Test ride: Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero - Suzuki Volusia Forums : Intruder Volusia and Boulevard Forum

Woodswoman · 11-11-2012, 04:04 PM

Here it is November, and I've only just done something I've toyed with doing for months and months: Test-ride BearBait's 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero.

No arguing, it is a BIG bike. Now, it's not like I have no experience on big bikes, but there's something about that frame-mounted fairing that makes the Vaquero look ginormous. It made me nervous.

Nevertheless, the Vaquero handles like a smaller machine than it is. It's top-heavy, as are all big Vulcans in my experience, but not to the point where it's impossible to deal with. BearBait's previous bike, a 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad, was worse. And it had a windshield, not a fairing.

The transmission is like BUTTER. Shifting was assertive, but easily achieved. I have hands that are very small and not very strong, and I had no difficulty using the clutch. Victory, the manufacturer of my current motorcycle, could learn something from this.

Braking was excellent. As it should be on a bike that size. Suzuki could learn something from this.

The wind protection was what you'd hope for in a fully-faired bike. Not a lick of buffeting around my chest or head. However, at one point in my test ride I encountered a pretty stiff quartering gust of wind, and was surprised at how much it moved the Vaquero. Guess that's a drawback of a machine with all that protection up front. Something to be aware of.

I loved the instrumentation. It took awhile of feeling out the bike before I could spare the neurons to look at what was on the dash to be seen. I favor having a tachometer, which comes standard. Having a gear indicator to boot was a spiffy extra! I know the fairing has a sound system and other displays, but I did not use them.

The handlebar-mounted controls were very busy. The bike has cruise control and similar sophisticated things that are controlled from the bars, and my small hands could not reach half of the buttons. Covering the horn required an almost-impossible reach for me. That was the only really sub-optimal thing I noted in my entire ride.

The 1700 engine has generous power, certainly ample for hauling me around, and intelligently-designed gear ratios. The stock pipes have a wonderful deep growl. Without even trying, I got some heads to turn as I rumbled up Main Street.

BearBait's other choice when he was shopping for a new bike was the Victory Cross Country. I own the Cross Roads, which is the non-faired version of the Cross Country. After two years in its saddle, I know its good -- and less-good -- points pretty well. When I got back home after my test-ride today, I told Bear, "There is no reason for you to feel that you compromised when you bought this instead of a Cross Country."

The Vaquero is POLISHED. Best word I can apply to it. If the Vulcan 1500 Classic that I owned before my Cross Roads had been as good, as polished, as the Vaquero, I'd still be riding it.

.

mfile2000 · 11-11-2012, 04:27 PM

Thanks! Did you ride by yourself or did your Victory go along for the ride?

Woodswoman · 11-11-2012, 04:33 PM

Ha ha, Doctor Pepper had *just* been washed end to end, carefully dried and put on his battery tender. He wasn't going out to get all dirty again, noooo.

I just did a solo run, maybe half an hour in the saddle. Easier, in a way, because I could concentrate on riding the bike and not worry about what a companion might be doing.

.

shortfoot · 11-11-2012, 06:29 PM

Good stuff, I have a soft spot for The V.C.C. & and well as The Vaq.I haven't rode either one . Hopefully I will learn more at the Dec. 2012 progessive bike show in Seattle coming up. They may fuss when I climb on them with just on leg tho.. Oh well my money is just as green as the normal 2 leggers.

Duffy · 11-11-2012, 08:04 PM

If you think the Vaquero is a nice ride Chris you should try the Voyager. Same smooth tranny/engine and suspension but the seating ergos are much better for a smallish person. I preferred it over the Vaquero myself.

