Honda Shadow Phantom 750 Vs. Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom

Honda and Kawasaki are two reliable Japanese motorcycle brands that specialize in producing versatile motorcycles. However, when it comes to producing beginner-friendly and intermediate-level custom cruisers, they have introduced only a few models, such as the Honda Shadow and Kawasaki Vulcan series.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 and the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom are stripped-down custom cruisers with minimal styling and lightweight design. Both motorcycles are beginner-friendly vehicles due to being lightweight and low-powered motorcycles. However, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is slightly bulkier than the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 due to being an intermediate-level bike with a 903 cc engine. If you are a beginner looking for an affordable custom cruiser that costs under $10,000, handles well, and has a low failure rate, the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 and Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom are ideal options. This article is a detailed comparison between the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 and the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a simple classic small bobber-style cruiser with a low-slung seat. It has a raked-out front fork, an extended wheelbase, and a low ground clearance. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750’s frame is covered with a blacked-out matte finish, except for the chrome short dual exhaust pipes. It has a bobber-style front fender and a chopped rear fender with an integrated tail light and bullet-shaped turn signals. A small round headlight is enclosed inside a matte black nacelle. The rectangular-shaped chrome side mirrors are mounted to flat, semi-sweptback handlebars with standard risers. The gauges are mounted to a small-sized peanut-shaped fuel tank with a capacity of 3.7 gal. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 has a blacked-out engine with a teardrop-shaped air filter cover and a radiator in front of the engine due to being liquid-cooled. To improve its classic bobber look, it comes with fat Dunlop tires wrapped around wire-spoked wheels. The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is also capable of two-up riding due to being fitted with a single-piece gunfighter-style saddle.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom shares a close resemblance with the Honda Shadow Phantom 750. However, it is a more stylish, powerful, and bulkier motorbike. It also comes with a small round headlamp, a gunfighter-style single-piece saddle, a bobber-style front fender, and a chopped rear fender with a classic tail light. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is only available in pearl matte sage green and a flat ebony dual-tone color scheme with a blacked-out matte finish. To give it a unique look, it comes with matte-black separate dual slash-cut mufflers, wide drag handlebars with standard risers, and spatula-shaped chrome side mirrors.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom has a chopper-look with its slightly raked-out front end, narrow front tire wrapped around a split nine-spoke large front wheel with pinstripes, and a fat rear tire for better linear performance. The gauges are mounted to a teardrop-shaped fuel tank with a capacity of 5.3 gal for a better cruising experience.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a low-powered, beginner-friendly motorcycle fitted with a 745 cc liquid-cooled, 52° V-Twin, four-stroke engine capable of a torque of 64.94 Nm @ 3,500 rpm and a horsepower of 44.6 hp @ 5,500 rpm. Though an entry-level bike, it is popular due to its low seat height, low center of gravity, programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI), and reliability. The 745 cc 52° V-Twin engine produces a smooth power output across a broad rpm range. The engine’s crankshaft also comes with a long-stroke design for better low-end torque. The programmed fuel injection system ensures a good throttle response and low fuel consumption of 56 mpg.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is fitted with a responsive 41 mm front fork, billet-aluminum triple clamp, and matte black shrouds for neutral handling. The spring preload-adjustable dual rear shock absorbers ensure a smooth riding experience. The front fork has a wheel travel of 4.6 inches, while the dual rear shocks have a wheel travel of 3.5 inches.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 weighs 249 kg and has a 296 mm single front disc and a 180 mm rear drum brake.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is an entry-level bike powered by a 903 cc liquid- and air-cooled, 55° V-twin, four-stroke engine capable of a torque of 78.9 Nm @ 3,500 rpm and a horsepower of 50 hp @ 5,700 rpm. The engine provides good low-end torque, and smooth power delivery across all gear levels and the parallel slash-cut mufflers produce a growling sound. Though a midsize cruiser, it is easy to control with smooth handling and steering capabilities. The large front wheel with a narrow front tire, low center of gravity, and lightweight front end make handling easier.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is an agile midsize cruiser with adequate torque delivery that makes it ideal for daily commutes, highway cruising, and city travel. The 300 mm single front hydraulic disc and 270 mm single rear hydraulic disc brake are less powerful, especially without an ABS. However, due to being a lightweight cruiser with a wet weight of 277 kg, the hydraulic disc brakes ensure reliable braking.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is fitted with a 41 mm Showa front fork and a seven-way spring preload-adjustable, Uni-Trak® swingarm. The Showa front fork has a wheel travel of 5.8 inches, while the Uni-Trak® swingarm has a wheel travel of 4.1 inches.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a lightweight, beginner-friendly cruiser fitted with flat, less swept-back handlebars. The forward-mounted foot controls provide adequate legroom for taller riders allowing them to adjust their legs. Despite being fitted with less swept-back handlebars, the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 ensures an upright and comfortable riding position. The lightweight design and easy handling make it an ideal daily commuter.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a versatile motorbike suited for riding through traffic and cruising on open roads due to its low seat height, less weight, low center of gravity, and neutral handling. With the addition of a few aftermarket parts including a windscreen, saddlebags, and backrests, this motorbike can transform into an ideal commuter for long-distance rides.  

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is a reliable, affordable, and stylish midsize cruiser with a low seat height, low center of gravity, and light handling. This motorbike handles smoothly when cruising on highways and riding through traffic. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom also comes with forward-mounted foot controls and mid-mounted drag handlebars with standard risers to ensure adequate legroom and an upright back for comfortable long-distance rides. The single-piece saddle also provides a little lumbar support to the rider for laidback ergonomics. Despite being a midsize vehicle, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is still a lightweight and agile cruiser for daily commutes and freeway cruising. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 is also available in a touring version, known as the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT. This version comes with a large windshield, leather saddlebags, and a passenger backrest. However, you can also transform the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom into a tourer by installing a windshield, saddlebags, and backrests.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is a stripped-down cruiser powered by a 903 cc engine. The engine produces adequate power that allows this motorbike to reach a top speed of 115 mph.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 is a lightweight and agile cruiser with a low-powered engine ideal for novice riders. Due to its minimal design, smaller size, and low weight, it can attain a top speed of 100 mph.

The Honda Shadow Phantom 750 and the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom are low-powered cruisers with bobber-inspired looks and minimal designs suited for light handling. Both motorcycles are suited for novice riders due to being lightweight, easy to handle, and low-powered. However, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom has a slightly bigger engine, good throttle response, and longer wheel travel suspensions. It has a larger front wheel and a raked-out, lightweight front end for better handling. Though being a beginner-friendly bike, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 is powerful enough to ensure a fun and quick ride for intermediate-level riders. It is also aesthetically more appealing than the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 with its matte black finish, dual-tone color scheme, hidden Uni-Trak rear mono-shock, split nine-spoke wheels, and fat rear tire. Meanwhile, the small size, low-power engine, and slow acceleration make the Honda Shadow Phantom 750 an ideal bike for beginners.

If you want to use your cruiser for long-distance rides and cruising on open roads, Viking Bags offer several high-quality aftermarket parts, including saddlebags, sissy bar bags, backrests, and comfortable handlebars. Other useful add-ons include sissy bars, crash bars, and fairings.