In Your Opinion Nomad vs Harley

[elvis]

One of the reasons why I currently ride a Harley is because I wanted to find it out for myself "what is the big deal with a Harley?" So far I like it. I'll know more about my Electra each time I ride it. Maybe I'm going to ride a 111ci thunder stroke some day, who knows, I don't know...

Does it matter though, a Harley, a Vulcan or any other kind of bike you're riding? Quite frankly, it does not matter to me, it so happen that I've acquired a special interest for v-twins and I've been lucky enough to own a few.

The Harley life style bs has always amused me though. If you own a Harley, people associate you with that bs and that I find it irritating at times.

[gcsteve]

I could ride 2up forever. I just need someone with me to share the adventure. I would get lonely by myself for a month. I don't think my wife would be too happy if I left her for an extended period like that. A few more years and she will stop workng during summer and we will be free to take 4 week rides. Sweet.

[ponch]

I don't like riding two up. It upsets the apple cart. May be it's because I weigh as much as some people that ride two up. My wife doesn't like to go fast and I mean more than 55. That doesn't work for me and to be honest, even we exceed the limits of my bike.

[gcsteve]

Originally Posted by ponch

I don't like riding two up. It upsets the apple cart. May be it's because I weigh as much as some people that ride two up. My wife doesn't like to go fast and I mean more than 55. That doesn't work for me and to be honest, even we exceed the limits of my bike.

The guy I used to work with used to take a month off work and just ride by himself. It was before cell phones and internet. He would ride, stop stay in motel get six pack, wake up and ride some more. I don't even think he brought a camera.

[IntheWind]

I looked at several different bikes over the last few weeks: '12 Heritage Softail, '12 Street Glide, and a '12 Nomad. They were all new leftovers. The Nomad I looked at was marked down to $12,500. The Harleys weren't discounted at all.

What struck me the most about these bikes was how cheap (tacky) the Nomad appeared to be compared to the Harleys. Not only are the Nomad bags downright ugly (which I know is a matter of opinion), but the amount of plastic (fake chrome) was embarrassing. I can't speak about comfort or performance because I didn't take any of these models for a ride, but I can say that I wouldn't even bother to take the Nomad for a ride. The Harleys may be overpriced (and I think they are) but the Kawi 1700 line is outclassed by HD by a long shot.

Kawi took a nosedive in 2009. One could make a very strong case that the '08 Nomad was easily comparable to (if not better than) an '08 Road King. Not so in 2013. In the last 5 years as the Harley touring models got better (better frames, bigger engines, oil coolers...), the Kawi Vulcan seems to have gone the route of the K-Mart special.

Fortunately for me, I found an '08 Nomad that's barely broken in (4,800 miles), and if I can get the bugs out of it I'll have it long after this Kawi 1700 line is phased-out. If not, my next bike will be a Harley.

Bikes change. Harley is not what it used to be, and unfortunately neither is Kawasaki.
_________
IntheWind
'08 Nomad

[ponch]

Originally Posted by gcsteve

The guy I used to work with used to take a month off work and just ride by himself. It was before cell phones and internet. He would ride, stop stay in motel get six pack, wake up and ride some more. I don't even think he brought a camera.

Well, last time I took 9 days off for a ride, my wife wasn't happy when I came back. 5 kids will do that. Just can't do it again for awhile.

[gcsteve]

The cheapness of some of the parts on the 1700 line is a disgrace. The air filter cover centers, clutch cover, sprocket cover and the left side cover that says 6 speed all look severely worn. They started showing wear after first year. I do like the looks of the 1700 line. I have rode several road kings and I like the way the Nomad rides much more. I don't enjoy the shaky motor and the buzzing of the hd. Just my opinion. I would have rather paid more for the Nomad and have Kawasaki use a higher quality of parts but not 8,000 more.

[gcsteve]

Originally Posted by ponch

Well, last time I took 9 days off for a ride, my wife wasn't happy when I came back. 5 kids will do that. Just can't do it again for awhile.

Our kids are self sufficient but, my wife won't leave her favorite child for more then a few days. Our 9year old puppy.

[ponch]

I found above idle, the 1700 has more vibes than the HD. To me, it would seem that Kawasaki wanted their Vulcan line more like HD, but didn't want to open their wallet. The 1700 engine is very good, like most Kawasaki engines, it's designed very well, but everything else is sort of done less than that. For whatever reason, they felt they had to depart from the original vision of the Vulcan Classic and move in a different direction. Only their sales numbers will reveal if it was a mistake.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by gcsteve

Our kids are self sufficient but, my wife won't leave her favorite child for more then a few days. Our 9year old puppy.

