In Your Opinion Nomad vs Harley - Page 3

davidhollinger · 03-25-2013, 10:23 AM

I attend 8-10 motorcyle rallies per year and they are almost always dominated by Harleys. I have posted pics of a few of the nicer ones but inevitably there will be dozens of the same bikes there. I have never seen another bike like my Nomad. In the club I ride with there are mostly Harleys, a couple of Gold Wings and my Nomad. Last weekend we took a ride into Mississipi and not one bike outperformed or left me behind. As far as staus quo is concerned I think everyone would like to have a good old American made Harley sitting in their garage for everyone to see and admire but if I were to ride any distance, I would prefer my Nomad. If something happens to her I am far less likely to freak out over my $6000 bike than I would if something happened to my $20K bike. All that being said, I reserve the right to buy a Harley when I win the lottery!

cactusjack · 03-25-2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

I attend 8-10 motorcyle rallies per year and they are almost always dominated by Harleys. I have posted pics of a few of the nicer ones but inevitably there will be dozens of the same bikes there. I have never seen another bike like my Nomad. In the club I ride with there are mostly Harleys, a couple of Gold Wings and my Nomad. Last weekend we took a ride into Mississipi and not one bike outperformed or left me behind. As far as staus quo is concerned I think everyone would like to have a good old American made Harley sitting in their garage for everyone to see and admire but if I were to ride any distance, I would prefer my Nomad. If something happens to her I am far less likely to freak out over my $6000 bike than I would if something happened to my $20K bike. All that being said, I reserve the right to buy a Harley when I win the lottery!

Go to a Nomad rally and you'll see lots of bikes just like yours. I have only seen one other bike on the road that's just like mine.

davidhollinger · 03-25-2013, 10:40 AM

CJ, I went back and looked at some of the pics from previous VBA rallies to see how cool it would be. I still didnt see a lot of beige bikes. I feel like this model must be really rare. Only saw about 3 members with it. I do like looking at the pics and getting ideas for the future.
Now if anyone wanted to DONATE one of these to my cause, I wouldnt be opposed!

cactusjack · 03-25-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

CJ, I went back and looked at some of the pics from previous VBA rallies to see how cool it would be. I still didnt see a lot of beige bikes. I feel like this model must be really rare. Only saw about 3 members with it. I do like looking at the pics and getting ideas for the future.
Now if anyone wanted to DONATE one of these to my cause, I wouldnt be opposed!

Yes, you're probably right. That is a rare color combination. I had a black Nomad and it was one of many at any Nomad rally.

davidhollinger · 03-25-2013, 10:53 AM

Glad I didnt paint it black a few weeks back. I kind of talked myself out of it. Hey do you know if all Nomads have the Kawasaki emblem on the side covers. I see the pics on here of them but mine does not have them. Just wonder if they were on there at one time....?

cactusjack · 03-25-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidhollinger

Glad I didnt paint it black a few weeks back. I kind of talked myself out of it. Hey do you know if all Nomads have the Kawasaki emblem on the side covers. I see the pics on here of them but mine does not have them. Just wonder if they were on there at one time....?

Mine had one, I think it was on the right side cover.

davidhollinger · 03-25-2013, 11:14 AM

OK cool, thank you!

Ggben · 03-25-2013, 11:23 AM

How is the dealer support in your area? In my region there are only two Harley dealers and they are far apart. This is an instant fail as there are many more Kawaski dealers around, so the choice is easy.

gman47 · 03-25-2013, 02:43 PM

I too traded off my '05 Nomad for an HD Ultra Classic. I was never really comfortable on the Nomad due to it's wheel base, rake and trail configuration and the heavy steering. I had the bike 3 years, added fairing, trunk and other goodies to make it like I wanted it. When it came time to sell, all the added accessories didn't amount to a hill of beans. I looked at both HD and Victory, decided on the HD. Why? All my riding buddies have HD's, we have done a yearly tour averaging 2,000 mile and 10 riders for 15 years, that's conservatively 300K miles. I can count on one hand the number of breakdowns which includes flat tires, a bad starter, battery and an ignition switch problem. I have become convinced HD has solved many of the "old issue" problems, producing a reliable motorcycle. Bump to many of CJ's comments.

