I test road a lot of baggers in 2015, I was leaning toward a new Road Glide (test road it 4 times!) until I road the Vaquero at my Honda/Kawasaki dealer in NH. Ended up trading my 98 Shadow 1100 with 86K miles and bought a 2014 with 1700 miles on it. You are correct, at the price I paid for mine with my trade in I Could have bought 3. My decision really wasn't based on cost, because I've always owned Japanese bikes, I just think they're bullet proof. I'm water cooled guy, my 5 bro's all have HD's and when we're in traffic, they're shutting them down. But I respect them, they have the power no doubt, but when we stop and take a break, most riders come check out my burnt orange Vaquero and it pisses my Bro's right the fuck off. Of course I rub it in a little. Thanks for the review, great minds think alike!
I’m glad that you’re as happy with yours as I am with mine. That’s one thing that is great about or bikes....there really aren’t a lot out there and it’s something that’s different in a sea of HD’s. Just wishing there was the aftermarket support....the biggest downfall in my humble opinion. Thanks for watching and stay safe!!
Bro, that was one the best bike reviews of ANY BIKE that I've seen in recent memory. Very thorough and you cover the points that matter to the everyday rider - like the bike running hot and how that can be helped. Good stuff man. 👏🏽
I'm a Harley fan boy now, but on my travels to this exalted height I owned a 2011 Vaquero and loved it. It's a darn good ride. The things that are missing from it compared to a $30,000 bike aren't important. If money is important you will be happy with it. Heck, if money isn't important, it's still a great choice. Good vid, S
Thanks for watching I appreciate it!!! I was never really into the Harleys so I am good with the bike I have. All the extra money I have is just a bonus....thanks again!!
I have a 2018 Vaquero and actually took my ECU to Ivan (he lives in the city my wife is from). Fixed everything! No more heat. No more popping (backfires). Better fuel economy. Pulls much better (throttle response). He customizes the flash based on any other customs you have (pipes, air intake/filter). He also updates flashes for free if he changes anything. I absolutely love my bike!
Thanks for watching!!! I wish he was close to me like that...it would make it so much more convenient. I have been hesitant about doing it cause I believe when I unhook battery I will lose the program on the PAC for the handlebar controls and then will have to take the fairing off and reprogram it. But I know I need to do it. Stay safe!!
@@GoofyBastard he’s quick. If you ship it to him, he’ll reprogram it and get it back out the same day. I literally drove to his shop (from Virginia), handed it to him, and he handed it back in 10 minutes. I completely understand about the concern about your other device. It’s definitely worth the effort though!
I believe that it’s worth it. I have heard probably about 98% positive reviews from it. I will definitely be doing it before the riding season really kicks up!!! Thanks again
I just picked up a very clean '14 Voyager. Love it! Would really like to see Kawasaki do a long-overdue update to this bike - nothing too extensive, just add a bit more power, offer a better audio system, maybe LED headlight and built-in nav/bluetooth. They should consult with Ivan regarding remapping their ECUs from the factory, honestly.
Congratulations on the new(to you) bike!! I agree with you 💯! They really need to do a refresh on this bike. I mean at least offer a Bluetooth radio…everyone has Bluetooth! I think they have to adhere to EPA standards and that’s why the bike is so anemic from the factory. Thanks for watching, stay safe and enjoy the hell outta that bike!!
@@danpetreikis I think that if Kawasaki would push them a little more, they would be more on the radar but TBH I kinda like the fact ya don’t see them all over the place
Thanks brother! Getting older here and looking to move away from naked biked to a bagger. The Vaquero caught my eye ... damn good looking bike. Like the HD's, but I'm over the culture and price, looking for value and solid bike. Appreciate the review!
Thanks for watching. I was asked to do a more in depth walk around for this bike. I will be shooting it soon so stayed tuned!! Thanks for watching and stay
Bought my 2005 Meanstreak in 2007, w 1900 mls...still running strong. The only Kaw Cruiser that does it all. That said, there are some gorgeous custom Vaqueros out there. Yeah, not a lot you can do other than intake, exhaust, and fuel management...but....the ecu can be flashed, and they swear by that Ivan Flash. The Meanstreak had the Thunder Big Bore Kit (Cams, Pistons), that gave the Meanie 100 h/p. If they offered that for Vaqueros, it would sell.
Thanks for watching. I would love to see a Vaquero with that kinda power. Would definitely sell!!! I had a 2006 Meanie I bout new and sadly had to get rid of it when I got the Vaquero...not enough room in the shed, or I’d still have it!!
Good video. I've had my 2018 for 2 years now and I love it. I had Ivan flash the ECU and put Freedom Performance 2-1 pipe on it. Different bike with the mods. Not power necessarily, but just smoothed everything out and runs cooler. So much better. And the pipe sounds awesome.
Michael Walker thanks so much for watching I appreciate it. My plan for the off season is Ivan’s....I’m hoping for a mild winter but if we don’t have one the bike will benefit from it.
How hard is it to do Ivan’s tune I’m looking into a new 2022 but a factor is having to do this and how much it would cost after paying 18k for a new bike
@@logancook9065 It's not hard. You just have to take the ECU off the bike and ship it to Ivan. He reprograms it and ships it back. You reinstall it. Easy. The cost when I had mine done was around $400. Well worth it.
I’ve sat on the Vaquero several times at some dealers and the Dallas motorcycle show. I love the feel and balance. If I ever buy another bagger it’s the first thing I’m looking at. And I’m totally with you about the price point.
Walt In PA thank you. The price of the bike definitely makes up for it but sometimes it would be nice to be able to do some mods that were just plug and play.
I loved my 2011. I upgraded the headlights, speakers, pipes, and Ivan’s tune. By 2018 I started to look at getting a new bike so I went with the 2018 Yamaha Eluder. If they had upgraded the Vaquero, I probably would have stayed. But the Vaquero ran flawlessly during my ownership. The only thing that I needed changing was tired and rear wheel bearings. Very reliable bike.
They are really good bikes…..in dire need of a upgrade/refresh though. I love my Vaquero but if they don’t do something before it’s fine for me to trade in, I am honestly thinking Indian. Thanks so much for watching and I hope you are enjoying the Eluder…looks like a killer bike!!
@@DJGENOTYPE the Indian Pursuit is one sweet bike. I would prefer just a Challenger if I was going that route, but that’s me. Good luck with the bike when you get it!!
@@GoofyBastard Yeah, I considered just getting the Challenger Elite and just add lower fairings and a sissy bar. But I figured I could be more bang for my buck if I just got the pursuit that already hade the fairing and the trunk. I can always detach the trunk for short rides.
I bought a 2020 Vulcan 900 as my first bike, but as I walked in the dealership, the first bike I saw was the 2020 blue Vaquero. Beautiful bike and comfortable. You get so much for you money. It may be my next bike down the road. By the way, LOVE the Z-Bars
Thanks for watching!! The 900 is a great bike to be your first bike. I fell in love with the Vaquero the first time I sat on one....took a few years to get her but I eventually did. Stay safe
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my channel. I feel it’s my duty to reply back to every comment... everyone has taken time out of their day to watch and comment....and I appreciate that!! Stay safe!!
@@GoofyBastard pretty sure you have me sold on that bike. I currently have a shadow phantom (on my channel if you wanna see my mods) and a roadstar 1600. For what they are they are great but perfect at nothing. I've been looking for a"do all" ride and I think I'm going vulcan. I sort of hate harley. Definitely going metric!
Hey great vid . I have a 2019 and i love it ! I did the Ivans tune and i am just amazed at the difference that it made ! I also did a K&N filter and Cobra Tri flo slip ons . I would recommend the flash for sure it wakes the bike up quite nicely ,the decel popping has been reduced by 95 percent and the fan comes on sooner so the bike runs cooler . Cheers .
Brad Becker thanks so much for watching and for leaving a comment. My plan for the off season is to do the flash and I’m not exactly sure why it has taken me so long to do it. Everything I have heard about it has been nothing but positive. I love the Tri-flos, I was very happy with them. Stay safe and once and again thanks for watching!!
Had my 2011 Ivan tuned. Totally different (for the better) bike. What I also found out is any slop in the throttle grip will cause low speed jerkiness. I took a piece of zip tie between throttle and handle bar and now all is perfect now!
Best bang for the buck in my opinion. And honestly it could still be even if the upgraded the bike a little. I mean, how much more cost to Kawasaki would it be if the pit in a Bluetooth radio?? Thanks for watching and stay safe
I personally like the fact that the bike hasn’t changed. Kawasaki in my opinion is the only Japanese motorcycle co that still makes good looking bikes. Currently Honda and Yamaha do not make any bikes that aren’t butt ugly. Harley sticks pretty much to the classic bike designs with some modern flair. Maybe that’s why they still sell so well. But I’m old school, I still miss the CD players on the Electra glides.
Damn CDs....those were the days!!! I really do love the bike the way it is.....I would just like some kinda upgrade to the radio....all I need is Bluetooth. Other than that.....it’s an awesome bike!!! Thanks for watching and commenting. Stay safe
I have ridden a 79' KZ 1000 ST for most of my riding "career". This bike was my first "bagger", mainly for the price, as everyone else cost thousands more. I'm 5'7" and I can ride it way better than my 79' GL1000 I had. My KZ was the fastest production bike of it's year and I could drag the pegs. For the price, I'm happy w/the bike, and there are options out there for it, but you have to look.
