The Vulcan 1500 is a large displacement motorcycle from Kawasaki. It was introduced in 1987 as the first Vulcan model (known as Vulcan 88). Later, it got a new name, the Vulcan 1500, in 1996.
Thus, the liquid-cooled bike has a 1,470-cc (88 ci) V-Twin engine with 5.3gal fuel capacity. For this engine capacity, the earlier name of the Vulcan 1500 was Vulcan 88. Thus, it has a five-speed manual transmission and a final belt drive.
Unfortunately, there is still a chance of Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 problems while being so good at its specs and competitive performance. In this blog, I have explained some notable faults of this bike with possible solutions. Please stay on this page to find out how to quickly solve any problem of this motorbike.
List Of Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Problems
Kawasaki Vulcan is an outstanding motorcycle. It is meant delivering reliable performance with a basic design. Yet, it has encountered a few problems over the years. Riders have faced a few major and minor issues while riding this motorcycle.
The most common problems of Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 include noisy drive belt, quickly wearing out regulator, becoming loud in high speeds and irregularities in transmission system. Some complained about its basic design too.
|
Problem Name |
What Happens |
Possible Solution |
|
Failure of the oil gear pump |
The pump fails between 4000-15000 miles on the bike |
Replacement of plastic oil gear pump |
|
Noisy drive belt |
Drive belt may often create noise if not adjusted correctly |
The precision of belt tension |
|
Transmission irregularities |
The bike slips out of gear in the 2nd gear |
Full engine teardown |
|
Gear 1-2 clunky shift |
Clunky sound while shifting the gear |
Shift to 2nd gear when the bike is at 20-26mph |
|
Worn out regulator |
The regulator or rectifier wears faster |
Replacement of regulator |
|
Loud at extreme speeds |
The bike creates noise at above 120km speed |
Replace the exhaust system or use a noise-canceling kit |
|
Very basic design |
No windshield, saddlebags, or sissy bar |
– |
Okay! These are the most common problems with Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 motorbikes. Riders around the world have already faced these issues. Also, they have talked about them and tried to sort them out through discussion in the forums and biking communities. Following these, I have gathered essential information and written in this post.
I hope you continue reading the following points to identify the problems of Vulcan 1500 and fix them for a better riding experience.
Problem – 1: Failure Of The Oil Gear Pump
Vulcans produced from 1987-2005 came to the market with a plastic oil pump gear. The latter models had metal oil gear pumps as a replacement. Thus, models like Vulcans Classic, Nomad, and Tourer tended to oil gear failure. Typically, the problem becomes evident when the rider has ridden the bike for 4000-15000 miles.
In case you are up to a used or old Vulcan 1500, first inquire about the oil gear pump condition and history for any repair. If the pump is not fixed or replaced with metal, there might be a risk of failure.
However, you can identify the issue by knowing the symptoms. Some are whining noise from the clutch area, check engine light turned on, and oil pressure irregularity.
Possible Solution
If you buy the latter models (from 2005), there won’t be any problem. Otherwise, you may need to replace the troubling unit with a newer one. It is not a costly repairing since the gear pump for the oil in Vulcan 1500 is inexpensive.
You will find the Vulcan 1500 oil gear pump at around $25 to $35. However, instead of replacing it on your own, you should visit a mechanic. It is crucial for the perfect oil gear pump replacement.
Problem – 2: Noisy Drive Belt
When I was inquiring about Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 problems, I saw riders complaining about the noisy drive belt or pulleys. Some riders found the roaring sound excellent. Others tried to manage to ride a bike with that noise. Then again, many of them wanted to solve the issue.
Inspecting the issue, the noise came out a similar one, like the drive belt was rubbing against something in the area. The noise became severe and louder when the bike fell, replaced the belt, and the accident happened.
Some indications of this problem are incorrect belt tension, worn-out teeth, and loose drive pulleys.
Possible Solution
If you or the mechanic adjust the belt wrongly, there is a possible chance of having a squeaking noise. So, you should be aware of it. Check the belt fast and tighten or loosen if the tension is inaccurate. Otherwise, you may contact the dealer.
