Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan vs Kawasaki Nomad 1600
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Kawasaki Nomad 1600
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
74 hp
Torque (Nm)
115 Nm
122 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
309 kg
372 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
74 hp @ 4,800 rpm (estimated)
Torque
115 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
122 Nm @ 3,000 rpm (estimated)
Top Speed
185 km/h
185 km/h (estimated)
Weight
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
372 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5–7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
Fairing
No
Yes
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 Nomad 1600
7.8/10
"A genuinely capable tourer that punches above its used asking price."
Pros
+Shaft drive, zero maintenance
+Fuel injection runs flawlessly
+Hard bags genuinely waterproof
Cons
−Stock seat punishes long distances
−Heavy at 750lbs wet
−Specialist mechanics hard finding
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
