Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda CBR500R
Specs side by side, plus our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
Kawasaki Vulcan S and Honda CBR500R: three different takes on what a great bike should be. They land within touching distance on price, so this comes down to character and fit. On paper the Kawasaki Vulcan S leads on power with 61 hp. Below we put them head to head on price, performance, weight and seat height, then give our verdict on which one is the smarter buy for the way you ride.
Our pickKawasaki
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Honda
Honda CBR500RThe verdict
The Kawasaki Vulcan S edges it overall at 7.6/10, but the Honda CBR500R wins on best for new riders, so let how you ride decide.
Honda CBR500R
A2-legal, 47 hp, forgiving to learn on.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
61 hp and 0.27 hp/kg, the strongest here.
Honda CBR500R
Our 7.6/10 at $7,399, the most bike per dollar.
Honda CBR500R
192 kg with an 785 mm seat, the easiest to throw around.
Cyan marks the best figure in each row. Specs are the most-cited for the current model; verify before relying on them.
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Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Honda CBR500R: your questions answered
Which is faster, the Kawasaki Vulcan S or the Honda CBR500R?
The Kawasaki Vulcan S makes the most power at 61 hp and 63 Nm, giving it the edge on outright performance.
Which is cheaper, the Kawasaki Vulcan S or the Honda CBR500R?
The Honda CBR500R is the most affordable here with an MSRP around $7,399.
Which is lighter, the Kawasaki Vulcan S or the Honda CBR500R?
The Honda CBR500R is the lightest at 192 kg, which makes it the easiest to manage at low speed and in the bends.
Which is better for a beginner, the Kawasaki Vulcan S or the Honda CBR500R?
For a new rider we'd point to the Honda CBR500R: A2-legal, 47 hp and 192 kg make it the most approachable of the group.
