I purchased my 2010 Nomad in July of 2011 it was a leftover with 0 miles on it. I found two others exactly the same at other dealers but only one was serious about dealing.
The Nomad has been on the short list of bikes I liked and wanted for awhile. I have always like the look of Nomads be it the 1500, 1600, and now 1700s.
The new top loading bags are scoffed at by some of the 1500 and 1600 Nomad riders as is the belt vs shaft drive on the 1500 & 1600s. Personally I like the looks of the top load bags but there is a bit of a gap between fender and bags to allow them to open which does give them a clean look up close.
I upgraded from a 750 Shadow to this bike and it has gobs of power compared to the 750 and slow speed handling is actually better at least to me.
The bike is geared very tall and 6th gear really does not come into it's own until 65 mph. and makes interstate cruising very relaxed. With that said though you will need to down shift if you really want to get it moving which I have found it does with little problem.
There are no issues keeping up with the 104CID Harley's though in a drag race with the Nomad gearing it will be at a disadvantage. If you want more mph. the typical exhaust, fuel processor, and intake upgrade will wake it up.
It does generate quite a bit of heat but no more than the typical big twin air cooled or water cooled. There is some gear whine which is typical for straight cut gears in the transmission and belt noise vanished after the first 1,000 miles.
1st to 2nd shift is loud but this apparently is also typical of the '09 & '10 1700 Vulcans. The seat is comfy but does curve up a bit too much for me in the front.
Air shocks are easy to put air into if you are riding two up and the shocks have easy to adjust pre-load settings. The seat is super easy to remove to access the battery.
The windshield is adjustable and at 6'-3" I have it actually set pretty low and get very little turbulence thanks in part to the lower deflectors on the forks.
The fit and finish I think is superb on this bike and it will turn some heads though not everyone will like the style of the hard bags. I like the "classic" Amercian cruiser/bagger styling that is still distinctive in a sea of Harley Davidson's.
Last but not least the cruise control is amazing!
Upgrades/Accessories: None at this time other than a set of highway pegs for the crash bars. I do plan on getting a luggage rack but one of the things I liked about the Nomad aside from style, the color, fit and finish, and the cool Nomad name was that it came with everything many typically add to their bike. It does seem aftermarket parts are a little lacking for the 1700 Vulcans at this time.
Reviews are provided on an "as is" basis with no warranty and should be considered entertainment only. Reviews should not be used for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to, making decisions about any referenced vehicles, products, modifications or other information.
