LOT 626

1999 Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 Drifter Registration no. T79 EAN Frame no. JKBVN800CCA000875 Engine no. VN800AE058447

Estimate: £3,500 - £4,500

Lot 626

1999 Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 Drifter
Registration no. T79 EAN Frame no. JKBVN800CCA000875 Engine no. VN800AE058447

The Spring Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|23 April 2022, 10:00 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

1999 Kawasaki Vulcan VN800 Drifter
Registration no. T79 EAN
Frame no. JKBVN800CCA000875
Engine no. VN800AE058447

Kawasaki's Vulcan range dates back to the introduction in 1984 of the 699cc VN700A, the Japanese firm's first ever v-twin powered motorcycle. It would turn out to be an extraordinarily long-lived design, remaining in production until 2006. The Vulcan was aimed squarely at the 'cruiser' market dominated by Harley-Davidson, but rather than use an air-cooled v-twin like H-D, Kawasaki chose a thoroughly modern design boasting water cooling, twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. The styling of the VN800 Drifter variant, as seen here, borrowed unashamedly from Indian's 'skirted fender' Chiefs of the 1940s and 1950s.

'T79 EAN' is the machine used by Motor Cycle News as their long-term test bike in 1999 (photographs on file) and was purchased directly from Kawasaki GB by the current vendor in April 2000. Always garaged at room temperature, the machine has been serviced and maintained by the vendor and benefits from a recent front brake calliper overhaul. Last run in March 2022, the machine is offered with MoT to March 2023 and a V5C registration document. An altered exhaust tailpipe and adjusted fuel mixture are the only notified deviations from factory specification.
Offered with key

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