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All Bikes/Compare/Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers

Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom: 53 hp @ 6,000 rpm (approximate; later fuel-injected models post-2007) hp, 256 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: varies by year and rider conditions), Motoryk rating 7.2/10. 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 Xl 1200 Custom Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
53 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
92 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
256 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
53 hp @ 6,000 rpm (approximate; later fuel-injected models post-2007)
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
92 Nm @ 3,750 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated; note: varies by year and rider conditions)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
256 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–18 km/L real-world average)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No

Individual Reviews

Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom
Harley-davidson Xl 1200 Custom
7.2/10

"A rewarding used buy if you inspect thoroughly and ride locally."

Pros
+Bulletproof engine when maintained
+Narrow, easy city riding
+Massive aftermarket parts availability
Cons
Harsh two-up ride quality
Vibration above 70mph tiring
Tiny fuel tank range
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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