The KZ 1000ST was a nice bike!! Loved those things!! The Vaquero surprisingly is a great handling motorcycle. It shocked me that it handles as well as it does. Bang for the buck you really can’t beat it at all!! You really need to search to find aftermarket goodies for it. I found a lot of things on the Facebook groups. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard I still have both KZ's, my first I bought for $400, and the 2nd I drove to South Hero, VT to get for $2,500 w/20k orig mi on it. The 2nd one is almost the same color as the Vaquero. Trying to get it back on the road, but I'm riding the Vaquero a LOT. lol.
Thanks for the video. I had a ‘17 Vaquero and only got to put 1k miles on it before I lost out in the divorce. Was about ready to send my sht to Ivan. I heard nothing but good things. Especially if you plan on upgrading the exhaust ( which I had already ordered but never had a chance to put them on). Looking into getting another Vaquero this video really made me miss my old one. Really good bike! Especially for the money.
Dude that sucks you lost out with it in the divorce. Hopefully soon you’ll be able to get back on another one. I still haven’t gotten the tune done yet. Originally I was waiting for my warranty to expire and then I guess I just kept putting it off. Don’t wanna be without the bike for a few days during the season now though. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Thanks for the video, last rode a bike 20years ago a Kawasaki GT750 and looking to get back in the saddle this bike could suit me as in England we have a lot of Japanese main dealerships 👍
I just bought my Vaquero Thursday. It's running hot. I check the oil and there wasn't enough in there from the store. So I changed the oil and brought the levels up. Still running a little less hot. The needle should be in the middle not over to the right 3/4
The temp running 3/4 or so is normal for this bike. If you get the ECU reflashed by Ivan Performance, the bike will run cooler and better overall. Thanks for watching and enjoy your new bike!!!
@@GoofyBastard when I changed the oil and bought the levels to where they should have been. I took the bike out and the high levels dropped to normal. Man I just installed a high flow air filter and it was a game changer. I'm not going to press my bike because I have 150 miles on it. When I get to 600 miles, then I LL see where the performance of the bike is at. Thank you for responding.
I have 2 Mean Streaks, 1 for touring, one lowered and Blacked out. I see many Meanie riders move up to the Vaquero, if I did I would need to mod it w Roaring Roaring Toyz aftermarket parts. I hear you about aftermarket support, same issue for Mean Streaks. There definitely aren't many Vaqueros around. I think I've seen 6 since they came out, 1 the other day.
I surely miss the Meanie. I wish I was able to keep it instead of trading it in. When I got mine it seemed like there was a lot more things out there for them vs the Vaquero. The Vaquero is a great bike!!! Thanks for watching and stay safe
Thanks for watching and commenting. I like the fact you don’t see a whole lot of these bikes around. I see what you mean about the front end. Thanks again and stay safe
I have heard some people have done that and have been very happy with the choice. Good luck in your decision...all I can say is I love my Vaquero. Stay safe!
It definitely is bang for the buck!!! I only wish the aftermarket would embrace the bike. Almost anything you do to it has to be a custom job. Thanks for watching and stay safe Eddie!!
GB it really is a good looking bike and there is definitely something to be said for having some extra cask to do other stuff with. Really wish some of these other brands were more reasonable but whatever.. I dig hearing about other brands and what people like and more importantly don't like about them. Take care and ride safe!
You mentioned Ivan. I have a 2016 Vaquero and had Ivan do his thing. The only things I noticed when I got it back was the fan comes on sooner (lower) Temps and my stereo plays louder but not by much.
Thanks for watching. So are you saying not to waste my money? I’ve heard about the lowering of temps but I’ve never heard of the stereo part. Does it run any better with the flash?? Stay safe!!!
@@GoofyBastard You did not say if you put in a new air box and exhaust system. If you did you should have noticed a power increase along with better fuel miliage. No backfire when down shifting and better throttle response (less lag).
@@jaysmith3919I did put on Cobra slip-ons but not an air kit. It’s also my understanding that once you do both exhaust and intake you need to do some kind of fuel management. With just exhaust I do get the popping on decel. That’s why I am looking into Ivan’s.
@@GoofyBastard Ivans retune the ecm will take care of fuel management. You just need to tell him what you have done to the bike and he will tune the ecm for that.
Great Review and your bike looks amazing! I was wondering how difficult it was to replace the radio and the handlebars, and do you think it was worth it?
So first off, both mods were definitely worth it. So difficulty level, I would say the radio was more difficult but that’s only cause of the wiring you have to do along with it. I suck at soldering so. The handlebars were so much easier than I had expected them to be. It would be easier if you had an extra set of hands to help a little but I did it by myself. I think if you did these to your motorcycle, you will be happy. Thanks for watching!! Stay safe
I'm currently looking at a 2016 Vaquero with 200 miles for 10k. Yes, 200 miles. Anyone with any thoughts? I'll be coming from a CBR900. It'll be a complete 180 for me. I wonder why the owner only drove for such a short distance? Do you guys think it's worth a three hour (one way) trip to see it?
There are people out there that buy bikes and never really ride them, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. I would see if he has done any upgrades to the bike, things that you would be interested in. The Vaquero is a great bike. Definitely a far jump from a CBR900. But if it’s something you’re interested in, I don’t see why going that far for a bike is a problem. Thanks for watching
@GoofyBastard as far as I know from speaking with the guy on the phone, he has a set of Freedom pipes he had put on at the dealer. He said it's been garage kept since day one. He had plans on riding it after his back surgery, but he said it was just too painful. So he parked it. I appreciate your response, and your video was great! Thank you
@@BobOn-cr9pw thanks man, I really appreciate you as well! Keep me posted if you get the bike! Pictures do not do that paint justice. It pops in the sun! Even though I no longer own mine, I still love these bikes
I don’t think they ever will. I don’t think they sell enough of the fixed fairing bikes that it would warrant them making a different model. Would be cool to see them add it to the lineup though. Thanks for watching and stay safe
that white looks sick. i have the first year. i am looking for a way to boost the torque or quickness. i dont want to go faster i want to go quicker. thats what i am looking a way to upgrade the motor. the stereo speakers do suck. it is very fun to ride on curvy roads. it will run forever too.
I haven’t heard much on upgrades for the motor except for Ivan’s ECU flash. When I bought the bike it was still in the crate so I didn’t get to see the white until I picked it up...pictures do t do it justice!! Thanks for watching and commenting and stay safe
Enjoyed the video, not too many reviews for this bike. I have an 07 Vulcan Nomad 1600 and the Vaquero is one bike I’m considering upgrading to, other is a Street Glide or Chieftain; Vaquero is much cheaper like you said. Your bike looks great with the mods, really diggin the bars...where you get them? Looking for to your next video 👍🏾💯
Thanks for watching and subscribing, I appreciate it. I came from an 06 Meanstreak 1600 to the Vaquero. Very happy I moved up. I had thought about Harley and looked at a Victory as well but I fell in love with this bike the first time I sat on one back in 2012. As for the bars I got them from Ebay. I do have a link in the video “”New Parts”. Again...thanks for watching!!!!!
I agree that the Vaquero is a good value for the budget minded touring enthusiast but to say you can buy two Vaqueros for the price of one new Road Glide isn't factual, you might be able to buy two "used" Vaqueros for the price of one "new" Road Glide but that's not quite an apple to apple comparison, the '22 Vaquero's msrp is $17,599 and the '22 Road Glide's msrp is $22,249, a $4,650 difference.
You are correct if you are looking at MSRP, but actual paid prices are a different thing. Vaqueros historically sell for below MSRP where Harleys do not and they typically sell above MSRP. So that being the case one can make the argument I made. And yes…saying what I said may have been an exaggeration but it’s not really that far off. Thanks for watching and commenting…I appreciate it!!!
@@GoofyBastard Not sure what dealerships in your area are charging but I've been buying motorcycles(both metrics & Harleys) for almost 40 years and the only time I've ever seen any new bike sold for less than msrp is for left over stock(& usually only a few hundred $ off) and the only times I've seen Harleys being charged for more than msrp(not including for add-ons & customizations) is when there's greater demand than there are supplies and that hasn't happened in a couple of decades.
@@trekbsg I did buy mine in 2017 as a leftover 2016. The bike was still in the crate and I got the bike for $12,500. Again I say I might have exaggerated a little but 2 of my bikes are $25,000 so it’s really not that far off from 2 Roadglides. Again, thanks for watching and commenting. Stay safe
Oh wow, I have never heard that. From everything I have heard though, it really wakes the bike up. Unfortunately for me I had never gotten it done! Thanks for watching
They are nice bikes. I’ve been on a couple and while I am not a tall guy, I felt cramped. I heard they have seats that will push you further back for them, but I haven’t been on any with it.
Goofy Bastard ya my friend rides one she is just 5 feet without boots!! LOL I am tall so works well for me!!! We ride what we love that’s what makes it fun!!
@@HarleyGurl114 i have a buddy who is like 5’3” and he rides on....but he’s got the seat that pushes you forward....sat on that thing for a minute and was in some pain!!
