Yamaha Virago 1100 vs Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Virago 1100 vs Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500. 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 Classic 1500: 68 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 309 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.8/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Yamaha Virago 1100
Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
68 hp
Torque (Nm)
83 Nm
118 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
238 kg
309 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 6,000 rpm
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque
83 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
118 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h
175 km/h
Weight
238 kg (wet/curb weight)
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–18 km/L)
6.5 L/100km (approximately 15.4 km/L)
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 Classic 1500
7.8/10
"Reliable, characterful cruiser that genuinely embarrasses bikes costing twice as much."
Pros
+Bulletproof Kawasaki engine reliability
+Strong low-end torque delivery
+Parts widely available cheap
Cons
−Carb needs attention if neglected
−Chrome deteriorates and costs
−Heavy for newer riders
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
