2022 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650

The cruiser nobody talks about until somebody asks for it

A YouTube comment got this video made. Somebody wrote in asking if Chase even knew the Vulcan S existed, the bike popped up on WOW's used inventory the next day, and that was that. So here we are: a 2022 Kawasaki Vulcan S 650, $7,000 used, 498 lb wet, the Japanese cruiser everyone forgets while they argue about Rebels and CFMotos.

Chase came in expecting nothing. He'd ridden every other bike that runs the 649cc Kawasaki parallel-twin — Ninja 650, Z 7 Hybrid, the whole family — and figured a cruiser-tuned version would be the boring sibling. It is not. "This thing is absolutely solid." That's the thesis.

Performance highlights

The 649cc parallel-twin in this bike is the same one Kawasaki's been bolting into everything for years. What's different here is the tune: this engine wants to be revved, hard, in a way that doesn't make sense for a cruiser. Roll on at 3,000 rpm and it shrugs. Stay in it past 6,000 and the thing wakes up like it remembers it's actually a sport-bike engine wearing a costume. 61 horsepower, 46 lb-ft of torque, and a powerband that's pulling exactly where most cruiser engines have already given up.

40-to-80 in third gear, plenty of pass on the highway, no anxiety merging. Acceleration earns a 6 because the engine is genuinely fun once you figure out where it lives. Throttle response sits at 6 too — there's an on/off snap when you're new to it that takes a few miles to dial in.

498 lb is heavy for a 650 at the kickstand. You feel it. Then you start moving and the agility score jumps to 6 — the bike forgets how much it weighs the moment the wheels turn. Mid-corner there's a little wiggle, the kind of softness that tells you exactly where the suspension stops cooperating. Push past city pace and you'll find that ceiling fast. Suspension scores 5 for that reason: comfortable cruising, capped under load.

Brakes are the weakest link. "I'm just squeezing a lever and hoping something happens." That's a 5. They stop the bike. They never thrill you. The engine is the show and the brakes are clearly aware of that.

Rider experience and tech

Body position is forward controls, upright torso, slightly extended arms. Standard cruiser geometry, well executed. The seat is padded, narrow enough to not get in the way, and Chase's old Harley butt-relief trick — pressing back into the cushion to redistribute weight — works on it. Comfort earns 7. There's a mild buzz at highway speed in the pegs and bars, but never enough to drive you off the bike.

Ease of use is where this thing earns its 8. 27.8" seat height with full flat-foot reach for a 5'10" rider with a 32" inseam means stops feel like nothing. You set down, both feet planted, both knees bent, never once tip-toeing around. For a new rider in city traffic, that confidence is the entire game. Versatility is 7 — city is the strong suit, highway is genuinely fine thanks to a tiny windscreen punching above its weight, light touring is even on the table. Canyon work is not. Don't pretend.

Tech is where the score drops. A 3 here. No ride modes, no cruise control, fully digital dash that Chase would happily trade for an analog needle. Range indicator and adjustable levers are the highlights, which tells you everything about the rest. Old-school basic Kawasaki switchgear: it works, it'll never break, it's not interesting.

The Chase Score and final thoughts

With a Chase Score of 60/100, Good Tier, the Vulcan S 650 lands as a bike that quietly earns every point it gets. 28 ride + 32 usability — usability carrying the weight, exactly the way a beginner-friendly cruiser should be built.

Buy this if you're shopping the sub-$8K beginner-cruiser bracket and want Kawasaki reliability instead of another Rebel 500 conversation, if you're a shorter or newer rider and the 27.8" seat is doing real work for you, or if you can find one used in WOW's inventory at $7K. Skip it if you want sharper brakes, real suspension headroom, or a dash that does anything beyond report a number. "I'm not a big fan of the looks. But I'm a big fan of literally everything else on this bike." That's the honest one-line pitch.