Goofy Bastard no kidding! I have tried some like that also! I tried a few before I got the right one! Luckily HD has a seat program try em before you buy em!! It’s a big investment a good seat makes the ride!!
I like the vaquero,maybe get one someday. I have a kawasaki concours 14 and love it and it runs hot in the summer, cooling fans allways running. Maybe a kawasaki thing. Great review ! I have family out thet area. I do most of my riding in bucks county. New sub here. Cheers!!
Thanks for watching. From everything I’ve heard the Concours is a solid bike. My old Kawasaki didn’t run as hot, a lot of people think it’s the gauge or placement of the unit. If you ever get out my area hit me up!! Always looking for people to ride with! Stay safe
You’re absolutely correct…it would add cost to the bike but I think a lot of people would be willing to pay a little more for something like a Bluetooth radio. Ya figure people spend hundreds if not thousands to upgrade audio on these bikes. Thanks for watching and stay safe
No I haven’t done it yet. Not exactly sure as to why I haven’t. I have heard a lot of good things about the flash, and of course some bad as well. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Quick question, I was just watching your video that's awesome by the way, but I'm looking at a 2015 Vaquero, when you put the ape hangers on did you have to get new cables? I watched a couple vids where they didn't but also read you might have to.
Thanks for watching!!! I didn’t have to change cables or lines. They are all stock. Some people have rerouted the brake line...I haven’t done that yet. It is a little snug was haven’t had any problems with it. Now of course if you go higher then yes you will have to change. Again, thanks for watching and stay safe
Hey man, Have to say that your review on this bike has all of the pros and cons that I have noticed with my 2018 Vaquero, especially the heat and power. I live in Ottawa Canada and in the middle of summer this is a awful bike to be caught in a traffic jam. You mentioned ivanizing the ECU, well I have being reading about this and was so impressed with the reviews that I sent mine off to Ivan's 2 weeks ago and 10 days later it was back home. I have 2 months to go before I can try it out and looking sooo forward to do some sort of review on the ECU. P.S. did you ever get yours done. Nice bike, Ride safe.
Unfortunately I haven’t gotten mine done yet….not exactly sure why I have been procrastinating on doing it. These bikes are the best bang for the buck in my opinion. I do wish there was more aftermarket support for them. I don’t know how you guys up in Canada go so long without riding. That would drive me insane!!! Please let me know how you like the flash once you can get out on the bike. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard Hey, sorry this took so long but I wanted to give a full season review. When I installed the ECU for the first start of the season it was about 38° F, I went through the full installation process with the error code that is all explained on paper from Ivan's, very easy. Ready to roll I looked at my buddy, crossed my fingers, turned the key on and hit the start button. The bike fired right up, the high idle lasted a little longer than normal, which it seemed to do all summer long on the first start of the day. When the idle went down I did find a difference in the sound from the exhaust, the deep tone from the pipes were not as deep. Through my season of about 22,000 km thing I noticed were, no more backfiring unless a hard throttle to no throttle, the throttle response on slower right and left hand turns with decel and accel hesitation is gone, Difference in power in all gears will be noticed, The big thing for me was the temperature in traffic and hot weather, you have to be in th city to get the gauge above 3/4 mark and it's still not as hot as it used to be, if you want to call it a downside, I did lose some fuel milage but with the power, throttle response, backfiring gone and the big one is the temperature the bike runs at, Ivanizing is well worth it. Hope this helps, enjoy your ride.
@@billm6796 thank you for such an in depth assessment of the flash. It sounds like it’s well worth the money. I see all the horror stories on FB about the flash and it seems like the good reviews totally outweigh the bad ones though. I heard about someone in Canada that does the ECU flash now too. After the holidays I’ll be making my decisions. Thanks again for the great review.
@@tbenjamminlive7209 sorry I didn’t see this comment sooner, if you haven’t found out yet, just google Ivan’s Performance. Once again, sorry I didn’t see this
Just bought a 2011 and you are right their are not a lot of after market parts for this , but what was that product that you mentioned that will help with the bike getting hot
What I was talking about was doing Ivan’s Flash. You send him your ECU and he reflashes it and not only does the bike run cooler but it makes it run better. Thanks for watching
With the k-act.....does it make slow speed turning problematic? You know....if you havethe handlebars turned at own speed and hit the front brakes, the bike goes down. Thanks
From what I’ve seen and read, the K-Act system does not function at speeds of 12 mph or below. So it will not effect any slow speed maneuvering. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love the bike but I am afraid of the lack of support and the fact that they will probably take another 5 years to change anything on the bike like the entertainment stuff. It might make me pass until I see some change
I honestly get all that you are saying about the Vaquero. Aftermarket does totally suck for these bikes. Not sure if I would’ve bought this bike if I would’ve done my research back then on the aftermarket. I loved this bike from the first time I saw one!! Personally I think Kawasaki will discontinue the bike before the update it (hoping not). Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard i REALLY hope they don't discontinue it but do upgrade the features. Sucks there is a weak aftermarket, I have done that with bikes before... Bought a Honda Valkrye and saw there was nothing for it at all. Won't be doing that again. I have a Heritage now but i'm looking to metric. stay safe too
@@grindsoul man the Valkyrie was a great bike!!! I loved them when the first came out. Surprising that it didn’t have an aftermarket. Not exactly which way I’m gonna go with the next bike yet. Might go Indian or dare I say..Harley😂.
@@GoofyBastard Dont do Indian. If you look on my channel, you'll see a video with over 300K views about Indian being not so great. Polaris owns them and makes only 15% revenue from bike sales. Steer clear from companies that dont focus on bikes more. I'm on my third Harley (ive owned 13 bikes in 9 years) and I'll tell you that the M8 is built cheaply and im going through a front end rebuild at 14K miles on a 2019.. $$$$$$$$$.......Definitely going metric the next round, just not sure where.
Damn, I heard some people having problems with the first year Challenger, was kinda hoping they had that situation taken care of. Haven’t heard a lot of issues with the M8 except for the first year. Disheartening for sure that all these high $$ bikes having this many problems.
You can definitely find a great deal on a used one. Personally, and I don’t want to sound like a snob or anything, but I prefer to buy new. But that’s just my preference. I am not against buying used but just gotta find the right one. Thanks for watching!!
How is the stereo system. Btw I had an 08 mean streak it had 65hp lots of torque but max speed of 85 mph. Here in Dallas they drive 90/95 .pH on hwy. So I got a Sportster and believe it or not the 1200 is much faster. But it's too small. So I'm looking at the Vaquero. I just don't want another dinosaur
Well the stock stereo leaves something to be desired. No Bluetooth…but the good thing is that it is easily changed out. Now speaking of Mean Streaks, what you say really surprises me. I had an 06 and had no problem whatsoever pulling into the triple digits with it. The Vaquero overall is a good bike. Are there things that need to be worked on…Yes but personally I love the bike. Thanks for watching and stay
How’s this bike compared to the road glide as far as size? I’m 5’7 I felt comfortable on the road glide. Going to test drive a 2016 vaquero this week. Can’t stomach to spend 24k on a bike smh. And can you plug an audio wire into the Kawasaki radio to play music off your phone? Ride safe !
So the Road Glide has a slightly lower seat height….but as for overall size….they are close. There is a way to wire it up so you can play music from your phone to the radio. The biggest drawback to these bikes are the lack of technology. Thanks for watching and stay safe
aftermarket is weak for sure..............I have a 2019 voyager.........with the IVANS flash, what a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but ya can't beat the price! super value for the bike!
It does suck that the aftermarket is almost nonexistent. I keep telling myself I am getting the flash done....I just don’t wanna park the bike with nice days coming!! Thanks for watching and stay safe!!!
I looked at this bike I used to have a gold wing years ago but while I like this bike I really want a Harley street glide and will I be dissatisfied I don’t get a Harley
I put speakers on my dyna and still use my airpods 🤣🤣 i would most likely never use the radio on this especially cause I wear a full face and for parts some places can make custom bars and dansport makes a sick ass two in one exhaust for this.
I always use the radio. I too wear a full face but I am still able to hear it pretty clear. I’ll have to look into the exhaust you speak of. Thanks for watching!!
@@GoofyBastard You probably mentioned it already, just wondering, it looks like you swapped the risers as well as the bars. What brand of bars are you using. They look fantastic. I’m 6’2” and the stock bars place my hands between my belt and shoulders. Thanks in advance. 🙂
Love those bars... might just get me some Put on an Air Kit and Mufflers, and get it flashed by Ivan... the power improves quite a bit. Pros: Looks good Good value Handles well for a large bike comfortable seat and overall ride. ABS and K-Act Cons: good torque but mediocre HP out of the box really heavy. like 880 ...plus my fat ass Runs like absolute garbage when it's hot (hot weather especially) (Ivan's ECU flash fixes this) 0 options on paint scheme-whatever year you get, that's what you get limited aftermarket stereo system is pathetic you'll need the protectors on your foot decks- lean angles are pretty bad.... You can fix it all the cons (except limited aftermarket) then you have a great bike, but you'll have a $21,000.00 bike instead of a $17,000 bike...
andy koch first off thanks for watching, second every point you made about the Vaquero is spot on. Getting the flash is one of the things that is on my list for the off-season.
