All Tests – Kawasaki VN900 Custom Test: it’s (almost) America! – At ease in villages AND in bends!

Posted on by admin

Kawasaki VN900 Custom test: it’s (almost) America !

All Tests - Kawasaki VN900 Custom Test: it's (almost) America! - At ease in villages AND in bends!

If there is one segment of motorcycle production that the Japanese are struggling to invest in, it is the custom category. Eclipsed by Harley-Davidson, Japanese motorcycles nevertheless have arguments … The proof with our test of the Kawasaki VN900 Custom.

At ease in villages AND in bends !

The presence of a final belt transmission partially overcomes these shortcomings, especially as the qualities offered by this device (zero maintenance, silence and operating flexibility) are here enhanced by the perfect calibration of the double butterfly injection. : no hiccups or jerks complicate the handling of the custom Kawa.

This handling turns out to be childishly simple: while the 21-inch front rim, the wheelbase and the substantial weight (1645 mm and 278 kg) initially inspire a legitimate perplexity as to the dynamic behavior. , the first laps of the wheels reveal a well-balanced and obvious motorcycle to ride … for a custom of course !

Because of course, the direction "sticks" at low speed and tends to engage in tight turns, crossings and roundabouts. Not surprisingly, the braking offered by its front disc lacks bite and must be accompanied by pressure on the accessible rear brake pedal (effective and easy to dose). On these specific points, the VN900 Custom does not usurp its surname !

But unlike some of its rivals, it gently suggests the procedure to be followed rather than imposing a drastic manual: you don’t have to be familiar with custom driving and its particularities to feel at home. comfortable on the handlebars.

First, because the Kawasaki is self-stable from the first km / h and steers suitably for this type of motorcycle (36 °), which is as reassuring as it is pleasant in the city. Then because the VN900 Custom has a relatively precise and silent five-speed gearbox, which contrasts favorably with certain competing transmissions worthy of post-war agricultural equipment..

Finally, because its ergonomics have the good taste not to fall into caricature: the "half-feet forward" position is certainly typical but does not exert any unpleasant constraint on the extremities of the body. Catching the thick grips of the imposing chrome handlebars – straight and generously raised – does not require orangutan arms and the thighs naturally curl around the large tank.

Comfortably (yes, comfortably!) Wedged at the bottom of the thick two-stage saddle, legs not fully extended and feet slightly raised, the pilot quickly dominates the events. Once launched, the VN900 Custom then unveils another unsuspected quality: the appreciable efficiency of its suspensions..

The preload adjustable rear monoshock offers fairly satisfactory filtering of small irregularities, sufficient in any case not to enrich your physiotherapist each time you return from a ride! For lack of sufficient travel (100 mm), this element hidden behind the engine is more difficult on big shocks and lacks progressiveness on successions of bumps. But again, we know much worse in the category.

Despite its large travel (150 mm) and its strong inclination, the 41 mm fork also performs its task well, even if its springs are calibrated without excessive firmness (the tubes dive quickly into the sleeves when braking).

Extremely stable, the VN900 Custom is naturally guided in curves, where it is much more comfortable than expected: forget the cliches of the custom "anvil" waddling from the rump in turns and which scrapes its chrome as soon as it takes angle exceeds 2.5 ° !

In its kind, the Kawasaki is surprisingly agile and has sufficient ground clearance to enjoy it (almost) without counting. Be careful, however, not to exceed the measurement: once the toe clips are retracted in contact with the bitumen, their fixings welded to the frame touch the ground! At this precise moment, the room for maneuver becomes as small as that of a presidential candidate involved in moral affairs. !

The results are quite exciting on the dynamic level, but one essential ingredient is missing to complete this tantalizing picture: a zest of driving character. This "mechanical soul" which makes a motorcycle more desirable than another and which makes (or not) each turn of the wheel an unforgettable experience…

From the start, the muffled sound of the v-twin compressed to 9.5: 1 leaves you hungry: the melody is not unpleasant but far too polished and discreet for this type of motorcycle. The contrast with the muffled and irregular "potato-potato" of a Harley is wickedly striking…

Flexible and very available, the Kawa block is of the very (too?) Well-bred kind: it accepts very low revs without complaining – driving at 50 km / h in the fifth and last report is perfectly possible – and delivers its 50 hp and its 78 Nm of torque with constancy and conviction throughout its revs.

This linearity is precisely its main defect: its smooth accelerations do not cause particular emotions, especially as they are accompanied by vibrations once past mid-revs. No "good vibes"which tickle the paws when changing gear, but many tingling which scrambles the mirrors and tires the pilot, especially when the speed exceeds 110 km / h.

At the same time, it’s good enough: the total lack of protection and the position with arms outstretched and legs stretched forward are all good reasons to avoid speeding or long stages on expressways. !

Verdict: the right price…

Pleasant to look at and easy-going, the Kawasaki VN900 Custom is a motorcycle that deserves a detour: the rigor of its chassis and its satisfactory mechanical performance (the twin is capable of exceeding 170 km / h counter) make it a pleasant ride, even endearing by its voluntary sides.

The competitors of the VN900 Custom

  • Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 Air-cooled V-twin, 883cc, N.C power, 70 Nm of torque, 260 kg in running order – € 8,595

  • Honda VT750C2B Shadow Water-cooled V-twin, 745cc, 45.6 hp and 65 Nm of torque, 251 kg all full facts – € 8,690

  • Suzuki Intruder M800 Water-cooled V-twin, 805cc, 53 hp and 6.6 mKg of torque, 269 kg all full facts – € 8,699

  • Yamaha XVS950A Air-cooled V-twin, 942cc, 54 hp and 76.8 Nm of torque, 278 kg all full – € 8,499

So why are their sales so confidential? First of all because it is difficult to overcome the a priori: for a good number of bikers, a "real" custom necessarily comes from the chains of Milwaukee. It’s a question of principle, but also of legitimacy: Harley-Davidson has been building customs since 1903, Kawasaki since the mid-1980s.

What is more, if Japanese customs have long put forward their attractive price to distinguish themselves from American production, the argument no longer holds up today: the VN900 Custom (like the VN900 Classic) is currently displayed at 8,899 euros, a few hundred euros more than a Sportster both better finished and more charismatic…

Related articles

Leave a Reply

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