Nomad Specifications / History / Lineage
The following is a compiled listing of history and specifications
for each year of the Nomad.
1998 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Nomads were introduced in 1998 as a model G1, the 1999s were G1A the only differences
are in the crash bars, oil sight glass location and positioning of helmet locks. The 1998 was introduced in North America as a 1999. Only in Europe and Asia was it released as a 1998.
In the USA, the crash bar was an option but a standard accessory in Canada. Raising a bit of a stink in the USA could get you the crash bar included. Also, the 1998 was missing another,
smaller sight glass at the back of the crankcase cover. We believe the colors available for 1998 were the same as 1999, Candy Amaranth
Red Mica/Candy Persimmon and Pearl Boulogne/Candy Arsenate Green. 
Engine: VN1500-G1
Displacement: 1470 cc
Bore and Stroke: 102.0 x 90.0 mm
Maximum Torque: 83.2 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.6:1
Carburetor: Keihin CVK 40mm
Rake Angle: 32°
Front Wheel Travel: 5.9 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 3.9 in.
Front Tire Size: 150/80-16
Rear Tire Size: 150/80-16
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.2 gal.
Seat Height: 28.3 in.
Dry Weight: 725 lb.
1999 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Introduced as a G1A model. Colors available were Candy Amaranth Red Mica/Candy Persimmon and Pearl Boulogne/Candy Arsenate Green.
Note: 1999 model had the plastic oil pump gear.
Engine:
VN1500-G1A
Displacement: 1470 cc
Bore and Stroke: 102.0 x 90.0 mm
Maximum Torque: 83.2 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.6:1
Carburetor: Keihin CVK 40mm
Rake Angle: 32°
Front Wheel Travel: 5.9 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 3.9 in.
Front Tire Size: 150/80-16
Rear Tire Size: 150/80-16
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.2 gal.
Seat Height: 28.3 in.
Dry Weight: 725 lb.
2000 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Colors available were Candy Cardinal Red/Pearl Gentry Gray and
Pearl Purplish Black Mica.
Note: 1st year for Fuel Injection, but the 2000 model was a carb,
FI mix. Changed to a steel oil pump gear.
Engine Type: 4-stroke V-Twin
Displacement: 89.7 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke: 102 x 90 mm.
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Valve System: SOHC, 8 valves
Fuel System: Digital Fuel Injection
Ignition: Digital
Starting: Electric
Transmission: 5-speed with Positive Neutral Finder
Frame type: Double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / Trail: 32 degrees / 7.4"
Wheelbase: 65.6"
Suspension, Front-41 mm. cartridge-type telescopic fork
Suspension, Rear-Dual air-assisted shocks with 4-way rebound damping
Tire Front: 150/80-16
Tire Rear: 150/80-16
Brakes, Front-Dual discs
Brakes, Rear-Disc
Seat Height: 28.3"
Fuel Capacity: 4.2 gallons
Dry Weight: 739 pounds
2001 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Colors available were Galaxy Silver/Pearl Chateau Gray and Luminous Vintage Red/Metallic Canyon Silver.
Model: VN1500-L2
Engine Type: 4-stroke V-Twin
Displacement: 1470cc
Bore x Stroke: 102 x 90 mm.
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Valve System: SOHC, 8 valves
Carburetion: Mitsubishi 36mm x 2
Ignition: Digital
Starting: Electric
Transmission: 5-speed
Rake: 32 degrees
Wheelbase: 65.6"
Suspension, Front-41 mm. hydraulic telescopic fork
Suspension, Rear-air-assisted shocks with 4-way rebound damping
Tire Front: 150/80-16
Tire Rear: 150/80-16
Brakes, Front-Dual discs
Brakes, Rear-singe disc
Seat Height: 28.3"
Fuel Capacity: 4.2 gallons
Dry Weight: 739 pounds
2002 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Colors available were Ebony/Candy Cardinal Red and Pearl Burnish Beige/Pearl Luster Beige.
Model: VN1500-L3
Engine Type: 4-stroke V-Twin
Displacement: 1470cc
Bore x Stroke: 102 x 90 mm.
