Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500 vs Honda Vt1100 Shadow
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500 vs Honda Vt1100 Shadow. Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500: 68 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 309 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.8/10. Honda Vt1100 Shadow: 50 hp @ 5,500 rpm hp, 262 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 Vulcan Classic 1500
Honda Vt1100 Shadow
Horsepower (hp)
68 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
118 Nm
86 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
309 kg
262 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
50 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque
118 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
86 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
262 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L)
5.5 L/100km or approximately 18 km/L
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500
7.8/10
"Reliable, characterful cruiser that genuinely embarrasses bikes costing twice as much."
Pros
+Bulletproof Kawasaki engine reliability
+Strong low-end torque delivery
+Parts widely available cheap
Cons
−Carb needs attention if neglected
−Chrome deteriorates and costs
−Heavy for newer riders
Honda Vt1100 Shadow
7.5/10
"Reliable, affordable cruiser that rewards patient riders over aggressive ones."
Pros
+Bulletproof Honda reliability
+Strong low-down torque
+Massive parts availability
Cons
−Heavy, sluggish cornering feel
−Seat comfort genuinely terrible
−Carbs gum up easily
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
