Yamaha Xv1100 Virago vs Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Yamaha Xv1100 Virago vs Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan. Yamaha Xv1100 Virago: 63 hp @ 6,000 rpm hp, 246 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 175 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.0/10. Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan: 68 hp @ 4,800 rpm hp, 309 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 185 km/h, Motoryk rating 7.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Yamaha Xv1100 Virago
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
Horsepower (hp)
63 hp
68 hp
Torque (Nm)
83 Nm
115 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
246 kg
309 kg
Type
Cruiser
Cruiser
Horsepower
63 hp @ 6,000 rpm
68 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque
83 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
115 Nm @ 3,000 rpm
Top Speed
175 km/h
185 km/h
Weight
246 kg (wet/curb weight)
309 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
5.5 L/100km (approx. 18 km/L typical real-world average)
6.5–7.5 L/100km (typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Yamaha Xv1100 Virago
7.0/10
"A dependable, unfussy cruiser that rewards patient buyers who inspect carefully."
Pros
+Shaft drive, zero maintenance
+Strong low-rev torque
+Mechanically very reliable
Cons
−Carb diaphragms fail regularly
−Forks embarrassingly soft
−Cramped for tall riders
Kawasaki Vn1500 Vulcan
7.5/10
"Dependable, characterful cruiser that rewards patient, mechanically curious buyers."
Pros
+Bulletproof shaft drive reliability
+Strong low-end torque
+Affordable used pricing
Cons
−Carbs gum up quickly
−Suspension embarrassingly soft stock
−Heavy at low speeds
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