Just looking at what the bike offers for storage and what options in dash , fuel gage, mpg, how is the radio etc. Be nice to show all of these things verses me reading on a spec sheet. I was thinking on buying one and after your review on the ride it's more of a possibility. I also am only 5.8. Great vid thx
Just FYI, doing the rounds to raise awareness... We're almost ready to go with our bluetooth adapter on the Vulcan. Here's a preview video of what we have: ruclips.net/video/ld4mN_OGpP4/видео.html
To be quite honest, never thought about it so I never looked into it. But I’m sure it would be difficult to find someone to make them for the bike. Thanks for watching
Not sure if you meant the Kawi you have if you where to buy it used right now versus a new Road Glide but if not there is no way you can get two for the price of one brah. That’s just plain lies.
Nope not plain lies. I got my 2016 in 2017 as a leftover and paid $12,500. So if you X2 on that it comes to $25,000. Road Glide specials are $28,000+. So like I said, no lies here brah!!
@@GoofyBastard wasn’t trying to pick a fight or nuthin, I just plainly looked at the numbers. If one takes into account “no deals” just say a 2020 Kawi VV vs a 2020 HD RG the Kawi is $19,800 (Canadian where I reside) and the HD starts at $27,000 (Canadian) and for the Special it starts at $34,400 (Canadian) not even close to Double the price of the Kawi. Take US prices and they are nearly the same difference at $17,000 for the Kawi, $21,700 for the HD RG and $27,300 for the HD RG Special. Again nothing close to double. So not taking into account getting a “deal” from getting a year old left over or what have you there is no way you could buy two Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero’s for the price of one HD Road Glide + having extra money left over for add ons. Just calling it as I see it that’s all bro.
@@GoofyBastard just felt it was a miss leading statement is all. Anyway like I said not looking for a fight just for truth, I will keep watching as I like your content, keep it up and keep er fresh 🤟🏼👊🏼
@@403punk3 I do get what you are saying. But what you are looking at is MSRP of the Kawasaki. Most dealers down here in the states charge below that. Whereas Harley does not drop in price. You can get a brand new Vaquero for somewhere around $14-$15,00. Therefore about half the price.
@@GoofyBastard I know, sucha shame. And last I hrd they were gonna discontinue it? At least they should be a day maker style LED with upgraded sound. Ide pay a little extra for a package if that were the case
@@sanj5026 if it was up to me, I’d do a bigger engine (it’s not like they don’t have a 2k cc engine in their stable) put at least a Bluetooth stereo in it. LEDS would be nice but something like that is not that expensive to do. Oh and tune it differently
@@GoofyBastard yeah man like it's undercutting the Harley Road glide by SO much they have lots of room to do add ons and reflect it on the price.. while still undercutting HD... Ide pay the extra if they updated this bike.
@@fernando52568 if they are running high you can make an adjustment to the idle through the right side handlebar controls. Exactly what the process is.....I’m not sure but it’s in the bike’s manual
@@ericlou3405 I’m only 5’9” and the 11’s work great for me. You might wanna see if you can find someone close to you that has bars and get a feel before buying. Cause 12’s might even be too short
@@mikebecker5686 thanks so much for watching! These are very solid bikes and I don’t think you would be disappointed with it. Any questions you have, just ask...if I have the answer I’d be more than happy to help you
![2019 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero First Ride Review [Japanese Harley?!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/11DcMoYJfA8/mqdefault.jpg)
![2019 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero First Ride Review [Japanese Harley?!]](/img/tr.png)
I test road a lot of baggers in 2015, I was leaning toward a new Road Glide (test road it 4 times!) until I road the Vaquero at my Honda/Kawasaki dealer in NH. Ended up trading my 98 Shadow 1100 with 86K miles and bought a 2014 with 1700 miles on it. You are correct, at the price I paid for mine with my trade in I Could have bought 3. My decision really wasn't based on cost, because I've always owned Japanese bikes, I just think they're bullet proof. I'm water cooled guy, my 5 bro's all have HD's and when we're in traffic, they're shutting them down. But I respect them, they have the power no doubt, but when we stop and take a break, most riders come check out my burnt orange Vaquero and it pisses my Bro's right the fuck off. Of course I rub it in a little. Thanks for the review, great minds think alike!
I’m glad that you’re as happy with yours as I am with mine. That’s one thing that is great about or bikes....there really aren’t a lot out there and it’s something that’s different in a sea of HD’s. Just wishing there was the aftermarket support....the biggest downfall in my humble opinion. Thanks for watching and stay safe!!
Bro, that was one the best bike reviews of ANY BIKE that I've seen in recent memory. Very thorough and you cover the points that matter to the everyday rider - like the bike running hot and how that can be helped. Good stuff man. 👏🏽
Thanks so much for all the kind words about this video, I really appreciate it!!!! Thanks for watching and stay safe
I'm a Harley fan boy now, but on my travels to this exalted height I owned a 2011 Vaquero and loved it. It's a darn good ride. The things that are missing from it compared to a $30,000 bike aren't important. If money is important you will be happy with it. Heck, if money isn't important, it's still a great choice.
Good vid,
S
Thanks for watching I appreciate it!!! I was never really into the Harleys so I am good with the bike I have. All the extra money I have is just a bonus....thanks again!!
I have a 2018 Vaquero and actually took my ECU to Ivan (he lives in the city my wife is from). Fixed everything! No more heat. No more popping (backfires). Better fuel economy. Pulls much better (throttle response). He customizes the flash based on any other customs you have (pipes, air intake/filter). He also updates flashes for free if he changes anything. I absolutely love my bike!
Thanks for watching!!! I wish he was close to me like that...it would make it so much more convenient. I have been hesitant about doing it cause I believe when I unhook battery I will lose the program on the PAC for the handlebar controls and then will have to take the fairing off and reprogram it. But I know I need to do it. Stay safe!!
@@GoofyBastard he’s quick. If you ship it to him, he’ll reprogram it and get it back out the same day. I literally drove to his shop (from Virginia), handed it to him, and he handed it back in 10 minutes. I completely understand about the concern about your other device. It’s definitely worth the effort though!
I believe that it’s worth it. I have heard probably about 98% positive reviews from it. I will definitely be doing it before the riding season really kicks up!!! Thanks again
I just picked up a very clean '14 Voyager. Love it! Would really like to see Kawasaki do a long-overdue update to this bike - nothing too extensive, just add a bit more power, offer a better audio system, maybe LED headlight and built-in nav/bluetooth. They should consult with Ivan regarding remapping their ECUs from the factory, honestly.
Congratulations on the new(to you) bike!! I agree with you 💯! They really need to do a refresh on this bike. I mean at least offer a Bluetooth radio…everyone has Bluetooth! I think they have to adhere to EPA standards and that’s why the bike is so anemic from the factory. Thanks for watching, stay safe and enjoy the hell outta that bike!!
@@GoofyBastard 100% sure the performance issues are directly related to EPA issues, sadly. Can't believe how much under-the-radar these bikes are.
@@danpetreikis I think that if Kawasaki would push them a little more, they would be more on the radar but TBH I kinda like the fact ya don’t see them all over the place
Thanks brother! Getting older here and looking to move away from naked biked to a bagger. The Vaquero caught my eye ... damn good looking bike. Like the HD's, but I'm over the culture and price, looking for value and solid bike. Appreciate the review!
Thanks for watching. I was asked to do a more in depth walk around for this bike. I will be shooting it soon so stayed tuned!! Thanks for watching and stay
Bought my 2005 Meanstreak in 2007, w 1900 mls...still running strong. The only Kaw Cruiser that does it all. That said, there are some gorgeous custom Vaqueros out there. Yeah, not a lot you can do other than intake, exhaust, and fuel management...but....the ecu can be flashed, and they swear by that Ivan Flash. The Meanstreak had the Thunder Big Bore Kit (Cams, Pistons), that gave the Meanie 100 h/p. If they offered that for Vaqueros, it would sell.
Thanks for watching. I would love to see a Vaquero with that kinda power. Would definitely sell!!! I had a 2006 Meanie I bout new and sadly had to get rid of it when I got the Vaquero...not enough room in the shed, or I’d still have it!!
Good video. I've had my 2018 for 2 years now and I love it. I had Ivan flash the ECU and put Freedom Performance 2-1 pipe on it. Different bike with the mods. Not power necessarily, but just smoothed everything out and runs cooler. So much better. And the pipe sounds awesome.
Michael Walker thanks so much for watching I appreciate it. My plan for the off season is Ivan’s....I’m hoping for a mild winter but if we don’t have one the bike will benefit from it.
How hard is it to do Ivan’s tune I’m looking into a new 2022 but a factor is having to do this and how much it would cost after paying 18k for a new bike
@@logancook9065 It's not hard. You just have to take the ECU off the bike and ship it to Ivan. He reprograms it and ships it back. You reinstall it. Easy. The cost when I had mine done was around $400. Well worth it.
I’ve sat on the Vaquero several times at some dealers and the Dallas motorcycle show. I love the feel and balance. If I ever buy another bagger it’s the first thing I’m looking at. And I’m totally with you about the price point.
Definitely bang for the buck ya can’t beat it. I just wish they would update it a little. Thanks for watching
It’s unfortunate that there isn’t much aftermarket support but it sounds like the price difference helps make up for it a bit.
