Stratoliner vs 1600 Nomad vs 1700 Voyager

[bdeavours]

Any and all input about the likes and dislikes of the above bikes.I was all set to get a 2012 Voyager but now am not so sure. I have a chance to get a new 2009 Stratoliner "S" for a lot less than the Voyager. I have always been impressed with Yammy's fit and finish but thought $17000.00 was a lot for a bike without a trunk and a fairing. I like my 1600 Nad but want to get something different and my best friend wants my Nad in a bad way. Thanks for everyone's time.

[Jared]

The strat is fast and the voyager has all the bells and whistles. Except for power, I think your Nomad has everything and more then the strat .

What is your Nomad lacking that causes you to want to lve on?

[schoeney]

I am very familiar with the Strat S. Neighbor has one. We ride together alot.

Pros to the Strat.

Power to burn.
Lots of Chrome with the "S"
Detachable windshield
Reliabilty

Cons

Crappy passenger seat/pegs not floorboards
Small gas tank
Loud (if you like it quiet)
Not water cooled (but has not been an issue )
Belt drive (if you prefer shaft)
Fugly bags (IMHO)
I can't remember but his air filter or oil filter is a PIA to get to

He loves his Strat, this is his second one...totaled his first one. He paid $14k for new 2010 "S" just a few months ago.

[collinr]

Originally Posted by schoeney

I can't remember but his air filter or oil filter is a PIA to get to

Lost of Yamaha's you have to remove the exhaust to change the oil filter. To me thats moronic design engineering that makes me question everything else.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by bdeavours

Any and all input about the likes and dislikes of the above bikes.I was all set to get a 2012 Voyager but now am not so sure. I have a chance to get a new 2009 Stratoliner "S" for a lot less than the Voyager. I have always been impressed with Yammy's fit and finish but thought $17000.00 was a lot for a bike without a trunk and a fairing. I like my 1600 Nad but want to get something different and my best friend wants my Nad in a bad way. Thanks for everyone's time.

What is it that you want that is different? Define the requirements and it will be easier to make a decision.

[twowheeladdict]

IMO, three different rides. I love the Yamaha Raider. If I ever replace my Mean Streak it will be with a Raider.

The Strat for me was too large a bike for serious riding. Great for the "look at me" aspect of riding.

The 1700 lineup are very nimble for being large bikes.

For touring you can't beat the electronic cruise control. One less thing to think about so you can focus on your surroundings instead of having to look down at the speedo every few seconds.

I would say you need to go sit on all three bikes and definitely take all three for a ride. I never use the full power of my 1700s so more power with the Yamaha would be a mute point for me. I have other bikes for the go fast thrill.

Motorcycles have a large emotional component to them so get the bike that every time you park it and walk away from it you just have to turn around and admire it. Get the bike that every time you take a ride you can't help but smile.

Good Luck.

[bdeavours]

I originally was looking for a bike that could pack a lot of gear for longer trips ---- Voyager appeared to fit the bill especially with all the goodies. I took the wife down to the dealer to sit on the it and she didn't like for these reasons;
1.Her backrest makes squeaky noises when she leans on it.
2.Did not like the looks of the fairing but she is not a fan of any bike that has a fairing.
3.Thinks the radio is annoying, we had a Voyager XII and we were always arguing over the choice of music and couldn't hear it on the highway anyway.
4.Too much plastic and felt flimsy. I did feel the trunk lid was flimsy.
I also noticed the brackets for the trunk mount are all covered in chromed plastic. The salesman said "at least plastic doesn't rust" I said that's true but neither does polished or chromed aluminum.
That being said, if the wife doesn't like it she probably wouldn't ride that much which negates the logic of having more ways to pack stuff. That's when she saw the Strat and immediately said " I really like the looks of this bike, clean lines and looks and feels beefy, vey well finished." She also like the looks of the speedo and the Burgundy color.
The bottom line for me is even though I have loved riding the 1600 Nomad it is 5 years old now and have done and modified everything I can I just want a new and different bike. What else can I say?????

[ponch]

Originally Posted by bdeavours

I originally was looking for a bike that could pack a lot of gear for longer trips ---- Voyager appeared to fit the bill especially with all the goodies. I took the wife down to the dealer to sit on the it and she didn't like for these reasons;
1.Her backrest makes squeaky noises when she leans on it.
2.Did not like the looks of the fairing but she is not a fan of any bike that has a fairing.
3.Thinks the radio is annoying, we had a Voyager XII and we were always arguing over the choice of music and couldn't hear it on the highway anyway.
4.Too much plastic and felt flimsy. I did feel the trunk lid was flimsy.
I also noticed the brackets for the trunk mount are all covered in chromed plastic. The salesman said "at least plastic doesn't rust" I said that's true but neither does polished or chromed aluminum.
That being said, if the wife doesn't like it she probably wouldn't ride that much which negates the logic of having more ways to pack stuff. That's when she saw the Strat and immediately said " I really like the looks of this bike, clean lines and looks and feels beefy, vey well finished." She also like the looks of the speedo and the Burgundy color.
The bottom line for me is even though I have loved riding the 1600 Nomad it is 5 years old now and have done and modified everything I can I just want a new and different bike. What else can I say?????

