Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter Fuel Capacity (4.23 gal / 16 L)

Quick answer

Across the 1999, 2000 and 2001 model years, the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter has listed fuel capacities ranging from 4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L), depending on model year.

Fuel capacity4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L)
Model years covered
199920002001

Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel tank overview

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAY

Across the supplied years, the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter sits around a medium-capacity tank based on its listed capacity.

Medium-Capacity Tank

Fuel-tank size comparison

The representative 4.23 US gal (16 L) tank is close to the median among the 44 Kawasaki custom/cruiser motorcycles in this dataset. The comparison-group median is 3.98 US gal (15.07 L).

Kawasaki custom/cruiser motorcycles

Smaller tanksTypicalLarger tanks
53th percentile
Smallest: 2.77 US gal (10.5 L)Median: 3.98 US gal (15.07 L)Largest: 5.81 US gal (22 L)

Fuel capacity across model years

This shows the smallest and largest supplied tank capacities for this model.

3 L spread

Smallest supplied4.23 US gal (16 L)
Largest supplied5.02 US gal (19 L)
Difference18.8%

Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel & related specs

Model years covered 1999-2001
Fuel capacity 4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L)
Engine displacement 1,470 cc to 1,471 cc
Dry weight 657 lb (298 kg) to 670.2 lb (304 kg)

Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel capacity by year

A dash means the relevant figure was not supplied for that model year.

Year Fuel capacity Reserve Listed consumption Est. full-tank range
1999 4.23 US gal (16 L)
2000 4.23 US gal (16 L)
2001 5.02 US gal (19 L)

Fuel capacity changes by model year

Grouped values below show where supplied tank, reserve, consumption or calculated-range figures differ across the covered years.

Fuel capacity
1999-20004.23 US gal (16 L)
20015.02 US gal (19 L)

Useful fuel calculations

These are calculated from the supplied specifications; they are not guaranteed real-world figures.

Approx. fuel weight with a full tank 26.3 lb (11.9 kg) to 31.2 lb (14.2 kg)

What the fuel numbers tell you

Tank size is not identical across all supplied years: capacity runs from 4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L).
A full tank of gasoline adds roughly 26.3 lb (11.9 kg) to 31.2 lb (14.2 kg) of fuel mass using an estimate of 0.745 kg per litre.
The representative 4.23 US gal (16 L) tank is close to the median among the 44 Kawasaki custom/cruiser motorcycles in this dataset. The comparison-group median is 3.98 US gal (15.07 L).

Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel capacity FAQ

How big is the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel tank?

The supplied model-year specifications list fuel capacity at 4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L).

Did the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter fuel capacity change by year?

Yes. Across the supplied comparable years, listed capacity ranges from 4.23 US gal (16 L) to 5.02 US gal (19 L). Check the year table for the exact model year.

How much does a full tank of fuel weigh on the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter?

Using approximately 0.745 kg per litre for gasoline, the listed tank capacity represents about 26.3 lb (11.9 kg) to 31.2 lb (14.2 kg) of fuel.

What engine size does the Kawasaki VN 1500 Drifter have?

The supplied displacement figures span 1,470 cc to 1,471 cc across the model years covered.

Is fuel capacity the same as usable riding fuel?

Not necessarily. Published tank capacity is a nominal total capacity. Real usable fuel can vary slightly with filling method, bike angle, tank design and when the low-fuel or reserve system is triggered.

Fuel-capacity & range note

Motorcycle specifications can vary by model year, market and equipment. Fuel capacity is a nominal published figure, while calculated fuel weight and range figures on this page are estimates derived from the supplied specifications. Real-world fuel economy and range vary with speed, riding style, load, weather, terrain, tune and fuel level. Confirm critical specifications in the owner’s manual or on the official Kawasaki website.