Speed |
| Final Drive | Shaft |
| Frame | High-tensile steel, double cradle |
| Front Suspension | 43 mm inverted telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension | Swingarm with twin shocks with 4-way rebound damping |
| Front Brakes | 2x 320mm discs 6 piston calipers |
| Rear Brakes | Single 300mm disc 2 piston caliper |
| Front Tire | 130/70R -17 |
| Rear Tire | 170/60R -17 |
| Wheelbase | 1705 mm / 67.1 in |
| Seat Height | 701 mm / 27.6 in |
| Dry-weight | 289 kg / 637 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity | 17 Liters / 4.4 US gal |
| Consumption Average | 15.6 km/lit |
| Standing ¼ Mile | 13.8 sec |
| Top Speed | 181.7 km/h |