Mine range from 7 to 17 now.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by IntheWind

I looked at several different bikes over the last few weeks: '12 Heritage Softail, '12 Street Glide, and a '12 Nomad. They were all new leftovers. The Nomad I looked at was marked down to $12,500. The Harleys weren't discounted at all.

What struck me the most about these bikes was how cheap (tacky) the Nomad appeared to be compared to the Harleys. Not only are the Nomad bags downright ugly (which I know is a matter of opinion), but the amount of plastic (fake chrome) was embarrassing. I can't speak about comfort or performance because I didn't take any of these models for a ride, but I can say that I wouldn't even bother to take the Nomad for a ride. The Harleys may be overpriced (and I think they are) but the Kawi 1700 line is outclassed by HD by a long shot.

Kawi took a nosedive in 2009. One could make a very strong case that the '08 Nomad was easily comparable to (if not better than) an '08 Road King. Not so in 2013. In the last 5 years as the Harley touring models got better (better frames, bigger engines, oil coolers...), the Kawi Vulcan seems to have gone the route of the K-Mart special.

Fortunately for me, I found an '08 Nomad that's barely broken in (4,800 miles), and if I can get the bugs out of it I'll have it long after this Kawi 1700 line is phased-out. If not, my next bike will be a Harley.

Bikes change. Harley is not what it used to be, and unfortunately neither is Kawasaki.
_________
IntheWind
'08 Nomad

I couldn't have said it better myself ITW. Too bad because in 2005 the frame redesign and the increase to 1600 Kawasaki had a super winner in the makings and then just quit. Ask any of the guys that jumped ship and we'll tell you we wanted to like the all new 1700's but couldn't get past the smaller perch and all that cheap looking plastic.

I've given guys here lots of grief (teasing of course) since I've bough my Victory XCT but if you compared them to the 1700 Kawasaki part for part you'd see why it cost 8K more. Kawasaki might have tried to bring in a low cost touring bike but it shows. If the public will pay almost 30K for a Honda then they would have paid 25K for a totally pimped out Voyager or Nomad if Kawasaki would have taking the risk. But as Ponch pointed out I believe the "Touring" segment is not Kawasaki's vocal point. Just look at their 1400 bad boy! Nothing skimped on that bike! And it performs and shows!

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by IntheWind

I looked at several different bikes over the last few weeks: '12 Heritage Softail, '12 Street Glide, and a '12 Nomad. They were all new leftovers. The Nomad I looked at was marked down to $12,500. The Harleys weren't discounted at all.

What struck me the most about these bikes was how cheap (tacky) the Nomad appeared to be compared to the Harleys. Not only are the Nomad bags downright ugly (which I know is a matter of opinion), but the amount of plastic (fake chrome) was embarrassing. I can't speak about comfort or performance because I didn't take any of these models for a ride, but I can say that I wouldn't even bother to take the Nomad for a ride. The Harleys may be overpriced (and I think they are) but the Kawi 1700 line is outclassed by HD by a long shot.

Kawi took a nosedive in 2009. One could make a very strong case that the '08 Nomad was easily comparable to (if not better than) an '08 Road King. Not so in 2013. In the last 5 years as the Harley touring models got better (better frames, bigger engines, oil coolers...), the Kawi Vulcan seems to have gone the route of the K-Mart special.

Fortunately for me, I found an '08 Nomad that's barely broken in (4,800 miles), and if I can get the bugs out of it I'll have it long after this Kawi 1700 line is phased-out. If not, my next bike will be a Harley.

Bikes change. Harley is not what it used to be, and unfortunately neither is Kawasaki.
_________
IntheWind
'08 Nomad

Thank you. You actually "get it". There's a difference between a $15,000 bike and a $23,000 bike, and it isn't just the price.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Thank you. You actually "get it". There's a difference between a $15,000 bike and a $23,000 bike, and it isn't just the price.

Pretty much.

[haygrrr]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Thank you. You actually "get it". There's a difference between a $15,000 bike and a $23,000 bike, and it isn't just the price.

I agree but personally it's not worth the $8k to me considering the limited season here with snow and all. If I was somewhere warm and could ride most/all year, I would probably have a different view.

[schoeney]

I think we all "get it", pay more you get more.

I agree the 1700 line is lacking but what is worth the 8k difference to get an HD? Not enough IMHO.

Victory or Honda appears to have more to justify the price difference. Of course you need to compare similar models.

Throw Dave's experience in, other's like him, the Consumer Report's survey, and I think you just don't maximize value with an HD, nor do you get the best bike.

But the question was Nomad or Harley. Give me the Nomad and $8,000 !