I felt I lost about 3 years of riding enjoyment but now have a bike I have confidence in when it comes to handling. I have to say for those owning or looking to buy a Nomad or Vaquero, Kawi makes a bullet proof machine.

MADTIME · 03-25-2013, 03:41 PM

I think their paint and chrome is second to none. They LOOK like quality. HD has marketed their brand and made people believe they're buying the very best and all others are just "throw away" bikes. I've heard that from Harley riders many times over the years. I don't think they really believe it but it makes them feel somewhat superior. Harley riders will buy a $20,000 bike and develop a million dollar attitude. I see it every time I ride.
If a person believes a Harley-Davidson is the bike for them and they ride, ride, and ride, then more power to them. I was raised on this motto, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride."
But, to tell me Harley-Davidson makes the only real motorcycle and it is the finest bike made, then I have a problem with that. All motorcycles are real motorcycles, not just Harley-Davidsons. No, they are not the finest bikes made. While they have made great strides in manufacturing quality, (I read manufacturing trade publications) they are still a mediocre design.
The one area that Harley-Davidson is great is advertising the image and lifestyle. Yes, Sir, the folks in Milwaukee are marketing geniuses. They are truly brilliant. To get so many people to believe Harley-Davidson is the only REAL motorcycle made is brilliant. To get so many people to buy into (and buy and buy and buy) the whole "Harley Lifestyle."

coffey67 · 03-25-2013, 05:03 PM

Water cooled vs. air cooled. That is the deal breaker for me. I will not cook atop a big V-Twin that is air cooled. I rode along with a Harley rider in Cades Cove TN. and watched him and his girl cook in the summer heat as traffic was crawling along. I and my wife were fine on my Nomad.

cactusjack · 03-25-2013, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coffey67

Water cooled vs. air cooled. That is the deal breaker for me. I will not cook atop a big V-Twin that is air cooled. I rode along with a Harley rider in Cades Cove TN. and watched him and his girl cook in the summer heat as traffic was crawling along. I and my wife were fine on my Nomad.

My 2007 Nomad seemed to give off more heat than my Harley does. In the summer when I'd ride home from work in the afternoon, the tank on the Nomad was hot enough to burn you.

ponch · 03-25-2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

My 2007 Nomad seemed to give off more heat than my Harley does. In the summer when I'd ride home from work in the afternoon, the tank on the Nomad was hot enough to burn you.

My RT throws off the least heat of any bike I have owned. In fact, I would say I don't notice it, even out here. The nomad could be a lot on a hot day. I remember remarking to myself on some 100+ days in Iowa and saying to myself, wow, that's hot.

cactusjack · 03-25-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponch

My RT throws off the least heat of any bike I have owned. In fact, I would say I don't notice it, even out here. The nomad could be a lot on a hot day. I remember remarking to myself on some 100+ days in Iowa and saying to myself, wow, that's hot.

Well in my case, it could just be that the Nomad was black and the Harley is not. Seriously, you could have cooked a burger on my gas tank at times, just from sitting in the sun.

ponch · 03-25-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Well in my case, it could just be that the Nomad was black and the Harley is not. Seriously, you could have cooked a burger on my gas tank at times, just from sitting in the sun.

I am talking about engine heat. The other thing is, the HD and Nomad have metal gas tanks. Mine is plastic behind plastic.

