Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda Rebel 500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda Rebel 500. Kawasaki Vulcan S: 61 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Honda Rebel 500: 46 hp @ 8,500 rpm hp, 191 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 160 km/h (est. — note: Honda does not officially publish top speed), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Honda Rebel 500
Horsepower (hp)
61 hp
46 hp
Torque (Nm)
63 Nm
43 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
160 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
191 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
61 hp @ 7,500 rpm
46 hp @ 8,500 rpm
Torque
63 Nm @ 6,600 rpm
43 Nm @ 6,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
160 km/h (est. — note: Honda does not officially publish top speed)
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
191 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L typical real-world average)
3.5 L/100km (approx. 28.5 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Vulcan S
7.5/10
"The sensible cruiser that actually makes mechanical sense used."
Pros
+Adjustable ergonomics suit everyone
+Parallel-twin engine lives forever
+Low maintenance belt drive
Cons
−Stock seat punishes longer rides
−Styling divides opinion sharply
−Low resale value retention
Honda Rebel 500
7.8/10
"The most competent beginner cruiser Honda has ever built."
Pros
+Honda reliability, near-bulletproof
+Comfortable low seat height
+Better handling than expected
Cons
−Highway cruising feels strained
−Wind protection essentially nonexistent
−Styling divides opinion sharply
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
