Blindside News from the Northwest

[elvis]

Originally Posted by usranger74

Scott - I have reservations. Hope to make it. Will depend on my ability to do a long ride. My recovery is going well.

What happened to you, Bill?

[sacarriker]

Awesome bike. Enjoy!

[usranger74]

Originally Posted by elvis

What happened to you, Bill?

http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32424

Elvis - surgery.

[manban9888]

Originally Posted by redjay

Kawasaki probably looked at the forums and made a shopping list of what a lot of Nomad owners wanted and had put on their bikes.

A light bar, a fairing with a radio, cruise control and a trunk. They listened to the desire for a 6 speed and to those who wanted a bit more grunt.

A Voyager was the result.

In my opinion (and as owner of a Voyager) they missed the mark in only two areas. The rider is closer to the tank than on a Nomad and the rider/passenger room is less than on a Nomad.

This problem could have been solved by mounting the trunk further back allowing the rider to sit further back and the passenger to be farther from the rider.
Moving the trunk back is possible but requires some work and the end result does not look all that great.

Otherwise I am happy with the Voyager. It does all my Nomad did, but bettter.
If only me and the wife could lose some weight !

I never thought of it that way and you have a point. I have had 4 bikes and all have been Kawasaki. I love my 08 Nomad for the look, windshield, great bags and shaft drive. It's the perfect bike for me. I'm not a big fan of the newer Nomads but I can see where some of the old issues were handled w the Voyager.

[landman]

i guess i must be an oddball because i love my vaquero 1700 and find it to be a nice
improvement over the 05 1600 classic and 08 nomad that i owned.it is alot of bike for
the $14,000 i paid for it.kawasaki have allways been built to a price point and offer
value for the money.it seems unfair to me to compare it to an ultra or cross country
tour that cost thousands more.

[ponch]

I will say that for me, beating the shit out of Kawasaki isn't because I ride a different brand per se, but that I expect better, more. I have owned 4 Kawasaki's before my current ride. I'd own one again if they made a bike that I wanted. I really wish they did, but for whatever reason they do not.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by landman

i guess i must be an oddball because i love my vaquero 1700 and find it to be a nice
improvement over the 05 1600 classic and 08 nomad that i owned.it is alot of bike for
the $14,000 i paid for it.kawasaki have allways been built to a price point and offer
value for the money.it seems unfair to me to compare it to an ultra or cross country
tour that cost thousands more.

There's a lot of truth to that. In the reviews I have read with the Voyager and C14 with compared to their competition, price becomes a dividing line. There are better bikes in that class, but are they $X better? I suppose it depends on how deep one's pockets are and what is wanted.

[trip]

Originally Posted by ponch

I will say that for me, beating the shit out of Kawasaki isn't because I ride a different brand per se, but that I expect better, more. I have owned 4 Kawasaki's before my current ride. I'd own one again if they made a bike that I wanted. I really wish they did, but for whatever reason they do not.

I feel that better strides can be made by not beating a bike to death Ponch. I welcome anyone's constructive criticism and feelings about a Kawa product including yours. What I don't condone is belittling a bike in front of 500+ members that post on this forum. It all depends on how you get your point across.

[ponch]

Originally Posted by trip

I feel that better strides can be made by not beating a bike to death Ponch. I welcome anyone's constructive criticism and feelings about a Kawa product including yours. What I don't condone is belittling a bike in front of 500+ members that post on this forum. It all depends on how you get your point across.

If they offered the same level of sophistication of the C14 in the Vulcan 1700 series, that would go a long way. ABS should be standard on all their bikes, better suspension, more power and efficiency from the engine(the C14 uses variable valve train and it's torque is close to that of the 1700 despite over 300ccs difference), amenities like heated seats, grips, an electrically adjustable windscreen and even make the bike lighter, only if it's possible. If and when they do, I'll definitely take a look.

[blowndodge]

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not publicly pick on my ride. Or I'll send you a meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeannn PeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMMMMMMMMMMMMM...

Everybody sing..!!!

[Netnorske]

First pics of the new ride as I took delivery this afternoon. I found it much easier to back into my driveway, but once I turned it off....I realized I just traded a paid for bike and am now up to my kneecaps in new bike debt.....

I'll have to take it back for all of the accessories, but....I did manage to take my mirrors off of the Voyager and swap them out with the Vic ones. The Vic ones are small, the Kawi ones big (plus I add a small wide-angle lens). I also used my mirror extenders, so this is already a "custom" ride....!

[trip]

Originally Posted by ponch

If they offered the same level of sophistication of the C14 in the Vulcan 1700 series, that would go a long way. ABS should be standard on all their bikes, better suspension, more power and efficiency from the engine(the C14 uses variable valve train and it's torque is close to that of the 1700 despite over 300ccs difference), amenities like heated seats, grips, an electrically adjustable windscreen and even make the bike lighter, only if it's possible. If and when they do, I'll definitely take a look.

I whole-heartedly agree. But cutting a bike brand and it's club membership and Leadership to the bone is not the way to get the manufacturer to make a bike the way you want. It takes persistant communication and patience that won't stir the hornet's nest.

Ponch, it's not my concern whether you ever buy a Vulcan again. It's totally your choice what brand of motorcycle you spend your money on. Who am I to say that your brand is a bad choice. It's your money and the product of your research. The BMW is your choice and fits your riding taste. It makes you happy. I'm good with that.

What is my concern is how some come across with their opinions on this forum. They're on Kawa turf. They need to remember that when they make condescending comments. Simple as that. A little respect for others goes a long way.

[crazygene49]

Originally Posted by trip

I whole-heartedly agree. But cutting a bike brand and it's club membership and Leadership to the bone is not the way to get the manufacturer to make a bike the way you want. It takes persistant communication and patience that won't stir the hornet's nest.

Ponch, it's not my concern whether you ever buy a Vulcan again. It's totally your choice what brand of motorcycle you spend your money on. Who am I to say that your brand is a bad choice. It's your money and the product of your research. The BMW is your choice and fits your riding taste. It makes you happy. I'm good with that.

What is my concern is how some come across with their opinions on this forum. They're on Kawa turf. They need to remember that when they make condescending comments. Simple as that. A little respect for others goes a long way.

[mnbk]

I have had Harley, Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki motorcycles in over 35 years of riding. I currently ride a 2011 Voyager, why? Because I like it and it fits me (6'2"/215). I could say a lot of negatve things about the 1800 Goldwing I had because it didn't "fit" me but why do that? The only question tha really matters here is if Kris is happy with his new bike, otherwise please shut up and let people ride what they want. It starting to sound like a kindergarten school yard!

[blowndodge]

Beautiful bike Kris!!!!