The mean streets demand a motorcycle with enough attitude to stand-out from the crowd. Kawasaki kept this in mind when designing the Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak. Take a closer look, and it will quickly becomes obvious that swinging a leg over this cruiser will open a new world of torque, acceleration, and earn the admiring looks of other riders.

Unlike most cruisers, the Mean Streak enjoys nimble handling with excellent high-speed stability. Sportbike-style 43mm inverted forks and a reinforced swingarm with dual air-assisted hydraulic shocks aid handling, while still offering enough compliance to offer the smooth journey demanded by cruiser riders. Dual radial-mount front disc brakes and four-piston calipers lend additional street credibility and excellent stopping power to the Mean Streak’s bag of tricks. 

The Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak’s 1,552cc V-twin engine offers a smooth wave of torque to make your ride more entertaining, thanks to high-tech features like liquid cooling, electronic fuel injection, dual spark plug digital ignition and four valves per cylinder. 

In the cruiser world, appearances and rider comfort are every bit as important as massive power, so Kawasaki polished the valve covers and cooling fins for a bright, high-performance image. The 1600 Mean Streak’s bright 17-inch aluminum wheels enhance the bike’s high-performance image, while radial tires provide exceptional grip and stability.

Features

Engine

1,552cc / 95 cu. in. 50° V-twin provides abundant low- and mid-rpm power

Polished valve covers and cooling fins enhance the bright, sporty image

Liquid-Cooling

Maintains consistent engine temperatures for long engine life and sustained power

Auxiliary fan keeps things cool, even in traffic

Four Valves per Cylinder

Compact combustion chamber for increased compression ratio without detonation

Boosts low-end torque and provides maximum valve area for optimum flow

Hydraulic Valve Lash Adjusters

Keeps valves quiet with no maintenance, and no adjustment is required

Digital Fuel Injection

Provides excellent engine response and power with less fuel consumption

Two different systems are switched and used automatically according to engine load for accurate fuel-injection control

Compact electronic control unit processes information faster for better engine response

Dual Throttle Bodies

Dual 40mm throttle bodies use one injector for each cylinder

Separate intake tract for each throttle body provides smoother engine operation

Four nozzles at the tip of each injector, with two nozzles aimed at each intake valve

Dual Plug Digital Ignition

Microprocessor-controlled timing

Two spark plugs in each combustion chamber cut detonation for added durability

17-inch Aluminum Wheels With Radial Tires

Radial tires front and rear on 17-inch cast-alloy wheels make a performance statement

Wide 170 / 60R17 rear tire delivers excellent traction

Gear-Driven Engine Balancer

Counter-rotates at engine speed to cancel vibration

Allows use of single-pin crankshaft to maximize the power-pulse feeling

Rubber-Mounted Engine

All but eliminates engine vibration at all speeds

Close-Ratio Five-Speed Transmission With Positive Neutral Finder

Combines great around-town acceleration with relaxed highway cruising

Positive neutral finder helps ensure riders can find neutral easily, every time

Shaft Drive

Reliable, quiet, low-maintenance system

Hydraulic Clutch Release

Easy to operate and maintain

Suspension

43mm inverted fork designed specifically for the Mean Streak

Swingarm cross bar utilizes two square tubes instead of monocoque design for improved torsional rigidity

Fuel Tank

Clean, seamless design boasts a full 4.5-gallon capacity

Ignition switch centrally mounted on the fuel tank for easy access

Large-Diameter Reflector Beam Headlight

Bright, focused beam to light the way

Brakes

Radial-mounted four-piston front brake calipers provide sportbike level stopping power and excellent rider feedback

Dual 320mm semi-floating front discs reduce fade

Single rear disc brake with twin piston caliper 

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SPECS

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, 50-degree V-twin

Displacement: 1,552cc / 95ci

Bore x stroke: 102.0 x 95.0mm

Compression ratio: 9.0:1

Cooling: Liquid

Induction: Digital fuel injection with dual 40mm throttle bodies

Ignition: Dual Plug TCBI with digital advance

Transmission: Five-speed

Final drive: Shaft

Frame: High-tensile steel, double cradle

Rake/trail: 32 degrees / 5.7 in.

Front suspension/wheel travel: 43mm inverted cartridge fork / 5.9 in.

Rear suspension/wheel travel: Dual air-assisted shocks with four-way rebound damping / 3.4 in.

Front tire: 130/90x17

Rear tire: 170/60x17

Brakes, front: Dual 320mm hydraulic discs with four-piston calipers

Brakes, rear: 300mm disc

Overall length: 94.9 in.

Overall width: 33.5 in.

Overall height: 43.3 in.

Ground clearance: 4.9 in.

Seat height: 27.6 in.

Dry weight: 640 lbs.

Fuel capacity: 4.5 gal.

Wheelbase: 67.1 in.

MSRP/Color choices: $11,099 Ebony; $11,299 Metallic Flat Spark Black / Frame Persimmon Red