Kawasaki Vulcan S vs Harley Davidson Sportster 1200C

HARLEY DAVIDSON is one of the oldest motorcycle-making companies in America that was made in 1903. With time, Harley has produced many great motorcycles that took part in many motorcycle races. The first model of the Harley Davidson Sportster (XL) series was released in 1957. These XL series models shared many similarities with the other Harley Davidson series “KH”. The Harley Davidson XL series continued in production till 1985, they had engine displacement sizes of 883-cc and 1,000-cc. Harley Davidson Sportster 1,000-cc was replaced with a 1,200-cc engine in 1988. The HARLEY SPORTSTER 1200C (Custom) and 1200S (Sports) were launched in 1996 till then the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200C is still in production.

Kawasaki is a Japanese motorcycle company founded in 1896. It is famous worldwide because of its sports motorcycles and cruisers. The KAWASAKI VULCAN S series was introduced in 1984. The first Vulcan motorcycle was 750 cc, while the Vulcan series ranges from 125 cc to 2,000 cc engines. The VULCAN S is a 650 cc cruiser introduced in 2015 and is currently still in production. This Kawasaki model has a parallel-twin engine when most Vulcan models previously had a V-twin engine. Currently, the Vulcan S is the variant with the smallest engine size in the VULCAN SERIES. All the other variants of the Vulcan series have more significant engines.

The KAWASAKI VULCAN S is a bobber-style cruiser with a traditional cruiser riding position combined with modern technology. It has its speedometer attached to the HANDLEBARS  above the headlight. The fenders, fuel tank, and radiator cover are the only colored parts while the rest of the motorcycle is covered in matte black. The Kawasaki Vulcan S has wide U-shaped handlebars level at the average arm position,  ensuring comfort when controlling this motorbike. This vehicle has footrests towards the front like many other Kawasaki cruisers. The Kawasaki Vulcan S has a 41 mm telescopic fork at the front with a wheel travel of 5.1 in and a single 300 mm disc with a tire size of 120/70 R18. At the rear, it has a pre-adjustable mono-shock and a single 250 mm disc with a tire size of 160/60 R17.

The HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200C is a cruiser motorcycle that shares many similarities with its predecessor traditional-looking cruiser motorcycles. The speedometer of Harley Davidson is attached between the HANDLEBAR like many other cruisers. The fuel tank and fenders are the only colored parts of this motorcycle while the rider’s & passenger’s seats and side panels are in matte black finish. All the other parts that include the engine’s side panels, exhaust, and V-Twin engine are chrome painted. The rider’s and passenger’s footrests of the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200C are quite like the other Harley models. The handlebar of Sportster 1200C is positioned below the shoulder of the rider. It has a dual suspension of a 39mm fork at the front that can deliver the wheel travel of 5.6 inches. Also at the front, it has a single disc brake with a wide tire of size 130/90B16 73H. The SPORTSTER 1200C has pre-load adjustable dual shocks at the rear that can deliver the wheel travel of 2.1 inches, with a single 292 mm disc brake at the rear and the rear tire has a size of 150/80B16 77H. There are three colors of Sportster 1200C: billiard red, river rock gray, and midnight blue.

The KAWASAKI VULCAN S has a 649 cc four-stroke, parallel-twin engine capable of peak torque of 62.7 Nm @ 6,600 rpm. It has a stroke size of 83.0 mm (3.26 in) and a bore size of 60.0 mm (2.36 in) which provides a maximum horsepower of 61 hp. The Vulcan S has a six-speed transmission system like many sports bikes, which is how it can deliver a maximum speed of 116 MPH (186.6 km/h).

With a 1,202-cc air-cooled four-stroke V-Twin, the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200C can deliver a peak torque of 96 Nm @ 3,500 rpm and can produce a maximum horsepower of 68 hp. The Sportster 1200C has a belt drive train system and it operates on a five-speed transmission system. The Sportster 1200C also has the tendency to reach up to the maximum top speed of 118 MPH (189.9 km/h).

The KAWASAKI VULCAN S has a seat height of 706 mm (27.8 in), which is an ideal seat height for shorter riders. The Kawasaki model has a bobber-style solo SEAT but a separate passenger seat can be easily installed. But if you choose not to add a passenger seat, other accessories from aftermarket stores like SADDLEBAGS, SISSY BARS, and LUGGAGE can be installed. With a rake angle of and HANDLEBAR positioned below shoulder height, this offers a good riding position. With an overall weight of 226 kg, the Kawasaki Vulcan S is a lightweight cruiser with a low seat height and a length of 2,308.8 mm (90.9 in), offering great stability even when riding over 100 MPH. The Vulcan S’s overall frame is not too bulky, which reduces air drag and has a lower center of gravity to provide better stability when turning corners at high speed.

With a seat height of 28.5 inches the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200C is a very comfortable motorcycle to ride for both tall and short riders. It contains seats for both the rider and the passenger. Although this motorcycle does not have a SISSY BAR, it can easily be installed from an aftermarket store. With a rake angle and HANDLEBAR is positioned at the normal arm’s position ensuring a comfortable riding position. The Sportster 1200C is a mid-weight CRUISER motorcycle with a curb weight of 268 kg providing good stability even when riding over 100 mph. The Sportster 1200C has a very moderate-sized frame, with this frame, the riding position is designed in such a way that it travels fast and offers great comfort to the rider and passenger.

The lifespan of the KAWASAKI VULCAN depends on how frequently the owner maintains the motorcycle’s condition. If required maintenance is done consistently, the Kawasaki Vulcan can last well over 75,000 miles. If the motorcycle is driven 5,000 miles per year, a Kawasaki Vulcan can over 15 years.

Riding over 35,000 miles on a KAWASAKI VULCAN is considered high mileage for this vehicle. However, if this motorcycle is properly maintained and the engine oil is replaced regularly, then the motorcycle can possible still cover even higher mileage.

For a BEGINNER, the motorcycle must not be too heavy, should be easy to handle, and have enough power that is easy to control. The SPORTSTER 1200C can be a bit difficult for beginners to handle due to being a middleweight bike with a large engine, highly responsive throttle, and can attain a top speed of 110 mph.

However, the Vulcan S has a smaller engine, less weight, and an adjustable riding position. The Vulcan S does have a slightly lower top speed than the Sportster 1200C but is easy to handle when traveling through the city and across long distances.

Fitted with a 1,202 cc engine, the Harley Davidson Sportster has a fuel mileage of 48 MPG (20.4 km/l).

The HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200C and the KAWASAKI VULCAN S have their pros and cons, having advantages and disadvantages over one another. The main difference between these two is that the Vulcan S has a smaller engine and weighs less than the Sportster 1200C. Based on the specifications, the Sportster 1200C is more powerful and can produce more torque than the Vulcan S. The Kawasaki Vulcan S has a more streamlined body and a slower top speed than the Sportster 1200C. In terms of rear suspension, both motorcycles are almost the same. The Sportster 1200 C has less ground clearance than the VULCAN S does, but the Vulcan S has a softer rear suspension that only allows it to carry a person weighing less than 250 lbs. In conclusion, the Sportster 1200C has a comfortable riding position for shorter and taller riders, whereas the Vulcan S is a lightweight CRUISER BEST SUITED FOR SHORTER RIDERS and riders of average height.