2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S vs 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS - Spec Comparison
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2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S
The 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S is a middleweight cruiser designed for riders seeking accessible performance and modern technology in a manageable package. Its 649cc parallel-twin engine delivers responsive torque and smooth power delivery, while the low 27.8-inch seat height and lightweight 498-pound frame make it ideal for new and returning riders. Known for combining retro styling with contemporary features like ABS and fuel injection, it excels as an approachable daily rider and weekend cruiser.
2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS
The 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS is a classic cruiser designed for riders seeking timeless style and reliable performance. Its 745cc V-twin engine delivers smooth, manageable power perfect for both highway cruising and urban riding. Known for its iconic shadow design, accessible riding position, and dependable ABS braking system, it appeals to cruiser enthusiasts valuing tradition and practicality.
2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S vs 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS: the key differences
Both are cruisers, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S makes 15.8 hp more (60 vs 44.2 hp).
- The 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S is 25 kg lighter (226 vs 251 kg).
- The 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS has a 56 mm lower seat (650 vs 706 mm), which helps shorter riders.
2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S: Designed primarily for relaxed street cruising and commuting with a sporty edge rather than outright performance or long-distance touring.
2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS: It is built primarily for laid-back cruising and everyday street riding rather than outright performance or long-distance touring.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S if you want more power and lighter weight. Choose the 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS if you want a lower seat. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan S | 2026 Honda Shadow Phantom ABS |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Cruiser | Cruiser |
| Fuel Tank Material | Metal | - |
| Color Options | - | Flare Orange Metallic, Deep Pearl Gray |
| Comments | - | Model id: VT750CBS |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 649.0 ccm (39.60 cubic inches) | 745.0 ccm (45.46 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | 107 CO2 g/km | - |
| EPA Certificate No. | TKAXC.649AAE-012 | - |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 4.56 L/100km (51.6 US mpg) | - |
| EPA CO Emissions | 2.3 CO g/km | - |
| Engine Type | Parallel Twin, four-stroke | V-Twin, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 83.0 x 60.0 mm (3.3 x 2.4 inches) | 79.0 x 76.0 mm (3.1 x 3.0 inches) |
| Compression | 10.8:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | TCBI with Electronic Advance | Digital with 3-D mapping, two spark plugs per cylinder |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | - |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 3 |
| Lubrication System | Force lubrication, semi-dry sump | - |
| Fuel Consumption | - | 4.20 litres/100 km (23.8 km/l or 56.00 mpg) |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓60.0 HP (45.1 kW) @ 7500 RPM | 44.2 HP (32.5 kW) |
| Torque | 63.0 Nm (6.4 kgf-m or 46.5 ft.lbs) @ 6600 RPM | ✓65.0 Nm (6.6 kgf-m or 47.9 ft.lbs) @ 3500 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.2829 HP/kg (dry) | 0.1762 HP/kg (wet) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Tubular diamond, high-tensile steel | - |
| Front Suspension | 41mm telescopic fork | 41mm fork |
| Rear Suspension | Lay-down offset rear shock with linkage and adjustable preload | Dual shocks with five-position spring-preload adjustability |
| Front Wheel Travel | 130 mm (5.1 inches) | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 81 mm (3.2 inches) | 89 mm (3.5 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 31.0° | 34.0° |
| Trail | 119 mm (4.7 inches) | 161 mm (6.3 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 130 mm (5.1 inches) | - |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Shaft |
| Clutch | Wet multi-disc | Wet multiplate |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Single 300mm disc with twin-piston caliper (and ABS) | Single disc. Two-piston calipers. |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 300 mm (11.8 inches) | 296 mm (11.7 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. Single-piston caliper, optional ABS | Single disc |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 250 mm (9.8 inches) | - |
| ABS | Optional | - |
| Front Tyre | 120/70-18 | 120/90-17 |
| Rear Tyre | 160/60-17 | 160/80-15 |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1575 mm (62.0 inches) | 1638 mm (64.5 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2309 mm (90.9 inches) | - |
| Overall Width | 879 mm (34.6 inches) | - |
| Overall Height | 1100 mm (43.3 inches) | - |
| Seat Height | 706 mm (27.8 inches) | ✓650 mm (25.6 inches) |
| Dry weight | 212.1 kg (467.6 pounds) | - |
| Wet Weight | ✓226.0 kg (498.2 pounds) | 250.8 kg (552.9 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | 14.00 litres (3.70 US gallons) | ✓14.80 litres (3.91 US gallons) |
| Reserve fuel capacity | - | 3.40 litres (0.90 US gallons) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
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Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
How the highlighting works, and its limits
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
Frequently asked questions
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