Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan vs Kawasaki Eliminator 500. 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. Kawasaki Eliminator 500: 60 hp @ 10,000 rpm hp, 195 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Kawasaki Eliminator 500
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
60 hp
Torque (Nm)
115 Nm
44 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
309 kg
195 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
60 hp @ 10,000 rpm
Torque
115 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
44 Nm @ 8,500 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
195 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5–7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
5.5 L/100km or approximately 18 km/L (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
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
Kawasaki Eliminator 500
7.5/10
"Smart, practical cruiser that punches above its modest price point."
Pros
+Bulletproof Kawasaki parallel twin
+Surprisingly nimble for cruiser
+Excellent real-world fuel economy
Cons
−Highway vibration above 75mph
−Budget non-adjustable suspension
−Cruiser aesthetics feel slightly costume
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
