Motorcycle specifications KawasakiVN 2000 2004 Un twin colossal

enormous. No other term better defines this colossal cruiser from Kawasaki. HUGE! Never before has a twin been so imposing, so packed, so intimidating. Behind its tarantula look, this VN doesn't hesitate to push everyone around. He's got it in him, and he wants you to know it. Consider that there's more than 1 liter of displacement... in each cylinder. a cubic capacity of 2053 cm3 commands respect. Even Harley's scream'in eagle can't compare. The VN 2000 is a monster, the culmination of the Super Macho line.

Its twin-cylinder engine has nothing in common with that of other VNs. Kawasaki has designed a new mill, unique, majestic, a veritable cathedral of metal, enough to instantly forge a reputation for this new cruiser. A generous block with measurements bordering on exuberance. The crankshaft alone weighs as much as a German Shepherd. As for the mill itself, don't even try to lift it with your bare hands; it's as heavy as a small 125 motorcycle. The huge connecting rods end in pistons weighing over 500 grams each. Big, strong stuff, but it's not to digest the V-twin's power that the mobile crew is so well dimensioned - at 103 hp, this 2-liter confesses to modest power per liter, but among the most powerful in the custom world. No, the aim is to resist the enormous torque produced: 18 mkg in the face. "Ouch, ouch, I'm getting rusty" exclaim the pistons.
Monstrous? Yes. But beautiful too. The engine may have a thoroughly modern design, with liquid cooling, fuel injection and 4 valves per cylinder, but it's all about showing off, with its fin-covered columns, large rocker arms, overflowing chrome and expansive airbox, proudly displaying a provocative 2000. All you have to do is turn the handle to realize just how powerful this beast is. Whatever gear you put it in, the thrust is impressive. What a trunk! The mkgs know how to hold their own in normal conditions, but don't hesitate to rip their arms off as soon as the injectors become generous with pittance. But does this cruiser know how to behave? Of course, and it's even unexpectedly polite. You wouldn't expect such flexibility at low revs from such a powerful engine. The other face of the VN 2000 is revealed: a cruiser with a breath that never fails, whose sound lulls you along more enthusiastically than the twin's vibrations, which are too limited in comparison to the colossus that produces them. Want to overtake or get a shot of adrenalin? No problem. A burst of throttle and you're in for a thrill. Keeping up a fast pace, however, will quickly become an ordeal. On a custom bike, speed quickly becomes an ordeal.

On a sports bike, the wheelbase is around 1400 mm; on a GT tourer, this rises to around 1500 mm. On the VN 2000, the wheelbase reaches 1735 mm - a distance worthy of a limousine. As a machine of excess, this VN couldn't be satisfied with big engine figures alone; the chassis is in the same vein. 2.50 m long, 49 mm thick forks, over 370 kg on the scales, basketball shoes (150 at the front, 200 at the rear), exhaust pipes as long as a freeway, a long, majestic, monumental silhouette - a noble monster. One that demands a minimum of anticipation and savoir-vivre at take-off. Turning within a handkerchief is mission impossible with such a large car. It's out of the question to come around a bend like a madman, relying on improvisation - you have to anticipate your turn, because you've got a big behemoth between your paws. But once underway, the VN 2000 demonstrates remarkable balance. Tight threading is not its forte, so it makes up for it with conviction on less-bleeding roads with good handling, very good braking (2 x 300 mm discs at the front with 4-piston calipers and a big 320 mm disc at the rear), and that bouncy torque only handicapped by a transmission that's a little too long. The seat is firm and wide, allowing you to wedge your backside in just right under hard acceleration, as if by chance you were asking for it again and again.

And then there's the look that turns passers-by upside down. From the front, its headlamp unit with its crown-shaped lighting system, reminiscent of a Gatling gun, is as intimidating as you could wish for. Its presence is matched only by its strength, and it's impossible to be discreet wherever you go. On the other hand, don't expect to have the kind of fun you'd have on a light, playful roadster like a 600 Hornet or Suzuki SV 650. With the VN 2000, you're dancing the waltz with Mister T.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos