RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 21, 2011 07:18 AM
I DONE DID IT!!
From the first time i walked thru the dealer showroom on my way to the parts counter to pick up parts and saw the new Vaquero i was enticed, intrigued and curious. Reading 3 magazine tests where the reviews were favorable further spiked my interest.
I have always liked the "bagger" look, and since CRT does lots of cruiser work i have ridden many and have come to enjoy the mellower side if bikes. I have slowed down quite a bit myself as the need for speed has been supplemented by the desire to enjoy bikes at a slower pace.
For quite some time now my left hip has been hurting quite a bit during rides, and sometimes it is very bothersome after only 40 miles. A few weeks ago i went on a nice long ride with the sunday morning "fast old guys", great bunch of guys, great roads, great long ride. Except i was in enuff pain that i just was not enjoying the ride. Both my Busa and the ZX14 cause the same pain, but since the Busa holds a special place in my heart it's never going anywhere. So the 14 is for sale, and yesterday i picked up my "bagger"!!
As of this morning it has 82 miles on it. I so far am really enjoying the bike. The motor is tight and the tranny a bit notchy, stuff that will get better during the break-in. Handling once underway is very good as the 823+ pounds kinda disappears. Front brakes may need a EBC HH upgrade as the bike i rode down at the Kawi demo ride was fully broke in and i felt the need for stronger front brakes. It is kinda cool to go out riding and listening to music, something i never did before and even scoffed at, but when a song comes on i like it just adds to the experience. Oh, and the electronic cruise control kicks azz!!
Laura and i went out ridin last night, went out to Cafe 27 to eat. We had food to take back, and instead of having to bunjee cord it to her luggage rack, popped it into one of the saddle bags. NEATO!!
This starts a new chapter in my ridin life that at first i was a bit hesitant to enter, but now i'm in it i'm gonna run with it and enjoy it. Still gonna be out on the Busa strafing the corners tho!!
RACNRAY
P.S...the stock mufflers are tooooo quiet, so some Cobra slip-ons are on my "to do" list!!
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
  
|
1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
|
posted April 21, 2011 07:31 AM
 Edited By: 1badzx12r on 21 Apr 2011 15:32
i've rode 1 harley in my life for a total of 16 miles in 2008.. and nobody gonna ever convience me how great a bike they are.. i know this isn't a hardley ..i'll push my zx14 with my hurt back and numb fingers before i ride a cruiser... but i'm glad your happy with it ..
____________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
|
Compton
Zone Head
Posts: 969
|
posted April 21, 2011 07:32 AM
Nice! I'm hoping to pick up a HD Street Glide soon myself.
____________
b.w.
zx14, little longer, little louder, little lower.
08 Busa, just a little longer and louder and lower than the 14
|
derpie
Expert Class
Dont judge a book by its cover
Posts: 269
|
posted April 21, 2011 08:25 AM
I personally like the new Voyager but only as an addition, I could never part with my 1400 .
|
RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 21, 2011 08:43 AM
Edited By: RACNRAY on 21 Apr 2011 16:47
I absolutely LOVE my 14 in all aspects cept for MY shortcomings, bad hip, bad knees. The 14 is better than my Busa in many ways, but the Busa is 60 pounds lighter than stock with major mods thru-out the bike. The Busa out handles and out motors the 14 easily, so the performance criteria i can't ignore. If i did not have physical problems the 14 would remain and the cruiser would be in addition to the 14 and the Busa.
I have slowed down alot in my riding cept for those not so frequent wild Sunday mornin rides. I never thought i would actually own a cruiser but change is good, this one Is.
RACNRAY
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
|
1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
|
posted April 21, 2011 08:55 AM
Edited By: 1badzx12r on 21 Apr 2011 16:56
quote:
I have slowed down alot in my riding cept for those not so frequent wild Sunday mornin rides. I never thought i would actually own a cruiser but change is good, this one Is.
RACNRAY
to me its also an admission that you gotten old .. i'll can never admit that..
but i did own a valkyrie for a long time as my 2 up bike with wife .. and several goldwings ..i like the intercoms and cb bike to bike chat and the radio ..
____________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
|
blackbullet76
Pro
Posts: 1134
|
posted April 21, 2011 08:59 AM
Edited By: blackbullet76 on 21 Apr 2011 17:00
I got talked into riding a Harley one day. I went to a dealer and all I saw that might make me buy one was the V-rod. I took it out on the rode and my hip got to hurting so bad, I had to pull over and get off. I sat back on it and moved around a little and the pain went away. I took back off and got to enjoy a few miles. It ran decent (no ZX-14 by far!), but I couldn't chance my hip hurting again like that. That's a wreck waiting to happen. So far, all my years of riding sportbikes has only really caused me pain between my shoulder blades. I think I'll stick to sportbikes.
____________
2007 ZX-14 black
Brocks s-meg exhaust
PCIII w/track map
BMC race filter
Flies removed
16 tooth front sprocket
Speedohealer
APE cam chain tensioner
Vortex rearsets
|
RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 21, 2011 10:24 AM
quote:
quote:
I have slowed down alot in my riding cept for those not so frequent wild Sunday mornin rides. I never thought i would actually own a cruiser but change is good, this one Is.
RACNRAY
to me its also an admission that you gotten old .. i'll can never admit that..
Sorry to say but you are wrong, i have NOT made ANY admission like that to myself! I am 53 years YOUNG. The pains in my body are due to many factors: crashes, accidents not associated with bikes, abusing my body in my younger years and yes chronological age.
I am open minded and honest with myself enough to know when it is time to welcome a change into my life. Case in point-I had a viasectomy when i was 31 years old cuz i knew i was too selfish, self centered to raise kids. Guess what? I am now involved with a woman that has 2 young boys that i have grown to love, and am being given an opportunity to leave a part of myself in them and hopefully negate some of what their alcoholic dad has poisoned them with.
I am NOT gonna be that stubborn person pushing ANY bike with a bad back and numb hands because i am too close minded to enjoy the qualities of another ride.
RACNRAY
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
|
1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
|
posted April 21, 2011 11:07 AM
quote:
I am NOT gonna be that stubborn person pushing ANY bike with a bad back and numb hands because i am too close minded to enjoy the qualities of another ride.
RACNRAY
let me guess...you voted for obama ..lol
____________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
|
snuffy
Parking Attendant
Posts: 11
|
posted April 21, 2011 11:42 AM
Edited By: snuffy on 21 Apr 2011 19:44
Hey Ray You and My Kid have the Same Taste in Bikes!!! Enjoy its a Nice Bike!
____________
2007 Candy Plasma Blue
Brocks C/T Series Dual Titanium Exhaust
Power Commander 3 with Brocks Map
Brocks Steering Stabilizer by Ohlins
Flies Out
MRA Touring Screen
DDM HID's High and Low Beams
Chrome Rims and other odds and ends
Connie Seat
|
RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 21, 2011 11:46 AM
quote:
Hey Ray You and My Kid have the Same Taste in Bikes!!! Enjoy its a Nice Bike!
Now that's one cool kid!!
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
|
CraigChrist
Pro
BAWLS
Posts: 1043
|
posted April 21, 2011 11:50 AM
It's all about the yamahas when it comes to cruisers... my grandpas stratoliner runs 7.5's in the 1/8th with the bags and windshield on lol.
____________
60ft-------1.42
1/8th------5.97
mph-------119
|
nydhags
Expert Class
Posts: 127
|
posted April 21, 2011 12:10 PM
Congrads on the purchase and may you have plenty of enjoyable problem free miles.
The only thing I envy about touring cruisers is the sound systems, I have music on my bike but they are on another level.
The funny thing is the only time I ever cramped up on a bike was on a Yamaha Silverado 1100 coming back from Myrtle Beach to Long Island and that was after going cross country on my ZZR 600.
____________
To Do List:
CONTINENTAL US DONE
Hawaii - I’ll rent a bike there, MAYBE
|
1badzx12r
Needs a life
Posts: 8321
|
posted April 21, 2011 12:10 PM
quote:
It's all about the yamahas when it comes to cruisers... my grandpas stratoliner runs 7.5's in the 1/8th with the bags and windshield on lol.
your grandpa should of bought a vmax ..i hear those are real fast ..
____________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S06nIz4scvI
|
Bently
Needs a life
2012 14r In Blue and no Mods!
Posts: 5428
|
posted April 21, 2011 06:04 PM
Very nice bike RacnRay! I'm only going to be 40 this year but still like to ride any type of sprot bike for long day trips or week trips anymore. that's whay I have my other bike as well.
|
BrucerZX14
Expert Class
Posts: 373
|
posted April 22, 2011 11:31 AM
quote:
I personally like the new Voyager but only as an addition, I could never part with my 1400 .
That's why I have both. '09 ZX14 and a 2010 Voyager. Buth awsome machines. One is fats...the other is comfortable.
|
LeonidasZX14
Pro
Posts: 1277
|
posted April 22, 2011 12:03 PM
 Is this one? I saw this in Valdosta and it was done by Roaring Toyz. It was a badddd machine.
____________
09' ZX14
|
oldkawboy
Needs a job
Posts: 2125
|
posted April 22, 2011 01:41 PM
Edited By: oldkawboy on 22 Apr 2011 21:42
Hey Ray,
Congratulations on the bike.
As an escort rider for the Kawasaki demo rides I've ridden all their cruisers ( and a few competitors) over the years and I can say the Vaquero is simple the best in my book.
The bike hides it weight really good and it's by far the best looking one out there.
I'm guessing you probably know all the windscreens that fit on the Voyager will fit your bike so you'll have several heights to choose from.
You done good!
Dan
|
RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 22, 2011 02:02 PM
quote:
Hey Ray,
Congratulations on the bike.
As an escort rider for the Kawasaki demo rides I've ridden all their cruisers ( and a few competitors) over the years and I can say the Vaquero is simple the best in my book.
The bike hides it weight really good and it's by far the best looking one out there.
I'm guessing you probably know all the windscreens that fit on the Voyager will fit your bike so you'll have several heights to choose from.
You done good!
Dan
The recent Kawi demo ride down here in Homestead Florida is where i test rode the skoot originally. I am gonna have to figure out which of the taller shields listed for this skoot i may get. I am enjoying the skoot. It is a TOTALLY different experience from my Busa and ZX14 in
MANY MANY ways, coming to a stop listneing to the radio, people lookin at the skoot and commenting how gorgeous it is, etc.
And my hips aren't hurtin! either!!
RACNRAY
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
|
RACNRAY
Expert Class
FAST OLD GUY
Posts: 178
|
posted April 22, 2011 02:17 PM
quote:
Is this one? I saw this in Valdosta and it was done by Roaring Toyz. It was a badddd machine.
That thing is gorgeous!! Green happens to be my fave color, and the baggers always look better with that big front wheel.
RACNRAY
____________
no chicken strips on this south florida boy's skoots!!
|
derpie
Expert Class
Dont judge a book by its cover
Posts: 269
|
posted April 22, 2011 07:23 PM
quote:
quote:
I personally like the new Voyager but only as an addition, I could never part with my 1400 .
That's why I have both. '09 ZX14 and a 2010 Voyager. Buth awsome machines. One is fats...the other is comfortable.
Picture's please of both if possible.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC