2009 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak???

[peregrine]

I thought I read that they would NOT be making the Mean Streak for 2009.
Is this right? Beartooth is saying differently. Oh, their page says 2009 but when the link is clicked you get a 2008's info. What's the deal?

Kawasaki Motorcycles

[trikebubble]

Must be an over-sight I would imagine. Maybe they do have new 08's in stock. If you are interested, give them a call.

[drumster40]

I recently went to the Bike Show up here in Montreal, they do not have an 09 Meanstreak (in canada anyways) I was told by some young blonde bombshell!!!! (No sorry no pic, the girlfriend was holding the camera and gave me the look when I asked for it!!!! LOL) There is no mention of it on the KAwi site either from what I see.

[GreenDragon]

That sucks if they're not making it anymore.. as my very first bike i went with a new 900 custom to learn on, with the intention of getting a new mean streak after a few years of riding.. so now i guess my dreams are dashed..

[drumster40]

I'm sure you can find one around in great shape, a New 2008 isn't bad either. I'd sell you mine but then I'd have to go out and buy another one! LOL

[peregrine]

Originally Posted by GreenDragon

That sucks if they're not making it anymore.. as my very first bike i went with a new 900 custom to learn on, with the intention of getting a new mean streak after a few years of riding.. so now i guess my dreams are dashed..

I don't know about that... the picture of the 2008 they have for sale, sure looks S W E E T !

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/vu...ean-streak.php

[KTRIC]

Its about time for a Mean Streak 1700 !!!


And bring it back to Europe while your at it Kawasaki.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by peregrine

I don't know about that... the picture of the 2008 they have for sale, sure looks S W E E T !

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/vu...ean-streak.php

I have a friend with that exact bike. It is awesome, and a very, very "individual" looking bike You certainly won't be mistaking it for anyone else's ride.

[Crue]

No meanies and no V2k's for us Canadians

[Trashman900C]

Originally Posted by peregrine

I don't know about that... the picture of the 2008 they have for sale, sure looks S W E E T !

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/vu...ean-streak.php

its nice, i just dont know about the red frame.........to hell with it, i think everything should be black.............

[Bill Austin]

i reead in one of the mags that with the intro of the 1700, the Meany will go away with the 1500 and 1600's. Sad indeed. although the 900 version i saw at the Vancouver sho last month was hella cool!

[kawboogie]

My Kaw dealer was today lamenting that there is no Mean Streak this year. Perhaps a 1700 version is soon to come. I thought I read somewhere that Suzuki re-badged the Mean Streak and that it was a Kaw VIN.

[Bill Austin]

If i recall correctly the Maurader (SP?) was such a critter

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Originally Posted by Bill Austin

If i recall correctly the Maurader (SP?) was such a critter

You are correct.



Model: Suzuki Maruder 1600 S
Year: 2004
Category: Custom / cruiser
Rating: 74.6 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 1552.00 ccm (94.70 cubic inches)
Engine type: V2
Stroke: 4
Compression: 9.0:1
Bore x stroke: 102.0 x 95.0 mm (4.0 x 3.7 inches)
Fuel system: Injection
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel control: SOHC
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Shaft drive (cardan)








Model: Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak
Year: 2008
Category: Custom / cruiser
Rating: 70.1 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 1552.00 ccm (94.70 cubic inches)
Engine type: V2
Stroke: 4
Compression: 9.0:1
Bore x stroke: 102.0 x 95.0 mm (4.0 x 3.7 inches)
Fuel system: Injection
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel control: OHV
Starter: Electric
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Shaft drive (cardan)

[FL Vulcan Rider]

Kawasaki Mean Streak and Suzuki Marauder 1600 - V-Twin Motorcycle Comparison - Motorcycle Cruiser


Seeing Double: Kawasaki Mean Streak and Suzuki Marauder 1600 Motorcycles
Though they wear different brands, these two 1600s are essentially the same, the first streetbikes sold under the agreement between Kawasaki and Suzuki to share models and development efforts. By Art Fried

M16s Xl 2004 2 Bike Rear Right View
Both the 1600s are available in black or blue, and the Kawasaki is also available in this green.

Though selling the same basic vehicle under two brand names has become common in the automotive world, the practice is a comparative rarity in the motorcycle market. A few Royal Enfield vertical twins were sold as Indians in the 1950s. In the late 1960s, Laverda 750 twins and models other from other makers were sold under the American Eagle brand in the U.S. Evel Knievel even
rode one for a while. Korea's Hyosung motorcycles are imported here bearing the Alphasports brand and elswehere with other names. Aprilia has built a few models for BMW.

However, the first time that two major motorcycle brands shared models was when Kawasaki and Suzuki announced that they would do so a few years ago, beginning with versions of the same dirt bikes. The first street bike to arrive here under that agreement is the Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600/Suzuki Marauder 1600. A number of readers have inquired about the differences between the two bikes.