Nice bike 👍
Walt In PA thank you. The price of the bike definitely makes up for it but sometimes it would be nice to be able to do some mods that were just plug and play.
I loved my 2011. I upgraded the headlights, speakers, pipes, and Ivan’s tune. By 2018 I started to look at getting a new bike so I went with the 2018 Yamaha Eluder. If they had upgraded the Vaquero, I probably would have stayed. But the Vaquero ran flawlessly during my ownership. The only thing that I needed changing was tired and rear wheel bearings. Very reliable bike.
They are really good bikes…..in dire need of a upgrade/refresh though. I love my Vaquero but if they don’t do something before it’s fine for me to trade in, I am honestly thinking Indian. Thanks so much for watching and I hope you are enjoying the Eluder…looks like a killer bike!!
@@GoofyBastard I just sold my Eluder and ordered the new Indian Pursuit.
@@DJGENOTYPE the Indian Pursuit is one sweet bike. I would prefer just a Challenger if I was going that route, but that’s me. Good luck with the bike when you get it!!
@@GoofyBastard Yeah, I considered just getting the Challenger Elite and just add lower fairings and a sissy bar. But I figured I could be more bang for my buck if I just got the pursuit that already hade the fairing and the trunk. I can always detach the trunk for short rides.
I bought a 2020 Vulcan 900 as my first bike, but as I walked in the dealership, the first bike I saw was the 2020 blue Vaquero. Beautiful bike and comfortable. You get so much for you money. It may be my next bike down the road.
By the way, LOVE the Z-Bars
Thanks for watching!! The 900 is a great bike to be your first bike. I fell in love with the Vaquero the first time I sat on one....took a few years to get her but I eventually did. Stay safe
@@GoofyBastard I'm pretty sure the Vaquero is where I move up. Just sucks that there isn't as much support after market for metric bikes.
@@bretlagasse3560 yeah it sure does suck. There are some really good groups on FB for the Vaquero. If you get one I would recommend checking them out
You've replied to every single comment. Well done sir. People like you make this platform that much better. Great bike holmes, ride safe 👊
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my channel. I feel it’s my duty to reply back to every comment... everyone has taken time out of their day to watch and comment....and I appreciate that!! Stay safe!!
@@GoofyBastard pretty sure you have me sold on that bike. I currently have a shadow phantom (on my channel if you wanna see my mods) and a roadstar 1600. For what they are they are great but perfect at nothing. I've been looking for a"do all" ride and I think I'm going vulcan. I sort of hate harley. Definitely going metric!
@@jeremyowens4115 good luck if you decide to get a Vaquero!! They are great bikes!!!
Hey great vid . I have a 2019 and i love it ! I did the Ivans tune and i am just amazed at the difference that it made ! I also did a K&N filter and Cobra Tri flo slip ons . I would recommend the flash for sure it wakes the bike up quite nicely ,the decel popping has been reduced by 95 percent and the fan comes on sooner so the bike runs cooler .
Cheers .
Brad Becker thanks so much for watching and for leaving a comment. My plan for the off season is to do the flash and I’m not exactly sure why it has taken me so long to do it. Everything I have heard about it has been nothing but positive. I love the Tri-flos, I was very happy with them. Stay safe and once and again thanks for watching!!
Had my 2011 Ivan tuned. Totally different (for the better) bike. What I also found out is any slop in the throttle grip will cause low speed jerkiness. I took a piece of zip tie between throttle and handle bar and now all is perfect now!
I agree with what you’re saying about it being outdated but it sure does ride well and you can’t beat the price.
Best bang for the buck in my opinion. And honestly it could still be even if the upgraded the bike a little. I mean, how much more cost to Kawasaki would it be if the pit in a Bluetooth radio?? Thanks for watching and stay safe
I personally like the fact that the bike hasn’t changed. Kawasaki in my opinion is the only Japanese motorcycle co that still makes good looking bikes. Currently Honda and Yamaha do not make any bikes that aren’t butt ugly. Harley sticks pretty much to the classic bike designs with some modern flair. Maybe that’s why they still sell so well. But I’m old school, I still miss the CD players on the Electra glides.
Damn CDs....those were the days!!! I really do love the bike the way it is.....I would just like some kinda upgrade to the radio....all I need is Bluetooth. Other than that.....it’s an awesome bike!!! Thanks for watching and commenting. Stay safe
I have ridden a 79' KZ 1000 ST for most of my riding "career". This bike was my first "bagger", mainly for the price, as everyone else cost thousands more. I'm 5'7" and I can ride it way better than my 79' GL1000 I had. My KZ was the fastest production bike of it's year and I could drag the pegs. For the price, I'm happy w/the bike, and there are options out there for it, but you have to look.
The KZ 1000ST was a nice bike!! Loved those things!! The Vaquero surprisingly is a great handling motorcycle. It shocked me that it handles as well as it does. Bang for the buck you really can’t beat it at all!! You really need to search to find aftermarket goodies for it. I found a lot of things on the Facebook groups. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard I still have both KZ's, my first I bought for $400, and the 2nd I drove to South Hero, VT to get for $2,500 w/20k orig mi on it. The 2nd one is almost the same color as the Vaquero. Trying to get it back on the road, but I'm riding the Vaquero a LOT. lol.
Thanks for the video. I had a ‘17 Vaquero and only got to put 1k miles on it before I lost out in the divorce. Was about ready to send my sht to Ivan. I heard nothing but good things. Especially if you plan on upgrading the exhaust ( which I had already ordered but never had a chance to put them on). Looking into getting another Vaquero this video really made me miss my old one. Really good bike! Especially for the money.
Dude that sucks you lost out with it in the divorce. Hopefully soon you’ll be able to get back on another one. I still haven’t gotten the tune done yet. Originally I was waiting for my warranty to expire and then I guess I just kept putting it off. Don’t wanna be without the bike for a few days during the season now though. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Thanks for the video, last rode a bike 20years ago a Kawasaki GT750 and looking to get back in the saddle this bike could suit me as in England we have a lot of Japanese main dealerships 👍
The Vaquero is a great bike!! IMO best bang for the buck when it comes to a bagger. I would definitely recommend this motorcycle! Thanks for watching
Thanks
@@johnmurdoch1637 not a problem, anytime!!
I just bought my Vaquero Thursday. It's running hot. I check the oil and there wasn't enough in there from the store. So I changed the oil and brought the levels up. Still running a little less hot. The needle should be in the middle not over to the right 3/4
The temp running 3/4 or so is normal for this bike. If you get the ECU reflashed by Ivan Performance, the bike will run cooler and better overall. Thanks for watching and enjoy your new bike!!!
@@GoofyBastard when I changed the oil and bought the levels to where they should have been. I took the bike out and the high levels dropped to normal. Man I just installed a high flow air filter and it was a game changer. I'm not going to press my bike because I have 150 miles on it. When I get to 600 miles, then I LL see where the performance of the bike is at. Thank you for responding.
@@WDStock_man no problem!!! Again thank you for watching!!!
I have 2 Mean Streaks, 1 for touring, one lowered and Blacked out. I see many Meanie riders move up to the Vaquero, if I did I would need to mod it w Roaring Roaring Toyz aftermarket parts. I hear you about aftermarket support, same issue for Mean Streaks. There definitely aren't many Vaqueros around. I think I've seen 6 since they came out, 1 the other day.
I surely miss the Meanie. I wish I was able to keep it instead of trading it in. When I got mine it seemed like there was a lot more things out there for them vs the Vaquero. The Vaquero is a great bike!!! Thanks for watching and stay safe
In my travels I've seen a couple of these going down the road. The front reminds me of a muscle car. I like it.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I like the fact you don’t see a whole lot of these bikes around. I see what you mean about the front end. Thanks again and stay safe
I ride a 07 V2K this looks great, and, what i feel is the main attraction, the price!
The price is definitely a great attraction!!! Wish they would utilize the motor from the V2K in these bikes though. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Thinking about switching from HD to Kawasaki.
I have heard some people have done that and have been very happy with the choice. Good luck in your decision...all I can say is I love my Vaquero. Stay safe!
Don't be afraid to try something different like a Yamaha or Kawasaki
Great review buddy !! I really like the Vaquero because it provides good bang for the money. Keep on rocking. Cheers, Eddie
It definitely is bang for the buck!!! I only wish the aftermarket would embrace the bike. Almost anything you do to it has to be a custom job. Thanks for watching and stay safe Eddie!!
I would like to see a 130 19inch front and a 180 18 on the rear.
Would definitely be an improvement....even if they went to an 18 up front
GB it really is a good looking bike and there is definitely something to be said for having some extra cask to do other stuff with. Really wish some of these other brands were more reasonable but whatever.. I dig hearing about other brands and what people like and more importantly don't like about them. Take care and ride safe!
Thanks for watching I really appreciate it. I agree with you on the cash part for sure. Ride safe bro and I dig watching your videos
Goofy Bastard thank you I appreciate that!
You mentioned Ivan. I have a 2016 Vaquero and had Ivan do his thing. The only things I noticed when I got it back was the fan comes on sooner (lower) Temps and my stereo plays louder but not by much.
