MD First Rides: Kawasaki 2009 Vulcan 1700 Series - Including Voyager, Nomad, Classic LT and Classic

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Vulcan 1700 Classic LT

Both the new Nomad and Voyager feature "tuned for touring" engine, exhaust, suspension and floorboards that differ from the Classic models. The Nomad has these "tuned for touring" features, plus, in comparison to the Classic LT, a touring seat, lockable color-matched saddlebags and cruise control.

Vulcan 1700 Nomad

The dual exhausts on the Nomad are mounted on each side of the bike to keep them low and out of the way of the hard saddle bags. The Nomad's spring and damping rates are higher than those found on the Classic models, while the shocks feature the same adjustability (air pressure and four-way rebound). Ergos are tweaked slightly on the Nomad with the floorboards moved 30mm behind those found on the Classic models.

The hard bags on the Nomad appear well made and durable. They open from the top and feature chrome handles and dual latches. Capacity appears pretty generous and is rated at 10 gallons each. They are lockable and keyed to match the bike ignition. The Nomad chassis features standard front and rear engine guards.

The cruise control found on both the Nomad and Voyager is pretty sophisticated, and worked seamlessly during our testing. It features fine speed adjustment (one "tap" equals a 1 mile per hour adjustment). It is easily overridden with throttle or brake. The Vulcan 1700 Nomad is available in Metallic Diablo Black at a U.S. MSRP of $14,399 and in Candy Diamond Red/Pearl Lustre Beige at $14,699.

Vulcan 1700 Voyager

The new flagship tourer is the full-dress Vulcan 1700 Voyager. With the touring market growing (despite the overall market for motorcycles shrinking), Kawasaki really pulled out all the stops on the new Voyager. The frame mounted fairing keeps wind forces from impacting your steering of the big bike, and it is shaped in a classic, yet unique "muscle car" theme that we found very effective at providing wind protection on the highway. It also incorporates two auxillary headlights.

All of the features of the 1700 Nomad migrate over to the Voyager, but Kawasaki adds quite a bit more. In addition to that frame mounted fairing, integrated lowers help keep wind off your legs and feet, and a full array of instrumentation and audio features are exclusive to the Voyager.

Voyager Dash

The "dash" of the Voyager provides just about every feature you would find on a modern automobile. In addition to integrated cruise control (controlled at the handlebar), all of the instrumentation and gauges found on modern sport tourers is available (including a computer that provides both average fuel consumption and remaining fuel range). The main gauges are analog and very legible, while the LED screen in the center also provides good contrast and was easily read even in bright sunlight.

The integrated sterio is iPod ready, incorporates a rider-passenger intercom capability, and is also designed to accept dual rear speakers, XM radio and CB radio. We found the radio had good volume and tone, although we had difficulty locating decent radio signals in the area of California where we were testing. The radio can be controlled completely from the handlebars, and is rated at 88 watts.

In addition to the large hardbags found on the Nomad, the Voyager gets a large integrated trunk capable of holding two full-face helmets - rated at 13.2 gallons in capacity. It is also lockable, but, like the side bags, can be left unlocked and accessed without the key. The trunk has an integrated LED tail light/stop light that supplements the standard tail light found on the other models.

While all of the new Vulcan 1700 machines feature 300mm dual disc brakes in front, only the Voyager has four-piston calipers (the other bikes feature twin piston calipers). All the models have a single 300mm disc gripped by a dual piston caliper out back. The Voyager is actually available with or without a sophisticated ABS system developed by Kawasaki and called K-ACT. K-ACT is a very complicated system that I will not attempt to explain fully here. Suffice it to say that it is not a simple "combined braking" system; according to Kawasaki it is a "smart system" that evaluates numerous factors before distributing braking forces optimally. We rode a K-ACT equipped Voyager and found its braking performance virtually seamless, with no pulsing or other obvious indications we were dealing with a combined ABS system.

We rode all four bikes over two days covering varied road conditions. From high speed freeway travel to tight, slow twisty roads, and everything in between. These bikes handle extremely well for the segment, and the engine performance was outstanding. Throttle response is crisp and fueling is smooth without any jerking associated with off/on throttle transitions. The frames were obviously stiff for this category of motorcycle, and contributed to surprisingly light steering, even at lower speeds.

