you can get radio on your cardo or Sena, or blue tooth it to your phone and have a ride mix. besides, on a bike the radio is pointless at highway speeds from my experience, you can't hear anything.
Have had my 1700 Nomad for 10 years and over 65k miles. Can't argue it's a solid bike and no other cruiser comes close in it's price range. Which ironically is also the reason this may be my last new Vulcan. With the decline in popularity of heavy cruisers and the lack of direct competition to the 1700 line, Kawasaki has not been motivated to update their now 11 year old platform. Which in turn makes me less motivated to spend $$$ on what would essentially be the same bike I already have. So looks like I will happily continue to ride my Nomad till one of us stops running! ;).
@@RONALD511 I rode my mates 900cc version of this...... Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz - horrible machine. I tried to love it but it stood out as the worst motorcycle I have ever ridden......
clunky as all $hit.... couldn't get anything enjoyable happening.... the 750 Honda cruiser I hired in Phuket $hitted all over it.... My other mates fat boy had infinitely more character.... it was truly $hit. I noticed you had trouble gearshifting........ YEP - SO DID I.
i absolutely LOOOOVE MY VN1600 Nomad!! just add a 75 shot of nitrous!! I dont like THOSE round bags though, mines an 06, has tha bag guards on top and on the sides. LOTS of chrome on it.
I have a 2012 model Nomad. Bought it new off the showroom floor in 2014. It had 15 drive test miles on it. I absolutely love it. A big bike comparable to a Road King. I know that will get some of the Hardly boys worked up. but that's ok. It doesn't drive like a big bike though. You do not have to muscle it around. It just handles like a dream. He mentioned using the speed control in 6th gear and then said it felt better in 5th. That's because both 5th and 6th gears are both overdrive gears. You really don't need 6th until your pushing past a minimum of 65 mph. Pretty much just for open highway or slab use. This bike is all I've ever wanted and more. It's definitely a keeper. However, I think they quit making the Nomad version in 2015. The Vaquero and Voyager are still available to my knowledge.
Yup all you need gear indicator fuel gauge, cruise control don't need all that other stuff. The Kawasaki seem to always come in at a decent price too! Nice review! love your channel
I have an 04 and a 2012 Nomad. I like both but the 2012 will definitely spoil you with the cruise control and the 6 speed transmission. I find the 04 sitting in the garage a lot more lately.
And those huge chrome domes on the tank! They're a blinding mirror around 2/5pm I blacked mine out and then removed it completely! An alternate speedo and I can count the miles till empty!
@@Dukerdr but majority of bikes dont have cruise control....usually just the big touring bikes. plus you can get a aftermarket clip that locks the throttle in place for cruise control.
@@hobbitpsi I was just watching a review of the new 950 Ducati Supersport, and the reviewer mentioned that it had a low fuel light but no cruise control...and sure enough, someone in comments stated that for a bike like the Supersport, not having Cruise Control was almost criminal...or words to that effect. I LOLed..
I sold mine last year..I absolutely love this bike..it is powerful, comfortable and trouble free..The longest trip I put in one day was 640 miles and I was totally ready to keep on going, had stop for the night..if you ever want to get a great bike this one will not let you down.
@@naterskater7709 probably best to stick with lower weight. When starting out we all make a few bad calls and if you're on a lightweight easy to manoeuvre bike then you've got a better chance of getting out of that situation. Some of the most fun I've had has been on smaller bikes. A used 3-5 years old, 1-2 owners, low mileage, with service history, 125-350cc is what I'd recommend. 125cc do 70mph, 250-350 do 100mph. But they can weigh as little as 300lbs, 135kgs. The bike in this video is 800lbs, 365kgs. A smaller lightweight bikes are fast and nimble and have really good performance and respond to your control so well. Those big heavy bikes need a lot more skill and understanding of their limitation. Big heavy cruises can often have cornering restrictions where it's hard to corner tightly or it's impossible to corner tightly because they run out of ground clearance when you lean them over.
