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03-10-2019, 03:57 PM | #46 |
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NE Indiana
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Well the other brands Bagger/Tour bikes really haven't done much new either. Victory went out of business. And the Harleys and Indians are smaller yet in the Drivers triangle and $8000 or more expensive. The New Yahmaha is bigger but there again $8000 more. And the rest are not V twins curizers
The things everyone complains about are not much better on the other brand or they have other issues. If Kawasaki addressed and fixed every complaint about the 1700. They would be a $24,000+ bike also. Dollar for Dollar I believe The 1700 is best bang for the buck. And again this in my opinion.
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Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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03-10-2019, 04:21 PM | #47 |
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I'd like to know if they have anything planned.
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Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad | 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic | 1984 GPz750 | 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09|Prairie Du Chien '10|Crescent City '11 |
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03-10-2019, 04:28 PM | #48 | |
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Quote:
The versys 1000LT would be a fine choice if only it was shaft drive. I hate chain drive. Going to the RT was a revelation. Lost 250lbs of bike and gained better performance in every way. I've always said, the germans should engineer it, Italians design it, japanese build it and americans sell it. Then we'd get the perfect bike. :)
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Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad | 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic | 1984 GPz750 | 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09|Prairie Du Chien '10|Crescent City '11 |
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03-10-2019, 04:28 PM | #49 |
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If Kawasaki had stretched the 1700's a little to make more room for the passenger and installed the Nomad side opening bags they would probably have had more sales right from the day the 1700 Voyager came on the market in 2009. It would have cost almost nothing to have got it right. If you can live with it the way it is it is a great bike for the money.
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03-10-2019, 04:37 PM | #50 | |
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Quote:
The thing about Kawasaki is that they not only ignored their base in designing the voyager, but they got rid of John Hoover, the father of the vulcan line. They made a conscious decision to go another way and didn't care what we thought.
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Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad | 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic | 1984 GPz750 | 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09|Prairie Du Chien '10|Crescent City '11 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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03-10-2019, 07:47 PM | #51 |
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Kawasaki lost a lot of repeat customers when they went to the top opening bags on the Nomad. Why do you think they brought them back for the Vaquero?
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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03-10-2019, 08:02 PM | #52 | |
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Not to mention No Accessories
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The Voyager is not for everyone but it is for me and I hope they either Keep it or Upgrade it somewhat for as long as I need one. Because right now I don't know what I would buy if the Kawasaki Voyager was not available. (note - While the bags and trunk my seem flimsy - they aren't. I've only ever heard of 1 or 2 breaking other than accidents. Have a great evening. Mike |
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03-10-2019, 09:31 PM | #53 | |
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Quote:
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Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad | 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic | 1984 GPz750 | 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09|Prairie Du Chien '10|Crescent City '11 |
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03-10-2019, 10:09 PM | #54 | |
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Just a couple hours from the house. May have to come that way for a day. Bet ya'll hit Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg while you're there.
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Have A Good One, Chuck Patriot Guard Riders Sons Of Liberty Riders Alabama Road Captain 2015 Voyager 2003 1500 NOMAD FI sold 6/19 VBA #2993 RUSSELL DAYLONG SEATS ROCK!! DAMMIT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "DAMMIT" at the top of your lungs There is no substitute for laminar flow in which a helmet is the primary disturbance. SO MANY ROADS, SO LITTLE TIME. |
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03-11-2019, 10:05 PM | #55 | |
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Sure I wouldn’t have been happy if the Voyager had sideopening bags, but it wouldn’t have been a deal breaker necessarily. I assumed they used them on the Vaquero to make the bike look a bit different than the voyager. I mean, the vaquero has no fog lights, the lowers are different, the rear fender is different, the gauges are different, the seat is different, the dash is painted, rear crash bars are different, turn signals are smaller, and on and on.
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My thread: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=47004 |
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03-11-2019, 10:09 PM | #56 | |
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Quote:
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Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad | 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic | 1984 GPz750 | 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09|Prairie Du Chien '10|Crescent City '11 |
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03-12-2019, 12:50 AM | #57 |
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I've grown accustomed to the top-opening bags, but it's taken a while for us to get to that point. I've found that the Kaw luggage fits inside there very much better than the Bestem brand bags I had before them... They're higher, the Kaw bags, and fill the room left by the lids much better.
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Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold) |
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03-12-2019, 06:37 AM | #58 | |
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I Like Them
Quote:
Never once did I overfill them and not get a tight seal. Did that on my 1600 nomad side bags and ended up with wet stuff. I think they hold a lot more stuff also. And more stuff is important. |
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03-12-2019, 08:03 AM | #59 | |
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Quote:
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Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers |
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03-13-2019, 09:58 PM | #60 |
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It has been over a year since I last logged in here, and probably another year before that since I last posted anything here. I too was one of the original members of KawaNOW (Nomad owner specific) and got involved with this forum very early on, leading to a long stint as the NW Region Leader. Indeed it was good times back then as the 1500/1600 Nomads were such an iconic bike. There was nothing quite like seeing 55 Nomads all in one place at the first National Rally in Custer, SD...and yes, the side opening bags were instantly recognizable at any speed, making it one of the most stylish baggers of all time.
Things did change when Kawasaki failed to listen to their faithful. Everyone was clamoring for an improved version of the 1600...ie: fairing, more power, sixth gear and tour pack...but utilizing the same awesome, roomy platform....just with all the things guys were adding as custom installs on their Nomads. Instead, Kawi came out with the 1700 Nomad and Voyager, complete misses from what Vulcan riders asked for. The forum changed its name to include new owners of those rides as well. That I believe was the beginning of the end...at least as us original members knew it. Having said that, this forum led a lot of the founding members to become lifelong friends. People we met by going to the rallies year after year. Those of you who don't make that effort are missing out on great times and the very best part of what belonging to a group such as this is all about. Yes, many of us have stayed close and moved to a separate FB Group, but we still get together every year in a different western location although most, but not all, have long ago moved to other brands. I traded my 2008 Nomad I bought new with 54K miles on it and bought a 2012 Voyager. I only owned it for a cup of coffee as it quickly proved untenable as a two-up tourer. Had I rode solo it would have been okay, but the lack of passenger room and small trunk made it unfit for the riding we like to do. I then bought a 2013 Victory Cross County Tour which we loved. I had to be very careful in slow speed turns, but nothing on the planet had more rider/passenger room and storage. Made some great trips on that bike with great memories. When Polaris dropped the Victory line, I decide to finally dig deep and bought a 2O17 HD Ultra Limited. It had everything I wanted in a bike and gave me much better slow speed control. What truly sold me though was the new 107 engine and re-designed frame and suspension. No more vibration problems and all the get up and go one could want in a touring bike. I've never looked back. Those in our FB group are tight like we were in the original KawaNOW group. If you wish to join, you can find us easy enough but will need to be vouched for by someone in the group. You will also be expected to attend our annual gatherings. That's what keeps us tight...the personal texts and daily posts on FB are what make seeing each other in person every year such a fun and pleasurable week. Things might have been so much different if Kawi had stepped up to the plate in 2009 and built the bike everyone asked for.... Like everyone though, I have very fond memories of my 1600 Nomad and what a great bunch of folks I met as a result....
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Kris Olsen VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic "Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional" Custer 2009|Kalispell 2010|Cortez 2010|Crescent City 2011|Kanab 2012|Canmore 2012|Estes Park 2013|Orofino 2014|Lake Tahoe 2015|Red Lodge 2016 |
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