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Test Rides and Reviews If you've gone out and ridden it... let us know your thoughts...

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  #1  
Old 08-15-2011, 10:13 AM
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2011 KOW a SAKI Vacquero

Thanks to Slowrebel for letting me know about a KOW a SAKI demo ride event that was going on.

So we head out to the event and we're 2 of 4 Harley riders attending. Everybody else is on a crotch rocket of some kind, 1 BMW sport bike, a few Ducati's, and a few I don't know what they were. As expected the sport bikes are getting all of the attention so the cruisers were virtually open to ride. I have been wanting to try out a Vacquero for several months but none of the dealers near me even had 1 in stock. Considering they're $15k new and come with a 1700 cc engine and a 6 speed transmission I was actually looking forward to riding one. The demo event was in the parking lot of a horse racing track. I figured we were just going to cruise around at low speeds in the parking lot. I was surprised to find out I was wrong. They were taking us out in traffic, about 10 bikes at a time, for 15-20 minutes of riding in stop and go, highway speeds, u-turns, and pot hole dodging.

The goods:
- Cool looking bike IMO
- Muscle car looking dash, cool in my book
- light weight feel. It feels much lighter than my RK
- fixed fairing. Yes I have a love for Harley's Road Glide and this is Kow's attempt at a Street Glide look with a Road Glide type fixed fairing
- awesome brakes.
- very maneuverable, easy to turn, almost too easy.
- suspension is extremely cushy. This might be a problem riding 2 up, but with my fat butt on it, it was perfect.

The bad and ugly:
- For 1700 cc, I expected more get up and go. My stock 88" w/ a stage 1 could run circles around it, much less my now upgraded 95" w/ ported heads. I think Slowrebel's 80" EVO could outrun this thing w/out trying. People say "Harley's are slow"...well nope, I found something slower.
- the lightweight feel I mentioned above comes down to replacing steel parts with plastic parts. Lots and lots of plastic, some of it is even chromed.
- I wouldn't sit on the bike with the kick stand down. It didn't seem solid enough to support my weight.
- Even though the bike turns super well, the floor boards drag unintentionally. I have to lean my RK pretty drastically to drag my floor boards, but with the Vacquero, you just can't lean it over as much. KOW put some steel thingy's under the aluminum floorboards to take the grinding of the pavement when turning, but these would need to be replaced more often than tires due to how effortlessly I was able to drag the boards.
- The engine vibrates MORE as the RPM's increase. I was expecting a touring bike to get smoother the more you spun it, not get the shakes. It's not bad and it's not like the whole bike starts to wobble, but you feel the engine vibrate more and more as the RPM's go up, until after 5000 rpm, where they seem to start to dissipate.

In the end you get a nice looking bike for an MSRP of $15k. I've seen them on ebay as low as $11k. For a new bike that comes with a warranty that's very CHEAP in book. On the flip side, you're getting your money's worth and nothing more.
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Old 08-15-2011, 10:48 AM
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Interesting. I certainly would've assumed it would be quick. A buddy had a Star Stratoliner (a beautiful and convincing RK clone) and he was quick to quote the published hp/tq numbers....but he couldn't outrun my 88.
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  #3  
Old 08-15-2011, 09:57 PM
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It is a cool looking bike. Specs say 108 lbs torque at 2700 RPM. I too, am surprised that it seemed slow. I wonder if the aftermarket can help that at all.
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Old 08-15-2011, 10:42 PM
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My 2000 Kaw. Nomad 1500 was slow~
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Old 08-16-2011, 06:02 AM
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Being a "new" rider I was slightly intimidated getting on the 1700cc Vaquero from my 80" Evo, I was second in line with my group which put me directly behind the "guide" which gave me the chance to try and do some rapid acceleration.

To say I was disappointed and very surprised at the power levels would be an understatement it was just straight up no power to me. There is no question in my mind the 80" Evo would walk circles around it all day and night without trying.
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Old 08-16-2011, 08:37 AM
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Motorcycle.com did a comparo earlier this year between a Vaquero and an RG Custom w. a 103. The dyno tests were remarkably similar, but they said the RG "felt" more powerful.

Tried linking to the dyno charts, but can't get it to work so read all about it here.
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Old 08-16-2011, 08:45 AM
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404 on your link.

I did a google for Vaquero Road Glide and found THIS on youtube
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Old 08-16-2011, 09:00 AM
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I don't consider 15K "cheap"
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Old 08-16-2011, 09:14 AM
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in comparison to the cost of a new Road Glide, it is cheaper.
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Old 08-16-2011, 09:48 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BenBoosted View Post
in comparison to the cost of a new Road Glide, it is cheaper.
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Old 08-16-2011, 12:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redleg View Post
Motorcycle.com did a comparo earlier this year between a Vaquero and an RG Custom w. a 103. The dyno tests were remarkably similar, but they said the RG "felt" more powerful.

Tried linking to the dyno charts, but can't get it to work so read all about it here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenBoosted View Post
404 on your link.

I did a google for Vaquero Road Glide and found THIS on youtube
Well, it would work if the text of the hyperlink said kaw@saki (with an a, instead of @), not Kowalski...
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Old 08-16-2011, 06:52 PM
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Damned profanity filters!
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Old 08-23-2011, 08:23 AM
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Thanks for the report! I, too, have been curious about this bike but haven't had a chance to demo ride one yet. My '99 Kawi Drifter 1500 was a bit of a dog in the acceleration dept, but there was aftermarket support which helped bump it up a notch so I'm sure there'll be something available for this one, too.
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