Eve: My 2018 Kawasaki Vulcan S

My first motorcycle was a 2018 Suzuki Boulevard S40. I was THRILLED to have a bike to call my own–especially one that seemed to fit me so well from my ATV days.

Unfortunately, the lack of certain creature comforts made me re-think my initial purchase pretty strongly. While the S40 is a great little machine, it was the product of just being under informed about what I really wanted in a bike.

I wanted a gas gague.

I wanted a clock.

I wanted a trip meter.

I wanted to know what gear I was in at all times, just in case.

I wanted to be able to drive more than 75 miles without having to wonder if my bike would shut off in the middle of the freeway.

I wanted a smoother ride and comfier seat.

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, live and learn. So, on a routine trip to the bike shop, I saw this beauty on the floor:

I couldn’t believe it. That Vulcan bike was the same sized motor as mine, but had twice, if not more the range, a comfy seat, and an all-digital display that has my odometer, speedometer, clock, gear, two trip meters, range, average gas mileage, etc. It also looked sleek and felt comfortable, despite my being only 5’3″. Ultimately, the tipping point was the fact that I wouldn’t have to write in dry-erase markers on my gas tank what my mileage was from the last fill up to know how much further I’d have on the tank. I knew I needed a different bike.

I gave in the next day and traded poor old Dyson in for Eve. As I’ve said before, I’m not usually the type to name vehicles, but our friends named their bikes and demanded we do the same, so my Vulcan S is named Eve, like the robot in Wall-e. The bike kind of reminds me of her, and sort of whistles like her when it runs.

Ever since, we’ve had great fun riding.

My boyfriend is constantly trying to convert me to a Harley, which makes a couple low riding bikes for us short people, I’ve yet to come across a Harley I’d be willing to invest in just yet. While I’d love it if my bike was louder so I’m more noticeable in rush hour traffic, I’m not willing to trade in Eve just because it’s a Harley. I love my bike because it’s sleek, comfortable/ergonomic, slim (i.e. nothing touches my legs that annoys me) and super light and nimble. Maybe, some day, Harley will make a bike that tempts me, but for the foreseeable future, I love my lil’ girl.