Harley-davidson Nightster 975 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Harley-davidson Nightster 975 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Harley-davidson Nightster 975: 90 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 218 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Kawasaki Vulcan 900: 50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model) hp, 272 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits), Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Harley-davidson Nightster 975
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
90 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
95 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
218 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
90 hp @ 7,500 rpm
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
95 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
218 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L) — estimated real-world average
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Harley-davidson Nightster 975
7.5/10
"A flawed but genuinely exciting used buy with real character."
Pros
+Punchy, characterful 975cc motor
+Genuinely agile handling
+Strong build quality overall
Cons
−Terrible stock seat comfort
−Short real-world tank range
−Cramped for taller riders
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
7.5/10
"Dependable, honest cruiser that punches above its used asking price."
Pros
+Near-indestructible engine reliability
+Comfortable upright riding position
+Affordable used market pricing
Cons
−Wallowy at highway speeds
−Stock seat punishes long rides
−Chrome quality disappoints over time
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