Brake performance was also excellent throughout this range of motorcycles, with both good feel and power found on all models. We preferred the suspension setting on the "Touring" models (the Voyager and Nomad), which was a bit stiffer and allowed for more spirited handling, but the softer suspension found on the "Classic" models was not easy to criticize given its intended customer base.

Before I got on the bikes for the first time, I thought the shorter distance between seat and floorboards on these new models might prove uncomfortable. I envisioned my knees bent at tight, uncomfortable angles. In the end, my 5'10" frame (and 31" inseam) didn't complain, even after some fairly extended stints in the saddle.

Speaking of the saddle, I preferred the more plush touring saddles found on the Nomad and Voyager models, although again Kawasaki designed the firmer saddles on the Classic and Classic LT to work well for their slightly different missions (i.e., shorter trips). None of the bikes provided "hot spots" or significant discomfort even after several hours of riding.

Wind screen height is always a very personal issue for riders, myself included. I am not very tall, but I sit fairly tall in the saddle, and actually preferred the screen height I found on the Classic LT and the Nomad when compared to the new Voyager. Although the Voyager provides outstanding overall wind protection, I did not like looking through the top of the windscreen, and would have preferred a shorter screen. Kawasaki will undoubtedly have optional screens for all of these bikes but as it stands the Voyager screen is fixed in place, while the screens on the Nomad and the Classic LT are height adjustable.

The full dress Vulcan 1700 Voyager and Voyager ABS are featured in two color schemes, including Candy Plasma Blue/Metallic Diablo Black and Metallic Titanium/Metallic Diablo Black. The standard Voyager is available at a U.S. MSRP of $16,799, while the ABS model retails for $17,899.

Vulcan 1700 Voyager

These new Vulcan 1700s combine the classic styling cruiser riders are looking for with extremely modern engine and chassis features that work together to provide riding performance virtually unknown to cruiser enthusiasts just a few years ago. For additional details and specifications, visit Kawasaki's web site where you can also browse some of the many accessories Kawasaki has available to personalize their new Vulcans.

MD Readers Respond:

• When Kawasaki first designed the original '96 Vulcan 1500 Classic, they got it right except for the seams on fuel tank. It reminded me of my old stripped down 1975 FLH1200. After they came out with the '00 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI with the seamless gas tank, they topped themselves. I've owned my '01 1500 Classic FI since I first got it as a non-current leftover model 7-years ago, and it's a keeper.
  
  None of the current 1700 models appeal to me. I'll probably switch to a different brand when the time comes. I personally wish if I had been on the design committee as I'd done a better job. Seems to me as if different departments designed those bikes, and put them together like a jigsaw puzzle as if hoping for the best.
  
  They blew it. -=Grumbler
  
  
• In the world of styling errors that have sunk motorcycle models, Kawasaki has topped the list. The bulbous rounded 'saddlebags' that adorn the Vulcan 1700 Voyager give it an obese heavy shape that's sure to send buyers toward a more lithe appearing model.
  
  Looking at the photos of this bike in it's bright blue paint reminds one of a Hudson Hornet or Nash Rambler sedan. Soft, heavy, slow and ponderous. In the world of big touring motorcycles (and the recent lean economy) this will prove to be disaster for Kawasaki.
  
  Place the Voyager next to Harley-Davidson's hard-saddlebag touring models. See how their angular saddlebag styling minimizes the visual heft of the machine. That's no accident. Compare the big Kawi to Honda's Gold Wing. Same thing. Honda's saddlebags have rounded corners, but their flat surfaces give the impression of lean angles, not blobs. Rounded surfaces increase the perception of weight, mass and slow response.
  
  Kawasaki's Vulcan 1700 Tourer proves recent predictions that the industry has reached the upper limit of weight and mass in touring motorcycles. At 886lbs curb weight the Voyager is lighter than the Honda GL1800 (895-928lbs). But the Voyager looks heavier with those blobs along side. Imagined or real, fat doesn't sell. Frank
  
  
• I generally dislike cruisers. But a Mean Streak version of the above bike would be interesting, preferably w/ shorter wheelbase & some weight shaved. The motor sounds very sweet from your report. I'm of the definite opinion that H-D are severely overpriced for the performance & non-reliability offered. Contrary to the common zeitgeist, I'd prefer NOT to own a H-D, even if it was competitive at all levels. Jim

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