The short answer is that the differences are quite minor, and all of them are essentially cosmetic, not functional. Both bikes are built by Kawasaki and are a minor variation on the Vulcan 1500 Mean Streak, using the 1552cc "1600" engine instead of the 1470cc "1500" engine in last year's Meanie. The Mean Streak was one of our top picks in our 2002 Big Twins comparison, and trhe 1600 versions of the bike are still quite pleasing. The most noticeable difference between the Kawasaki 1500 Mean Streak and this 1600 drivetrain is that the new engine's clutch engages a bit more abruptly. The seats of our pants are debating if there is any more power down low in the 1552cc engine, but if so, it's not much.
2004 Suzuki Marauder 1600 Headlight View
The Suzuki gets a stylized visor and stretched shell.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Headlight View
The Kawasaki versions has a conventional headlight.


Both Kawasaki and Suzuki versions of the 1600 have the same frame, suspension (air-adjustable in back and an upside-down fork up front), brakes, gas tanks, and other major components. Even some items that we thought would be changed to create a visual separation -- front fender, seat, wheels, mirrors, etc. -- are the same on both bikes. The Marauder, which as the largest-displacement bike in Suzuki's cruiser line-up becomes its defacto cruiser flagship, also gets some features -- such as the headlight not turning on until the engine starts and automatic neutral-finding -- that were previously exclusive to Kawasakis. Even the suggested price is the same no matter which dealer you walk into: $10,999.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Tail View
The Kawasaki has a full wrap-around fender and a low-profile taillight.
2004 Suzuki Marauder 1600 Tail View
A tailsection added to the Marauder is the clearest difference between the two.


The list of differences between the two machines is short, and shown in the photos you see here. The biggest is probably the back end, where the Kawasaki retains the sweeping fender and low-profile headlight of past Mean Streaks and the Suzuki has a tailsection with a conventional taillight hung below it. Most people seem to prefer the Kawasaki treatment out back. The Marauder's more stylized headlight treatment drew more frequent appreciative noises than the Mean Streak's standard headlight bucket. Above the headlights, the instrument faces in the tachometer and speedometer are different, and there is a Suzuki logo set into the top triple clamp on the Marauder. The airbox covers are the final visual difference. Kawasaki uses a plain, snooth chrome finish on the Mean Streak's dual airboxes, while the Marauder airboxes have a ribbed insert. We suspect that some owners will mix and match these features to customize theior rides.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Engine View
Each machine has a different treatment on the dual airboxes. The Meanie's is smooth and rounded.
2004 Suzuki Marauder 1600 Engine View
The Marauder's dual airboxes have ribbed inserts and a slightly less rounded shape overall.


Since some dealers who carry both brands, it will be interesting to see which version proves more popular in showrooms. We also wonder if Suzuki, which has always priced aggressively, undercuts the Mean Streak's price in the future.
2004 Suzuki Marauder 1600 Tank View
The Marauder gets its own tank badges.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Tank View
Kawasaki adds a small tank graphic to the Mean Streak.


We expect the model-sharing to continue in the future. We anticipate that Suzuki will add a version of the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 to its line, particularly when the touring version we expect for that bike arrives. There has been some speculation that Kawasaki might put a variation of Suzuki's 800 Volusia in its line too, since none of the Vulcan 800s have the Volusia's shaft drive, which is a popular feature.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Gauges View
Each bike gets its own instrument faces.
2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak Gauges View
Suzuki adds a small badge to the top triple clamp.


We have gathered these two 1600s in preparation for our June-issue semi-big twins (V-twins over 1300cc but under 1700cc) comparison. We wanted to be sure that there was no reason include both in that test.

[peregrine]

Here's a new V4. Anyone know anything about the Bandit?

2009 Suzuki Bandit

[schoon333]

Any of you guys with mean streaks put windshields on? I looked at all of them I couldn't find one that I liked. I wanted one that would crurve back from the forks over the gages and be fairly close to me. The one I got comes straight up from the headlight. It does a pretty good job, but I was hoping to find some thing that fits and works a lot better. schoon333

[Pilgrimtex]

I had two different Memphis sport shields that fit the bike well but I had to ride with a full face helmet because the shield only covered the chest area. Went to a Memphis Fats 19" and works good and looks good.
Are you going to run full face? if so than a sport shield is fine like the alley cat or pop top.

[Trashman900C]

i read in a magazine that there are rumors of a 1700 meanie.....

[peregrine]

Originally Posted by KTRIC

Its about time for a Mean Streak 1700 !!!


And bring it back to Europe while your at it Kawasaki.

I say, skip the 1700CC and go right to 1800CCs and
blow the VTX's off the road!!!
(Sorry, Honda owners... just got caught up in the moment.)