2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero & Vaquero ABS Owner's Manual (P/N 99987-1785)

This Kawasaki Owner's Manual covers the 2013 Vulcan 1700 Vaquero and Vaquero ABS, including VN1700J and VN1700K variants. P/N 99987-1785, dated April 17, 2013, carries the VN1700JE and VN1700KE model codes on the back cover.

• Engine maintenance: Oil-level inspection, oil and filter changes, air cleaner replacement, throttle-grip checks, and idle-speed adjustment through the multifunction meter.

• Cooling and emissions: Coolant inspection and filling, radiator and hose checks, California evaporative emission control, and Kawasaki Clean Air System service notes.

• Brakes and clutch: Brake-pad wear and fluid-level checks, hydraulic clutch inspection, rear brake light switch adjustment, and K-ACT ABS operating information.

• Rear suspension and tires: Shock absorber inspection, air-pressure and rebound-damping adjustments, plus tire-pressure tables, payload limits, and tread-wear specifications.

• Electrical maintenance: Battery removal, installation and charging, jump starting, headlight-beam adjustment, fuse locations, and accessory-connector wire-color tables.

• Controls and audio: Electronic cruise control, meter settings, radio tuning, Automatic Volume Control, RDS, and controls for optional CB radio and intercom equipment.

• Maintenance planning: Periodic Maintenance Chart, daily checks, general lubrication, storage preparation, and a basic troubleshooting guide for starting and stalling problems.

Written for owners and riders, this manual supports routine maintenance with basic mechanical knowledge and proper tools; repair work beyond the owner's experience belongs with a qualified technician.

Engine Maintenance and Service Limits

The oil-level procedure accounts for the liquid-cooled V-twin's semi-dry-sump lubrication system, helping avoid misleading dipstick readings during routine service. Oil-capacity data distinguish changes with and without filter replacement from filling a completely dry engine; drain-bolt and oil-filter tightening torques accompany the procedure.

Air cleaner and cooling: The wet-paper air cleaner element must be replaced when service is due. Coolant coverage includes approved coolant information, reserve-tank access and filling, and radiator-hose inspection; coolant changes are assigned to a Kawasaki dealer.

Dealer service: Drive-belt inspection and adjustment are dealer tasks. Spark-plug removal and Kawasaki Clean Air System air-suction-valve service refer to the separate Service Manual. Valve clearance is automatically compensated, so routine clearance inspection and adjustment are unnecessary.

California models receive separate evaporative-system inspection notes and a Vacuum Hose Routing Diagram. Fuel guidance covers octane requirements and catalytic-converter precautions; the high-altitude information states that no performance adjustment is required.

Detailed disassembly and overhaul repair work requires the separate Service Manual.

Brakes, Rear Shocks, and Load Settings

K-ACT ABS coverage explains linked braking, indicator behavior, and low-voltage mode. The brake-wear section notes that the two front calipers can wear differently on equipped models. Hydraulic clutch coverage addresses operation and fluid checks; bleeding is referred to a dealer.

The Air Pressure Adjustment and Rebound Damping Force Adjustment tables relate rear-shock settings to load and riding conditions. Tire-pressure guidance distinguishes load ranges, while the specifications cover dimensions, curb weights, wheel sizes, and approved tires.

The rear brake light switch adjustment includes a caution about damaging its internal electrical connections if the switch body turns. Rear-shock precautions explain how excessive air pressure can damage the oil seals.

Always refer to the complete manual before maintenance or adjustments, particularly work involving brakes or electrical connections.

Cruise Control, Audio, and Electrical Reference

Operating notes explain the vehicle-down sensor, positive neutral finder, ignition switch/steering lock, and cruise-control cancellation and resume functions. Break-in requirements are covered separately from routine maintenance.

Audio options: CB squelch and volume settings, intercom voice activation, iPod integration, and XM radio are explained for the applicable accessory equipment. Audio-menu flowcharts show the available settings, including RDS and Automatic Volume Control.

Accessory connections: Location views and tables identify connector polarity and wire colors for accessories, rear speakers, intercom, and navigation equipment. Battery guidance covers sealed-battery care and charging; headlight aiming includes horizontal and vertical adjustments.

Troubleshooting and Repair Coverage

The troubleshooting guide separates a starter that will not turn from an engine that cranks without starting, and distinguishes stalling during gear engagement from stalling while riding.

The ETV section identifies displayed service codes and reduced-performance behavior, then directs repair to a Kawasaki dealer. It does not provide code-by-code diagnostic tests or full motorcycle wiring diagrams.

The Bolt and Nut Tightening illustrations locate fasteners for inspection. The manual directs owners to a Kawasaki dealer for their torque values.

Idle-Speed and Accessory-Load Examples

These examples are a small selection of the operating and adjustment data included in the manual.

Idle control: The warmed-engine idle specification is 950 ±50 rpm, while the multifunction meter offers an adjustment range of 850–1,100 rpm. The manual distinguishes the factory target from the available setting range.

Accessory power: The accessory-connector section limits the total accessory load to 120 W to avoid battery discharge, even with the engine running.

PDF Text Search and Bookmarks

Search and chapter access: The PDF has searchable body text and 70 embedded bookmarks covering chapters and maintenance sections. Covers, some audio-menu charts, and reproduced labels are outside the searchable text layer.

The download contains one printable, English-language 241-page PDF. Both covers, nine introductory pages, five maintenance-record pages, and 13 pages of label locations and reproductions are already included in that total.