1999 Kawasaki Nomad from United States of America
Summary:
One of the very best all around tourer/cruisers..
Faults:
No debilitating breakdowns on the road, ever.
Had a cam-tower oil leak - cured by using different weight oil.
Stock headlight on the 1999 Nomads is notoriously weak, cured with a stronger H-4 bulb.
1999 Nomads had a plastic oil-pump gear which are prone to failure - mine did not fail, but I replaced it with a steel gear prophylactically. Later models all have steel gears.
General Comments:
The Kawasaki Nomad is a great road bike... long-legged, able to carry large amounts of cargo, and comfortable. Has probably the best factory saddlebags out there, period. And with a low center of gravity, floorboards, windshield and the usual over-the-road cruising stuff, my Nomad will haul with anything from Marysville or Milwaukee.
The 1999 Nomad is carbureted and very simple to work on, but could use a tad larger gas tank, which was cured in the later models. But that is not a critical area for me, as it will pretty easily run 115-130 miles on regular 87-octane gas before hitting the reserve -- and usually gets about 36-39 miles per gallon, whether on the long-pavement or just puttering around.
Change the oil every three thousand miles, and the rear tire about every 15-18K miles, and she runs right down the road. I ride about 12-16K miles a year, last year 19K, and think nothing of logging 500-1000 miles in a weekend on my 1999 Nomad. Have done several 700-mile days on the Nomad, and one run of slightly over 1000 miles in about 20 hours... no strain, no ordeal, just get on and enjoy the scenery.
I've looked at newer bikes, but find I always come back to my ol' faithful Nomad as it's stayed trustworthy and reliable. Even thought there is no perfect bike, this is by far the best I've had in almost 40 years of riding.
Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th February, 2005
25th May 2006, 15:39
I bought my Nomad new in 1998, and it still runs like new.
The only trouble I had with it was when the PLASTIC oil drive gear failed. Kawasaki replaced it at no charge. They will replace the plastic gear even if the bike is out of warranty.
Just get on and ride -- tires, oil, and gas are the only things I have paid for since it was new. I get around 35 mpg. A friend of mine put less restrictive pipes on his, and re-jetted to a smaller jet, and now gets around 47 mpg.
21st Oct 2005, 05:33
Yes, the bike is great. I have 72,000 miles on it... just the best I ever owned. VROC #3418, check it out!
Dennis Comer.