Kawasaki VN 900 Light Tourer 2014 — Specifications

Imagine a little brother swiping his elder sibling's boots and hat to hit the road. That, in essence, is what the Kawasaki VN 900 Light Tourer 2014 vintage is playing at. On the pretext that the big sister 1700 was treating herself to the light traveler's outfit, the youngest from Akashi demanded the same. And it must be acknowledged that the disguise holds up well, with a generous windshield, two leather saddlebags of fifteen liters each, a sissy bar, and auxiliary lights which, curiously, were missing from the 1700's menu. A paradox for a mid-size custom sold at 10,299 euros, nearly 5,000 euros less than its big sister.

Beneath the twenty-liter tank purrs a 903 cc V-twin, with its 88 x 74.2 mm bore and stroke and a moderate 9.5:1 compression ratio. The engine kicks out 48 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and, more importantly, 78.5 Nm of torque from 3,700 rpm, transmitted by belt through a five-speed gearbox. We're far from the cavalry of a VN 1700 which boasts twenty additional horsepower and five extra mkg, but the philosophy changes too. Where the big one charges toward the horizon, the little one suggests a quiet ride, a coffee on a terrace, a mountain pass crossed without haste. The 180 km/h top speed is merely a theoretical figure; a custom of this caliber isn't meant to play roulette with the speedometer.

The restraint of the specification sheet is evident in the chassis. Double steel cradle, 41 mm telescopic fork with 150 mm of travel up front, mono-shock offering 100 mm at the rear. The braking setup remains of an almost touching simplicity, with a 300 mm disc and two-piston caliper at the front, 270 mm and the same configuration at the rear. No ABS mentioned, no electronic assistance. Against a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 or a Yamaha XVS 950, the Kawasaki offers an honest compromise between size, accessibility, and presence. The 130/90-16 and 180/70-15 tires deliver the visual stature of a true custom, not that of a roadster in disguise.

The true asset of this VN 900 lies in its 680 mm seat height, a figure that opens the touring custom to a clientele often penalized by overly generous dimensions, notably shorter riders or those starting out in the intermediate displacement class. The 282 kg fully fueled remains substantial, but the low center of gravity makes parking maneuvers far more manageable than they appear on paper. In use, the torque available from low revs largely compensates for the modest nominal power, and the final belt drive spares the tedious maintenance of a chain.

Who is this Light Tourer for? Clearly not for the track rider nor for the urban commuter zigzagging between buses. It's aimed at the weekend traveler, the rider returning to the handlebars after a few years away, the couple looking to pile on the miles without breaking the bank on fuel or maintenance. Its price positioning makes it more credible than some entry-level American offerings, and its standard accessories avoid the obligatory detour through the manufacturer's catalog. One flaw remains hard to ignore: the absence of ABS on a machine sold for more than 10,000 euros in 2014, when European competition was beginning to standardize this equipment. A shortcoming accepted by Kawasaki, but one that any savvy buyer will weigh carefully before signing the order form.