The Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter motorcycle specifications include a 1,470 cc (89.70 cu in) engine, a 5-speed gearbox, and a listed weight of 303.9 kg (670 lb).
Key specifications
How the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter compares
This compares the motorcycle with all Kawasaki models in this specifications database. The blue marker is this model and the grey line is the Kawasaki database average.
About 114% higher than the Kawasaki database average. Around the 94th percentile across Kawasaki models.
About 9% lower than the Kawasaki database average. Around the 20th percentile across Kawasaki models.
About 24% larger than the Kawasaki database average. Around the 70th percentile across Kawasaki models.
Kawasaki database percentile rankings
Percentiles show where this motorcycle sits across the Kawasaki specifications database. They are descriptive database rankings, not performance ratings.
1,470 cc — larger displacement than about 94% of Kawasaki models.
729 mm — taller than about 20% of Kawasaki models.
18.9 L — larger than about 70% of Kawasaki fuel tanks in this database.
Dimensions compared with Kawasaki average
Each measurement is compared with the average value across Kawasaki models where that dimension is available.
980
833
18% above average.
1,115
1,175
5% below average.
1,656
1,441
15% above average.
729
801
9% below average.
124
187
34% below average.
Mechanical overview
Additional useful specifications
| Front tire size | 130/90-x16 |
|---|---|
| Rear tire size | 150/80-x16 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.13:1 (Oversquare) |
Model information
| Year released | 2005 |
|---|
Engine specifications
| Engine type | V2, four-stroke |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,470 cc (89.70 cu in) |
| Bore × stroke | 102.0 x 90 mm (4.0 x 3.5 inches) |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Cooling system | Liquid |
| Fuel system | Carburettor. Keihin CVK40 |
| Fuel control | Single Overhead Cams (SOHC) |
| Ignition | Digital |
| Starter | Electric |
Transmission and drivetrain
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
|---|---|
| Final drive | Shaft drive (cardan) (final drive) |
| Clutch | Hydraulic release |
Chassis and suspension
| Frame | High-tensile steel, double cradle |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork |
| Rear suspension | Dual air-assisted shocks |
| Rake | 32.0° |
Brakes, wheels and tires
| Front brakes | Single disc |
|---|---|
| Rear brakes | Single disc |
| Front tire | 130/90-x16 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-x16 |
Dimensions and weight
| Dry weight | 303.9 kg (670 lb) |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 729 mm (28.7 inches) |
| Overall width | 980 mm (38.6 inches) |
| Overall height | 1,115 mm (43.9 inches) |
| Wheelbase | 1,656 mm (65.2 inches) |
| Ground clearance | 124 mm (4.9 inches) |
Fuel and emissions
| Fuel capacity | 18.92 L (5.00 US gal) |
|---|
Other specifications
| Color options | Black |
|---|---|
| Price as new | US$ 11299. MSRP depends on country, taxes, accessories, etc. |
Disclaimer: Specifications may vary by market, trim, production date and optional equipment, and scraped or historical data can contain errors. Comparison and percentile values are calculated from Kawasaki models in this specifications database. Always double-check important specifications against the motorcycle owner’s/service manual and official Kawasaki information before relying on them. Visit the official Kawasaki website.