donberry · 11-12-2012, 01:10 PM

My 1st ride on my C50 was a 1,000 mile road trip to Ohio....all highway miles tho. It did everything I asked of it on the highway, still seemed pretty peppy to me when I was doing 80 on the speedo, but I just had this nagging feeling I should have bought a bigger bike and was not going to be satisfied with the 800.
Right before I took a weekend trip to the smokies, still having that nagging feeling about a bigger bike, I almost pulled the trigger on a 2008 Yamaha Royal Star....was a beautiful looking bike. It was late and the banks were closed, so figured I would come back on Monday - after my smokies trip.
I discovered I love the size of the C50. That is the type of riding I like the most, and do the most of......and I am not so sure I would have had nearly as much fun on a bigger bike. The C50, or a bike of this size anyway, has way more pep then you would ever use for zipping around that type of road......but yet it is light enough where it is really easy to control - and the floorboards are high enough that dragging them never even really occurred to me (I am not evil knievel and personally, dragging my "boards scares the heck out of me).
I got home from that trip and was really, really, really happy the banks were closed Friday and I did not get that other bike.
I believe if I were doing mainly highway driving, I would go bigger. But just using the highways as a means to get to the good roads, I must say I really, really enjoy the lighter bike for it's ease of use on those roads.

And - while not a huge thing, but it is something I gave some though to.....the gas mileage difference is pretty big between the C50 and the bigger bikes. When I was still thinking I needed the bigger bike, I was looking thru forums for the various gas mileage people were reporting, and on the big bikes it seemed to average around 35-38 mpg....some would day more, some would say less when getting into it.....but always between 35-38.
Now I wouldn't let that small amount of money keep me from a bike if I wanted one, but for the roads I like to ride on, I would have a heavier bike and worse gas mileage - but would still be going the same speed.
While in the smokies, or wherever I go.....I am not a motorcycle driving expert and I doubt I use 30-40% of the bike's actual capabilities.....50% at best......
so for me, the smaller bike just seemed a better fit after I discovered what it can do when you get her off the highway.....
The Vaquero is a good looking ride and I also like the looks of the Royal Star........but after giving some real consideration to my actual riding style and habits....turned out I had the perfect size bike and didn;t even realize it.......

Woodswoman · 11-12-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donberry

........but after giving some real consideration to my actual riding style and habits....turned out I had the perfect size bike and didn;t even realize it.......

There you go! You're on the money when you say 'actual riding style and habits'. There's no such thing as the perfect motorcycle, IMHO. Best thing you can do is find a one that meets the majority of your needs and wants.

.

11-11-2012, 04:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Woodswoman Senior VR Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Catskill Mountains, New York State Posts: 5,187 Thanks: 859 Thanked 888 Times in 569 Posts	Test ride: Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero Here it is November, and I've only just done something I've toyed with doing for months and months: Test-ride BearBait's 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero. No arguing, it is a BIG bike. Now, it's not like I have no experience on big bikes, but there's something about that frame-mounted fairing that makes the Vaquero look ginormous. It made me nervous. Nevertheless, the Vaquero handles like a smaller machine than it is. It's top-heavy, as are all big Vulcans in my experience, but not to the point where it's impossible to deal with. BearBait's previous bike, a 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad, was worse. And it had a windshield, not a fairing. The transmission is like BUTTER. Shifting was assertive, but easily achieved. I have hands that are very small and not very strong, and I had no difficulty using the clutch. Victory, the manufacturer of my current motorcycle, could learn something from this. Braking was excellent. As it should be on a bike that size. Suzuki could learn something from this. The wind protection was what you'd hope for in a fully-faired bike. Not a lick of buffeting around my chest or head. However, at one point in my test ride I encountered a pretty stiff quartering gust of wind, and was surprised at how much it moved the Vaquero. Guess that's a drawback of a machine with all that protection up front. Something to be aware of. I loved the instrumentation. It took awhile of feeling out the bike before I could spare the neurons to look at what was on the dash to be seen. I favor having a tachometer, which comes standard. Having a gear indicator to boot was a spiffy extra! I know the fairing has a sound system and other displays, but I did not use them. The handlebar-mounted controls were very busy. The bike has cruise control and similar sophisticated things that are controlled from the bars, and my small hands could not reach half of the buttons. Covering the horn required an almost-impossible reach for me. That was the only really sub-optimal thing I noted in my entire ride. The 1700 engine has generous power, certainly ample for hauling me around, and intelligently-designed gear ratios. The stock pipes have a wonderful deep growl. Without even trying, I got some heads to turn as I rumbled up Main Street. BearBait's other choice when he was shopping for a new bike was the Victory Cross Country. I own the Cross Roads, which is the non-faired version of the Cross Country. After two years in its saddle, I know its good -- and less-good -- points pretty well. When I got back home after my test-ride today, I told Bear, "There is no reason for you to feel that you compromised when you bought this instead of a Cross Country." The Vaquero is POLISHED. Best word I can apply to it. If the Vulcan 1500 Classic that I owned before my Cross Roads had been as good, as polished, as the Vaquero, I'd still be riding it. . __________________ Woodswoman (a/k/a Mrs. BearBait) *Dum Vivimus, Vivamus!* 2010 Victory Cross Roads, "Doctor Pepper" Last edited by Woodswoman; 11-11-2012 at 04:09 PM. Reason: Typo, of course

