Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Drifter 1500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. 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 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
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
67 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
119 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
329 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
67 hp @ 4,800 rpm
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
119 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h (estimated)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
329 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L, typical real-world average)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L 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 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.
