Voyager vs Nomad

[Bdog]

[QUOTE=redjay;414645]Bdog. Have you ridden a Voyager or Vaquero ? If you get the chance to ride one I think that maybe your opinion of them could change ?
I don't care for the voyager because "for me" I don't like all the extras ie; trunks, stereos, lowers etc.. in other words, the full touring cruiser look, too cumbersome. I come from the sportbike world and like the old school, hot rod look for a bike.
As I said before, there is something not quite right about the vaquero for me, not sure what it is but there is no Wow factor in that bike. I'm sure both bikes are good but they don't have what I have in the 16 nomad.

[redjay]

I also came from the cafe racer/sport bike era. For me now at 60 years old its all about comfort/convenience and not getting beat up by the elements while riding. If I were younger and never rode with a passenger (wife/son) a Nomad with a solo set up would fit the bill nicely.

[redjay]

Bull. The Voyager transmission is little more noisier than the Nomad but mine seems to be getting better with more miles on it. I am at 3,000 miles on my 2010 Voyager now and the shifting is getting easier, or I am not comparing it to my 05 Nomad anymore. I dont usually shift into 6th gear at less than 60mph or 2500 rpm. At 2,000 rpm it will struggle to pull 6th gear comfortably. No aftermarket remedy for the heat issue apart from ceramic coating that someone on here recently did on his 1700 Nomad (?).

[twowheeladdict]

Originally Posted by bull

I just recently bought a 2010 voyager while trading in my 2008 nomad. There is quite a bit of difference in not only the weight but the shifting seems to be very loud, almost like a harley. Is this normal for the 1700cc engines? The 1600 nomad was very smooth shifting. Also, for those of you that have a voyager, at what speed do you feel comfortable shifting into overdrive that doesn't lug your engine down? I only have 750 miles on this bike and haven't quite got it broken in. Do these issues get better with mileage? One more question. Is there an aftermarket remedy for the heat coming off the engine similar to the ones they are putting on the 2012 voyagers? Thank you very much for any information you can give me on this.

I am over 28000 miles on my 2010 Voyager. 1st to 2nd is still audible but doesn't bother me.

Both 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears. If I am cruising on flat terrain I will run 6th gear down to 60 MPH, but will downshift for any acceleration. If I am cruising the backroads at 55 MPH I will keep it in 5th with the cruise on and get 40 MPG doing that.

Otherwise I will only use 6th gear for those times when I am forced to take the interstate.

I would rather have a bike with a gear that I seldom use than have a bike that I am always wishing for another gear.

[redjay]

I cant tell you how many times I went for another gear on my Nomad when I was already in 5th. Now I find myself in 6th on the Voyager when I should not be.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Bdog

I've had frame mounted fairings and don't like them especially in crosswinds but these were on cafe racers back in the days. Imo. I think the bike of choice is about the style and purpose you want. Unfortunately for me, Kawasaki doesn't make the 1600 anymore, so when it comes time to purchase a new bike..hmm...what to do? I don't care for the voyager at all and the vaquero imo is just missing something, maybe in the next yr. or two with newer styles that something might appear.

A V2K with hard bags and a fairing would be a nice addition to the line-up....

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by Netnorske

A V2K with hard bags and a fairing would be a nice addition to the line-up....

Been done.

[puttz]

They must have made some major mods for the 12's. Rarely do I get the clunk going into first like my 06 Nad. Heat dispalacement is the largest difference I have found. Had an 11 Voyager while my Nad was in for warrenty work & I swear there was 3x's less heat coming up at the rider & passenger on the 12's. Just wish I could find a chrome rear fan cover!
Mind you the one simularity is the shifter positioner on the electronic dash. Both models would lag for up to a minute before showing the proper gear.
I now have Cobra Tri Ovals, PC5 w/Auto tune, along with Chuckster's air intake mod running a K&N filter. Instant difference in torque, HP & better fuel economy with the new air intake. Never could understand why Kawi wants to heat the air up prior to it reaching the intakes.
In 4 months I have put 10,000+ miles & still have an 8000 mile planned for the west coast. The only thing I had to do other than general maintenance was replace the rear tire. By far, the best touring bagger I have ever owned!

[cheriann]

This is a great thread with lots of good opinions and points on both the Nomad and Vaquero. I can't add weight to any mechanical options, such as belt vs shaft, but I can add that my hubby is going through the same decision process.

I recently purchased my 2012 Vaquero and I LOVE it! Hubby rides an 07 Nomad 1600. He loves my Vaquero and is now considering trading in his Nomad for the Voyager.