I love vulcans and i totally agree with what you say, I have a meanstreak 2006 and i totally love it how it handles and the most important thing that this bikes offer is that they´re simple and serve their porpouse i stripped my meanie to its simple form with no mods or accesories and man they look pure and timeless. People always say they have no soul and i dont know about that but i assure you they have a porpouse and thats to serve their owner, kinda like a samurai, f... yeah.
Hello, I love this motorcycle, I had a VN 750 and it was wonderful, your contribution to learn more about motorcycles is very good, God bless you brother, amazing verse, blessings.
This past summer i road my 2013 Nomad . Talladega Alabama to Las Vegas pulling trailer.. No worries.. love my Nomad . Also have 2017 Kawasaki Voyager awesome bike..
I have a Voyager with all the bells and whistles, radio, cruise control, tall screen, good fairing and leg shields. I had thought about a Goldwing but they're too much money. I love the relaxed cruiser style. You can spend the day on tis bike and not be tired . I'm never concerned about how fast I can pull away at the lights but I know when it comes to the hills I'll have plenty of torque to keep going. There are two issues that are worth noting . The bike does throw out some heat around the rider's legs especially in summer. The bike is liquid cooled. I think they added an extra fan to suck the heat away. The second issue is this is a big bike, heavy bike and in my view an electric speed limited reverse would be helpful for parking. These bikes are no longer available in Australia.
That is the first thing I changed. I slapped on some nice Cobra's. It's not loud idling or starting. But if you want a nice deep throaty grunt, just crack the throttle open.
Had a 1500 classic for 90k miles through college and law school. Then had a 1600.Nomad for 60k miles before ending up with a 1700 Voyager. Kawasaki won my loyalty with an 80cc dirtbike and I've never looked back.
I'm just a hair under 6' myself. I use the Kuryakyn Longhorn Offset highway pegs that are adjustable for your leg length. www.motorcycleid.com/kuryakyn/kuryakyn-longhorn-offset-highway-pegs-1669468917.html?vehicle=168860 The other thing I purchased, that I would highly recommend to anyone riding, is a backrest. Those things are lifesavers on long hauls. www.ebay.ca/itm/Kawasaki-1600-Nomad-or-Vulcan-Classic-Motorcycle-Driver-Backrest-Quick-Releas/332100539593?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
I’d love to own that bike 🏍 Sean if you don’t want it , Ship it to me brother in Australia 🇦🇺 Love to have it 👍🏼 Run fine on unleaded or E 10 I’m sure 😀
I have the 2009 1700 Nomad. Love this bike. It looks like a motorcycle. I don't like the faring look. I like the cruise control, 6 speed tranny. You can adjust your idle with a push of a button. Has a clock, miles left on the tank indicator, miles per gallon average. 5.3 gallon tank. Very easy to do all maintenance on it. Adjustable rear air shocks. All floor boards. Heal toe shifter. I have only had it in the shop for tires. Replaced the battery just once so far, never use a battery tender. I ride with people that have expensive Harley Davidson's and Indians. No one has a bike I am ever jealous of. I only wish my motorcycle had the ABS brakes. They came on the 2010 and up models. Very happy with my 1700 Nomand, and most likely will be my forever motorcyle.
Just what I'm looking for . I currently ride a 01,1500 /5spd, Vulcan Classic, FI. Durable , dependable , low maintenance, whole lotta bang for the buck. The 1700/6spd, would be great.
Hahah texting and mirror punching! Love your channel. I'm trying to decide on the custom cruiser that I want. It's either one of these, the Suzuki Intruder or a Yamaha. Any thoughts?
Vulcan Nomad 1700 does not have anair cooled engine.. they have a nice radiator and fan to cool down a superhot engine..nevertheless they are great bikes .. I had one !
Still own our '05 Nomad. Bought it new. Simple good crusing tourer. Comfy for me and the wife. Never broke down. Sit back and find the longest route to ride.
Great story, but you missed two very important issues with the bike, maybe 3. First, it spills off excessive heat in the back cylinder, common on some cruisers. Manual states:93 oct. But it runs perfectly on 87 / 89. But mileage with these big bore, low compression beasts is just ok at 34-38. Overall, I love mine, especially little things like cruise, self cancel directionals and simple aux add ons because KZ already setup the lines. Fuel tank is limited to 5 gallons even though its big and wide, and the tire selection rear mainly, is very limited. Good luck.
