India Kawasaki Motors website shows a teaser image of the 650cc Vulcan S cruiser motorcycle.

Kawasaki Vulcan S Cruiser Teased
Teaser image hints that the Vulcan S will be launched soon

In the Indian market, Kawasaki has always been playing on the front foot in the growing premium motorcycle segment. From what is evident from its India website, the Japanese manufacturer is now planning to launch their 650cc Vulcan S cruiser in the market. With a slew of interesting launches lined up for the next year including the Royal Enfield 650 twins, the 650cc segment is going to heat up with this entrant from Kawasaki. With an expected price of Rs. 6 lakhs (ex-showroom), the motorcycle will also compete with the Harley-Davidson Street 750.

Originally introduced in 2015, the Vulcan S boasts of Ergo-Fit components which allow riders of all sizes to get their perfect fit with respect to the handlebar, seat and footpeg positioning. It is likely that the Indian audience will receive the 2018 version that was unveiled recently. The motorcycle is powered by a 649cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor paired to a 6-speed gearbox. Derived from the Kawasaki Ninja 650, this engine develops 60.2 BHP of power and 62.78 Nm of torque.

The Kawasaki Vulcan S comes with 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and an off-set monoshock at the rear. Aided by dual-channel ABS, stopping power is provided by disc brakes measuring 300 mm and 250 mm at the front and rear respectively. The cruiser weighs 225 kg (kerb weight) and comes with a fuel tank capacity of 14-litres. By default, the bike comes with Ergo-Fit Mid Reach combination which is suited to riders with heights ranging from 5’7″ to 6’0″. A user can opt for Extended Reach or Reduced Reach depending on his/her height and preference.

Utilising a different intake, exhaust and ECU to provide better low and mid-range punch, the Kawasaki Vulcan S promises to offer a good mix of sportbike and cruiser experience in one motorcycle. Globally, it is available in 3 forms – Standard, SE and Cafe. Kawasaki will be bringing in the Vulcan 650 S cruiser as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit which will give room to the Ninja-maker to price it attractively.

Kawasaki Vulcan S India Launch

– Image teased on Kawasaki India website, launch expected soon
– Powered by a Ninja-derived 649cc parallel-twin engine
– Gets Ergo-Fit components to tweak ergonomics according to the rider’s taste
– To compete with Harley-Davidson Street 750 and upcoming Royal Enfield 650cc motorcycles

Kawasaki Vulcan S India Launch
The cruiser gets 120-section front and 160-section rear tyres
Kawasaki Vulcan S Cruiser Side
The Vulcan S sits on a high-tensile steel diamond frame