Absolutely LOVE this bike!

[Calflan]

Just came home today from a 2900 mile trip from Arizona up to Yellowstone and back. The bike ran like a champ with two up the entire time. Never missed a beat, never a glitch. Plenty of power when I needed it through the many National parks we drove and carried allot of baggage. So glad I upgraded to the Voyager! :tup::cheers:

[boyntonbeachrider]

That is great man. Love my Vaquero as well.

[BudMan]

Sounds like a great trip. These bikes don't just look great, they get the job done as well.

[Rasta]

Sounds like a great trip. These bikes don't just look great, they get the job done as well.

Agee!! Just got back from the rally in the Ozarks and while eating a late lunch I was looking at my 1500 and was very proud of the fact that it just brought us back home with no problem after almost 1800 miles of riding....2up and loaded to the max!

[Calflan]

No one will ever talk me out of a Vulcan. Loved my 1600 and now the Voyager. Couldn't be happier with either bike.

[ray2]

Calflan what was your MPG for that nice trip you took loaded up like that?

[Calflan]

Checked it a couple of times, averaged around 38.

[nomadtom69]

did you have a black vaquero with you I saw a bike and a black vaquero in Rocky Mtn National Park

[Calflan]

No just us (wife and I), but we did go through RMNP on Thursday morning.
BTW, moved west 3 years ago from N.C. Sure do miss those Maggie Valley and Blue Ridge runs!

[ponch]

No just us (wife and I), but we did go through RMNP on Thursday morning.
BTW, moved west 3 years ago from N.C. Sure do miss those Maggie Valley and Blue Ridge runs!

There's some decent riding out here too, but the heat sucks. The trick is to ride early and get some altitude. Go to Happy Jack, Show Low or Hannigan Meadow etc and it's 20 degrees cooler. That said, it's wearing on me.

[cactusjack]

Even then, you have to come back to the heat. When I go on road trips like the Orofino rally, I spend the night someplace like Flagstaff or Show Low on the way back, so I can get back home before it really gets hot. Unfortunately, that strategy didn't work coming back from Crescent City, I rode all the way from Riverside to Phoenix in well over 100 degree heat, it was 113 in Palm Springs and just got worse from there. That was the most grueling 300 miles I have ever ridden.

[The Black Knight]

That is great man. Love my Vaquero as well.

:tup::tup:

[ponch]

Even then, you have to come back to the heat. When I go on road trips like the Orofino rally, I spend the night someplace like Flagstaff or Show Low on the way back, so I can get back home before it really gets hot. Unfortunately, that strategy didn't work coming back from Crescent City, I rode all the way from Riverside to Phoenix in well over 100 degree heat, it was 113 in Palm Springs and just got worse from there. That was the most grueling 300 miles I have ever ridden.

I know some people that will start early and end early, wait out the day and ride at night a bit and do it all over again. Riding in heat sucks, there's no two ways about it.

[mick56]

I know some people that will start early and end early, wait out the day and ride at night a bit and do it all over again. Riding in heat sucks, there's no two ways about it.

I know we dont get the heat you blokes do, but what are you wearing in that 110 degrees? i wear an open face lid, a pair of jeans and a light shirt in summer, but we rarely see more than 80 -90 degrees, and thats hot enough for me, i see blokes riding with full leathers and a full face lid and think, jesus that must be torture !:tup::cheers:

[ponch]

I know we dont get the heat you blokes do, but what are you wearing in that 110 degrees? i wear an open face lid, a pair of jeans and a light shirt in summer, but we rarely see more than 80 -90 degrees, and thats hot enough for me, i see blokes riding with full leathers and a full face lid and think, jesus that must be torture !:tup::cheers:

It's best to keep covered than go with only a shirt. It'll be worse that way. Best to wet a tee shirt and then put a jack on. Open the ends of the sleeves up and let the wind up the arms and into the jacket. It's been up to 113 on the freeway this year so far. Last year I saw 119.

[schoeney]

Even then, you have to come back to the heat. When I go on road trips like the Orofino rally, I spend the night someplace like Flagstaff or Show Low on the way back, so I can get back home before it really gets hot. Unfortunately, that strategy didn't work coming back from Crescent City, I rode all the way from Riverside to Phoenix in well over 100 degree heat, it was 113 in Palm Springs and just got worse from there. That was the most grueling 300 miles I have ever ridden.
Scott

I know we do not get the heat you do but I feel your pain.

Last year on my return trip from the Estes Park Rally I rode 800 miles in one day.....in 100+ heat. It was 104 in Salt Lake City.