Problem – 3: Transmission Irregularities
Another notable fault in Vulcan 1500 is the transmission-related problem. Typically, it happens when the rider comes on the hard bike as the alongside bike slips out of gear. Especially when the bike remains in second gear, transmission difficulties start. As a result, the rider must re-select the second gear or move to another one.
A symptom can be the sound that appears while you shift your bike into second gear. As you shift the gear, the clunky noise hits the ear hard.
Possible Solution
A full teardown of the engine is the most effective solution. You must replace the shift fork, and second gear during the process. Besides, you may consider replacing the clutch spring and rings. Overall, the cost of replacements can be $3000 or more. Some riders suggested that they somehow managed to ride up to 40K miles with the transmission issue.
Problem – 4: Gear 1-2 Clunky Shift
Many riders have complained about their older Vulcan 1500s having a clunky noise when they shift the gear from first to second. The reason behind this is the bent shift fork that makes gear shifting hard, particularly when the rider needs to shift into second gear.
Possible Solution
Many riders and mechanics have already solved the problem by replacing the old shift fork with a new one. Thus, some riders have already started accepting the noise as a regular event.
Another solution to the problem can be shifting to second gear when you keep the bike speed at 20-26 mph. It can vary as riders suggest the range to be lower. If you shift the gear at 30mph or higher speed, your bike may reach second gear or neutral.
Hence, you need to careful about speeding up Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 as you change gears. If you can slow the bike while shifting to second gear, you shouldn’t heat the clunky noise.
Problem – 5: Worn Out Regulator
A regulator or rectifier of a bike is indeed a critical component. It regulates and rectifies the voltage to the bike’s battery. Hence, the regulator’s role is to convert AC into DC. Also, it can sort out the DC if it is les than 14.5 volts before rectifying it to the battery.
Unfortunately, the regulator of the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 has a worn-out regulator problem. Some reports were about the burning out of regulators in some Vulcan models. Consequently, a faulty regulator may overcharge the battery, reducing its lifespan. If you see your battery reading 17 volts or more, consider the regular having the problem.
Possible Solution
You should contact the Kawasaki dealer and ask them to replace the regulator or rectifier. Again, you can purchase aftermarket regulators online for better heat management.
Problem – 6: Loud At Extreme Speeds
If you ride the bike at more than 120 kmph, the noise of revs from the bike will go louder. You may not consider it a significant issue if you love to hear loud noise while you are on a ride.
Possible Solution
I suggest you replace the exhaust system or use a new cancelling kit. Many riders have already installed hard-chrome pips and a cobra airbox removal kit. There’re many high-quality exhausts available for the Vulcan 1500 motorcycle.
Stainless steel or chrome exhaust pipes and mufflers look brilliant. It also upgrades the design that otherwise looks pretty basic. To get a detailed idea on the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 exhaust pipe replacement, you may see the following YouTube video.
Problem – 7: Very Basic Design
The Vulcan 1500 is truly an attractive bike to the eyes. Still, something missing could be great for a long journey by riding on this bike. Some riders in the community have complained that there is no windshield for protection from the gusty weather. Also, there are no saddlebags that could hold some essential things. Some riders reported that there could be a sissy bar for convenient riding.
Possible Solution
I haven’t found any specific solution to the problem. Basically, it’s not a technical problem, rather, it is an external problem that could be helpful if solved properly. However, contact your dealer if any solution comes out.
Nonetheless, the basic design shouldn’t be a big problem unless you are fanatic about design and look of a motorcycle only. The Vulcan 1500 delivers beast performance with solid reliability. Thus, its reliable performance deserves accolade.
Conclusion
The Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 is a big, stylish cruiser that’s comfortable at high speeds. But it is not designed for high performance. It has some features to make it stand out, like dual exhausts and a Positive Neutral Finder. However, there are some widespread Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 problems that riders have reported.
It includes the failure of the oil gear pump, noisy drive belts, and transmission irregularities. You can solve these issues quickly by replacing or repairing the components. Besides, getting help from the mechanics can be a better and more practical idea. I wish you would have loved my writing. Thanks for coming here.