Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad Motorcycle Becomes 1600cc for '05

As widely anticipated, Kawasaki's popular Nomad bagger has received an 82cc boost to get displacement parity with other former Vulcan 1500 family members, the Vulcan Classic and Mean Streak, and the right to call itself a 1600. In addition to the displacement increase from 1470 to 1552cc, the 2005 Nomad will include a standard passenger backrest and floorboards and chrome engine guards.

Other changes include a slight reduction in fork offset—from 20 to 15mm—to reduce steering effort, revised fuel injection (which uses 36mm throttle bodies), thicker passenger saddle, passenger grab bars, and larger engine mounts. We are pleased to see that the basic bike—which has long been a favorite bagger for the Motorcycle Cruiser staff—is basically unchanged. Kawasaki claims better power, which should make it even more attractive. Colors are blue or black. No price has been announced.

In addition, Kawasaki has announced that 10 other cruisers will be returning for 2005 with just minor changes, mostly graphics. They are the flagship Vulcan 2000, the 1600 Mean Streak performance cruiser, the 1600 Vulcan Classic, the budget-minded carbureted 1500 Classic, the 800 Classic, the retro-style Vulcan 800 Drifter, the Vulcan 800, the Vulcan 750, the Vulcan 500 LTD vertical twin, and the 125 Eliminator. It has also showed new and carry-over models in other categories.

More details such as pricing, and perhaps additional models, are expected to be announced when Kawasaki holds in 2005 American dealer meeting at the end of September.

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