Right in the middle of my ride a certain buddy of mine.....I won't mention his name...let's just say he was a LL umpire, rides a Victory CCT, and is into Blue Leather...anyhow he knows I am melting in the heat and feels so bad that he texted me a pic of an ice cold margarita...!#/##$=% :mad::mad:

[Silent Sam]

Having had a Heat Stroke in 88..on I 40 west of Needles Calif. my thermometer read 137 degree's(f) and I was inside a front loader cab..I'm screwed for temp's above about 90 degrees since then.

Last year I bought a "Cooling Vest"..you soak it and wear it..I usually wear a long sleeve cotton three button T-shirt...then the soaked-cooling vest ..they dont drip- and a long sleeved multi-pocket cotton shirt over that...

Last summer I was able to -survive- riding in 100 degree + temps (I wont say its comfortable..but it's "tolerable" and inside the outer shirt, the vest stays wet, from fuel stop to fuel stop..

In reference to cactusjack's trip from Riverside to phoenix.. In 1967 I was friends of the guy that owned Ontario Honda...he had a repo 450 Honda in Phoenix...and a Beech Bonanza (200 mph aircraft)..He flew myself and one of his bike mechanics to Phoenix..we checked out the bike and headed west -two up !..the boss went back to the airport and took off for Ontario..

We got passed one time on that ride..by a big red 18 wheeler..and we were going around 120 ....We beat the boss back by 15 minutes !

[caribou]

Scott

I know we do not get the heat you do but I feel your pain.

Last year on my return trip from the Estes Park Rally I rode 800 miles in one day.....in 100+ heat. It was 104 in Salt Lake City.

Right in the middle of my ride a certain buddy of mine.....I won't mention his name...let's just say he was a LL umpire, rides a Victory CCT, and is into Blue Leather...anyhow he knows I am melting in the heat and feels so bad that he texted me a pic of an ice cold margarita...!#/##$=% :mad::mad:

Not only were they ice cold, but darn tasty too.:lol:

[Calflan]

We stopped in Hannigan Meadow Friday night before getting back to Tucson. Left early Saturday and by the time we got down Devils Highway (awesome and I'd actually have to say, better than the NC Dragon because it's longer ... MUCH longer). By the time we hit Tucson, I-10 was over 100 and the radiant heat off the highway was probably pushing 110 deg. I wear a long sleeve T shirt, the sun can roast your arms, and a 3/4 helmet. We were glad to get off the road by 1:30 pm.

Yes, the heat is tough in the summer, but then again, there's 3 other seasons of riding here while most other places have two or even one. A buddy of mine, when we moved out here from NC told me, 'yup, you stay inside in the summer just like most other places stay inside in the winter'.

[hlknvlcn60]

Kawasaki has been getting it right on the big v-twin baggers for some time now. They are great fun bikes to ride, look awesome, and are stone-cold dependable. I just put some fresh Kawasaki performance 20/50 lube in the crank of my '12 Vaquero and tomorrow setting out into the heat to ride on this bike's first long distance road trip. I am looking forward to it with the engine rumbling, stereo blasting, out through the eastern Oregon mountain country to the annual Hell's Canyon Thunder rally in Baker City Oregon. Should be a real hoot. I will take lots of pictures to share when I get back. Yea....Vulcans kick booty!

[wondervul]

Just came home today from a 2900 mile trip from Arizona up to Yellowstone and back. The bike ran like a champ with two up the entire time. Never missed a beat, never a glitch. Plenty of power when I needed it through the many National parks we drove and carried allot of baggage. So glad I upgraded to the Voyager! :tup::cheers:

Yes Sir, I love mine always rode HD last one was a Street Glide. I was totally surprised by the Voyager the first time I rode it. Great bike!

[Loafer]

This has been a pleasure to read. :cheers::cheers:

[drzaius]

Just came home today from a 2900 mile trip from Arizona up to Yellowstone and back. The bike ran like a champ with two up the entire time. Never missed a beat, never a glitch. Plenty of power when I needed it through the many National parks we drove and carried allot of baggage. So glad I upgraded to the Voyager! :tup::cheers:
I have to agree with loving the vulcan, I rode my Vaquero from Oregon to Florida. 4-500 miles a day, and ready for more. The heat does take a lot out of you, but I got a cooling vest at cyclegear before I left and that makes a huge difference. Bike ran like a champ the whole way, except for the tank of bad gas I got.

[Gypsy Dragon]

My Vaquero is my first V-twin. Riding 26+ years and it took me this long to finally get a V-twin. I love it! A couple weeks ago I jumped on my Vaquero here in Round Rock (just outside Austin) and rode straight through to Phoenix. Crossed New Mexico and in to Arizona in the middle of the night. Got to see the sun rise above Tucson. Simply can't describe the beauty. I can't think of anything I have ever owned that could have matched the Vaquero. Not one hiccup, not one wobble, not one noise. Perfection. I picked my Vaq up in January of this year with 723 miles on it, and 7 months later turned 15k. Absolutely NO buyers remorse here!

