2009 1700 Nomad...to buy or not...

[brandonfrombama]

I currently own a Vulcan 900 Lt. Great bike, I love it. It is my first motorcycle ever and it fit me well, but I have had it for almost 2 years now and am ready for something bigger. I am not knocking the 900 at all, but I would like a bike that is smoother at highway speeds and more comfortable for my wife. Also I am 5'10" 215 lb firefighter, my wife weighs 115, and I can feel the breaks slipping when we ride 2 up, doesn't feel secure when we stop.

I have looked at the new nomad and love it, been approved to buy, but and hesitating because I don't know if it will be too big, and my payment will double.

So what are your thoughts? Any other bikes comparable that might be cheaper? Locking bags, windshield, and a sissy bar are mandatory.

Thx

[wild_deuce03]

Get it! You can handle it fine!

[ALStensby]

Yeah...a used Nomad that's a few years older. Find one for under $10K and you're paying about $100 less per month on a five year loan. Still a great bike with all the requirements. Not to mention some of them may already have pipes, saddle, etc...it'll save you even more! Size wise, don't worry about it. Take your time to get used to it before two up. There you go...both issues solved.

[ALStensby]

Heck...if you're anywhere near Scottsboro, here's one that's DECKED!

2006 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad

[runnerb0y]

I currently own a Vulcan 900 Lt. Great bike, I love it. It is my first motorcycle ever and it fit me well, but I have had it for almost 2 years now and am ready for something bigger. I am not knocking the 900 at all, but I would like a bike that is smoother at highway speeds and more comfortable for my wife. Also I am 5'10" 215 lb firefighter, my wife weighs 115, and I can feel the breaks slipping when we ride 2 up, doesn't feel secure when we stop.

So what are your thoughts? Any other bikes comparable that might be cheaper? Locking bags, windshield, and a sissy bar are mandatory.

Thx

If you look around a little you can certainly find a couple year old Nomad for thousands less than the '09. The used one will have everything the '09 does except the cruise control.

I love the idea of having a "real" cruise control but I'll be waiting for another 2-3 years, then pick up a used '09 Nomad or Voyager.

Best of luck in your decision.

[flrbrddrggr]

and I can feel the breaks slipping when we ride 2 up, doesn't feel secure when we stop.

I don't understand that. What do 'slipping brakes' feel like?

-Dwain

[davidlw]

Since you are as tall as you are, the Nomad would be a fine bike to own. I am vertically challenged and it is too tall for me but I would own one in a heart beat. The 1700 Classic LT is another fine ride for less money if that would fit the bill for you.

[keith_stepp]

I am 5'10" 215 lb firefighter, my wife weighs 115, and I can feel the breaks slipping when we ride 2 up, doesn't feel secure when we stop.

Hmm. Your situation is virtually identical to mine and my 900 LT stops pretty good. The brakes will get hot if you ride them however and will fade, but that is true of most brakes.

I don't know if it will be too big

It won't be.

my payment will double.

You get more bike.

So what are your thoughts? Any other bikes comparable that might be cheaper? Locking bags, windshield, and a sissy bar are mandatory.

I've been shopping for a while too and there really is no better value than the Nomad. Hands down. If money is an issue, I think the the '08 and older models are actually better looking and more functional. The clamshell bags are kind of wierd, but the more I look at the '09 Nomad bags, the less I like them. Really, the only thing the new Nomad has over the older models is the belt drive IMO.

[etcthorne]

I'm thinking of selling my 2008 1600 Nomad (2800 miles) in Virginia Beach. It's black, clean (never been ridden in the rain and stored in a garage), and it's NEVER been dropped or scratched. What do you think a good price would be? I'm thinking around 11,000 or so. It was 12,999 new.


Oh, and I've changed the oil and shaft oil three times.... yes, I'm a bit anal.

[coachrgraves]

Hi, my situation was just like the one your in. Bought the 900 classic put nearly 12,000 mi. on it in a little over 2 yrs. Loved the bike just didn't feel safe riding 2 up, My wife got to where she would ride with me more often and I just didn't like the way the bike handled with the both of us. Looked at the used 1600's and had seen a picture of the 1700's earlier in the year, liked the looks of the bike. I stopped in 2 weeks ago and the dealer I had bought the 900 from had both the 1700 nomad 2T, Black and the classic LT. Sat on all of them ended up bringing home the 2T nomad. Wife loves the ride, soooo much better than what we had. The 6 speed is just the trick for the open road, combined with shocks, cruise, better seating. You will notice the difference immediately. The 900 is a great bike, just not designed to go distances 2 up. If you like to get out on the road and ride you both will love the nomad.
Good Luck with you decision,

[Jambolaya]

If you are sold on a cruiser style bike, that one there is it! Only maybe you'd rather have an FJR1300 or COncourse or Tiger or ROcket III or something.

