Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan. Kawasaki Drifter 1500: 67 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 329 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan: 68 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 309 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Horsepower (hp)
67 hp
68 hp
Torque (Nm)
119 Nm
115 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
329 kg
309 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
67 hp @ 4,800 rpm
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque
119 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
115 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated)
185 km/h
Weight
329 kg (wet/curb weight)
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L, typical real-world average)
6.5–7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
7.5/10
"A gorgeous cruiser worth buying only in excellent condition."
Pros
+Stunning retro Indian-inspired styling
+Punchy torquey V-twin
+Comfortable long-haul ergonomics
Cons
−Parts nearly unobtainium now
−Chrome deteriorates badly neglected
−Carbs temperamental after storage
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
7.5/10
"Dependable, characterful cruiser that rewards patient, mechanically curious buyers."
Pros
+Bulletproof shaft drive reliability
+Strong low-end torque
+Affordable used pricing
Cons
−Carbs gum up quickly
−Suspension embarrassingly soft stock
−Heavy at low speeds
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