[danimal2]

Yes, the heat is tough in the summer, but then again, there's 3 other seasons of riding here while most other places have two or even one. A buddy of mine, when we moved out here from NC told me, 'yup, you stay inside in the summer just like most other places stay inside in the winter'.

I'm a wuss when it comes to heat. I take summers off (July/August) and take it back up in September. June and September can be hot too, but it's usually tolerable in the mornings and at night. Like Ponch said, you can head north in the morning and don't come back to the valley until it starts cooling off agian. It's 8:00AM and only 80 degrees this morning. Might have to go for a ride.

Our riding season is just beginning IMO.

[mick56]

My Vaquero is my first V-twin. Riding 26+ years and it took me this long to finally get a V-twin. I love it! A couple weeks ago I jumped on my Vaquero here in Round Rock (just outside Austin) and rode straight through to Phoenix. Crossed New Mexico and in to Arizona in the middle of the night. Got to see the sun rise above Tucson. Simply can't describe the beauty. I can't think of anything I have ever owned that could have matched the Vaquero. Not one hiccup, not one wobble, not one noise. Perfection. I picked my Vaq up in January of this year with 723 miles on it, and 7 months later turned 15k. Absolutely NO buyers remorse here!

Hey nipper, cherish that memory, money cant buy it mate:tup::cheers:

[boyntonbeachrider]

I have to agree with loving the vulcan, I rode my Vaquero from Oregon to Florida. 4-500 miles a day, and ready for more. The heat does take a lot out of you, but I got a cooling vest at cyclegear before I left and that makes a huge difference. Bike ran like a champ the whole way, except for the tank of bad gas I got.

drzaius. A Seinfeld Reference? If so I love it. :cheers:

[gcsteve]

Just got back from a 1500 mile trip from Long Island to Pittsburg then out to western Ohio. Great trip that is the farthest west I have had the Nomad. With almost 27, 000 miles I never even checked the oil I just got on and rode. I used to try and get best milage I can but since the fairing with the wind deflectors and lowers at 80+MPH two up loaded up I only get about 32mpg. On byways at 50mph I usually do much better around 37mpg. I stopped caring and just rock out with loud and clear tunes on the reckless fairing. Love all the positive comments.

[ponch]

Just got back from a 1500 mile trip from Long Island to Pittsburg then out to western Ohio. Great trip that is the farthest west I have had the Nomad. With almost 27, 000 miles I never even checked the oil I just got on and rode. I used to try and get best milage I can but since the fairing with the wind deflectors and lowers at 80+MPH two up loaded up I only get about 32mpg. On byways at 50mph I usually do much better around 37mpg. I stopped caring and just rock out with loud and clear tunes on the reckless fairing. Love all the positive comments.

I wonder why the low mileage? Never got that low with my 1600 Nomad and I am equivalent with gear. At least you have cruise control. I find that helps with mileage no matter the speed.

[HwyRider]

Must be the mountains in PA. I get better mileage with a fairing on mine.

[ponch]

Must be the mountains in PA. I get better mileage with a fairing on mine.

More like hills. It's not that bad.

[gcsteve]

Riding through Ohio it seems the hills incline for miles. I think with the fairing and tall windscreen there is much wind resistance and it always used more gas above 75mph. The mountains along rte 22 in western PA seemed pretty steep. I usually stop every 130 miles. I hate when FUEL FUEL FUEL starts flashing even though I know I have 30miles still in tank. Like I said it doesn't bother me any more. I try to just enjoy the ride.

[HwyRider]

Sounds like you had a great trip. Did you manage to get pictures or video?

[Rasta]

Just got back from a 1500 mile trip from Long Island to Pittsburg then out to western Ohio. Great trip that is the farthest west I have had the Nomad. With almost 27, 000 miles I never even checked the oil I just got on and rode. I used to try and get best milage I can but since the fairing with the wind deflectors and lowers at 80+MPH two up loaded up I only get about 32mpg. On byways at 50mph I usually do much better around 37mpg. I stopped caring and just rock out with loud and clear tunes on the reckless fairing. Love all the positive comments.

This is what happened to me as well after mounting my fairing on Thursday and riding it the next day on trip out of town. Just telling myself, like you are, to just enjoy it and not worry about mpg toooo much :D

[Silent Sam]

...Going west..You have to get into..the west half of..the Dakota's..Nebraska..Kansas..Oklahoma..Texas..Befor you enter THE WEST...and they call the wind "MORIAH"....aka "BLOWS LIKE HELL"....But The Roads are miles and miles of Wide Open.