[jagugator]

I'm thinking of selling my 2008 1600 Nomad (2800 miles) in Virginia Beach. It's black, clean (never been ridden in the rain and stored in a garage), and it's NEVER been dropped or scratched. What do you think a good price would be? I'm thinking around 11,000 or so. It was 12,999 new.


Oh, and I've changed the oil and shaft oil three times.... yes, I'm a bit anal.

Mark, why are you thinking about selling? Are you thinking about a different bike?

Brandon, I have both a 900 Custom and a 1700 Nomad and I really like both of them. I am just an inch taller than you and the bike fits like a glove. Trust me you will have no problems handling the Nomad. I think it is very nimble and does very well in the turns.

[OhSteelerfan]

You would have no problem with the nomad. If you really know how to handle a bike you can ride anything. It would be a very nice step up from the 900.

[DanDolfn]

I have looked at the new nomad and love it, been approved to buy, but and hesitating because I don't know if it will be too big, and my payment will double.

I was in a similar situation. Started with a Suzuki C50, 800 cc. Really liked the bike, but it didn't feel like it had enough on the open road, and wasn't all that comfortable for my wife, the few times she rode with me.

Traded it in on an '08 Nomad.

Great bike! Just went out for about three hours with it this morning, taking me up to about 6200 miles since January 10th. Like anything else new, you'll need a little time to get used to it, but you needn't be afraid of it. It's just a little bigger but a lot more comfortable!

For what it's worth, I bought mine brand new for $10,700. They finished assembling it at 2:00 pm on the day I bought it. You can probably still find some leftover '08s, but now I'm not so sure I wouldn't pay the extra $$ for an '09.

If the dealer works with you on the trade, go for it. I think you and your wife will like the upgrade.

[vlcanrydr42]

i switched from a 07 900 classic lt to the 09 nomad..and have no complaints at all!..im 6`1 280 lbs me and my ol lady rode 2 up all the time on my 900 no break problems at all. You wont regret the nomad......awsome bike.got mine for 13000 even

[etcthorne]

I really wanted an ST1300 or Concourse when I picked her up anyway. Wife said she'd ride with me, but only on a comfortable cruiser. Having had it for about six months, I've learned that riding is my thing, not hers. She doesn't enjoy it all that much, and that's fine with me - she does her things around the house and I like to ride. Not unhappy with the Nomad. To the contrary, it's enjoyably fast, quiet, very comfortable. Just not really my cup of tea I guess. Like I said - it's mint, and I'm relatively flexible on price, so if you know anyone in this area who might be interested, please let me know.

[TejasDevil]

For those of you that have ridden both the 900 and 1700, can you describe the feel of the ride differences? I've have a 900LT for 2 yrs and love it, great bike to learn on for me. But now I would like a larger bike for longer trips, and I have my eye on the Voyager.

My dilema is that the 900LT has the feel of a large bike, and any others that I've ridden feel smaller. I rode a 2008 Nomad and a 2008 Ultra Classic. Both felt like I was riding on top of the bike and more forward, rather than in it and kicked-back like my 900LT; and therefore both felt smaller to me. I don't know if it's the length of the bikes or the seat hight or what, but the 900 felt larger to me.

Not having ridden the 1700s yet, I don't know what they feel like, which is why I'd like to hear from those who have. I have read that they are cut-down a bit with a shorter length, so that has me worried that they will feel smaller than the 900LT.

Overall I'm looking for a bike that is larger and feels larger than the 900LT.

Thanks.

[coachrgraves]

Not having ridden the 1700s yet, I don't know what they feel like, which is why I'd like to hear from those who have. I have read that they are cut-down a bit with a shorter length, so that has me worried that they will feel smaller than the 900LT.

I recently traded my 900 classic for the 1700 nomad. I really liked my 900, it is a great bike to ride, I was looking for a bigger, something to cruise the open roads. My wife and I ride 2 up often and the 900 just didn't feel very safe with the 2 of us.
I can tell you having been on both bikes, the 900 has a different riding position than the 1700. Your feet are more forward on the 900, more under you on the 1700. The 1700 feels much heavier and the seating is slightly higher, also your position on the seat is nearer the fuel tank (I am used to this position with my mustang seat!).
Overall the 1700 is very comfortable for me 5'11" 220 lbs., The ride is much smoother and it put/puts at 75 mph, where the 900 was buzzy. But it should the 1700 is nearly twice the cc's.

If you ride solo in city, running here and there, i'd keep the 900. If you want to run the open road, ride 2 up I'd trade up.

I made the right choice buying the nomad, for me it was a between the voyager and the 900. Having both wasn't an option for me or I probably would have kept the 900 and bought the voyager.

good luck.