Yamaha V-star 650 vs Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha V-star 650 vs Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx. Yamaha V-star 650: 40 hp @ 7,500 rpm hp, 228 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics), Motoryk rating 7.5/10. Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx: 44 hp @ 7,000 rpm hp, 221 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 155 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.0/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Yamaha V-star 650
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
Horsepower (hp)
40 hp
44 hp
Torque (Nm)
50 Nm
47 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
160 km/h
155 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
228 kg
221 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
40 hp @ 7,500 rpm
44 hp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque
50 Nm @ 5,500 rpm
47 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
Top Speed
160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics)
155 km/h
Weight
228 kg (wet/curb weight)
221 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
3.8 L/100km (approx. 26 km/L typical real-world average)
3.5 L/100km or approximately 28.5 km/L
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha V-star 650
7.5/10
"The most reliable cheap cruiser you can buy used today."
Pros
+Virtually unbreakable drivetrain
+Low accessible seat height
+Massive cheap aftermarket support
Cons
−Buzzy above 70mph
−Weak stock suspension
−Carb gums when neglected
Honda Vt600 Shadow Vlx
8.0/10
"The most sensible used cruiser under $3,500, full stop."
Pros
+Near-indestructible Honda reliability
+Massive used parts availability
+Comfortable all-day ergonomics
Cons
−Carbs gunk up when stored
−Fork seals leak with age
−Underpowered for highway cruising
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
