Seattle IMA Show (Lots of Pics)

[Netnorske]

Last night I attended the Seattle IMA show to get a look at the new Kawa bikes everyone has been drooling over. I also had the pleasure to meet Greg Schoenkopf (Schoeney) at the show and we did our best to give the Nomad and Voyager a once over.

Without rehashing what everyone has said previously about these bikes, I do have a few observations to add. First, there is indeed WAY too much cheap plastic on these bikes. The bags ARE flimsy (not to mention Fugly... :-[) and the trunk seemed smaller to me than a HD Tour Pack...not as deep. The engine guard faring on the Voyager seems vulnerable as well.

Much of what was metal on previous models is now plastic, such as the chrome spacer between the bags and the fender, the grab rails, etc. You can now access the valve stems on the shocks without removing the bags, but the shocks no longer have the adjustable damper on them.

What I really did not like on either bike was that the engine guards have been moved substantially forward, making adding highway pegs nearly impossible on the Voyager and tough even on the Nomad. The ability to use a "heel on board, toe on peg" riding position I believe is lost for good on these models and that's too bad, because it is my favorite riding position... :'(

The seats do seem a bit more comfy, but I think I would still add some handlebar risers on the Nomad. The cruise-control is obviously nice and I can only imagine the additional power and torque on the 1700 will be huge...

All in all....I think Kawasaki is on to something, but they're not quite there yet. If I could have the 6-speed 1700 with cruise-control on my current frame ('08) with a tour pack and my current bags....I do believe I would have the perfect bike... !

Here are some shots of both bikes....









Me and Schoeney....