Overall 5 stars . I had a 2000 1500 cc NoMad . 12.0 sec 1/4 mile . Cornering awesome at low and higher speeds feels the same . A lot of bike for the money . The only down side . Like he said the earlier models the liquid overflow container is right under the seat . And I had to stop more than once because my butt was getting scorched 🥵. LOL
I own a 2017 Standard Road King, a leftover purchased NEW in January 2018. The odometer just turned over 288,000 miles and I'm going for 300,000 miles. What a great bike!
Ha ha @ mirror smash, Sean,... Yeah , that's assault on property, like you said... don't do it. Any chance that you can ball-park the resell price to us in your vids, when you are doing your demo's ?? Ciao
Do you like windshield in this type of bike? I have a Suzuki M80, from the factory it has no windshield but my father put on it just like this one, one big windshield. And okey it's good if you ride a long distance, but in small ride it's just feel better if you feel the wind. Don't you think?
hey, Sean. Great video. @5:52 you mentioned "the older" nomads getting hotter underneath. I've had an 08 Nomad for about 3 years now, and for the most part haven't really noticed it too hot, and I do run it on the recommended 93 octane. Only on the very hottest of days during the summer is it ever an issue at all, and even then no different really than 90% of motorcycles out there in 90F+ heat. My old 95' Shadow ACE 1100 would definitely get a lot hotter then my Nomad, for any comment readers who would consider either bike for purchase.
Would you recommend getting a 05 1600 nomad? I have a nice deal nearby and i'm thinking about getting one. I need a nice, reliable bagger for a couple. Cheers
I had a 2011 Nomad and kept it in 5th gear up to 80mph with no problems and the engine sounded good. 6th gear is for anything over 80mph as you can tell by the sound of the engine that it works best at that speed. This bike could move down the highway with no problems at all. I found the mpg to be disappointingly low compared to other brands like Harley, Victory and Honda. I had to start looking for gas around the sub 150 miles mark.
Not sure if you realize it Sean, but I think me and most people don't watch your videos because of the bikes, it's because of YOU, your entertaining and the things that come out of your mouth crack me up and I enjoy watching your videos. Keep it up.
Bought an 09 and going into 2 Nd sounds like two tanks hitting each other. All blogs say it’s normal. Switched to Lucas 20-50 and it helped esp with first. Going into 3 rd and up seems much quieter and more Harley like. I do believe I’ll stick with my minty 2000 Valkyrie. 🐝. 😉
I had a Vulcan VN900 special edition, best cruiser I ever owned, did everything perfect, too good. Then I went onto Harleys,,, I love my Night train, It is like a living being, I will never go back.... The Vulcan ? Best cruiser I ever rode
Hey guys, George here from South Africa I need help I am a very heavy guy can you maybe test some bikes for overweight guys please or make a video for big people. I am at 210kg and drive a 2009 Kawasaki ZX14 I am about 30kg heavy er than the bikes max payload. PLEASE HELP
I test rode one of these. For general cruising the 900 is a better choice. The 900 is a bit lighter, more manuverable at low speed, and has enough power for the city and two lane roads. For big tours and long highway trips it's a bit wheezy. The Nomad would excel in this role but I'd want a fairing, a trunk, and all the touring luxuries.
I had a 2001 Nomad 1500 ....then yrs. later I got a 2006 Nomad 1600 . Wouldn’t own a Harley if you gave it to me... When all you want is 2wheels and some Wind ..😎👍👍✅🧐
This is why I bought my 2007 Vulcan 1600 classic. It's just a bike it has no big stupid bells and whistles no silly gimics it's smooth and fun pure riding thanks for the video man
Got a 2004 Nomad. 1500cc. I love it. I Road Gold Wings for years. There is an adjustment period between the two for me. They handle very differently. The Nomad looks like a Harley Heritage in many respects. Love that look. For the life of me I have not been able to find the fuel shut off valve. LOL. I like the idea of reserve gas if I forget to look at the gauge. Looked at the manual and it shows one but still can't find it!? I have no idea why the engines keep getting bigger on these bikes. I'm happy with a 1000cc to 1200 cc. engine. So mine sucks as bad as yours. LOL.
