Driving report Kawasaki VN 2000

Posted on by admin

Menus

Driving report Kawasaki VN 2000
Jahn

Driving report Kawasaki VN 2000

The slacker

Two cylinders. 2053 cm3. 103 hp. 177 Newton meters.

South of France, February 19, 2004, Kawasaki presents the fattest
Slacker of all time: the VN 2000. Awe-inspiring 371 kilograms that are casual on a chrome-plated side-
lean stand. Just lifting from
Stand: hard work. Reverse out of parking spaces after driving the cart slightly downhill against the curb? Forget it. Push to the next gas station at low tide? Heart attack. Pick up if she falls over? Disc prolapse. No, there was no mess here. Kawasaki popped up. The VN 2000 is only for real guys. Why? Quite simply: so that the ultimate cruiser really becomes king in the ring, the Greens in the USA carried out an opinion poll in advance. The respondents: exclusively men. Average age 46 years, weight 93 kilograms and 1.80 meters high. And her wish was Kawasaki’s command. So it’s no wonder that when you just look at the gigantic UN, you inevitably think of a fat American road cruiser. By the way: Kawa’s advertising prose describes the whole thing as masculine styling.
Anyway, obviously the world has lacked such a thing. Two 103 millimeters move easily at the push of a button
thick pistons on the long march
to their place of pilgrimage and return
123 millimeters around. If necessary up to 5000 times per minute. They release a maximum of 103 hp and send 177 Newton meters at 3200 rpm via a toothed belt to the 200 rear tire.
A wheelbase of 1,735 meters is a guarantee for phenomenal straight-line stability. That sounds incredible. But it is less spectacular than expected. The first few meters in city traffic confuse the driver who has anticipated a trucker adventure. Once in motion, the 2000s doesn’t seem so sedate. However, the description of handy or sporty would be wrong. Let’s call it the Vermit-
elements of accentuated security. Reasons: The 1025 millimeter wide handlebar ensures low steering forces despite the immense wheel load and 150 mm front tires, and the seat height of just 680 millimeters ensures a low center of gravity.
It is an unparalleled experience to see the place-name sign disappear into the pleasantly good rear-view mirrors, to gently tension the gas rope and to feel the thrill of cruising on these iron mountains
add. There is over one meter of space between the driver and the
massive, chrome-plated headlights. Incidentally, three arranged side by side-
nete projection spotlights housed above a conventional lamp. This opulent open space is comparable to the long hood of an American road cruiser. And so strange
it may sound like it instills confidence. Beneath you is this armada of oil-dripping mechanical elements just waiting to flex their muscles
let the gurgling of the V2, then this incredible mass and the endless space between you and the front wheel of yours
Bikes. Cruising has never been more intense. More meditative. Never more powerful. The VN gives away the unique feeling of being able to penetrate everything in the way, including a 40-ton truck that has been parked incorrectly
to be able to. Through the power of the crowd and the seating position. But not through the magic of the engine.
Yes, the engine. What did we expect: Chills. Grinding noises. Specter 93 dB. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 on the Richter scale. Long arms. Black lines on the asphalt. Nothing like that happens. The mechanical
actuated clutch cleanly separates that
The huge tooth flanks of the gearwheels merge with a subtle crack, and the controlled combustion of two measures of gasoline-air mixture escapes at the end of the two chrome-plated slash-cut silencers as a gurgling, gentle rumble. The Kawa technicians have
made it, their completely newly developed, prehistoric-looking unit with two chain-driven camshafts, bumpers, fork rocker arms, a 20-kilogram crankshaft and a primary drive by means of a chain, in short: 132 kilograms of pulsating, toiling, rotating metal through two balance shafts and modern Flush engine management soft. And this even though the drive is integrated into the frame as a supporting element without damping silent blocks. Guys, let’s be honest: Does the customer expect table manners from a dinosaur? Does he really want that?
So let’s let him whisper. Rumble slightly. Vibrate gently. And let’s feast on the torque of a hefty 177 Nm. Judging by the crankshaft, mind you. What actually arrives after a gigantic primary chain, a gear reduction and the wide toothed belt on the rear tire is left open. The fact is: who is in fifth gear at 100 km / h
wants to overtake quickly and should downshift. But at least in the lower four speed levels, a hurricane rages when necessary. Because the original cattle are anything but sluggish. The two-cylinder is easy to turn despite the huge masses, shows killer muscles just above idle speed and torpedo you in no time in situations in which driving licenses are more endangered than the unpunished practice of chain smoking. 203 km / h should be the VN
reach easily. A purely theoretical value. Because above 130 km / h the headwind hammers you full in the face and prevents further gasping. It has nothing to do with cruising anyway.
No, the VN 2000 is perfect
coordinated their use. Highway tune. And curves? The generously tyred Kawa steers itself a little overall
sluggish by sweeping, but gives itself
relatively neutral. The front wheel folds in very gently around the steering axis when turning. Lean angle? Limiting lean angles through running boards is more appropriate to the subject. Set-up moment by the murderous 200 mm roller? The rear tire hardly stands a chance against these iron mountains. The effect of the brakes is okay, but they require pressure? Keyword: 46-93-180, you remember, right? Thank God the technicians have managed the landing gear in such a way that even pilots below and above the survey value of 93 kilograms feel comfortable. The shock absorber compensates for almost all unevenness in the ground, the 49er fork is very well damped, but it is not able to filter out the finest hits.
The bottom line is: uncompromising
Cruising ?? and that excludes any degree of sportiness? has reached a new dimension with the VN 2000. Anyone who has always wanted to know what a grumbling American road cruiser feels like on two wheels should test drive this overhammer. For 17195 euros it will be available from March at selected-
ten Kawasaki dealers. 300 copies of this motorcycle monument will come to Germany. And guaranteed to make people without American guards happy too.

Technical data – Kawasaki VN 2000

Engine: water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke 52-degree V-engine, crankshaft lying transversely, two camshafts located below, four valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters, bumpers, rocker arms, dry sump lubrication, injection, Ø 46 mm, uncontrolled catalytic converter with secondary air system, alternator 532 W, battery 12 V / 18 Ah,
mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, five-speed gearbox, toothed belt.
Bore x stroke 103.0 x 123.2 mm
Displacement 2053 cm3
Compression ratio 9.5: 1
rated capacity
76 kW (103 PS) at 4800 rpm
Max. Torque 177 Nm at 3200 rpm

Chassis: double loop frame made of steel, screwed left beam, telescopic fork, Ø 49 mm, triangular swing arm made of steel tubes, central spring strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base and rebound damping, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, four-piston fixed calliper, disc brake at the rear, Ø 320 mm, double-piston Floating saddle.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 16; 6.00 x 16
Tires 150/80 R 16; 200/60 R 16

Dimensions and weights: wheelbase 1735 mm, steering head angle 58 degrees, caster 182 mm, spring travel f / h 150/100 mm, seat height 680 mm, weight with a full tank 371 kg, payload 185 kg, tank capacity 21 liters.

Two year guarantee
Color purple
Price excluding additional costs 17,195 euros

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *