Better bagger? 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero

Kawasaki kicked off the 2011 selling season this past Tuesday in Las Vegas with a big bash for more than 800 dealers. Sales and marketing heads Bill Jenkins and Chris Brull tag-teamed on the large x-shaped stage to deliver an upbeat message of renewed commitment backed by bright lights, thumping music and, more than once, smoking rubber.

Addressing the crowd, Hiroshi Takata, president, consumer products and machinery, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, said, “The last two years have been extremely challenging. This ‘new normal’ has demanded focus and strategic action. Other manufacturers have shifted focus to emerging markets. I believe this is a mistake. The U.S. is an important market.”

Among the two-wheel highlights were the much-anticipated ZX-10R repli-racer, sporty Ninja 1000 and Vulcan 1700 Vaquero—“cowboy” in Spanish. While the 1043cc Ninja 1000 is essentially a fully faired version of the Cycle World Ten Best-winning Z1000, the Vaquero is an all-new, hard-saddlebag-equipped touring cruiser.

Like the current Vulcan 1700 Classic, Nomad and Voyager models, the steel-framed Vaquero is powered by a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, sohc, 1700cc, 52-degree V-Twin making a claimed 108 foot-pounds of peak torque at 2750 rpm. Other features include a six-speed overdrive transmission, belt final drive and electronic cruise control. A liquid-cooled alternator produces a maximum of 46.8 amps to power accessories. Sixteen-inch wheels front and rear wear 130/90 and 170/70 tires.

Offered in Ebony or Candy Fire Red, the Vaquero is fitted with a frame-mounted fairing housing an iPod/XM satellite/CB radio-compatible twin-speaker AM/FM stereo system. Side-loading bags are color-matched, while a black-out treatment is applied to the air-cleaner cover, engine, fork, frame, tank cover and wheels. Engine guards, exhaust and mirrors, among other items, are chromed. Claimed full-tank (5.3 gallons) curb weight is 835 pounds.

Suggested retail price for the 2011 Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is $16,499.

Nick

How is this “all new”? It’s a Vuclan 1700 with Nomad bags dressed as a Street Glide.

Maybe it’s a nice ride, but it’s basically a cosmetic treament of an existing bike.
Shubac

Wow, another lard ass cruiser. How imaginative.
Robert

Kawasaki is doing the Harley thing. Putting fresh paint and doodads on old stuff and calling it new.
bob

Wow! Amazing! Spectacular!

But why does it look exactly like the Victory Cross Country?
Mushroom

I could never understand why motorcycle companies have to copy one another. They tend to follow the crowd and rarely offer something new and exciting. Same old crap over and over and over….
CoronaGeezer

All you guys should buy “sportbikes”…But some out there like “crusiers”…You might too when you grow out of your “short pants”…The Vaquero hardly looks like a Victory—nothing is that “freak’n ugly”…
Keith Valenzuela

Kawasaki rummaged around in their parts bin and found some parts off of their other bikes to put together a really nice looking Vulcan. Some of us don’t want the performance of a Sport Bike; but would rather have the comfort and amenities of a cruising tourer. However, I think I’ll hang on to my slow, outdated ’93 FLHS to haul my lard ass around.
Rick Robinson

It appears to this Kawasaki rider that management must be listening to their consumers. Most Nomad faithfuls hated the revised top loading bags; voila, side opening bags are back. Some Voyager and Nomad owners cut down the size of their windshields and look what happened. Some replaced their 1-inch handlebars with 1 1/4 inch bars and it looks like that is exactly what the Vaquero is sporting. I am hoping that they have also moved the floorboards forward and angled them a bit, like the LT has. If so, that will about complete the requested revisions for this rider.
Willie Shannon

I love the look. I have a sportbike that I am planning on trading in for a cruiser. This looks like the bike I will be getting for my birthday. I have always loved Kawasaki’s for their reliability. I can’t wait to see this at the dealership, they will see me there everyday sitting on this bike.
Johns

You got to be jeolus,Vaquero looks nothing like the Victory,this bike will outsell Victory and Harley anytime……..I own a Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600,2008 a Honda 2007 VTX 1300,both bikes are water cooled which is a big plus in bikes..Victory and Harley will follow and get updated,maybe then for my 3rd bike I might buy a Harley…….
http://blog.cycleworld.com/2010/10/better-bagger Ruben Sanchez – AKA El Abuelo

I guess opinions differ as much as bikes do, or maybe it is my eyesight. However, the fairing the Vaquero is unique! No Harley Davidson or the Victory looks similar to this. If you have something that matches it, post it on the site. I am looking for a fairing for my VTX1800N and nothing out there comes close to the Vaqueros style that I have seen under $1000!!! Getting someone to strap a Vaquero Fairing to my VTX with a quick release is something I am looking for, so chime in if you are up for it.
Chaz

Kawasaki introduced the VN1700 Custom in Europe. It is the Vaquero but it has ABS or K-ACT breaking. Why the hell would they bring the bike here without it or at least make it an option? The Vaquero is a bad-ass looking bike.
larry

Love at first sight. Far better looking than any HD, not to mention it will be more reliable. Comparable to a Victory for a lot less dough. Easy decision for me. Can’t wait to purchase this bike.
MR. WILLIFORD RONALD

GREAT GREAT BIKE COOL LOOKING TOO
Kris

The simple fact of the matter is that the baggers like the HD Street Glide, HD Road Glide, Victory Cross Country are top sellers in the cruiser market.
If you can’t beat’em join’em. While your at it offer a comparable bike for less money and you may very well end up beating them. Who want’s to ride the same Street Glide that everyone else has anyways. Other than those people who have to have the status of a HD. I currently have a KAW Mean Streak, when my two children are old enough to stay the weekend by themselves I’ll be buying a Vaquero
http://bob.com Bob

What is with all you haters, that bike is gorgeous and Harley can go hug a root with its unreliability and mechanical problems. For those who don;t agree, you must not be riding your Harley very much. I own Honda, street and dirt bikes, not too mention cars, for those ignorant…Honda produces and manufactures its street bikes in the USA and the Honda Accord is made in America. Oh yeah, didn’t you read…Harley wants to go to some third world country and have poor slaves assemble their bikes so they can maximize profits. I’ll stick with Honda and let an America keep his job. I just ight even buy this Vaquero…and save 10k over a Harley.