Vaquero pics

[Blakjack]

With my recent purchase of a 2012 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero, some have requested pics.  I finally got them uploaded on Photobucket:

http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/Rob_Stufflebeam/library/?page=1

I went for a ride today for a little over an hour... it'll be the only day even remotely ride-worthy for a week or more in Ohio with the impending snow we've got coming.  The more I ride this thing the more I like it.

Anyway... what do y'all think?  I'm still trying to come up with a nickname for her... hmmm.

[Ghost]

Has a nice clean look, i don't see a thing i would change.

[Chrome]

Great looking Green Dragon you got.Would add an extra set of eyes for it. I think a well spent $260.
Adrian

[Blakjack]

The driving lights are on the list.  I've already installed the 16" windshield and the iPod connector kit.  I'm also considering these, which sound simply amazing:

Twin Slash Round Slip-Ons for 2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero

[Gary]

 

I'll take one in black please!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Sharp bike    It's no wonder why Harley get's so pissed at the metric manufacturing company's.

[Gavin_Sons]

Id take that bike any day over a hardley.

[f6john]

    This is what I like on all the new touring bikes,



I also like the way the fender comes out to meet the bags

[fon1961]

Sharp bike!    How hard is it to get used to that fixed fairing in the twisties?

[Quicksilver]

Looks like a Praying Mantis eats Hardleys for breakfast.

[Daddie O]

The 80's called and they want their fluorescent green back.     I'm just teasing, sharp bike, ride safe!

[Blakjack]

Thanks guys!   

When I first started looking, I went to Harley first.  That day I looked at both a Road Glide and a Street Glide, but those bikes are so overpriced.  MSRP was in the neighborhood of the price I felt I could handle, but of course none of the bikes any dealer has in stock are MSRP are they?  Everything is extra... everything.

Next I looked at the new F6B... awesome bike, but no cruise?  Even after riding it, I just felt It did not have that "wow" factor.  I almost pulled the trigger on it, and even though the dealership worked hard to do a deal I was okay with, they couldn't quite get there when compared to the Vaquero.

Next I went to the Iron Pony megastore which is just around the corner from my house to see what they might have.  This place is huge and has about anything/everything a biker would want or need.  They're set up in an old K=Mart (or is it a Wal-Mart?) and they take up every bit of that space.  Check out their web site:  http://www.ironpony.com/ 
In the back of the store is where the dealership is tucked, and they deal in Victory, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and Polaris.  There, I test-rode a Victory Cross Country (which is very close to a Street Glide) and the Vaquero I ended up buying.

Out of all of them, the Vaquero has the biggest bang for the buck, bar none.  It has a ton of what others charge extra... electronic cruise, a nice big 1700cc 106 engine, six-gear tranny, color-matched fairing, the radio... I could go on and on.  Plus the green is the feature color for 2012, and I've never seen anything like it outside of a custom chopper.  It really looks awesome and I won't have any problems finding it in the parking lot.  The Vaq's MSRP was $17,499, and they discounted the bike to $14,799 on account of it being a 2012.  They wanted to make room for the shipment of '13's due to hit their floor. 

Okay I'm getting all long-winded again.  Bottom-line... the H-D's were too darn expensive, and the dealership (any dealership) will not work with anyone to bring down the price.  The F6B while pretty awesome, didn't "wow" me as I said.  It felt like my old Goldwing, and I didn't want another 'Wing.  The Victory was good but not too far behind the H-D in price.  The Vaquero rose to the top over all of 'em... great bike at a great price.

To answer fon's question about the fairing... not too bad at all.  It does take a little getting used-to in the twisty's, but I just go a tad slower until its second-nature.  I'll be 100% ready to go come the Kentucky ride.   

[.]

Very nice. Got a good deal on it too.