Kawasaki

Vulcan S inspection checklist

EN650 · 2015-current. Take this to the bike and tick as you go; ticks stay on this device only. Every item comes from the Vulcan S guide.

0 of 0 checked

It's the bike you think it is

Compliance plate model code reads EN650B or EN650D
8th character of the VIN must be 2.
Both variants are 649cc and visually identical; the Full Power one also computes under the LAMS power-to-weight limit, so the numbers will not save you.
It's on your state's LAMS list today (registers change) Look up a code · NSW · QLD · VIC

Every used bike

Frame VIN and engine number match the registration papers
PPSR check: no finance owing, not written off or stolen ppsr.gov.au ↗ (a few dollars, needs the VIN)
Registration is current, and in the seller's name

Service history to ask for

Service records every 12,000km / 12 months
Valve clearance check every 24,000km: ask when it was last done

Known faults to check for

Check for: Not LAMS approved even though it computes under the cap Shows up: Any · Only: Full Power
What to look for
At 45kW and 226kg kerb the Full Power Vulcan S works out at roughly 142-144kW/tonne on the legal formula — under the 150 limit — and at 649cc it is under the capacity cap too. It is still not a LAMS motorcycle. Approval is a listing: Kawasaki Australia sells this as the non-LAMS model and it is the 35kW version that appears on the state approved-motorcycle lists. A learner who runs the arithmetic and concludes the bike is legal has it wrong, and since the two models are visually identical there is nothing on the bike to correct them.
Check for: Harsh rear suspension Shows up: Any
What to look for
The rear shock has short travel and is angled aggressively, meaning sharp bumps bypass the damping and jar the rider's spine. This is a design characteristic rather than a failure.
Check for: Exhaust system corrosion Shows up: Any · Only: LAMS
What to look for
The large under-slung exhaust muffler is prone to surface rust and cosmetic degradation, especially on bikes parked outdoors or ridden in the rain.

This is a checklist, not a diagnosis. Anything that fails, or that you can't check, is worth a mechanic's pre-purchase inspection. Amber “unverified” tags mean we couldn't confirm that figure against a manufacturer source.