Is the Honda Rebel 500 or Kawasaki Vulcan S better for a beginner?

For a pure beginner the Honda Rebel 500 is the safer pick: it is much lighter at about 185kg versus the Vulcan S at about 226kg, has the lowest 690mm seat, and costs around $6,799 versus $7,649. The Kawasaki Vulcan S makes more power (61hp versus 46hp) and has adjustable Ergo-Fit ergonomics, so it is the better long-term bike if you want more highway ability and do not want to outgrow your first cruiser, as long as you are comfortable managing the extra weight.

What is the difference between the Rebel 500 and Vulcan S?

The Vulcan S has a bigger 649cc engine with 61hp, adjustable Ergo-Fit seat, peg, and bar positions, and more highway comfort, but it is about 41kg heavier and roughly $850 more expensive. The Rebel 500 is lighter, lower, cheaper, and simpler, which makes it easier to learn on and manage at low speed. In short: the Rebel is the easiest first cruiser, the Vulcan S is the one you are least likely to outgrow.

MyMoto Comparison

Honda Rebel 500 vs Kawasaki Vulcan S: Which Should You Buy?

This is the classic cruiser step-up question: the Honda Rebel 500, the benchmark easy first cruiser, against the Kawasaki Vulcan S, the bigger, adjustable-fit cruiser you are less likely to outgrow. They are not the same size or price, so this comes down to one honest trade-off. Do you want the lightest, easiest bike to learn on, or a little more power and highway ability that you can grow into? Here is the straight breakdown.

Photo: Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Honda Rebel 500471cc · 46hp · ~$6,799

The easiest first cruiser. The lowest seat here at 690mm, the lightest bike by a clear margin, bulletproof Honda reliability, and the cheapest of the two. The default pick if you are new, shorter, or just want the least intimidating way into cruiser riding.

Photo: Addvisor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kawasaki Vulcan S649cc · 61hp · ~$7,649

The one you will not outgrow. A 649cc twin with 61hp, more highway authority, and Kawasaki's adjustable Ergo-Fit setup that tailors the seat, pegs, and bars to your body. It is heavier and pricier, but it stays satisfying far longer than a 500.

Specs head to head

	Honda Rebel 500	Kawasaki Vulcan S
Engine	471cc parallel twin	649cc parallel twin
Power	~46 hp	~61 hp
Wet weight	~185 kg (lightest)	~226 kg
Seat height	690 mm (lowest)	706 mm
Ergonomics	Fixed, naturally low	Adjustable Ergo-Fit
Price (new)	~$6,799	~$7,649
Reliability	Legendary (Honda)	Excellent
Tech	ABS	ABS
Best for	Easiest, lightest, cheapest first cruiser	More power, adjustable fit, room to grow

Figures are catalog approximations and vary by model year and market; always verify the exact spec and price for your region.

Where the Rebel 500 wins

Weight, seat height, and price. At about 185kg the Rebel is roughly 41kg lighter than the Vulcan S, and that gap is the single biggest thing a nervous beginner feels: it is easier to hold at a stop, easier to paddle around a car park, and far more forgiving if it starts to lean too far. Add the lowest seat in the class at 690mm and a price around $850 lower, and the Rebel is the clearest, lowest-risk way into cruiser riding. If your priority is learning with the least intimidation, take the Rebel.

Where the Vulcan S wins

Power, highway ease, and fit. The Vulcan S makes about 15hp more and pulls more comfortably at highway speed, so it feels relaxed where a 500 is working harder. Its Ergo-Fit system is the real headline: Kawasaki offers reduced, mid, and extended seat, peg, and bar configurations, so you can tune the riding position to your body instead of accepting one fixed layout. That makes it a genuinely strong fit for both shorter and taller riders, and it means you are far less likely to outgrow it in a year. If you want a cruiser to keep, not just to learn on, it has the edge.

Which should you buy?

Buy the Honda Rebel 500 if you are a newer rider, you want the lightest and lowest bike, you value the simplest, most bulletproof ownership, and the lower price matters. It is the easiest cruiser here to learn on and the safest all-round beginner pick.

Buy the Kawasaki Vulcan S if you want more power and highway comfort, you like the idea of tuning the ergonomics to your body, and you would rather buy one cruiser you can settle into for years than start small and trade up. Just go in clear-eyed about the extra 41kg: sit on one and paddle it around before you commit, especially if it is your very first bike.

Still not sure which fits you?

The right call depends on your height and inseam, your experience, how much highway you will ride, and how comfortable you are managing weight at low speed. Tell the MyMoto advisor about yourself in your own words - it weighs all of that, including the regret risks most comparisons skip, asks only what matters, and builds your free personal report in a few minutes of chat.

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MyMoto is an early beta. Always verify current specs, pricing, A2 options, insurance, and local availability before buying any motorcycle. Figures are sourced from our catalog and may vary by model year and market.

See all the best beginner cruisers →
Prefer two 500s? Rebel 500 vs Eliminator 500 →
Shorter rider? Read the short-rider guide →
On a tighter budget? Rebel 300 vs Meteor 350 →
Comparing the Vulcan S to a retro 650? Super Meteor 650 vs Vulcan S →
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