Getting hot to you legs with a Nomad is kinda true if you drive them slowly uphill in a region where the environment doesn't provide a windy flush and it's all the time hot and humid. Well, to fix that ride faster uphill if you feel uncomfortable. Listen, the massive torque with these bikes (I have a 2013 model, first owner from new) simply tempts you to do a scenery sightseeing while cruising at nearly walking pace up a steep hill. Of course it will get kinda hot to your legs eventually. Quite honestly, this make (species, if you will) of bike is genuinely unique in this sense. Every biker should have one of these.
Sean what do you think is a better made bike in the 1500 to 1800 cc range Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha. I am thinking of the Nomad, Boulevard or Star cruisers. Any replies would be appreciated.
Loved my 03 VN 1600 Classic. Got a VTX 1800 now, and while I do like it a little better, the Nomad had that obnoxiousness about it that I loved. The thing I liked best is the frame, seat, and controls are big and easy to manage. I will say it's a lot tougher to manage at slow speeds compared to the Honda but mine might have had lose head bearings causing that issue. Will always love the Nomad.
@@Asyss_Complex It's fine, just not nearly as manageable as the Honda. Still better than some bikes I've been on. My brother has an 07 Harley softail classic and it's way worse. The Vulcan was my second bike after a Shadow 1100. Now that was a great starter bike. I learned a lot on the Vulcan though. Drove it 500 miles a week to and from work for about 6 months out of the year.
Greg M Thanks for answering. I feel a lot more confident now. I thought that the softail handled a lot better since it has a lower riding position, or at least that’s my perception. One last question, how many miles do you get with a full tank?
@@Asyss_Complex The Kawasaki has a bigger tank and gets better MPG than the VTX 1800 I've got now. I would always be looking to refuel at about 150 miles but could go 175-200 if I pushed it. That reminds me of the feature the Kawasaki has that my VTX doesn't-a fuel gauge. The Honda only has a light and it kind of irks me that I have to pay closer attention to the miles I've been on a tank rather than just watching the gauge.
@@Asyss_Complex If you are getting a big heavy bike, make sure you watch "Ride Like a Pro" Jerry Palladino AKA Motor Man videos. He has taught me how to handle slow riding like a seasoned police rider..."Friction zone, Light pressure on the rear brake, and leaning while turning. All combined with practice will make you a master!
ian kimmel Yes, he’s very knowledgeable. I’ve been following him for a few months now. When I had the chance, I’ll buy his course. Thanks for answering.
What happened? Did the radiator fall off during the test ride? You said it was liquid cooled and i saw a big ol ugly radiator up front but at the end of the video suddenly it's air cooled? Maybe the rider is air cooled. I just got back from a ride and i froze my ass off.
6:00... that heat is bad at high speed, and once you've got your feet on some highway pegs it's even worse. The wind comes right up your body and the your legs block it from the pipes. Almost like your legs are chimneys!
Sean first off great clickbait. You have mastered how to do this by having the title say one thing and then 90% of the video saying the exact opposite. Second, you are an EXCELLENT salesmen. The best salesmen hide the bad and "accentuate", (most just out right lie) the positive. But you go beyond that and show and explain the bad, and give several reasons why the positive is there, good, and why a person watching/listening should want it. And lastly you are SUPER honest and over the top fair even taking a multi Thousand dollar (I heard over $13K in once instance) loss to make things right for your customers. Sean when I can afford a second bike, (because my 12' Yamaha Raider S only has 2500 miles and is my dream bike so I'm gonna ride it until it explodes), I just wish I could but it from you but you would have to have a gloss black Big Dog K9 with less than 20K miles for less than $15K. Just wanted to tell you that thanks for being honest, and uploading great content. From south Louisiana, Ride save bro.
Never have you told the truth more , this bike is just plain meat and potatoes , nothing fancy just a rider and the open road ... And that is just the way some of us won't it . 👍👍🐲
So can if I got a nomad 1600 like this bike is the review can I buy a used front fairing and tank from a Vulcan vaquero and mount it on my nomad without alot of work?
