Kawasaki Vulcan S specifications
Kawasaki · Cruiser
MC News found the 705 mm seat low and well sculpted for good comfort on short to mid-length trips. The suspension good on better roads and around town but a bit harsh at speed on iffy surfaces for a 75 kg rider, a limit it says is common on cruisers with limited rear travel. It rated the bike highly by cruiser standards and competitively priced against 500-class cruisers.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Engine | 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 649cc |
| Bore x stroke | 83.0x60.0 mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.8:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed with positive neutral finder |
| Final drive | Sealed chain |
| Front suspension | 41mm telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Rear suspension | Lay-down offset shock with linkage, adjustable preload |
| Rear suspension travel | 3.2 in |
| Front brake | Single 300mm disc, twin-piston caliper, ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 250mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS |
| Front tire | 120/70-18 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Seat height | 27.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 62.0 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 31.0° |
| Trail | 4.7 in |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal |
| Ground clearance | 5.1 in |
| Starting MSRP | $7,649 (non-ABS) / $8,149 (ABS) |
| Destination charge | $685 |
| Class | Cruiser |
| Wet weight | 498.3 lb (ABS) / 491.7 lb (non-ABS) |
ERGO-FIT: three seats, three pegs, two bars
The Vulcan S can be fitted to the rider. Total Motorcycle says ERGO-FIT is an exclusive sizing system that offers adjustments to the seat, footpegs and handlebar for the rider's height and reach, with three accessory seats: a reduced-reach seat that places the rider closer to the tank and controls for shorter riders, a mid-reach seat for average-sized riders and an extended-reach seat that moves hip support back 1 in. MC News counts three seat options, three peg positions and two bar positions, which it calls very good for a beginner-friendly 650.
The 226 kg (about 498 lb) bike has a seat 30 mm lower than the Eliminator's.
Power, brakes and what the Vulcan S lacks
The Vulcan S is a torquey, uncomplicated cruiser.
MC News says the torque carries through the entire rev range and a rider can knock it up a few gears and cruise at low rpm, that handling is accurate and stable, and that the low seat puts the rider in the bike rather than perched on top of it. Visordown notes the lack of ride-by-wire throttle or fancy riding modes, that the bike is well fueled through its smooth six-speed to a top speed of about 115 mph, and that, like most cruisers, its brakes are on the weak side because so little weight sits over the front end.
Against the other cruisers
The Vulcan S is priced between Kawasaki's Eliminator at $6,499 and the Vulcan 900 at $9,599, at $7,649 without ABS or $8,149 with it. Its 27.8 in seat is 1.1 in lower than the Eliminator's 28.9 in, and Honda's Rebel 500 at $6,799 has a 27.2 in seat and a 414 lb weight against the Kawasaki's 498.3 lb with ABS.
That extra weight is the trade for the Vulcan S's larger 649cc engine and adjustable rider position, and a rider should sit on both before deciding.
Vulcan S against the Rebel 500, Eliminator and Bolt R-Spec
Honda's Rebel 500 is $850 cheaper at $6,799 and 414 lb, and Kawasaki's own Eliminator costs $6,499 at 385.9 lb. Yamaha's Bolt R-Spec is a 942cc cruiser at 542 lb. At 498.3 lb with ABS, the Vulcan S is the heaviest of the three smaller cruisers.
Kawasaki Vulcan S — specification referenceThe Vulcan S is a cruiser with a sportbike's engine. Total Motorcycle says the Ninja-derived 649cc engine delivers ample low- to mid-range torque and was retuned for rider-friendly power that inspires confidence in new riders, and that the rear shock's 7-position preload adjuster tunes the rear suspension for different riders. Visordown notes that instead of a traditional air-cooled V-twin, it uses the water-cooled twin from the ER-6 range and Versys 650, claimed at 61 hp at 7,500 rpm.
- MSRP
- $7,399 (non-ABS) / $7,899 (ABS); $7,649 (non-ABS) / $8,149 (ABS).
- Model-year range
- 2025–2026
- Compared editions
- 2
- Specification entries
- 27
- Entries that differ
- 1
2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S questions
What is ERGO-FIT on the Kawasaki Vulcan S?
It is Kawasaki's adjustable seat, footpeg and handlebar system that lets the rider change the fit of the cruiser.
Did the Vulcan S price go up for 2026?
Yes, by $250: the non-ABS bike went from $7,399 to $7,649 and the ABS bike from $7,899 to $8,149, with $685 destination on top.
The 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S is a sport-cruiser that shares its 649cc parallel twin with the Ninja 650 and Versys 650 in a low-slung cruiser chassis with Kawasaki's ERGO-FIT adjustable seat, footpeg and handlebar system. It has a 27.8 in seat and starts at $7,649 without ABS and $8,149 with ABS, plus $685 destination, up $250 from 2025.
Reviewers call the seat well sculpted for short and medium trips and the suspension a bit harsh on poor roads. It suits a rider who wants a lively cruiser that can be adjusted to fit.