I know. The Vulcan 900 is a "middlewieght cruiser" I think... with all fluids it ought to be around 600 pounds. Definitely will need to sit on one, lean it a little and get some feel for it. Might try to find one on CL to take out for a ride to get a feel.

You can change your gearing by shuffling sprockets around.
Try getting a front sprocket with 1 more tooth on it, yours probably has a 13 or 14 tooth sprocket. To compensate you would have to get a slightly longer chain or you could also get a rear sprocket with 1 or 2 fewer teeth than your rear one currently has.
You will loose acceleration but swapping gears around can get your engine speed, RPM’s, where you want it at a given vehicle speed, MPH.

FMB, if you take a road test on a Rebel let me know how it goes?

Should be riding one tomorrow or Thursday.

I took my test on my Honda Shadow. Trying to navigate that thing through staggered cones spaced 10 feet apart was a bitch. Took me 2 times to pass the test.

I saw a 100 lbs. woman do that on a raked out Harley when I took my test. There was no way I could do it on that bike at that time. I wanted to go tell her I was impressed, but her 6'6" 300 lbs husband looked kinda pissed to be up so early in the morning.

That actually is a bit of my concern, getting a bigger bike. I know I'll get used to it, but all I've ridden is the 250cc Nighthawk. Little bit of nerves until I at least ride something bigger, you know?

Have you looked at the motorcycle safety classes, in a lot of states if you pass the class they give you a certificate which you can take in and get your license without having to take the test. Plus, its just a damn good idea to take the class anyway.

Took one last weekend. rules changed and they didn't bother to tell anyone that if we had our permits we could get a license test waiver.
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a dual purpose bike is perfect for the test if you can find one to borrow.

I've got my permit already. Have been debating about getting a bike and riding it for a while, then taking the intermediate safety course, which also has a waiver. Would give me some of that skills experience on my actual bike, rather than the 250cc bikes they make you ride in the basic class.

They make those tests ridiculously hard. It's why half the people you see riding motorcycles don't actually have a license.

The MSF test I took this weekend is harder than the DMV test for SC, and I was "excellent" in all categories. I didn't find it very hard at all.

You would if you took it on a Road King.

That's probably very true.