It's official; I'm in love. (Again.) Yesterday, I went down to the sub base to get a script filled, and while I was down there I decided to stop at
their local Honda/Kawasaki dealership. They had just rolled out all four versions of the new Kawasaki Vulcan 1700. I have to tell you guys, I was impressed.
I didn't spend too much time looking at the two lower versions, the Classic and the LT, frankly because I'm not really interested in a stripped cruiser or one with leather bags. (The LT also has studs on the seat, pillion, and backrest, and I'm not a studs kind of guy.) What I did see on them was very appealing, if that's what you are in the market for. At $12,299, the LT gives you a lot; 1700cc's, fuel injection, adjustable windshield, driver floorboards, leather saddlebags, and a padded sissy bar.
The Nomad and the Voyager both knocked my socks off. I looked at the Nomad first. I think at $14,399, they are going to sell a lot of them. In addition to it having the fuel injection, adjustable windshield, driver floorboards, and a padded sissy bar, it also has passenger floorboards, a crashbar/engine gaurd, dual tourer exhaust pipes, very nice 10 gallon hardbags, and electronic cruise control. What really turned me on was when I sat on it. It has a lower seat height than any other large cruiser I have sat on. I still could not stand flat footed, but I did have a solid feel with the balls of my feet solidly on the ground. (I don't have that on my T.) The seat was also one of the most comfortable stock seats I have ever sat on. Best of all (for me), was that it had the shortest reach to the handlebars of any big cruiser I have ever been on. I will still need to move the bars back, but not near as far as I had to on the T. (This is great for me, but all of you tall people interested in this bike, be warned; it might be too short for you get comfortable on.)
The Voyager is a beaute. As luxury tourers go, this one has all the standard equipment. I like the fact that the fairing is frame mounted. That is something that I have missed since the old Windjammer fairing days. The instrumentaion is layed out very nice, and not overly complicated. I sat in both seating positions and both are extremely comfortable. It has a large enough (I think) alternator to handle all the extra plug in stuff that you would need. I think this is going to be a huge seller for Kawasaki.
The dealership I was at does not allow demo rides, so I'm hoping that I will get that at Americade. If you're interested in a new touring bike, I think the Nomad and the Voyager should be high on your list. I won't be changing bikes for a while yet, but I know what has my attention these days.
I didn't spend too much time looking at the two lower versions, the Classic and the LT, frankly because I'm not really interested in a stripped cruiser or one with leather bags. (The LT also has studs on the seat, pillion, and backrest, and I'm not a studs kind of guy.) What I did see on them was very appealing, if that's what you are in the market for. At $12,299, the LT gives you a lot; 1700cc's, fuel injection, adjustable windshield, driver floorboards, leather saddlebags, and a padded sissy bar.
The Nomad and the Voyager both knocked my socks off. I looked at the Nomad first. I think at $14,399, they are going to sell a lot of them. In addition to it having the fuel injection, adjustable windshield, driver floorboards, and a padded sissy bar, it also has passenger floorboards, a crashbar/engine gaurd, dual tourer exhaust pipes, very nice 10 gallon hardbags, and electronic cruise control. What really turned me on was when I sat on it. It has a lower seat height than any other large cruiser I have sat on. I still could not stand flat footed, but I did have a solid feel with the balls of my feet solidly on the ground. (I don't have that on my T.) The seat was also one of the most comfortable stock seats I have ever sat on. Best of all (for me), was that it had the shortest reach to the handlebars of any big cruiser I have ever been on. I will still need to move the bars back, but not near as far as I had to on the T. (This is great for me, but all of you tall people interested in this bike, be warned; it might be too short for you get comfortable on.)
The Voyager is a beaute. As luxury tourers go, this one has all the standard equipment. I like the fact that the fairing is frame mounted. That is something that I have missed since the old Windjammer fairing days. The instrumentaion is layed out very nice, and not overly complicated. I sat in both seating positions and both are extremely comfortable. It has a large enough (I think) alternator to handle all the extra plug in stuff that you would need. I think this is going to be a huge seller for Kawasaki.
The dealership I was at does not allow demo rides, so I'm hoping that I will get that at Americade. If you're interested in a new touring bike, I think the Nomad and the Voyager should be high on your list. I won't be changing bikes for a while yet, but I know what has my attention these days.
Having not
ridden one, I'll look for that if I get a test ride.
