KAWASAKI Vulcan 500 LTD (2006-Present) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD was a cruiser motorcycle part of the Vulcan series that debuted in 1990 as a successor to the Kawasaki 454 LTD. At its core, the Vulcan 500 LTD had a 498cc engine almost identical to the one used on the Ninja 500R.

Compared to its predecessor, the Vulcan 500 came with updated ergonomics and new engine tuning. The engine featured new camshaft profiles and lower compression that moved the power band lower to increase low-end torque, and the carburetors were downsized from 34 to 32 mm.

The bike had standard features, such as a round headlight up front, a pulled-back handlebar, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a one-piece dual seat, a dual chromed exhaust system, and wire-spoke wheels.

The bike was built around a double cradle high tensile steel frame with a 41 mm telescopic fork on the front and five-way preload-adjustable twin shock absorbers on the rear, delivering optimum suspension performance and handling.

The braking power was achieved by a 300 mm disc with a hydraulic caliper on the front wheel and a 180 mm drum braking unit on the rear wheel, providing optimum stopping power.

As for the power figures, the 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD had its soul brought to life by a 498cc four-stroke V-twin liquid-cooled engine that delivered 46 hp at 8,000 rpm and 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) torque at 6,000 rpm.