Yamaha Virago 1100 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Virago 1100 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Yamaha Virago 1100: 63 hp @ 6,000 rpm hp, 238 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10. 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
Yamaha Virago 1100
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
83 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
238 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 6,000 rpm
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
83 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
238 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–18 km/L)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Virago 1100
7.5/10
"Honest, capable cruiser delivering serious value if bought carefully."
Pros
+Bulletproof shaft drive
+Strong low-end torque
+Excellent parts availability
Cons
−Carburetors notorious for gumming
−Fork seals weep regularly
−Heavy for its displacement
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
Picks that work on either bike.
