We're getting hosed by Kawi on our Nomads

[dogdoc]

Only thing I wish for is a tach but can add one for not much.

[blowndodge]

+1

[dantama]

Wow, some of us are a little sensitive about any criticism about our bikes. It's not like I criticised your wife, it your bike, a thing you purchased, an inanimate object, lighten up a bit some of you.

That said, here are some real life situations where I would have liked some of those features.

The first trip I took with my son. We were going down the freeway in central Utah going into a very stiff headwind. I didn't know that we were getting as bad of mileage as we were getting. My 99 always went onto reserve at about 110 miles. In Utah you can get pretty remote and be a long way from a gas station. I ran bone dry, not on reserve, at 90 miles, rather than 130 miles.

I ran out of gas with my son on his first trip. A trucker picked us up, didn't have a cell phone then, and took us to the next town. AAA picked us up and took us back and put gas in it. Would have been nice to see miles to empty was moving so fast, would've been perhaps nice to see average miles per gallon was going in the toilet. Before I ever went on reserve, way too soon, I was past gas stations, and ran out before I got to the next one.

Similar story, this time by myself. I filled up in Hankseville in south central Utah. Went on 95 to Blanding. The marina in the middle was close because of low water so no gas there. I started to be concerned about gas and was checking the highway signs that gave the mileage to Blanding and matched that against my odometer. It was too close.

I slowed from 75 mph to get better gas mileage, but didn't know how much of an effect it was having. The math started looking worse further on, and I was turning it off and coasting down the hills and going slower on the rest.

I kept doing the math at each new sign, and it was looking like I might be stranded, but close.

I did finally get to Blanding and put 4.1 gallons in my 4.2 gallon tank. If I had gotten slightly worse gas mileage, I might have been walking a few miles to get gas, and a few miles back. It would have been nice to have those sport bike options on that trip.

So you guys that live in tight quarters might not be able to see any benefits, and LOVE your motorcycle just the way it is, and wouldn't even dream of wanting another feature on it. But if you get out and travel, you might find things are different out there.

On my last example, I filled up my tank all the way up the neck, and Blanding was the very next place that I could get gas. Miles to empty, and current mpg would have been useful.

Knowing what the mpg savings I was getting slowing from 75mph down to 50mph would have been kind of nice on that trip.

So it's fine if you wouldn't want a single extra feature, but come on, give me a break if I would.

127 miles in between towns, remember the 1500 only had a 4.2 gallon tank.

[blowndodge]

Dan, in your situation I can see you point. I would imagine that alaska outbacks and other places might be a good reason to have that kind of information at your finger tips.

I'm thinking that most of us don't get or find ourselves too far from a gas station.

I can get 150 to 190 miles per tankful on my 2006 Nomad depending on things that you pointed out like speed and wind. If I found myself over 125 miles between gas stations under tough riding conditions I would probably instinctively slow down to 60 and take it easy knowing I could have a delima on my hands if I didn't conserve a little.

why is it when topcat said "pig in sh1t" I got this vision of Nico?

Because I'm always on your mind baby.

[Todd]

Dan, in your situation I can see you point. I would imagine that alaska outbacks and other places might be a good reason to have that kind of information at your finger tips.

I'm thinking that most of us don't get or find ourselves too far from a gas station.

I can get 150 to 190 miles per tankful on my 2006 Nomad depending on things that you pointed out like speed and wind. If I found myself over 125 miles between gas stations under tough riding conditions I would probably instinctively slow down to 60 and take it easy knowing I could have a delima on my hands if I didn't conserve a little.

[mikesth]

Wow, some of us are a little sensitive about any criticism about our bikes. It's not like I criticised your wife, it your bike, a thing you purchased, an inanimate object, lighten up a bit some of you.

That said, here are some real life situations where I would have liked some of those features

I hope I didn't come off like that, it's not that I wouldn't like any extras, it just wasn't a dealbreaker and I appreciated the cost-per-value when I bought the Nomad

I think we woul all like them...

[dogdoc]

:-)

[rlfaubion]

I've ran out of gas 5 times in the past year, but it's the first time I ever had a gas gage to forget to look at. I can't figure it out myself.

[basco]

Maybe just maybe we could get Kawasaki to put in some more gas stations

[audiogooroo]

Dan, I agree that those would be nice features. The only real complaint I've ever had with my 99 NAD is poor gas mileage. My solution was to add an aux tank in the trunk. Now I can run over 220 miles between stops.

[dantama]

Dan, I agree that those would be nice features. The only real complaint I've ever had with my 99 NAD is poor gas mileage. My solution was to add an aux tank in the trunk. Now I can run over 220 miles between stops.

That would solve a lot of problems Audio, except for the sore butt part.

Blowndodge, there is a marina where the road in the picture crosses the edge of lake powell, so you could get gas half way through. The year I went that I was referring to, the water was too low and it was closed unexpectedly. When I got there and it was closed it was an Oh sh*t moment. There was nothing I could do but continue on and slow down. At the speeds i liked to run my 99 would only go about `130 miles and that leg was 127 miles.

There are a few places in Utah that you can run into that problem. Nevada too.

[nolan]

I like the Nomad just fine except the clam style saddlebags. They come out with top open ones and I'll buy another one.

[hollywood]

Hell I'd just like to have a decent stereo!!!! I read in a Mag. the other day that Mama Kaw is gonna put a stereo on the new 1600 nomads. I want one and I like to get it without buying a aftermarket fairing

[audiogooroo]

"That would solve a lot of problems Audio, except for the sore butt part."

I never really do suffer from that, but after 4 hours on the bike I definitely have to pee!