Kawasaki VULCAN 1600 reviews

I love this bike! I have been riding my 2008 1600 Nomad for about two years. It was supposed to be a place holder bike until I got the more expensive bike that I wanted. I ended up riding it much longer than expected. It has good power, it is smooth running, and has never given me a single problem. The bike is comfortable and rides nicely with a passenger,...hardly any different than alone. It starts right up in any kind of weather and always runs the same. The side loading bags are something you have to prefer or get used to. I do not prefer them over top loading but some do for whatever reason. The horsepower is sufficient and the motor has very nice low end torque. The torque shows when riding two up as the acceleration is practically the same as riding alone. It will not blow your socks or any doors off, but the bike is sufficiently powered for fun and safety. Overall, these are great, reliable, smooth running, good looking motorcycles. Show less

this is my first kawasaki and dont regret it at all. after having a variety of bikes in the last 40 years id have to say its the best looking cruiser ive been on, it had 3200 miles on it when i got it 2 years ago, never had a single problem, only mods done were a mustang seat and led turn signals, headlight , tail light and driving light. Show less

I am the second owner of a clean 2005 Vulcan nomad 1600. I have absolutely no complaints about this bike, it is a very smooth ride, and even at high speeds it feels like it's going a lot slower. Power to spare and highly stable, but don't lay it down it's hard to pick up. Show less

Hello. The Kawasaki VN1600 Classic Nomad is indeed a solid reliable machine and is quite well built. The solid alloy wheels are a bonus as spoked wheels tend to rust so no problems with the wheels. Some may find on second-hand machines they have a front wobble (speed wobble) but knowing many other owners, this is down to the tire having a run off or is not seated correctly. A simple tire change sorts this out. There is plenty of room with the side panniers and rack and it's a nice machine to ride on. My mpg. is around 42.5 per gallon of petrol (gas)but I have had the standard exhaust removed (very heavy) and had the Vance and Hines sent over from the USA (Bagshots) so maybe this and the combination of a new air filter and power commander has an effect on fuel consumption. You receive the screen and side panniers as standard and this VN series has the pipes on each side for a more balanced look. I do find that spraying your machine with WD40 or other water retardant helps the bikes wires to become dependable in the long run. Please note that once the VN refused to turn over but do not take it to bits looking for a fault if it was working fine. Check the clutch wires on the lever (2 wires covered in a plastic shroud) as they tend to come off if not secure and can be overlooked. Show less

I have an '04 meanstreak and love it. It handles very well and has plenty of power. It's a very smooth ride. I think this '08 is a steal at a great price. Show less

I purchased this bike used. Pearl white(which seems to be the majority color on these reviews.) Already had power commander, bags, engine guard, 360 pegs, front and rear floor boards, mustang seat, trailer hitch, light bar, and vance&hines power shots, and windshield. It had 7500 miles on it. Purchased it in 09 at local kawasaki dealer. Purchased it for what I consider a steal. This bike is definitely the bomb. Well worth every penny. Just like other reviews no complaints with the power here. This is a keeper. Show less

Very good, reliable and strong bike with a certain retro look and feeling in a modern package. I get a lot of compliments everywhere I go with her. The only thing I do not like that much is the low gas mileage, true, I ride fast... Very ergonomic off the shelf, I sat on a stock Road King and immediately wanted to change the seat, bar, etc - the Nomad feels cozy compared to a few bikes. I just simply love her - as the last year of her production I can feel that it is a well thought through bike. Show less

I am a new rider at 60 years old. I originally bought an 800 of a different brand and put 3000 miles on it; then traded it for a '08 1600 Vulcan with 3000 miles. I took it to TX in some bad weather and back in rain, wind and fog. The Vulcan was the right choice. It is very reliable, has good brakes, suspension and easy handling with large, dry saddlebags. It has the power necessary to merge and perform lane changes on the highway. Even with the windshield and Saddleman mounted on it, the bike did well in most winds. It is a bit thirsty though at 38 mpg average and a 160 mile range before looking for gas. It's the right choice for long trips and fun locally. Crash bars are handy for 5 mph drops (twice - ooops) as they protect all but the mirrors. Show less

I recently bought my 2006 meanstreak after owning a 2006 ZX636 sportbike and was very impressed with this bike from the first day. It is black and fully chromed out with aftermarket parts and really steps up to the plate. The overall design is nice with its flowing lines from the handlebars to the back fender, Kawasaki was successful at creating that sexy line which most manufacturers work hard to achieve. The ride is comfortable with a leaned back riding position. The distinctive exhaust note is very pleasing especially when you upgrade to Vance & Hines longshots and power commander with all the right settings dialled in. Overall I am very satisfied with this bike and find it a challenge to think about replacing it. Show less

My last bike was a 2006 Suzuki C-50, a really good bike that gave my wife and I 24,000 miles of smiles in two years. The only downside was it's buzziness at interstate speeds. In October of '07 we test rode a Nomad, after that it was a matter of time.... In Oct'08 I took my C-50 in for scheduled maintenance and left with an '06 Green/Silver Nomad. This bike is great! Smooth as silk at all speeds, the extra weight smooths out the ride and resists the push from wind gusts. There is ample room for both rider and passenger and the saddlebags have plenty of room for a weekend away. Show less