11-11-2012, 04:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodswoman Senior VR Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Catskill Mountains, New York State Posts: 5,187 Thanks: 859 Thanked 888 Times in 569 Posts	Ha ha, Doctor Pepper had just been washed end to end, carefully dried and put on his battery tender. He wasn't going out to get all dirty again, noooo. I just did a solo run, maybe half an hour in the saddle. Easier, in a way, because I could concentrate on riding the bike and not worry about what a companion might be doing. . __________________ Woodswoman (a/k/a Mrs. BearBait) *Dum Vivimus, Vivamus!* 2010 Victory Cross Roads, "Doctor Pepper"

11-11-2012, 08:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Duffy Senior VR Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wa, Burlington Posts: 6,508 Thanks: 23 Thanked 69 Times in 61 Posts	If you think the Vaquero is a nice ride Chris you should try the Voyager. Same smooth tranny/engine and suspension but the seating ergos are much better for a smallish person. I preferred it over the Vaquero myself. __________________ Lead, or follow, but just stay out of my way. Heaven is a warm, cozy place to sleep. Wescalero Charter Member

11-12-2012, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
donberry VR Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 143 Thanks: 0 Thanked 27 Times in 12 Posts	My 1st ride on my C50 was a 1,000 mile road trip to Ohio....all highway miles tho. It did everything I asked of it on the highway, still seemed pretty peppy to me when I was doing 80 on the speedo, but I just had this nagging feeling I should have bought a bigger bike and was not going to be satisfied with the 800. Right before I took a weekend trip to the smokies, still having that nagging feeling about a bigger bike, I almost pulled the trigger on a 2008 Yamaha Royal Star....was a beautiful looking bike. It was late and the banks were closed, so figured I would come back on Monday - after my smokies trip. I discovered I love the size of the C50. That is the type of riding I like the most, and do the most of......and I am not so sure I would have had nearly as much fun on a bigger bike. The C50, or a bike of this size anyway, has way more pep then you would ever use for zipping around that type of road......but yet it is light enough where it is really easy to control - and the floorboards are high enough that dragging them never even really occurred to me (I am not evil knievel and personally, dragging my "boards scares the heck out of me). I got home from that trip and was really, really, really happy the banks were closed Friday and I did not get that other bike. I believe if I were doing mainly highway driving, I would go bigger. But just using the highways as a means to get to the good roads, I must say I really, really enjoy the lighter bike for it's ease of use on those roads. And - while not a huge thing, but it is something I gave some though to.....the gas mileage difference is pretty big between the C50 and the bigger bikes. When I was still thinking I needed the bigger bike, I was looking thru forums for the various gas mileage people were reporting, and on the big bikes it seemed to average around 35-38 mpg....some would day more, some would say less when getting into it.....but always between 35-38. Now I wouldn't let that small amount of money keep me from a bike if I wanted one, but for the roads I like to ride on, I would have a heavier bike and worse gas mileage - but would still be going the same speed. While in the smokies, or wherever I go.....I am not a motorcycle driving expert and I doubt I use 30-40% of the bike's actual capabilities.....50% at best...... so for me, the smaller bike just seemed a better fit after I discovered what it can do when you get her off the highway..... The Vaquero is a good looking ride and I also like the looks of the Royal Star........but after giving some real consideration to my actual riding style and habits....turned out I had the perfect size bike and didn;t even realize it....... __________________

11-11-2012, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
mfile2000 Senior VR Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern, NJ Posts: 3,959 Thanks: 688 Thanked 415 Times in 326 Posts	Thanks! Did you ride by yourself or did your Victory go along for the ride?

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