Yamaha Vmax 1700 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Vmax 1700 vs Kawasaki Vulcan 900. Yamaha Vmax 1700: 200 hp @ 9,000 rpm hp, 310 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 215 km/h (electronically limited), Motoryk rating 8.5/10. 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 Vmax 1700
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Horsepower (hp)
200 hp
50 hp
Torque (Nm)
167 Nm
76 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
215 km/h
175 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
310 kg
272 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
200 hp @ 9,000 rpm
50 hp @ 6,000 rpm (estimated; Kawasaki does not officially publish output figures for this model)
Torque
167 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
76 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
Top Speed
215 km/h (electronically limited)
175 km/h (estimated; note: governed more by wind resistance than engine limits)
Weight
310 kg (wet/curb weight)
272 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
7.5–9.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
5.2 L/100km (approx. 19.2 km/L typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Vmax 1700
8.5/10
"A tire-destroying, jaw-dropping muscle cruiser that demands respect constantly."
Pros
+Utterly savage low-end torque
+Bulletproof engine internals
+Stunning visual presence always
Cons
−Horrific fuel consumption figures
−Tire bills are punishing
−Heavy at 310kg wet
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.
