When Kawasaki increased passenger comfort and added additional chrome to its 2005 Vulcan® 1600 Nomad™ – as if the extra engine displacement wasn’t enough – it was pleased by rider response to this elegant cruiser. The attractive and well-equipped Nomad returns to the line-up in 2006 in both two-tone dress and in “basic black” and brings with it that same promise of the beckoning open road.

Its 95ci V-twin engine not only smoothes out backroads and highways, but produces enough torque to gain a new appreciation for a well-outfitted cruiser.

The engine features a single overhead cam and four valves per cylinder. Hydraulic valve lash adjusters automatically maintain valve clearance for smooth engine performance, reduced noise and reduced maintenance, while automatic cam chain tensioners keep cam timing accurate with virtually no maintenance.

The digital fuel injection system feeds each cylinder the appropriate fuel mixture through dual 36mm throttle bodies. A separate intake tract for each throttle body provides smooth engine operation, and the top of each injector contains four small nozzles, with two aimed at each intake valve.

A 16-bit electronic engine control unit (ECU) features programming tailored specifically for the Nomad’s fuel injection system. Using readings from various sensors, it monitors engine coolant temperature, intake air temperature, atmospheric pressure, intake air pressure and throttle position to adjust the amount of fuel injected.

Attention to these engineering details provides the 1600 Nomad with the best balance of power and performance, so the rider has an abundance of torque for any riding condition.

Large engine mounts and a gear-driven engine counter balancer reduce handlebar and floorboard vibration, yet these features do not interfere with the engine’s distinctive V-twin rumble or power-pulse feeling from its single-pin crankshaft.

The 1600 Nomad’s steering geometry is designed so that the motorcycle feels more neutral at low speeds, as when maneuvering in parking lots.

The 1600 Nomad is endowed with chrome and comfort features: Chrome engine guards are standard and a thick passenger seat includes a backrest and aluminum grab bars. Floorboards for the passenger combine to make long-distance rides more comfortable and pleasurable.