Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda Shadow Aero 750
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda Shadow Aero 750. 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 Shadow Aero 750: 45 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated; Honda did not officially publish power figures for this model) hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: real-world cruising comfort peaks around 130-140 km/h), Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Honda Shadow Aero 750
Horsepower (hp)
61 hp
45 hp
Torque (Nm)
63 Nm
61 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
185 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
228 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
61 hp @ 7,500 rpm
45 hp @ 5,500 rpm (estimated; Honda did not officially publish power figures for this model)
Torque
63 Nm @ 6,600 rpm
61 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
185 km/h (estimated)
175 km/h (estimated; note: real-world cruising comfort peaks around 130-140 km/h)
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L typical real-world average)
4.5 L/100km or approximately 22 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 Shadow Aero 750
7.8/10
"The sensible cruiser choice that rarely breaks your heart or wallet."
Pros
+Legendary Honda reliability
+Smooth, tractable V-twin
+Comfortable upright ergonomics
Cons
−Carb sensitive to ethanol fuel
−Chrome ages poorly
−Rear shock deteriorates fast
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
