Honda Valkyrie 1800 vs Yamaha Bolt R-spec
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Valkyrie 1800 vs Yamaha Bolt R-spec. Honda Valkyrie 1800: 118 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated, based on GL1800 platform; Honda quoted no official figure) hp, 380 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated; Honda did not publish an official figure), Motoryk rating 8.5/10. Yamaha Bolt R-spec: 54 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 252 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Honda Valkyrie 1800
Yamaha Bolt R-spec
Horsepower (hp)
118 hp
54 hp
Torque (Nm)
167 Nm
80 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
380 kg
252 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
118 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated, based on GL1800 platform; Honda quoted no official figure)
54 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
167 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
80 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated; Honda did not publish an official figure)
175 km/h (estimated)
Weight
380 kg (wet/curb weight)
252 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
7.5 L/100km (approx. 13.3 km/L) — estimated real-world average
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L, typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Valkyrie 1800
8.5/10
"The most characterful cruiser Honda ever built, full stop."
Pros
+Indestructible flat-six engine
+Exceptional highway stability
+Incredible torque delivery
Cons
−Seriously heavy low-speed handling
−Carburetor issues after storage
−Parts availability can frustrate
Yamaha Bolt R-spec
7.8/10
"A genuinely rewarding urban cruiser that rewards patient, style-conscious riders."
Pros
+Bulletproof reliability record
+Strong resale value retention
+Gorgeous factory finish quality
Cons
−Seat punishes longer rides
−Suspension undersprung for heavier riders
−No wind protection whatsoever
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
