Vaquero Vs Voyager

Vaquero Vs Voyager

So a couple of differences that haven't been mentioned;

The Vaquero comes with a very short stock windshield. Many Vaquero owners replace this, but some don't.
The Vaquero has side-opening saddlebags and trim that makes the back end look a little more 'stretched'

Whereas the Voyager has top-opening bags and uses chrome trim to bridge the gap between the bags and the fender;

(Nomad pictured)

The fairing on the Vaquero and Voyager are similar; but the font on the gauges of the Vaquero is a little different; it's a bit 'bolder'. The Vaquero inner fairing is painted the color of the bike (see my profile pic); on most Voyager models, it's just black (even if the bike isn't black)

The engine, transmission, et al are otherwise identical. Many parts work with both. Worth noting that if you frequently ride with passengers, the passenger backrest for the Vaquero is several hundred bucks extra, (alternative, you can buy an aftermarket seat from Mustang with a passenger backrest option).

Having ridden both, I can say the trunk definitely does make the Voyager more top heavy, but it's not unbearable.

Ultimately it comes down to styling. My last bike had a trunk; but I ultimately decided I didn't need it that much. And I don't miss it. I have a trailer for long trips; and the Vaquero is a bit sleeker, lighter, and more nimble without it. I prefer the looks too. The Vaquero also generally comes in "louder" colors, like white, bright orange, lime green, etc. Whereas the Voyager is more neutral with mild blues, silvers, etc. The current offerings; other than all-black (If you enjoy the additional challenge of not being sure which black bike in the parking lot is your black bike, then this is moot. If you're like me, and like anything BUT black, these are your options), are a bright white with lime-green trim on the Vaquero, or a black and silver two-tone for the Voyager.

Both models currently have ABS, but on pre-2014 Vaqueros it was an option. 2014 SE Vaqueros and 2015-up Vaqueros have ABS standard, as does the Voyager.

Finally, the Voyager has a much larger lower fairing that provides a lot more wind protection for your legs. Personally, that was one of the biggest things leaning me towards the Vaquero. I can always throw more layers on, but baking with a 1700cc engine between your legs and not enough wind flowing through is no fun. The leg heat of even the Voyager is nothing like some bikes I've ridden, but it's definitely on the warmer side of the scale. Both bikes ride hot at low speeds, but I found that the Vaquero didn't really have any noticeable leg heat when you were moving; the Voyager did.

You'll love whichever one you get, and there are deals to be had. Be on the lookout for leftover previous-model year bikes, there's lots in the spring but even now there will still be some. In other words, 2015 models. They'll be thousands cheaper than a 2016 model year, and still be a brand new bike with the full 3-year unlimited mile warranty from Kawasaki. Worth looking into.

-John

Vaquero Vs Voyager

Source: https://www.vulcanforums.com/threads/voyager-vs-vaquero-comparison.130474/

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