Have you considered other touring rigs, like HD or Victory? They offer everything the Voyager does, but are better executed and your wife might like them better. With the pricing difference narrowing, the cost differences man less. The 2012 Voyager lists for 18,999, which is basically 19K. For a few thousand more you could have a better executed bike that has better range and possibly a few more goodies, like the QD top case on the XCT as well as heated grips and seats too.

[twowheeladdict]

Originally Posted by ponch

Have you considered other touring rigs, like HD or Victory? They offer everything the Voyager does, but are better executed and your wife might like them better. With the pricing difference narrowing, the cost differences man less. The 2012 Voyager lists for 18,999, which is basically 19K. For a few thousand more you could have a better executed bike that has better range and possibly a few more goodies, like the QD top case on the XCT as well as heated grips and seats too.

For me a frame mounted fairing was a necessity because of the superior ride it provides. I looked at the Goldwing, Vision, Road Glide Ultra, and the Voyager. I felt that the Voyager provided the largest bang for the buck over the other choices and it was actually the least expensive once you equipped the others with everything the Voyager comes with.

It sure is great that there are so many different bikes out there for us to choose from.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by twowheeladdict

For me a frame mounted fairing was a necessity because of the superior ride it provides. I looked at the Goldwing, Vision, Road Glide Ultra, and the Voyager. I felt that the Voyager provided the largest bang for the buck over the other choices and it was actually the least expensive once you equipped the others with everything the Voyager comes with.

It sure is great that there are so many different bikes out there for us to choose from.

I doubt the Voyager is the best equipped out of the bikes listed. Best bargain for sure, but not best equipped.

[twowheeladdict]

Originally Posted by ponch

I doubt the Voyager is the best equipped out of the bikes listed. Best bargain for sure, but not best equipped.

I didn't say it was the best equipped, I said it was the least expensive once you equipped the other bikes the same. In fact it is thousands less.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by bdeavours

I originally was looking for a bike that could pack a lot of gear for longer trips ---- Voyager appeared to fit the bill especially with all the goodies. I took the wife down to the dealer to sit on the it and she didn't like for these reasons;
1.Her backrest makes squeaky noises when she leans on it.
2.Did not like the looks of the fairing but she is not a fan of any bike that has a fairing.
3.Thinks the radio is annoying, we had a Voyager XII and we were always arguing over the choice of music and couldn't hear it on the highway anyway.
4.Too much plastic and felt flimsy. I did feel the trunk lid was flimsy.
I also noticed the brackets for the trunk mount are all covered in chromed plastic. The salesman said "at least plastic doesn't rust" I said that's true but neither does polished or chromed aluminum.
That being said, if the wife doesn't like it she probably wouldn't ride that much which negates the logic of having more ways to pack stuff. That's when she saw the Strat and immediately said " I really like the looks of this bike, clean lines and looks and feels beefy, vey well finished." She also like the looks of the speedo and the Burgundy color.
The bottom line for me is even though I have loved riding the 1600 Nomad it is 5 years old now and have done and modified everything I can I just want a new and different bike. What else can I say?????

I was reading one of my magazines last night and they compared a Strat S to a Road King and a Victory (I can't remember which mag because I get so many). All the testers said the Strat had the most power, but it doesn't have ABS (the others did), no cruise control (the others did), 5 speeds (the other have 6) and it was the loudest of all 3 and had the smallest fuel tank.

It just doesn't sound to me like it's ideal for touring. I don't consider any of the 3 bikes tested to be true touring machines.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I was reading one of my magazines last night and they compared a Strat S to a Road King and a Victory (I can't remember which mag because I get so many). All the testers said the Strat had the most power, but it doesn't have ABS (the others did), no cruise control (the others did), 5 speeds (the other have 6) and it was the loudest of all 3 and had the smallest fuel tank.

It just doesn't sound to me like it's ideal for touring. I don't consider any of the 3 bikes tested to be true touring machines.

Motorcycle Cruiser? Depends on the Victory and HD, but your point is taken or the article's point. I remember reading it as well.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by ponch

Motorcycle Cruiser? Depends on the Victory and HD, but your point is taken or the article's point. I remember reading it as well.

Yeah, I think that was it. I didn't want to say if I wasn't sure. I was thinking either Motorcycle Cruiser or Baggers.

[bdeavours]

Rode an Ultra Classic and the Victory and did not like either one, especially for the price. I can get the new in crate 2009 Strat for $11000.00