Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero vs Harley Davidson Street Glide

KAWASAKI is one of the oldest Japanese motorcycle companies famous for its cruisers, touring, and sports motorcycles. The Kawasaki Vaquero is part of the Vulcan series first launched in 1984. The Vulcan Vaquero itself was first launched in 2011 and has remained in production. Since the first Vulcan Vaquero, there have not been many significant changes made to the engine; however, their overall performance has been significantly improved over the years.

The first HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE was launched in 1984. Even today, the Street Glide has remained one of the best American touring motorcycles. The first Street Glide was equipped with a 1,337 cc engine capable of horsepower of 50 hp and was equipped with a five-speed transmission. Ever since the first Street Glide was released, it has undergone many changes and improvements, mainly to its engine and performance.

The Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero is a bagger-style cruiser with a compact design. It is available in a matte graphene steel gray color scheme only. The newest model has black crash bars, a matte black engine, and a chrome-painted exhaust, contrasting the previous models with their chrome CRASH BARS, engine, and exhaust. The Vulcan Vaquero has a large front FAIRING with air vents at the front and a small windshield. It has four analog gauges, an audio system, and a digital screen that is easy to see even in daylight. The Vulcan Vaquero has two pre-installed lockable storage boxes to carry luggage for long rides, crash bars to protect the rider, and floorboards for the rider to rest his/her feet. At the rear, it has a uniquely styled tail light in the shape of a V. The built-in storage has a luggage capacity of 20 gals.

The HARLEY STREET GLIDE is inspired by the original Street Glide released in 1984, with modern technology and features befitting a touring motorcycle. The Street Glide comes with full-sized colored front and rear fenders. The large colored front fairing with a small windshield gives the Street Glide a unique look. The round front headlight with round side indicators is reminiscent of the old Street Glide. The Street Glide comes with colored hard saddlebags to carry important luggage for longer rides and a passenger seat to carry an extra person. Like its predecessor, the latest Street Glide also has an elegant chrome finish on its exhaust, suspension, HANDLEBARS, and engine. The front dual shock provides 4.6 inches of wheel travel and the rear dual air-adjustable shocks hidden behind the saddlebags provide wheel travel of 2 inches.

The Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero belongs to one of the most famous cruiser lineups. The Vulcan Vaquero is fitted with a 107 cubic inch, four-stroke, liquid-cooled V-Twin engine with a stroke size of 4.38 inches and a bore size of 3.94 inches. It is capable of horsepower of 82 hp @ 5,000 rpm and a torque of 145.89 Nm @ 2,750 rpm. The Vulcan Vaquero is equipped with safety features and ride assistance, including a K-ACT (Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-Braking Technology) ABS system, cruise control, and electronic throttle valves.

The Harley Davidson Street Glide has an 107 cubic inch, air-cooled V-Twin engine with a stroke size of 4.38 inches and a bore size of 3.94 inches. It is capable of delivering a horsepower of 93 hp @ 5,020 rpm and a torque of 150.5 Nm @ 3,250 rpm. Like other Harley cruisers, the Street Glide is also equipped with an electronic sequential port fuel injection system that delivers a fuel mileage of 42 MPG (17.85 km/l).

The Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero is a heavyweight bagger motorcycle with a weight of 383 kg, yet the engine still provides good stability even when traveling at higher speeds. However, due to its heavy weight, the Vulcan Vaquero is difficult to maneuver when turning corners. It has low yet wide pulled-back HANDLEBARS with forward-mounted floorboards, providing a comfortable riding position for all riders. However, it has a wheelbase of 1,666.24 mm (65.6 in) and a length of 2,509.5 mm (98.8 in) which makes it too big for beginner riders. The front fairing protects the rider from wind and rain and has a pre-installed audio system that makes long rides more fun.

The Harley Davidson Street Glide is a Grand American Touring motorcycle that offers a smooth and pleasant ride. The wide front FAIRING blocks incoming rain and wind from hitting the rider. The comfortable low seat with swept-back handlebars provides an upright and cozy riding position. The forward-mounted floorboards allow the rider to relax the legs and feet. The wide crash bars at the front protect the rider’s legs and prevent the motorcycle from falling on top of you. For the passenger, there is a smaller seat with a soft cushion and footpegs.

Though both are easy to handle for shorter riders, the Street Glide has a lower seat height and ground clearance than the Vulcan Vaquero.

The Vulcan Vaquero is about $2,800 cheaper than the Street Glide. It also has pre-installed safety features like K-ACT braking and ride-assist features, while the Street Glide has an optional ABS that a buyer would need to pay an extra $819 to install. The Vulcan Vaquero produces 145.89 Nm less torque than the Street Glide.

Both are heavyweight motorcycles powered by engines with a displacement larger than 1,500 cc. For beginner riders, it is best they start with lightweight motorcycles with smaller engines and more affordable prices. Though both are great motorcycles, they are not recommended for novice riders.

The Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero and the Harley Davidson Street Glide share many similarities but also their share of differences. Both are heavyweight with adequately powerful that ensure long rides are fun and comfortable. The Street Glide is a touring motorcycle without a MOTORCYCLE TRUNK. However, the Street Glide can be fitted with all the necessary add-ons and can be customized with aftermarket parts. Neither the Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero nor the Harley Davidson Street Glide has pre-installed backrests or sissy bars.