Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan vs Yamaha Bolt R-spec
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan vs Yamaha Bolt R-spec. 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. Yamaha Bolt R-spec: 54 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 252 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Yamaha Bolt R-spec
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
54 hp
Torque (Nm)
115 Nm
80 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
309 kg
252 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
54 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Torque
115 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
80 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h
175 km/h (estimated)
Weight
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
252 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5–7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 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
Yamaha Bolt R-spec
7.8/10
"A genuinely rewarding urban cruiser that rewards patient, style-conscious riders."
Pros
+Bulletproof reliability record
+Strong resale value retention
+Gorgeous factory finish quality
Cons
−Seat punishes longer rides
−Suspension undersprung for heavier riders
−No wind protection whatsoever
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
