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All Bikes/Compare/Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers

Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500: ~27.5 hp @ 5,250 rpm (estimated, based on RE 500cc UCE engine) hp, ~195 kg (estimated wet/curb weight) weight, top speed ~130 km/h (estimated), Motoryk rating 6.5/10. Kawasaki Vulcan 900: 50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model) hp, 272 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits), Motoryk rating 7.5/10.

Performance at a Glance

Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value

Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500 Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
27.5 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
41.3 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
130 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
195 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
~27.5 hp @ 5,250 rpm (estimated, based on RE 500cc UCE engine)
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
~41.3 Nm @ 4,000 rpm (estimated, based on RE 500cc UCE engine)
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
~130 km/h (estimated)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
~195 kg (estimated wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
~25-28 km/L (estimated, based on RE 500cc platform average)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No

Individual Reviews

Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500
Royal Enfield Thunderstorm 500
6.5/10

"Charming budget cruiser, but verify exactly what you're buying first."

Pros
+Authentic thumper character
+Cheap used market prices
+Simple mechanically DIY-friendly
Cons
Electrical gremlins plague older examples
Vibration tires you long-term
Verify model name before buying
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
7.5/10

"Dependable, honest cruiser that punches above its used asking price."

Pros
+Near-indestructible engine reliability
+Comfortable upright riding position
+Affordable used market pricing
Cons
Wallowy at highway speeds
Stock seat punishes long rides
Chrome quality disappoints over time

Top 10 Accessories

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