VN2000 is biggest twin yet

THE new Kawasaki VN2000 cruiser will be the largest capacity V-twin to roll off a bike production line. The giant chrome-laden Kawasaki makes 120ftlb of torque and 95bhp.

It doesn’t quite match the hatstand numbers of Triumph’s new 2.3-litre triple, the Rocket III (revealed in MCN last week) but with a bore and stroke of 103mm x 123mm, the 2053cc beast makes rival twins like Honda’s new VTX1800 (also spied in last week’s MCN) seem like it still has a bit of growing to do.

Even Suzuki’s Hayabusa only makes 102ftlb of torque.

The fuel-injected VN2000 has gaping 46mm throttle bodies and a dual throttle valve system to boost low and mid-range torque and deliver power smoothly.

Like the new Honda the VN2000 is designed to look like it has a custom style rigid-tail design with its monoshock hidden away.

It has a streamlined headlight cowling and projector beam headlamp. And there’s a 21-litre slimline tank. The engine has chrome detailing and a pair of huge chrome exhausts add to the cruiser style. It stops with a pair of 300mm front discs and four-pot calipers.

The VN2000 will be added above the VN1600 at the top of Kawasaki’s cruiser range. The 1600 costs £8600 while the new bike is expected to cost around £10,500.

It will weigh around 320kg, which is as much as the £14,000 Triumph – which produces 147ftlb of torque.