LOT 312

2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter Registration no. Y148 AUT Frame no. JKBVNT50JJA004591 Engine no. VNT50AE078378

Sold for £3,450 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve

Lot 312

2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter

The Spring Stafford Sale - The International Classic MotorCycle Show|26 April 2026, 11:30 BST|Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground

2001 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter
Registration no. Y148 AUT
Frame no. JKBVNT50JJA004591
Engine no. VNT50AE078378

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. Developed in the USA, the styling of the Drifter variants borrowed unashamedly from Indian's 'skirted fender' Chiefs of the 1940s and 1950s. Quoted in Rider magazine, the creators said: "the object of the exercise had been to create a motorcycle which one might have expected Indian to manufacture had it still been in existence at the time the project was launched."

The Vulcan 1500 Drifter duly arrived in 1999 powered by a fuel-injected 1,470cc v-twin engine, which delivered its ample power via a five-speed gearbox and shaft final drive. Disc brakes were fitted front and rear, and the Drifter tipped the scales at 710lb dry. 2005 was the final year of production, though the 800 Drifter continued for another year.

This Vulcan 1500 Drifter was first registered in May 2001 and currently displays a total of 16,555 kilometres (approximately 10,290 miles) on the odometer. The Kawasaki was purchased by the vendor in 2012 and has been mainly used for touring trips, including to the Isle of Man for the TT. The machine is offered with a Clymer manual and a V5C Registration Certificate.
Offered with key

Footnotes

All lots are sold 'as is/where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding.

Please see the Auction Information and Guide for Buyers at the top of the main sale page, for bidders' obligations. The Spring Stafford Sale

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This Lot will be auctioned on Sunday 26 April, with the auction starting at 11:30am BST.

Saleroom notices

This machine has a valid MOT until 07.04.2027.

Additional information

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