03-25-2013, 10:23 AM	#1
davidhollinger Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 2,188	I attend 8-10 motorcyle rallies per year and they are almost always dominated by Harleys. I have posted pics of a few of the nicer ones but inevitably there will be dozens of the same bikes there. I have never seen another bike like my Nomad. In the club I ride with there are mostly Harleys, a couple of Gold Wings and my Nomad. Last weekend we took a ride into Mississipi and not one bike outperformed or left me behind. As far as staus quo is concerned I think everyone would like to have a good old American made Harley sitting in their garage for everyone to see and admire but if I were to ride any distance, I would prefer my Nomad. If something happens to her I am far less likely to freak out over my $6000 bike than I would if something happened to my $20K bike. All that being said, I reserve the right to buy a Harley when I win the lottery! __________________ I would be patient, but it takes too long!! David Hollinger 2002 Beige 1500 "Hannah2" VBA # 02195 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-25-2013, 10:53 AM	#5
davidhollinger Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 2,188	Glad I didnt paint it black a few weeks back. I kind of talked myself out of it. Hey do you know if all Nomads have the Kawasaki emblem on the side covers. I see the pics on here of them but mine does not have them. Just wonder if they were on there at one time....? __________________ I would be patient, but it takes too long!! David Hollinger 2002 Beige 1500 "Hannah2" VBA # 02195 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-25-2013, 11:14 AM	#7
davidhollinger Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 2,188	OK cool, thank you! __________________ I would be patient, but it takes too long!! David Hollinger 2002 Beige 1500 "Hannah2" VBA # 02195
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03-25-2013, 02:43 PM	#9
gman47 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Elk Grove, Ca. Posts: 187	I too traded off my '05 Nomad for an HD Ultra Classic. I was never really comfortable on the Nomad due to it's wheel base, rake and trail configuration and the heavy steering. I had the bike 3 years, added fairing, trunk and other goodies to make it like I wanted it. When it came time to sell, all the added accessories didn't amount to a hill of beans. I looked at both HD and Victory, decided on the HD. Why? All my riding buddies have HD's, we have done a yearly tour averaging 2,000 mile and 10 riders for 15 years, that's conservatively 300K miles. I can count on one hand the number of breakdowns which includes flat tires, a bad starter, battery and an ignition switch problem. I have become convinced HD has solved many of the "old issue" problems, producing a reliable motorcycle. Bump to many of CJ's comments. I felt I lost about 3 years of riding enjoyment but now have a bike I have confidence in when it comes to handling. I have to say for those owning or looking to buy a Nomad or Vaquero, Kawi makes a bullet proof machine. __________________ When you come to the fork in the road ..... take it!
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03-25-2013, 11:23 AM	#8
Ggben Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 16	How is the dealer support in your area? In my region there are only two Harley dealers and they are far apart. This is an instant fail as there are many more Kawaski dealers around, so the choice is easy.
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03-25-2013, 03:41 PM	#10
MADTIME Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: California Posts: 157	I think their paint and chrome is second to none. They LOOK like quality. HD has marketed their brand and made people believe they're buying the very best and all others are just "throw away" bikes. I've heard that from Harley riders many times over the years. I don't think they really believe it but it makes them feel somewhat superior. Harley riders will buy a $20,000 bike and develop a million dollar attitude. I see it every time I ride. If a person believes a Harley-Davidson is the bike for them and they ride, ride, and ride, then more power to them. I was raised on this motto, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride." But, to tell me Harley-Davidson makes the only real motorcycle and it is the finest bike made, then I have a problem with that. All motorcycles are real motorcycles, not just Harley-Davidsons. No, they are not the finest bikes made. While they have made great strides in manufacturing quality, (I read manufacturing trade publications) they are still a mediocre design. The one area that Harley-Davidson is great is advertising the image and lifestyle. Yes, Sir, the folks in Milwaukee are marketing geniuses. They are truly brilliant. To get so many people to believe Harley-Davidson is the only REAL motorcycle made is brilliant. To get so many people to buy into (and buy and buy and buy) the whole "Harley Lifestyle."
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03-25-2013, 05:03 PM	#11
coffey67 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Goreville, Illinois Posts: 202	Water cooled vs. air cooled. That is the deal breaker for me. I will not cook atop a big V-Twin that is air cooled. I rode along with a Harley rider in Cades Cove TN. and watched him and his girl cook in the summer heat as traffic was crawling along. I and my wife were fine on my Nomad.
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