Thanks for watching. So are you saying not to waste my money? I’ve heard about the lowering of temps but I’ve never heard of the stereo part. Does it run any better with the flash?? Stay safe!!!
@@GoofyBastard You did not say if you put in a new air box and exhaust system. If you did you should have noticed a power increase along with better fuel miliage. No backfire when down shifting and better throttle response (less lag).
@@jaysmith3919I did put on Cobra slip-ons but not an air kit. It’s also my understanding that once you do both exhaust and intake you need to do some kind of fuel management. With just exhaust I do get the popping on decel. That’s why I am looking into Ivan’s.
@@GoofyBastard Ivans retune the ecm will take care of fuel management. You just need to tell him what you have done to the bike and he will tune the ecm for that.
my buddy has one of these and swears by it. Decent bike for sure and it looks fun to ride
I love this bike!!! Bang for the buck ya can’t go wrong!! Thanks for watching...stay safe
Great video 📹 I'm really liking this Ride..I'd buy one in a minute if I didn't just purchased a Yamaha V-Star 1100
Thanks for watching!! The V-Stars are solid bikes. I have a couple buddies that have/had them. They loved them. Stay safe
Great Review and your bike looks amazing! I was wondering how difficult it was to replace the radio and the handlebars, and do you think it was worth it?
So first off, both mods were definitely worth it. So difficulty level, I would say the radio was more difficult but that’s only cause of the wiring you have to do along with it. I suck at soldering so. The handlebars were so much easier than I had expected them to be. It would be easier if you had an extra set of hands to help a little but I did it by myself. I think if you did these to your motorcycle, you will be happy. Thanks for watching!! Stay safe
I'm currently looking at a 2016 Vaquero with 200 miles for 10k. Yes, 200 miles. Anyone with any thoughts? I'll be coming from a CBR900. It'll be a complete 180 for me. I wonder why the owner only drove for such a short distance? Do you guys think it's worth a three hour (one way) trip to see it?
There are people out there that buy bikes and never really ride them, so it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. I would see if he has done any upgrades to the bike, things that you would be interested in. The Vaquero is a great bike. Definitely a far jump from a CBR900. But if it’s something you’re interested in, I don’t see why going that far for a bike is a problem. Thanks for watching
@GoofyBastard as far as I know from speaking with the guy on the phone, he has a set of Freedom pipes he had put on at the dealer. He said it's been garage kept since day one. He had plans on riding it after his back surgery, but he said it was just too painful. So he parked it. I appreciate your response, and your video was great! Thank you
@@BobOn-cr9pw well if you get it, good luck with it!!! It’s a great bike!!! And yes the 2016 white ones are the best!!!
@GoofyBastard I appreciate you, bruh!! She's pearl crystal white with green and black stripes. Very sharp looking
@@BobOn-cr9pw thanks man, I really appreciate you as well! Keep me posted if you get the bike! Pictures do not do that paint justice. It pops in the sun! Even though I no longer own mine, I still love these bikes
I really hope kawi makes a fork mounted fairing bagger. that'd be so sick...
I don’t think they ever will. I don’t think they sell enough of the fixed fairing bikes that it would warrant them making a different model. Would be cool to see them add it to the lineup though. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard they'd sell more of it guy an update for sure.
@@KindredGh0st I would definitely love to see them update !!
that white looks sick. i have the first year. i am looking for a way to boost the torque or quickness. i dont want to go faster i want to go quicker. thats what i am looking a way to upgrade the motor. the stereo speakers do suck. it is very fun to ride on curvy roads. it will run forever too.
I haven’t heard much on upgrades for the motor except for Ivan’s ECU flash. When I bought the bike it was still in the crate so I didn’t get to see the white until I picked it up...pictures do t do it justice!! Thanks for watching and commenting and stay safe
Enjoyed the video, not too many reviews for this bike. I have an 07 Vulcan Nomad 1600 and the Vaquero is one bike I’m considering upgrading to, other is a Street Glide or Chieftain; Vaquero is much cheaper like you said. Your bike looks great with the mods, really diggin the bars...where you get them? Looking for to your next video 👍🏾💯
Thanks for watching and subscribing, I appreciate it. I came from an 06 Meanstreak 1600 to the Vaquero. Very happy I moved up. I had thought about Harley and looked at a Victory as well but I fell in love with this bike the first time I sat on one back in 2012. As for the bars I got them from Ebay. I do have a link in the video “”New Parts”. Again...thanks for watching!!!!!
I agree that the Vaquero is a good value for the budget minded touring enthusiast but to say you can buy two Vaqueros for the price of one new Road Glide isn't factual, you might be able to buy two "used" Vaqueros for the price of one "new" Road Glide but that's not quite an apple to apple comparison, the '22 Vaquero's msrp is $17,599 and the '22 Road Glide's msrp is $22,249, a $4,650 difference.
You are correct if you are looking at MSRP, but actual paid prices are a different thing. Vaqueros historically sell for below MSRP where Harleys do not and they typically sell above MSRP. So that being the case one can make the argument I made. And yes…saying what I said may have been an exaggeration but it’s not really that far off. Thanks for watching and commenting…I appreciate it!!!
@@GoofyBastard Not sure what dealerships in your area are charging but I've been buying motorcycles(both metrics & Harleys) for almost 40 years and the only time I've ever seen any new bike sold for less than msrp is for left over stock(& usually only a few hundred $ off) and the only times I've seen Harleys being charged for more than msrp(not including for add-ons & customizations) is when there's greater demand than there are supplies and that hasn't happened in a couple of decades.
@@trekbsg I did buy mine in 2017 as a leftover 2016. The bike was still in the crate and I got the bike for $12,500. Again I say I might have exaggerated a little but 2 of my bikes are $25,000 so it’s really not that far off from 2 Roadglides. Again, thanks for watching and commenting. Stay safe
@@GoofyBastard Wow! That's one heck of a deal you got, a local dealer here is selling a used 2016 for $14k with 21k miles.
@@trekbsg you can find used Vaqueros a lot cheaper than that. I think a lot of it right now is the market and the way it’s been running.
I have a 2004 Vulcan 1600 classic love it
Those are some great bikes. Prior to the Vaquero I had an 06 Meanstreak 1600. Miss that bike!! Thanks for watching!!!!
Did you do a follow up after you Ivanized the bike? Can’t believe you didn’t do that yet
No I never did get it done. Not exactly sure why I didn’t do it though. Thanks for watching!!
after ECU flash someone said the 1700 vaquero top mph speed is 140 , ps pretty fast
Oh wow, I have never heard that. From everything I have heard though, it really wakes the bike up. Unfortunately for me I had never gotten it done! Thanks for watching
I ride a StreetGlide it is great for short people!! I did change the seat! Geezer Gliders are all about couch seating for hours!!
They are nice bikes. I’ve been on a couple and while I am not a tall guy, I felt cramped. I heard they have seats that will push you further back for them, but I haven’t been on any with it.
Goofy Bastard ya my friend rides one she is just 5 feet without boots!! LOL I am tall so works well for me!!! We ride what we love that’s what makes it fun!!
@@HarleyGurl114 i have a buddy who is like 5’3” and he rides on....but he’s got the seat that pushes you forward....sat on that thing for a minute and was in some pain!!
Goofy Bastard no kidding! I have tried some like that also! I tried a few before I got the right one! Luckily HD has a seat program try em before you buy em!! It’s a big investment a good seat makes the ride!!
I like the vaquero,maybe get one someday. I have a kawasaki concours 14 and love it and it runs hot in the summer, cooling fans allways running. Maybe a kawasaki thing. Great review ! I have family out thet area. I do most of my riding in bucks county. New sub here. Cheers!!
Thanks for watching. From everything I’ve heard the Concours is a solid bike. My old Kawasaki didn’t run as hot, a lot of people think it’s the gauge or placement of the unit. If you ever get out my area hit me up!! Always looking for people to ride with! Stay safe
My guess is the only reason why they dont add upgrades or even update the stereo is cus they trying to make the bike as affordable as possible
You’re absolutely correct…it would add cost to the bike but I think a lot of people would be willing to pay a little more for something like a Bluetooth radio. Ya figure people spend hundreds if not thousands to upgrade audio on these bikes. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Nice bike, best bang for your buck if you don't want to spend 20k for a bike. Plus you can do mods with the money you saved.
Totall agree with you!!! Bang for the buck…can’t beat it. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Greetings,
Thanks for the ride 🎉
Thank you for watching and commenting!!! Stay safe
Nice review man, i have my eye on getting one of these bad boys. ✌️
They are great bikes overall. Thanks for watching!!!
Just wondering if the stock cables, etc. worked with the new bars you put on, or did you have to change them ? Thanks for a great review 👍🏻
Everything stocked worked with the bars. A lot of guys reroute the brake line to give an extra bit, but I did not. Thanks for watching
@@GoofyBastard they look awesome, how do you find the handling with them?
@@Aris116 love the handling with these. IMO much better than the stock bars!!
What pipes are you running on your vaquero? They sound good
@@cameroncrozier826 I was running Cobra Tri-Flos on my Vaquero. I totally agree with you, they sounded good! Thanks for watching
If you have this bike, definitely get the ECU flashed, even if everything is stock.
