Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic Vs. Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom

Kawasaki and Harley Davidson are both renowned for producing powerful and agile motorcycles. Part of the cruiser category, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 provides tough competition for the Harley Davidson Sportsters because of its classic cruiser ergonomics. If you are a fan of the classic cruiser style, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 models have a bigger wheelbase, relaxed riding position, forward foot controls, and swept-back handlebars. Meanwhile, the Harley Davidson Sportster models have unique sportier cruiser designs and narrow, compact frames to evenly distribute the weight towards the lower side.

Kawasaki cruisers are also cheaper and have lower insurance rates than Harley Davidson motorbikes. If you are working with a low budget and looking for a classic cruiser suited for touring and long rides, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is the best option. However, if you are looking for a stylish cruiser for light touring with more horsepower and torque, an upright riding position, mid-mounted foot controls, and fat tires, then the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is the better option. This article provides a detailed comparison between the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic and the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is one of the most comfortable cruisers with a low seat height of 26.8 inches and an extended wheelbase of 64.8 inches. It bears a close resemblance to the Honda Shadow 750. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic comes with a comfortable single-piece saddle big enough to seat both rider and passenger. There is a dip in the rider’s seat to ensure its low seat height and to provide some back support as well.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has an average-sized front fender, a large rear fender, and an overall length of 97 inches. The chrome handlebars have low risers but are swept back and wide to ensure a relaxed riding position. It comes with a classic round headlight and chrome handlebar-mounted side mirrors. The tail light, rear turn signals, and licence plate bracket are attached to the rear fender, with the gauges being tank-mounted.

Including being built with comfortable ergonomics, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a fuel tank capacity of 5.3 gal to improve its touring capability. To further improve its comfortability, it has extended rider floorboards with toe and heel gear shifters. High-spoked wheels and classic whitewall tires help give the vehicle its old-school look.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is a factory-made custom motorcycle with a mix of blacked-out and chrome parts. It is not an ideal cruiser because of its sportier and aggressive stance. Its handlebars are a little swept-back and the foot controls are mid-mounted. Also, it does not have an ideal wheelbase and seat height like other cruisers.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom has chrome dual exhaust pipes, mufflers, front forks, and handlebars. There is a small black plate installed on top of a small round headlight to give it an aesthetic appeal. A single-piece saddle is installed for both the rider and passenger. The blacked-out side mirrors, turn signals, and gauges are mounted on the handlebars.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom’s engine has blacked-out rocker covers and an oval-shaped air cleaner cover. Its fat front and rear tires are fitted around high-spoked and black-laced wheels.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is powered by a 903 cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine capable of horsepower of 50 hp and a torque of 78.9 Nm at 3,500 rpm. It is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission with a positive neutral finder connected to the rear wheel via a Kevlar-reinforced belt.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a rubber-mounted engine that keeps vibrations to a minimum at any speed. The dual throttle valves together with the Digital Fuel Injection (DFI) ensure optimum performance and precise throttle response. The fuel injectors produce a refined fuel mist that improves fuel consumption and acceleration.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel frame with a large fuel tank with a fuel capacity of 5.3 gallons. The 64.8-inch wheelbase, low overall height, and front fork offset offer better handling at low speeds and stability at highway speeds.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is equipped with a 1,202 cc air-cooled, Evolution™ V-twin engine capable of a torque of 96 Nm at 3,500 rpm and a horsepower of 67 hp at 6,000 rpm. It has a bigger engine size capable of more horsepower and torque. However, it has a smaller overall size and is more lightweight than the Vulcan 900 Classic.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom also has a five-speed transmission that powers the rear wheel via a belt drive. It comes with an Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) that provides a mileage of 45.23 mpg and a fuel tank capacity of 4.49 gal, making it suitable for light touring and long-distance trips.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is best suited for shorter riders because of its tight legroom and overall size. It also lacks the sixth gear necessary for touring and long rides. The front suspension provides a wheel travel of 4.1 inches, while the rear suspension provides a wheel travel of 2 inches.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom does not come with a standard ABS. The ABS is an optional feature that costs an extra $795 to install.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a better riding position, legroom, and back support than the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 due to its longer wheelbase, low seat height, forward foot controls, and high swept-back handlebars. It is an ideal cruiser for touring and longer rides at both low and high speeds.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a low seat height of 26.8 inches that allows the rider to easily plant their feet on the ground when parked. It also comes with a comfortable seat for the passenger. Both the rider and passenger can sit in a relaxed position. The handlebars are wide, low-mounted, and swept-back so that they are within comfortable reach of the rider.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is suitable for all kinds of riders.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is fitted with a 41 mm hydraulic telescopic fork and a rear single shock. To provide a comfortable riding experience, the front, and rear suspensions provide wheel travel of 5.9 inches and 4.1 inches respectively.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is not an ideal cruiser with its laid-back, relaxed position. It only has slightly aggressive ergonomics due to its less swept-back handlebars and mid-mounted foot controls. Such a neutral riding position is best-suited for shorter riders. However, average riders can also ride this motorcycle comfortably by installing a few add-ons, like swept-back handlebars, and by repositioning the foot controls towards the front.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is not suited for longer rides. The suspensions only allow shorter wheel travel that does not handle well on damaged or unpaved roads. Riding this vehicle over long distances will cause the rider to experience back pain due to vibrations.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom comes with a rear suspension with preload adjustment. The rider can manually adjust the settings to improve comfortability.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has a classic cruiser design and is ideal for touring and long rides. Its riding position and foot controls ensure laid-back ergonomics. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is a beginner-friendly motorcycle because of its low-powered engine and specs. It is also suited for taller riders due to its length, size, and ergonomics.

Meanwhile, the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom has a stylish and aggressive cruiser style. It is not an ideal cruiser as its riding position is slightly forward. The Harley Sportster 1200 Custom is better suited for shorter riders and can produce more horsepower and torque than the Kawasaki Vulcan 1200 Custom.

Both the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic and the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom are nimble and easy-to-handle motorcycles but are designed for different purposes. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is an ideal touring motorcycle, while the Sportster 1200 Custom is a stylish motorcycle suited for commutes through the city.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom is a powerful motorcycle fitted with a 1202 cc engine which can be too much for a beginner to handle. Ideally, beginners should start with motorcycles between the 125-500 cc range. The Harley Sportster 1200 Custom tends to be too heavy and expensive for beginners.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is a reliable motorcycle because it is easy to handle and cheap to maintain. It should be regularly inspected and maintained to avoid any mechanical breakdowns. It mostly requires basic maintenance services, including changing the air filters, brakes, belts, and oil.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic is a good beginner motorbike because its 903 cc engine does not produce too much horsepower and torque, making it safe for beginners. It is nimble, comfortable, and handles well at both low and high speeds. Also, it is a cheaper, more affordable option.

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has better overall performance and is more affordable than the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom. Also, if you love touring, the Vulcan 900 Classic has good touring capability, a low seat height, and comfortable riding ergonomics. Meanwhile, the Sportster 1200 Custom has a stylish custom look capable of higher horsepower and torque. However, it is not comfortable for taller riders nor suited for longer rides.

The Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom can be modified to be better suited for touring and longer rides. This can be accomplished by attaching aftermarket parts available at Viking Bags. To improve LUGGAGE capacity, Viking Bags has specially designed saddlebags for the  Sportster 1200 Custom and the  Vulcan 900 Classic. Other modification parts specially designed for Sportster 1200 custom include CRASH BARS, FAIRINGS, HANDLEBARS, SEATS, and SISSY BARS. Comfortable rider and passenger backrests for Harley Davidson and Kawasaki motorcycles are also available at Viking Bags.