Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx: 44 hp @ 7,000 rpm hp, 221 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 155 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.0/10. 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
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
44 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
47 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
155 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
221 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
44 hp @ 7,000 rpm
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
47 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
155 km/h
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
221 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
3.5 L/100km or approximately 28.5 km/L
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
8.0/10
"The most sensible used cruiser under $3,500, full stop."
Pros
+Near-indestructible Honda reliability
+Massive used parts availability
+Comfortable all-day ergonomics
Cons
−Carbs gunk up when stored
−Fork seals leak with age
−Underpowered for highway cruising
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.
