2007 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad

The Kawasaki Nomad is a great bike. It is big and heavy, but stable, powerful and smooth. As a touring cruiser you want a bike that provides a great platform to cover many miles quickly. This is it.



On the highway it provides a comfortable ride, eating up miles effortlessly. While an almost 8...00 pound motorcycle will never be considered sporty, this bike really likes the twisties. A handful at slow parking lot speeds, at "somewhat above" legal limits it actual is incredibly easy to make go around curves. It sets easily, and holds the line throughout. In motion it handles like a much smaller and lighter bike.

The ergonomics are good for me - I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam and not exactly svelte, and the seat, bar, floorboard setup works well. I can easily put both feet down at stops, and it never feels "too big" to control.

Like most bikes with shaft drive you'll need to be very smooth with your right hand, as abrupt on and off throttle motions cause the back end to jack a little, but I've never found it to be bothersome. What is (was) more bothersome was the air management, as there was helmet buffeting at every possible speed and at every possible height of the adjustable windshield. I had to buy aftermarket lowers (much larger than stock) to alleviate this problem. Kawasaki really needs to spend a little more time in a wind tunnel, shaping the windshield and front end. I don't know if the newer 1700 version (to appear sometime in the near future) will have remedied this or not. One thing the newer version (at least on paper) seems to have fixed is the addition of a 6th gear. At cruising speeds I almost always feel like another gear would come in handy. When the clutch gets hot (like in stop and go traffic) it gets temperamental. Not a big issue, but I will admit that I've stalled it more than once when the clutch decided to grab rather than slip like I was expecting.

I happen to think the saddlebags are the best looking hard bags in the industry. The ones on the new 1700 now look like the same as everyone else's. Buy the liners for the bags. They come in handy.

My mileage has consistently averaged around 40, and I'm not known for taking it easy on the throttle. This year with the price at the pump, I've used it whenever possible instead of my car to commute to work.

With fully adjustable rear shocks, you might need to experiment with the pre-load and air pressure settings to get the right feel for you and your riding, and for the addition of a passenger, but I've had no trouble getting it to where it works best for me. I set the preload to "III" (3) and run with 25 or 30 pounds of air, and that seems to cover all situations.

I've put over 3500 miles on this summer alone, and still my overall impression is very favorable. I really like this bike, and have no plans to replace it anytime soon. I am very happy with the Nomad, especially when you factor in the purchase price.

In summary:


Positives:
- Stable traveling platform
- Smooth and powerful
- Great looking

Negatives:
- Air management
- Clutch grabs when hot
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Terrific Interstate Eater

In 52 years of riding, I've owned a number of different motocycles. I purchased my 2007 Nomad new in the crate in January of 2008. I can truthfully say this is the best highway traveler I have ever owned. I have nothing against full-dressers such as Harley Ultras, K-model BMWs, or Honda Goldwings, i...t's just that I have never needed radios, CD players, GPS, or all the other bells and whistles. I appreciate simplicity in my bikes. The Nomad is smooth, with a hint of V-twin vibes for personality, has enough power for two-up riding with fully packed luggage, and is very stable at speed and through the curves. A laid-back, comfortable cruiser that makes long-distance trips pleasant and refreshing. Aside from being a little top-heavy (you much be careful during slow-speed, parking lot-type manuvers) I can't imagine wanting anything more in a traveling bike. I'm 66 now, and when I reach the point where the old legs won't hold it up well anymore, I'll probably just trike it, and keep on rolling. I like my Nomad that much! Best buy for your dollar! Read Full Review

kawasaki nomad

I purchased my nomad new in 2007 and have put 20000kms on it so far. This is by far the best bike I have ever owned. I fitted a cruise control from MMC cruise controls and highly recomd it. It makes the miles fly by with out cramping in your hands. The vulcan handles well at all speeds. I have not f...ound the windscreen to be a problem for me. This is probally because I am 6ft7in tall. I was looking to trade it on the new model ut was disapointed by the new model. compared to the old nomad the overall fell of the bike and riding position makes me feel cramped. not a big problem as it can be fixed. The belt drive over the shaft also has me worried. Big fan of shaft drives. Read Full Review

One awesome bike.

I love my Nomad. The bike is exactly what I expected. It came equiped to ride two-up, and ready to travel. I pruchased my NOMAD in April, and have 7800 miles on it. I plan to take a cross country trip next summer. The bike handles well, has plenty of power, and just plain looks great. Read Full Review

Nomad 1600 - Best bike I have owned

I bought the bike about 100 miles away from home. Those miles flew past! I could have kept on going. This is a great ride! Now, two weeks and 500 miles later, I still love it. I am looking forward to cooler weather and some longer trips. Read Full Review