Best Exhausts for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900

This is our review of the best exhausts for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900. 

We tested over a dozen different exhausts for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 and shortlisted our favorite options. These exhausts have the most durable construction, the highest performance figures, and the most exquisite exhaust notes. 

If you’re looking for a quick recommendation, Vance & Hines’ Twin Slash Staggered exhaust is our top pick. This V&H pipe is built like a tank, makes a crisp sound, and brings a healthy power-up to your Kawasaki Vulcan 900. 

We have been testing and reviewing motorcycle accessories professionally for over a decade. If you want an informed opinion about anything and everything motorcycle-related, you came to the right place. 

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the best Kawasaki Vulcan 900 exhausts.


Best Overall

Vance & Hines Twin Slash Staggered Exhaust

Vance & Hines’ Twin Slash Staggered exhaust for the Vulcan 900 brings a bulletproof construction and a throaty exhaust note to your bike. It also sports a sexy design that accentuates the Vulcan’s lines while giving it a pretty healthy power boost. 

Vance & Hines continues their trend of making high-quality exhausts with this Vulcan 900 pipe. High-grade stainless steel dominates the build, making this hefty-looking exhaust surprisingly lightweight. Durability gets a 10 out of 10, with neither exhaust leaks nor excessive rusting to report. 

The design is aggressive and imposing, with slash-cut ends that mean business. You can get the exhausts in chrome, but we prefer the blacked-out version. 

Special features include a completely ‘blue-proof’ design that ensures your chrome exhaust won’t get discolored over time. Integrated full-coverage heat shields prevent excess exhaust heat from bothering you on long journeys. 

Every detail of this exhaust is geared towards extracting as much power from the Vulcan 900’s engine as possible. The free-flowing design adds a little bit of power and torque, making for better acceleration, improved handling, and a more fun bike overall. 

And finally, we have the sound of this Kawasaki Vulcan 900 exhaust, which is one of its best features. It is a deep and guttural sound that brings out the Vulcan’s aggressive side. As for loudness, these unassuming pipes let out a loud bellow that we absolutely adore!

Pros
  • High-grade stainless steel
  • Lightweight construction
  • Durable and sturdy
  • Blue-proof design
  • Integrated heat shields
  • Less exhaust heat on riders and passengers
  • Enhanced torque and power
  • Faster acceleration
  • Easier passing on the highway
  • Louder than stock
  • Deeper exhaust note
  • Available in chrome and black
Cons

Design may be a bit bland for some riders


Worthy Consideration

Cobra Speedster Exhaust

Cobra’s Speedster for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 is another solid exhaust that deserves your attention. You get an insanely high-quality build and plenty of extra power to get the Vulcan going. In addition to that, you get Cobra’s signature exhaust note that really wakes the bike up!

The standout feature of this exhaust is its insane performance. Cobra pairs a free-flowing exhaust with something they call ‘PowerPort’ technology. This essentially works similar to a 2-into-1 style exhaust without actually being one. It adds quite a bit of power to the Vulcan 900 and helps it rocket to 60 a lot quicker. 

Our testing also showed a noticeable torque upgrade, making for easier low-speed maneuvering of the bike. Additionally, passing other vehicles at highway speed is easier (and more fun). 

This Kawasaki Vulcan 900 exhaust design is pretty straightforward, understated even. Still, the machined billet end caps are a nice add-on that brings the whole look together. You get full coverage heat shields that keep exhaust heat off the rider and passenger. And like the V&H pipe, this exhaust is also completely blue-proof. 

But don’t let the unassuming looks fool you. This is one rowdy exhaust that will not hesitate to deafen you with its roar. Cobra’s unique tuning brings the Vulcan 900 to life and gives it a more aggressive tone. It’s louder and beefier than stock, with an awesome thumpy character that just works. 

Pros
  • Stainless steel build
  • Lightweight and durable
  • Classic styling
  • Clean, understated design
  • Completely blue-proof
  • Integrated heat shields
  • Less heat on the rider and passenger
  • Louder than stock exhausts
  • More beefy tone
  • Aggressive sound
  • PowerPort technology
  • Works similar to 2-into-1 style exhausts
  • Added power
  • Improved torque figures
  • Faster acceleration
  • Smoother throttle response
Cons
  • Not the easiest installation process

Best Premium

Cobra Speedster Swept Exhaust

If it wasn’t obvious, we have a thing for Cobra exhausts. Their Speedster Swept exhaust for the Vulcan 900 shares much of its sound and performance characteristics with the other Speedster exhaust on this list, but with a sexier design and even more power!

If you want a unique look for your Kawasaki Vulcan 900, the curved styling of this exhaust is sure to please. It features an aggressive curve on the mufflers, which looks bad-ass and positions the pipes higher up on the bike. That means you get significantly less scraping on large bumps in the road and more room to lean the bike over. 

The lightweight build is just as durable as the last exhaust. The pipe did not exhibit any exhaust leaks or cracks, even when subjected to extreme heat and pressure. 

To add to that durability, Cobra uses the same ‘blue-proof’ design, too, so your chrome stays as pristine as Day 1. Integrated heat shields make long highway journeys on the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 more comfortable. 

As for loudness and sound quality, this exhaust does not disappoint. The high-flow design makes these the loudest exhausts for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900. The pipe’s internal design helps make the sound deeper. Overall, it is a pleasing sound that makes the Vulcan 900 seem a lot more aggressive than it is. 

As we mentioned in the last review, Cobra focused on performance with their Speedster line of exhausts. The Swept exhaust used the same PowerPort technology to deliver a higher boost for low and mid-range power. Extra torque makes short work of 0-60 and quarter-mile times, while the improved throttle response makes the riding experience much more fun!

Pros
  • Stainless steel construction
  • Lightweight and sturdy
  • Sexy, curved design
  • Striking looks
  • Blue-proof chrome used
  • Integrated heat shields
  • Prevents heat from making long journeys uncomfortable
  • Sound is throatier than stock
  • More aggressive character
  • PowerPort technology
  • Works similar to 2-into-1 style exhausts
  • Improved 0-60 times
  • Better low-end and mid-range power
  • Smoother throttle response
Cons
  • Again, not the easiest installation process

Author
Hugo Alais

Hi, I'm Hugo, I'm a motorcycle enthusiast who’s been riding for the last 10 years. I'm passionate about all things motorcycles and started Bikes Future to help other riders make the right motorcycle moves. I ride a white Kawasaki Ninja 400.