Kawasaki VN 900 Custom

When it comes to looks, the Kawasaki VN 900 Custom is not as flashy and futuristic like a majority of other Kawasaki motorcycles. However, the VN 900 Custom is designed in an old-school manner, just like many American true-blue cruisers.

At the front, the VN 900 Custom comes with a simple round headlamp which gets a chrome lining at the outer end. Even the round amber turn indicators, as well as the large rearview mirrors, come with chrome finish, which in total, impart some bling factor to the motorcycle.

The laid-back stance of the Kawasaki VN 900 Custom is further amplified by a sloping tear-drop shaped fuel tank, low positioned split seats, high positioned wide handlebar, and large front wheel. The seat is very well cushioned for making your long distance rides comfortable. The curvaceous rear section ends up in a small tail lamp with the same turn indicators as seen on the front.

The VN 900 Custom manages to look sinister, owing to black finish for the smartly styled alloy multi-spoke alloy wheels, engine, and dual exhaust pipes, which are stacked one over the other on the right side. The instrument console looks quite simple with analogue dials to match the old-school appeal of the motorcycle.

So, to sum it up, the Kawasaki VN 900 Custom misses out on flashy contemporary features. However, given the appeal of the motorcycle, the simplicity and minimalist approach suits its personality very well.

The cruisers are all about poise and ride quality, and if the latter aspect is taken into consideration, the VN 900 Custom makes up for a good comfortable motorcycle to ride. The front 41mm telescopic forks and rear uni-track are set on a very softer side to impart a plush ride quality. However, the large dimensions and turning radius makes it a bit difficult motorcycle to maneuver in city traffic conditions. The 21-inch front and 15-inch rear wheel are shod with meaty tyres to impart a good grip on tarmac. The stopping power comes from a basic braking setup of 300 mm disc at the front and a 270 mm disc at the rear.

Powering the Kawasaki VN 900 Custom is a four stroke, liquid cooled, V-twin, 903 cc engine, which is coupled to a 5-speed gearbox. The engine produces 54 PS of maximum power output and 82 Nm of peak torque output, which even by cruiser standards, is quite low on paper. The engine has a good bottom-end grunt and punchy midrange to make your long distance rides stress-free.

The Kawasaki VN 900 Custom is a no-nonsense cruiser, which is quite evident from the basic mechanicals it is blessed with. All the cruisers miss out on sophisticated electronic safety aids, with the VN 900 Custom one of them. However, the absence of ABS is a big miss, considering the heft of the motorcycle.

In a world full of traditional cruiser with a rich history, the Kawasaki VN 900 Custom makes a strong case for itself as a unique proposition. It manages to retain the old world charm fused with modern design elements to make it belong to today’s modern bits. While the overall ride quality is undoubtedly brilliant, the performance, as well as feature list, could have been better. The absence of ABS is another blunder which is a bit unavoidable. However, the VN 900 Custom has a charm of its own, and has the ability to make you go weak on the knees just by the way it looks.