I love the added little "luxury" items that my Vaquero offers. In fact, I tease hubby all the time!!! (I know, not nice!!! ) While riding, I'll put on my cruise control and relax. I'll ask hubby (we use Scalas to communicate) if he turned on his cruise control yet....whoops, he doesn't have it! We'll be riding at slower speeds through a small town and I'll ask hubby if the Nomad shows him what gear he is in....whoops, that's right the Nomad doesn't show him that like my Vaquero does! I'll ask him how many miles he has left on his tank of gas, or what his average mpg is....whoops his Nomad doesn't tell him that! I can't tease him about not having a radio, since he added the fairing and installed one, but his Nomad didn't come with one. The biggest benefit that I enjoy, is when a traffic light turns green and I leave him WAY BEHIND! (He used to do that to me when I was riding the 900LT)

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Belt drive is lighter, less expensive and requires less maintenance than a shaft drive. A shaft drive is not as efficient as some power is lost due to the mechanics of shaft drive.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, but my Harley is belt drive and I didn't think twice about buying a belt drive bike.

I'd bet a lot of the power loss is making that 90˚ turn in power distribution. For instance, I have seen dyno reports on R1200s that are usually 100hp rear wheel and it's rated at 110hp at the engine. That's pretty good and I have to wonder if it's because the engine is inline with the shaft.

As far as belts go, they should last a long time...but they aren't inexpensive either. What do they run for the HD?

[Monkeyman]

I know Victory belts run just under $300 but they seem to be good for around 50k miles.

[bouson]

[QUOTE=Bdog;414689]

Originally Posted by redjay

Bdog. Have you ridden a Voyager or Vaquero ? If you get the chance to ride one I think that maybe your opinion of them could change ?
I don't care for the voyager because "for me" I don't like all the extras ie; trunks, stereos, lowers etc.. in other words, the full touring cruiser look, too cumbersome. I come from the sportbike world and like the old school, hot rod look for a bike.
As I said before, there is something not quite right about the vaquero for me, not sure what it is but there is no Wow factor in that bike. I'm sure both bikes are good but they don't have what I have in the 16 nomad.

Bdog,
I love your luggage rack and rails, where did you get them?

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

I know Victory belts run just under $300 but they seem to be good for around 50k miles.

I suppose it's about the same cost in 50K miles as a chain drive bike if premium stuff is used.

[Gandalf]

A Harley belt on a big twin will typically last for 100,000 miles plus, if in a touring situation, not abused (Burn outs) and adjusted properly.

On my Electra Glide Sport, I adjusted the belt once in 40,000 miles.

I bet BMW would love to be able to convert LOTS of their bikes to anything but shaft. I've had 5 BMW's and would buy another one right now (R1200 GS Adventure) if they still weren't having final drive failures and to this day MA BMW doesn't recognise that their bikes have a problem.

I've had LOT of shaft drive vehicles and only changed the final drive fluid and never had a problem.

A brand new Honda I bought in 1979, a CX500, did have a small leak but it was fixed under warranty.

The heat issue is troublesome as I make my decision between a new Vaquero or a new 2012 Goldwing!!!!

Sam:)

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Gandalf

A Harley belt on a big twin will typically last for 100,000 miles plus, if in a touring situation, not abused (Burn outs) and adjusted properly.

On my Electra Glide Sport, I adjusted the belt once in 40,000 miles.

I bet BMW would love to be able to convert LOTS of their bikes to anything but shaft. I've had 5 BMW's and would buy another one right now (R1200 GS Adventure) if they still weren't having final drive failures and to this day MA BMW doesn't recognise that their bikes have a problem.

I've had LOT of shaft drive vehicles and only changed the final drive fluid and never had a problem.

A brand new Honda I bought in 1979, a CX500, did have a small leak but it was fixed under warranty.

The heat issue is troublesome as I make my decision between a new Vaquero or a new 2012 Goldwing!!!!

Sam:)

BMW has made some changes in the final drive over the years and has changed the volume of fluid required from 220ml to 180ml. They changed the drain to the 6 o'clock position (the originals had no drain on the 1200s) and they added a fill plug, instead of using the ABS sensor hole. The 2010 up, IIRC have a vent added too. From what I have read, the failures have gone down a lot.

The problem as I see it is a single sided swingarm with a small diameter drive that uses what amounts to a unit bearing. The support bearing is a sealed unit that does not use the FD fluid for lubrication. The outer bearing and gears do. Considering the load capacity of these bikes is over 500lbs, that's a lot on that one bearing.

It is true that they don't admit a problem with the FDs, but they don't with fuel pump controllers either and other manufacturers do the same thing, like cam chain issues and weak clutch springs or in the case of the aftermarket, exhaust header pipes that crack, yet people still buy the products and live with the failures or buy the product fully aware of them. I also want to add that BMW does fix the bikes under warranty and all repairs done at an authorized BMW dealer are covered for parted and labor for two years. Try that with another brand.

That said, I like the GSA a lot. I wanted it instead of the RT, but the wife said she'd never get on a dirt bike. When the water cooled boxer comes out in January, I will take a look at that. She doesn't ride much anyway.