In India, there’s a massive market for cruiser-style motorcycles, which may explain why so many manufacturers sell such motorcycles here. The Kawasaki Vulcan S is sold globally but was first introduced in 2015 for the Japanese domestic market.
It has evolved through the years and is now seen in its third generation, with an updated 2023 model. On the other hand, Royal Enfield launched its Super Meteor 650 in India in 2023.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Kawasaki Vulcan S and the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
The Kawasaki Vulcan S and the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 are India’s most popular middleweight cruisers. Both motorcycles have several things in common and even more differences. These motorcycles hold many similarities and have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of the Indian market.
Today, two retro-inspired motorcycles will crash head-on in a cyberspace ring – the Kawasaki Vulcan S and the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. While Kawasaki follows the modern-retro styling philosophy with its all-new Vulcan S, Royal Enfield sticks to its traditional roots in the Super Meteor 650. Before pitting these two bikes against each other, let’s quickly look at their spec sheets.
Engine
Kawasaki Vulcan S has a liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valve 649cc Parallel Twin with fuel injection that delivers smooth, responsive performance, especially in the low and medium rpm ranges.
The engine was tuned for rider-friendly power characteristics to inspire confidence in new riders.
The Vulcan S offers smooth starts from a standstill, smooth acceleration, and a satisfying pull when accelerating. The strong acceleration facilitates highway merging and passing. The Vulcan S can have a 22.7 to 22.8 km/l economy.
648CC. 47PS of Power. 52.3 Nm of torque. At the core of the Super Meteor 650 is Royal Enfield’s iconic parallel twin engine, which offers seamless gear transitions, strong low-end acceleration and effortless throttle response.
A new cylinder head mount gives high torsional stillness, making your riding experience smooth, steady and responsive at both low and high speeds. Expect the mileage/economy to be around 25 km/l.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Features
The Kawasaki Vulcan S, on the other hand, comes with a set of features seen on entry-level to mid-range crossovers. The Vulcan S gets LED DRLs, tail lights, a semi-digital instrument console, and dual-channel ABS. Well, what we don’t see on the new Vulcan S is smartphone connectivity or navigation, which Super Meteor 650 has.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor, on the other hand, comes with an LED headlight and taillight dual channel ABS, a semi-digital instrument cluster, a Tripper Navigation pod and USB charging socket.
Design Philosophy
The Kawasaki Vulcan S is a take-no-prisoners cruiser that would look right at home on the streets of Easy Rider.
The Vulcan S is a modern twist to the classic cruiser that inspires you. And though it looks on a different side and has an aggressive stance, the Vulcan S packs in modern elements, making it more contemporary than its competition.
The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is more authentic to the traditional cruiser style, with an aesthetic that faithfully recreates the look of its 1950s forbear.
Super Meteor 650 has a low-set, wide seat and a laid-back riding stance, making cruising a comfortable experience with an all-new headlamp that combines old-school aesthetics with modern LED lights to reduce power usage while increasing visibility matter where you’re headed.
The Super Meteor 650 arrives with a round fuel tank, exhaust mufflers and around the fuel-injection unit covers. The top variant has a windshield, ergonomic touring seat, backrest and handlebar.
Price
The new Kawasaki Vulcan S retails at INR 7.10 Lakhs (Average Ex-Showroom Price). At the same time, Royal Enfield Super Meteor S arrives at INR Rs. 3.49 Lakh (Ex-Showroom Price), which is quite budget-friendly compared to the new Kawasaki Vulcan S.