I have heard that from many people. I’m gonna get it done but not sure why I am dragging my feet on it. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard Did you get it flashed?
If you want to talk about long overdue updates and Kawasaki, you need to talk to the Connie guys.
I don’t know who they are, never heard of them. Are the on RUclips? Thanks for watching!!
Valley Forge National Park, know it well. Used to live in Phoenixville.
Thanks for watching!!! I live in Phoenixville and I love riding Valley Forge
Did you ever flash the ECU? I bought a Voyager and the power is way better now that’s it’s flashed. You’ll notice the difference
No I haven’t done it yet. Not exactly sure as to why I haven’t. I have heard a lot of good things about the flash, and of course some bad as well. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard quit being cheap and get it done LOL. IVAN flash it and it'll feel like a new bike.
Yea I know….I am a cheap ass. Not exactly sure what my problem is though. Lol
I appreciate your input.
Thank you!! I appreciate you watching
Quick question, I was just watching your video that's awesome by the way, but I'm looking at a 2015 Vaquero, when you put the ape hangers on did you have to get new cables? I watched a couple vids where they didn't but also read you might have to.
Thanks for watching!!! I didn’t have to change cables or lines. They are all stock. Some people have rerouted the brake line...I haven’t done that yet. It is a little snug was haven’t had any problems with it. Now of course if you go higher then yes you will have to change. Again, thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard thanks!
@@jasonpeck2007 you’re welcome...happy to help
Hey man, Have to say that your review on this bike has all of the pros and cons that I have noticed with my 2018 Vaquero, especially the heat and power. I live in Ottawa Canada and in the middle of summer this is a awful bike to be caught in a traffic jam. You mentioned ivanizing the ECU, well I have being reading about this and was so impressed with the reviews that I sent mine off to Ivan's 2 weeks ago and 10 days later it was back home. I have 2 months to go before I can try it out and looking sooo forward to do some sort of review on the ECU. P.S. did you ever get yours done. Nice bike, Ride safe.
Unfortunately I haven’t gotten mine done yet….not exactly sure why I have been procrastinating on doing it. These bikes are the best bang for the buck in my opinion. I do wish there was more aftermarket support for them. I don’t know how you guys up in Canada go so long without riding. That would drive me insane!!! Please let me know how you like the flash once you can get out on the bike. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Bill how do you get in contact with Ivan for ECU flash upgrade?
@@GoofyBastard Hey, sorry this took so long but I wanted to give a full season review. When I installed the ECU for the first start of the season it was about 38° F, I went through the full installation process with the error code that is all explained on paper from Ivan's, very easy. Ready to roll I looked at my buddy, crossed my fingers, turned the key on and hit the start button. The bike fired right up, the high idle lasted a little longer than normal, which it seemed to do all summer long on the first start of the day. When the idle went down I did find a difference in the sound from the exhaust, the deep tone from the pipes were not as deep. Through my season of about 22,000 km thing I noticed were, no more backfiring unless a hard throttle to no throttle, the throttle response on slower right and left hand turns with decel and accel hesitation is gone, Difference in power in all gears will be noticed, The big thing for me was the temperature in traffic and hot weather, you have to be in th city to get the gauge above 3/4 mark and it's still not as hot as it used to be, if you want to call it a downside, I did lose some fuel milage but with the power, throttle response, backfiring gone and the big one is the temperature the bike runs at, Ivanizing is well worth it. Hope this helps, enjoy your ride.
@@billm6796 thank you for such an in depth assessment of the flash. It sounds like it’s well worth the money. I see all the horror stories on FB about the flash and it seems like the good reviews totally outweigh the bad ones though. I heard about someone in Canada that does the ECU flash now too. After the holidays I’ll be making my decisions. Thanks again for the great review.
@@tbenjamminlive7209 sorry I didn’t see this comment sooner, if you haven’t found out yet, just google Ivan’s Performance. Once again, sorry I didn’t see this
Just bought a 2011 and you are right their are not a lot of after market parts for this , but what was that product that you mentioned that will help with the bike getting hot
What I was talking about was doing Ivan’s Flash. You send him your ECU and he reflashes it and not only does the bike run cooler but it makes it run better. Thanks for watching
They added a fan system for the heat from the engine. I forget what they call it.
Oh they did? I haven’t heard anything about that. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard (KAMS) is Kawasaki Air Management System. Just remembered what that was called.
@@douglashawkins4402 oh ok, I have heard about them, for the Voyager right?
@@GoofyBastard yes, I think they started adding it in 2015 but not positive on the year.
Love the bars on your bike. What kind?
They are JSR 11” Fat Bars. Thanks for watching
With the k-act.....does it make slow speed turning problematic? You know....if you havethe handlebars turned at own speed and hit the front brakes, the bike goes down. Thanks
From what I’ve seen and read, the K-Act system does not function at speeds of 12 mph or below. So it will not effect any slow speed maneuvering. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I love the bike but I am afraid of the lack of support and the fact that they will probably take another 5 years to change anything on the bike like the entertainment stuff. It might make me pass until I see some change
I honestly get all that you are saying about the Vaquero. Aftermarket does totally suck for these bikes. Not sure if I would’ve bought this bike if I would’ve done my research back then on the aftermarket. I loved this bike from the first time I saw one!! Personally I think Kawasaki will discontinue the bike before the update it (hoping not). Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard i REALLY hope they don't discontinue it but do upgrade the features. Sucks there is a weak aftermarket, I have done that with bikes before... Bought a Honda Valkrye and saw there was nothing for it at all. Won't be doing that again. I have a Heritage now but i'm looking to metric. stay safe too
@@grindsoul man the Valkyrie was a great bike!!! I loved them when the first came out. Surprising that it didn’t have an aftermarket. Not exactly which way I’m gonna go with the next bike yet. Might go Indian or dare I say..Harley😂.
@@GoofyBastard Dont do Indian. If you look on my channel, you'll see a video with over 300K views about Indian being not so great. Polaris owns them and makes only 15% revenue from bike sales. Steer clear from companies that dont focus on bikes more. I'm on my third Harley (ive owned 13 bikes in 9 years) and I'll tell you that the M8 is built cheaply and im going through a front end rebuild at 14K miles on a 2019.. $$$$$$$$$.......Definitely going metric the next round, just not sure where.
Damn, I heard some people having problems with the first year Challenger, was kinda hoping they had that situation taken care of. Haven’t heard a lot of issues with the M8 except for the first year. Disheartening for sure that all these high $$ bikes having this many problems.
Been thinking of getting this bike. Here in Fl there are a few. Should I go new or pick up a used model.
You can definitely find a great deal on a used one. Personally, and I don’t want to sound like a snob or anything, but I prefer to buy new. But that’s just my preference. I am not against buying used but just gotta find the right one. Thanks for watching!!
Thanks for the answer. Not much difference in price but prefer the colors of the earlier models. Grey just doesn't hit me right
How is the stereo system. Btw I had an 08 mean streak it had 65hp lots of torque but max speed of 85 mph. Here in Dallas they drive 90/95 .pH on hwy. So I got a Sportster and believe it or not the 1200 is much faster. But it's too small. So I'm looking at the Vaquero. I just don't want another dinosaur
Well the stock stereo leaves something to be desired. No Bluetooth…but the good thing is that it is easily changed out. Now speaking of Mean Streaks, what you say really surprises me. I had an 06 and had no problem whatsoever pulling into the triple digits with it. The Vaquero overall is a good bike. Are there things that need to be worked on…Yes but personally I love the bike. Thanks for watching and stay
Best looking fix fairing!
Yeah I totally agree with you. If they updated some electronics it would be even better!!! Thanks for watching and stay safe
Not to many on used market.
If you are looking for one...check the Vaquero FB groups. Always ones on sale there and you can usually get a great deal. Thanks for watching
Those bars install with stock cables? Good review, thank you
Yes...the cables are all stock. The brake line is taunt in certain positions but causes no problem. Thanks for watching!!! Stay safe
How’s this bike compared to the road glide as far as size? I’m 5’7 I felt comfortable on the road glide. Going to test drive a 2016 vaquero this week. Can’t stomach to spend 24k on a bike smh. And can you plug an audio wire into the Kawasaki radio to play music off your phone? Ride safe !
So the Road Glide has a slightly lower seat height….but as for overall size….they are close. There is a way to wire it up so you can play music from your phone to the radio. The biggest drawback to these bikes are the lack of technology. Thanks for watching and stay safe
@@GoofyBastard thank you!
@@jDot2414 you’re welcome….any thing else I can help ya with…feel free
@@GoofyBastard thanks! Have a blessed day
Thinking about going from my vstar 650 classic to this bike....
Thanks for watching. I do believe you won’t be sorry if you do. The V-Stars are good bikes. Buddy of mine had one and he loved it. Stay safe!!
Awesome video!
Thank you so much for watching and commenting!!! It’s really appreciated!!
Got some accessory stuff out there for them... imagination for installs...
They do have some, but it is very limited. I would love to see more things that don’t require mods
Any aftermarket shocks?
Nice ride.
I don’t have any aftermarket shocks but I do believe you can get some. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Kawasaki needs to up the power across their cruiser line.
