Blindside News from the Northwest

[duneseven]

Congratulations on the new bike kris. I hope it works out better than the last one.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Yep...the black one lists MSRP at roughly 22,500 or so. For whatever reason, the colored bikes are over 23K MSRP.

It's the same with HD. I just wish BMW would make bikes in color. Seems everything is silver, grey or may be black. I like red or may be midnight blue.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by petenomad

I went and looked at the victory site after Kris posted this. You can get some pretty funky paint to go along with the futuristic styling. Arlen Ness Vision

I am not a fan of the George Jetson looking Vision....just not really my cup of tea....and the Ness stuff doesn't do anything me either....but the solid color (two-tone would be nice too) and cleaner lines of the XCT are a real head turner. When I rode it last week, I did not notice any clunky trans noise. It sounded the same as my last two Vulcans to me.

What stunned me was the incredible handling and high-end power. When I merged onto the freeway I was getting on it pretty good and when I thought I was about at the speed limit (60 mph), I backed off. When I looked at the speedo I was doing 75 and it felt like 55. The turning is effortless....think it and you are there. The wind management system is well thought out to keep you nicely protected, and maybe I should not mention that the heated seat was similar to using four-ply toilet paper...luxurious..... I'll use my two and BD's two to give it a solid four thumbs up....!

The pics are not my bike, but just like it....

[audiogooroo]

Congrats Kris! Awesome ride! Enjoy it!

[BandC]

Congratulations & hope it works Great for you!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I am not a fan of the George Jetson looking Vision....just not really my cup of tea....and the Ness stuff doesn't do anything me either....but the solid color (two-tone would be nice too) and cleaner lines of the XCT are a real head turner. When I rode it last week, I did not notice any clunky trans noise. It sounded the same as my last two Vulcans to me.

What stunned me was the incredible handling and high-end power. When I merged onto the freeway I was getting on it pretty good and when I thought I was about at the speed limit (60 mph), I backed off. When I looked at the speedo I was doing 75 and it felt like 55. The turning is effortless....think it and you are there. The wind management system is well thought out to keep you nicely protected, and maybe I should not mention that the heated seat was similar to using four-ply toilet paper...luxurious..... I'll use my two and BD's two to give it a solid four thumbs up....!

The pics are not my bike, but just like it....

I did see a 15th anniversary edition that was two tone black and maroon like ringading's bike.

[BC RED VAQ]

It seems to me more and more members are leveing the kawasaki family maybe kawasaki should reed the forums more. My next bike will be a yamaha 1300 delux or Victory CC which ever I can afford unless the dealer the rep is sending it to can fix it right and I'll stay with my vaquero.

[petenomad]

I thought that red/black combo was very nice looking. But it is basically $30K - wow!

(No I didn't like either of the Ness paint schemes - but I thought the Cory XCT was much less ugly then Arlen Vision.)

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by BC RED VAQ

It seems to me more and more members are leveing the kawasaki family maybe kawasaki should reed the forums more. My next bike will be a yamaha 1300 delux or Victory CC which ever I can afford unless the dealer the rep is sending it to can fix it right and I'll stay with my vaquero.

That's what "Capitalism" is all about. I truly believe Kawasaki knew it rushed the Vaquero and Voyager out before they should have.

I'm no engineer but if they would have fine tuned that big 2053CC monster motor and had it dressed up with cruise and all the bell's and whistles I be a LOT of people would have wanted that bad boy.

Instead they make the ride more compact and add a 1700cc motor added a stereo and cruise...... That just wasn't enough in today's world.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

What stunned me was the incredible handling and high-end power. When I merged onto the freeway I was getting on it pretty good and when I thought I was about at the speed limit (60 mph), I backed off. When I looked at the speedo I was doing 75 and it felt like 55. The turning is effortless....think it and you are there. The wind management system is well thought out to keep you nicely protected, and maybe I should not mention that the heated seat was similar to using four-ply toilet paper...luxurious..... I'll use my two and BD's two to give it a solid four thumbs up....!

Saying good things about another brand of motorcycle here is bound to get you banned/hated/flogged for life!

[ponch]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

That's what "Capitalism" is all about. I truly believe Kawasaki knew it rushed the Vaquero and Voyager out before they should have.

I'm no engineer but if they would have fine tuned that big 2053CC monster motor and had it dressed up with cruise and all the bell's and whistles I be a LOT of people would have wanted that bad boy.

Instead they make the ride more compact and add a 1700cc motor added a stereo and cruise...... That just wasn't enough in today's world.

There were a couple things going on. One, John Hoover, the man who was behind the Vulcans we love, left the company to spend more time with his family. Whoever took his place made decisions that were less than original and deviated from the plan, which was to make a brand that was unique. As far as the V2K, there were/are issues with that platform that prevent it from being a good touring machine. One is the unsophisticated softail like suspension and the other is an engine that eventually becomes a oil burner. I haven't heard of any V2Ks that went more than 100K miles and none that reached 60K that didn't burn oil.

When you consider all the technology that went into the C14 and it's cheaper than the Voyager and Vaquero, you have to wonder if the vulcan line isn't just a high margin line that Kawasaki uses to fund everything else. I think they can do a lot better. There's no good reason they can't build a bike that competitive with the Victory offerings, although it seems they want to be more like HD than Victory. In any event, they missed the boat.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

Saying good things about another brand of motorcycle here is bound to get you banned/hated/flogged for life!

People can make up their own minds and discussing others brands has gone on since I joined in 2008. That's what makes for great discussions and how the need for improvements become known. JMHO.

[dank]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

People can make up their own minds and discussing others brands has gone on since I joined in 2008. That's what makes for great discussions and how the need for improvements become known. JMHO.

Kris, just want you to know it didn't bother me. Shoot, I thought you were talking about a ST1300 up until you said you looked down and saw you were only doing 75mph!

[manban9888]

Originally Posted by BC RED VAQ

It seems to me more and more members are leveing the kawasaki family maybe kawasaki should reed the forums more. My next bike will be a yamaha 1300 delux or Victory CC which ever I can afford unless the dealer the rep is sending it to can fix it right and I'll stay with my vaquero.

Kawasaki really should read these forums. I love my 08 Nomad but instead of getting bettervthey go backwards. I recently rode an 09 and felt small compared to my 08 and felt less responsive and I hated the bags.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by manban9888

Kawasaki really should read these forums. I love my 08 Nomad but instead of getting bettervthey go backwards. I recently rode an 09 and felt small compared to my 08 and felt less responsive and I hated the bags.

I agree, that is why I bought a 2008 to replace my 2007.