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All Bikes/Compare/Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers

Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport: 63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated stock output) hp, 253 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 180 km/h (estimated; note: varies with rider and conditions), Motoryk rating 7.8/10. 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 Sportster 1200 Sport Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
93 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
180 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
253 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated stock output)
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
93 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
180 km/h (estimated; note: varies with rider and conditions)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
253 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approximately 15–18 km/L, typical real-world average)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No

Individual Reviews

Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport
Harley-davidson Sportster 1200 Sport
7.8/10

"The sharpest Sportster ever built, still worth every dollar used."

Pros
+Dual front discs stop properly
+Adjustable suspension, rare here
+Bulletproof engine with parts everywhere
Cons
Pushrod tube oil seepage common
Primary chain tensioner wears fast
Heat soak in slow traffic
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
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

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