Totally agree with you on that!! Thanks for watching and stay safe
I just want to know what your sweatshirt says on it
It says “F@&k your feelings” Thanks for watching!!!
aftermarket is weak for sure..............I have a 2019 voyager.........with the IVANS flash, what a difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but ya can't beat the price! super value for the bike!
It does suck that the aftermarket is almost nonexistent. I keep telling myself I am getting the flash done....I just don’t wanna park the bike with nice days coming!! Thanks for watching and stay safe!!!
@@GoofyBastard Ivan is so fast w the flash man. Mine was out and back and in bike in 3 days.
@@ANONYMOUSBIKERUSA that’s what I hear....I just need to get off my ass and do it!!
Sharp looking bike.
Thank you....I appreciate it!!! Stay safe
I looked at this bike I used to have a gold wing years ago but while I like this bike I really want a Harley street glide and will I be dissatisfied I don’t get a Harley
I understand that completely. When ya want something any but will never satisfy. Thanks for watching and commenting!! Stay safe
I put speakers on my dyna and still use my airpods 🤣🤣 i would most likely never use the radio on this especially cause I wear a full face and for parts some places can make custom bars and dansport makes a sick ass two in one exhaust for this.
I always use the radio. I too wear a full face but I am still able to hear it pretty clear. I’ll have to look into the exhaust you speak of. Thanks for watching!!
@@GoofyBastard my bad its the danmoto exhuast 2 into one exhuast ill post the link
@@GoofyBastard ruclips.net/video/2OfKo7qH2sQ/видео.html
along with the bars, have extend also the cables? nice review though!
I didn’t need to extend. All the lines and cables are stock. Brake line is snug but it works. Thanks for watching and commenting!!!
@@GoofyBastard You probably mentioned it already, just wondering, it looks like you swapped the risers as well as the bars.
What brand of bars are you using.
They look fantastic.
I’m 6’2” and the stock bars place my hands between my belt and shoulders.
Thanks in advance. 🙂
@@robertbond582 I didn’t swap out the risers, they are stock. As for bars…they are JSR 11” Fat Bars
Good looking bike love the white and bars ✌
Kentucky Jy thank you for taking time out to watch my video and for the compliments on my bike. I really appreciate it!!!
Got an old vulcan nomad its fun
I’ve had a Vulcan since 2006(Meanstreak) and I love em!! Thanks for watching
Love those bars... might just get me some
Put on an Air Kit and Mufflers, and get it flashed by Ivan... the power improves quite a bit.
Pros:
Looks good
Good value
Handles well for a large bike
comfortable seat and overall ride.
ABS and K-Act
Cons:
good torque but mediocre HP out of the box
really heavy. like 880 ...plus my fat ass
Runs like absolute garbage when it's hot (hot weather especially) (Ivan's ECU flash fixes this)
0 options on paint scheme-whatever year you get, that's what you get
limited aftermarket
stereo system is pathetic
you'll need the protectors on your foot decks- lean angles are pretty bad....
You can fix it all the cons (except limited aftermarket) then you have a great bike, but you'll have a $21,000.00 bike instead of a $17,000 bike...
andy koch first off thanks for watching, second every point you made about the Vaquero is spot on. Getting the flash is one of the things that is on my list for the off-season.
What speakers and deck are you running?
I am running Polk DB651 and the Kenwood M325BT. Thanks for watching
Still have.? Ivan's flash?
I still have the bike yes…I haven’t done the Ivan’s flash though. Not exactly sure as to why I never got it. Thanks for watching!!
Can you do a walk around for the vaquero with all options it has.
I could do that. Please tell me what you would like to see. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Just looking at what the bike offers for storage and what options in dash , fuel gage, mpg, how is the radio etc. Be nice to show all of these things verses me reading on a spec sheet. I was thinking on buying one and after your review on the ride it's more of a possibility. I also am only 5.8. Great vid thx
@@dean7968 I will work on that for you.
@@GoofyBastard subscribed 👍
@@dean7968 thank you!!
The bad tuning from the factory, don't forget that
Yes, definitely can’t forget that!!! Thanks for watching
Dammit I didn’t know Kawasaki made such a bike! I love it 😍
The started making the Vaquero back in 2011, and I knew I was gonna have one eventually. Took a few years but I got it!!! Thanks for watching
@@GoofyBastard absolutely brother
What bars are those ?
They are the JSR 11” Fat bar. Thanks for watching!!
Just FYI, doing the rounds to raise awareness... We're almost ready to go with our bluetooth adapter on the Vulcan. Here's a preview video of what we have: ruclips.net/video/ld4mN_OGpP4/видео.html
That’s looks like an awesome product. Glad someone is finally coming out with something like this.
Can you cam the motor out
To be quite honest, never thought about it so I never looked into it. But I’m sure it would be difficult to find someone to make them for the bike. Thanks for watching
I getting one in 2 weeks
Congratulations!!! Good luck with it!! Hope you like it as much as I do. Thanks for watching and stay safe
Not sure if you meant the Kawi you have if you where to buy it used right now versus a new Road Glide but if not there is no way you can get two for the price of one brah. That’s just plain lies.
Nope not plain lies. I got my 2016 in 2017 as a leftover and paid $12,500. So if you X2 on that it comes to $25,000. Road Glide specials are $28,000+. So like I said, no lies here brah!!
@@GoofyBastard wasn’t trying to pick a fight or nuthin, I just plainly looked at the numbers. If one takes into account “no deals” just say a 2020 Kawi VV vs a 2020 HD RG the Kawi is $19,800 (Canadian where I reside) and the HD starts at $27,000 (Canadian) and for the Special it starts at $34,400 (Canadian) not even close to Double the price of the Kawi. Take US prices and they are nearly the same difference at $17,000 for the Kawi, $21,700 for the HD RG and $27,300 for the HD RG Special. Again nothing close to double. So not taking into account getting a “deal” from getting a year old left over or what have you there is no way you could buy two Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero’s for the price of one HD Road Glide + having extra money left over for add ons. Just calling it as I see it that’s all bro.
@@GoofyBastard just felt it was a miss leading statement is all. Anyway like I said not looking for a fight just for truth, I will keep watching as I like your content, keep it up and keep er fresh 🤟🏼👊🏼
@@403punk3 thanks for watching I do appreciate it. Not looking to get into arguments on here either. Stay safe!
@@403punk3 I do get what you are saying. But what you are looking at is MSRP of the Kawasaki. Most dealers down here in the states charge below that. Whereas Harley does not drop in price. You can get a brand new Vaquero for somewhere around $14-$15,00. Therefore about half the price.
They are not upgrading their bikes at all! This is the same for so many years
The only thing they have changed aside from the colors is the put ABS on them. It’s a shame they don’t update the bike. Thanks for watching
@@GoofyBastard I know, sucha shame. And last I hrd they were gonna discontinue it?
At least they should be a day maker style LED with upgraded sound. Ide pay a little extra for a package if that were the case
@@sanj5026 if it was up to me, I’d do a bigger engine (it’s not like they don’t have a 2k cc engine in their stable) put at least a Bluetooth stereo in it. LEDS would be nice but something like that is not that expensive to do. Oh and tune it differently
@@GoofyBastard yeah man like it's undercutting the Harley Road glide by SO much they have lots of room to do add ons and reflect it on the price.. while still undercutting HD... Ide pay the extra if they updated this bike.
@@sanj5026 exactly!!!
I bought a vaquero not long ago good thing u said they run hot I notice that.another thing about d rpm can u tell me more about it.
Thanks for watching! Maybe I can tell you....what’s up with the rpm?
@@GoofyBastard my ? Is is d rpm runs hi I noticed on my bike but I feel d engine smoothly
@@fernando52568 if they are running high you can make an adjustment to the idle through the right side handlebar controls. Exactly what the process is.....I’m not sure but it’s in the bike’s manual
@@GoofyBastard I don't know maybe is ok 80 miles rpm going on 3 or 90 miles 3 n half
@@fernando52568 oh ok I get what you mean now....when you are going 80 are you in 6th gear?
I actually like the bike because it looks a bit old
Thanks for watching...you're right, kinda has that old hot-rod look to it!!
What's not to like about piece of mind.
Exactly correct!! Thanks for watching I appreciate it
What size bars are those
Thanks for watching, they are 11” JSR bars
What Bars are those ?
They are JSR 11” Fat bars. Thanks for watching
What size and make are those bars?
They are JSR 11” Fat bars
I’m 6’3. 250 pounds should I get the JSR 12’s or JSR 11’s ?
@@ericlou3405 I’m only 5’9” and the 11’s work great for me. You might wanna see if you can find someone close to you that has bars and get a feel before buying. Cause 12’s might even be too short
What handlebars are they
Thanks for watching! They are the JSR 11” Fat bars.
@@GoofyBastard thank you for responding, I’m interested in maybe getting this bike so any help is great and watching your videos helps so thank you
@@mikebecker5686 thanks so much for watching! These are very solid bikes and I don’t think you would be disappointed with it. Any questions you have, just ask...if I have the answer I’d be more than happy to help you
👍👍
Thanks for watching and stay safe!!!
Love those bars GB!!!!
Thank you and thanks for watching!!
I rather buy Valkyrie ton more power and torque.
Yes you are right on that but they don’t make the Valkyrie anymore. Thanks for watching