2015 Kawasakis

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

I bought my 2006 Nomad new in '06. I won't be buying another bike at my age. When I can't handle the Nomad anymore that will be the end of my bike riding.

Still, it's two bad that Kawasaki seems to not be very interested in the market anymore.

I don't know how old you are, but lots of folks downsize when they get older and get a lighter bike. It makes all the difference.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by petenomad

Here's the link for others.
Note that just under the picture, is the text: NEW FOR 2015! More to come.

The H-2 supercharged ninja is still to come at the end of the month. The concours is usually not announced until October (not sure why).

I wish they would bring the Versys 1000 to the US or make one with the ZRX1200 engine. It can be had with panniers and topcase, which would make it perfect. That I would buy.

[Silent Sam]

..muttering..the Big Kawk Nomad..was on the way out, when they went to belt drive !

...jus sayin...

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by ponch

Seems like they dialed back a bit.

Victory's done the same thing. They went from 15 models to just 7 this year. Seems kind of odd as Victory sales are way up. Honda has added a few new iterations of the Gold Wing and Harley has the "new" Road Glide but dropped a few older models.

[GIBBY]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

Victory's done the same thing. They went from 15 models to just 7 this year. Seems kind of odd as Victory sales are way up. Honda has added a few new iterations of the Gold Wing and Harley has the "new" Road Glide but dropped a few older models.

Actually, Victory has 9 models for 2015. They are known to drop models that are not big sellers and try to add new models in a timely fashion. Word up here near their R & D Center and talking to people that supposedly are "in the know" there are big things brewing at Victory for 2016, we''ll see.

The Harley touring bikes have set a new standard and they will certainly continue to dominate the heavy cruiser market for many more years. If the ergonomics were that of a Victory I may be riding an HD.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

Victory's done the same thing. They went from 15 models to just 7 this year. Seems kind of odd as Victory sales are way up. Honda has added a few new iterations of the Gold Wing and Harley has the "new" Road Glide but dropped a few older models.

Yeah, but there are fewer color choices on some models and nothing new in terms of improvements. I think they want to shift to what does sell, which is the sport line. That's where their money goes. It's downward spiral. If a line isn't profitable, cut it and it becomes less so. When does the bleeding stop? Victory and HD offered improvements in existing models and offered more options.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by GIBBY

Actually, Victory has 9 models for 2015. They are known to drop models that are not big sellers and try to add new models in a timely fashion. Word up here near their R & D Center and talking to people that supposedly are "in the know" there are big things brewing at Victory for 2016, we''ll see.

The Harley touring bikes have set a new standard and they will certainly continue to dominate the heavy cruiser market for many more years. If the ergonomics were that of a Victory I may be riding an HD.

I never understood the tight ergos in the American market.

[Bdog]

I love the Nomad (07) and have changed mine up to suit me. No complaints except, would love a 6th gear and some more horses but don't need either.
I'm in the market for a new bike and will keep the nomad and zx11 in the stable just because. In my searches for all makes for the past several yrs. I have found nothing out there that says ...wow..must have. So for now..just keep smiling and riding the old girl.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by Bdog

I love the Nomad (07) and have changed mine up to suit me. No complaints except, would love a 6th gear and some more horses but don't need either.
I'm in the market for a new bike and will keep the nomad and zx11 in the stable just because. In my searches for all makes for the past several yrs. I have found nothing out there that says ...wow..must have. So for now..just keep smiling and riding the old girl.

I feel the same about nothing out there that talks to me. I may just wait and pay the beemer off and in the future, buy a second bike. A Harley or Indian would be a good companion to the beemer. They all have soul and character. The one thing that gets me on the HD or Indian train is looking at the old bikes, like in the cannonball run. http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/ There's a direct linkage from the old harleys to the new ones. Indians look the part. The metric cruisers don't have that. So it would be like owning a Messerschmitt and a B-17.

Here are some picks from a previous one: http://seekingzero.com/blog/cannonball-run/

[cactusjack]

This is the point I've been trying to make all along. There is no historic connection between the < 1953 Indians and the new Indians. You could put Corvette badges on a Chevy Cruze, and it still doesn't make it a Corvette.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

This is the point I've been trying to make all along. There is no historic connection between the < 1953 Indians and the new Indians. You could put Corvette badges on a Chevy Cruze, and it still doesn't make it a Corvette.

I know. I agree.

[landman]

Originally Posted by ponch

The concours wasn't refreshed either. I wonder if they will publish later or are they holding up production until old stock clears inventory?

you are pretty much on target ponch.there is more to come from kawi,they do have a new concourse but depending on 2014 inventories it is still uncertain as
to whether it will be released as 2015 or early 2016.they also have a new versy
that is rumored to be 800 c.c. to better compete with the competition.i have a
good friend who is a kawi dealer who says that this is what he is being told.he
also is a big Polaris atv/snowmobil dealer but does not plan to carry the new slingshot.he told me that the franchise license to sell them is 40k and the
dealer profit per unit is only $1800.in other words he would need to sell 23
units before he made any profit.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by landman

you are pretty much on target ponch.there is more to come from kawi,they do have a new concourse but depending on 2014 inventories it is still uncertain as
to whether it will be released as 2015 or early 2016.they also have a new versy
that is rumored to be 800 c.c. to better compete with the competition.i have a
good friend who is a kawi dealer who says that this is what he is being told.he
also is a big Polaris atv/snowmobil dealer but does not plan to carry the new slingshot.he told me that the franchise license to sell them is 40k and the
dealer profit per unit is only $1800.in other words he would need to sell 23
units before he made any profit.

Kawasaki already makes a Versys 1000 that they sell in Canada and Europe. It's a nice bike and had a nice pannier and topcase option. I wish they would import that.

[landman]

Originally Posted by ponch

Kawasaki already makes a Versys 1000 that they sell in Canada and Europe. It's a nice bike and had a nice pannier and topcase option. I wish they would import that.

me too but what I really wish is that they would give us the W800.

[redjay]

Is that the replica of the Triumph Bonneville ?

The Kawasaki Commander of the 60's was a clone of a pre unit BSA, A10, A7 etc.