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Valve System: SOHC, 8 valves
Carburetion: Mitsubishi 36mm x 2
(Digital Fuel Injection was introduced later this year)
Ignition: Digital
Starting: Electric
Transmission: 5-speed
Rake: 32 degrees
Wheelbase: 65.6"
Suspension, Front-41 mm. hydraulic telescopic fork
Suspension, Rear-air-assisted shocks with 4-way rebound damping
Tire Front: 150/80-16
Tire Rear: 150/80-16
Brakes, Front-Dual discs
Brakes, Rear-singe disc
Seat Height: 28.3"
Fuel Capacity: 5.0 gallons
Dry Weight: 743 pounds
2003 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Colors available were Black Pearl and Luminous Vintage Red/Pearl Luster Beige
Vulcan 1500 Nomad
Engine type: 4-stroke V-Twin
Displacement: 1470 cc
Bore x stroke: 102 x 90mm
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Valve system: SOHC, 8 valves
Cooling system: Liquid
Fuel system: Digital Fuel Injection with dual 36mm throttle bodies
Ignition: Digital
Starting: Electric
Transmission: 5-speed with Positive Neutral Finder
Final Drive: Shaft
Frame type: Double-cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake/trail: 32°/188 mm (7.4 inches)
Suspension: front 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork
Suspension: rear Dual air-assisted shocks with 4-way rebound damping
Tire front: 150/80-16
Tire rear: 150/80-16
Brakes: front/rear Dual discs/disc
Wheelbase: 1665 mm (65.6 inches)
Seat height: 720 mm (28.3 inches)
Fuel capacity: 19 litres (4.2 gallons)
Dry weight: 337 kg (743 pounds)
2004 Kawasaki Nomad 1500:
Colors available were Metallic Dark Bronze and Metallic Nocturne Blue/Metallic Phantom Silver.
Note: Last year for the 1500cc motor in the Nomad.
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
Type: Liquid cooled, 50-degree tandem V-twin
Valve arrangement: SOHC, 2 intake valves, 2 exhaust valves, operated by hydraulic adjusters
Displacement, bore x stroke: 1470cc, 102 x 90mm
Compression ratio: 9:1
Carburetion: Fuel Injection
Lubrication: Wet sump, 3.7 qt.
Minimum fuel grade: 87 octane
Transmission: Wet, multiplate clutch, 5 speeds
Final drive: Shaft, 2.619:1
CHASSIS
Wheelbase: 65.6 in.
Overall length: 98.8 in.
Rake/trail: 32 degrees / 7.4 in.
Wheels: Cast aluminum, 3.0 x 16in. front, 3.5 x 16in. rear
Front tire: 150/80-16 71H Bridgestone Excedra G703, tubeless radial
Rear tire: 150/80-16 71H Bridgestone Excedra G702, tubeless radial
Front brake: 2, single-action, twin-piston calipers, 11-in. disc
Rear brake: single-action caliper, 12.5-in. disc
Front suspension: 41mm stanchions, 5.9-in. travel
Rear suspension: dual dampers, 3.9 in. travel, adjustable for air-pressure, rebound damping
Fuel capacity: 4.2 gal., (1.1 gal. reserve)
Wet weight: 775 lbs.
Weight bias (front/rear): 56.7 % rear wheel
Handlebar width: 32.5 in.
Seat height: 28.3 in.
Inseam equivalent: 33.2 in.
ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION
Battery: 12v, 14AH
Forward lighting: 55/60-watt headlight
Taillight: Dual bulbs
Instruments: speedometer, odometer, tripmeter, fuel gauge; warning lights for high beam, turns signals, neutral, coolant temperature, oil pressure
PERFORMANCE
Fuel mileage: 23.2 to 38.0 mpg, 34.8 mpg average
Average range: 146.2 mi.
RPM at 60 mph, top gear: 2545
200 yard, top-gear acceleration from 50 mph, terminal speed: 65.9 mph
Quarter-mile acceleration: 15.11 sec., 84.05 mph
2005 Kawasaki Nomad 1600:
Colors available were Galaxy Silver Type 2/Ebony and Metallic Ocean
Blue/Metallic Phantom Silver.
Note: Complete frame redesign, first year of the 1600cc motor in
the Nomad. Also, there were a select number of 2005 Nomads made
with a 1500cc motor at the start of the model year. They have the
same taillight as the 2004.
Engine: Four-stroke V-twin,
SOHC, 8-valve
Displacement: 1,552cc
Bore x stroke: 102.0 x 95.0mm
Compression ratio: 9.0:1
Cooling: Liquid
Carburetion: Digital fuel injection with (2) 36mm throttle bodies
Ignition: Digital
Transmission: Five-speed
Frame: High-tensile steel, double cradle
Rake / trail: 32° / 7.4 in.
Suspension type, front: 43mm hydraulic fork
Suspension type, rear: Dual hydraulic shocks
Tire, front: 150/80 x 16
Tire, rear: 170/70 x 16
Brakes, front / rear: Dual hydraulic 300mm discs / single 300mm
disc
Overall length: 8'4"
Ground clearance: 5.3 in.
Seat height: 27.8 in.
Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 66.3 in.
Oil capacity: 3.3 US Qts. w/oil filter.
2006 Kawasaki Nomad 1600:
Colors available were Metallic Dark Green/Metallic Phantom Silver and Ebony.
Engine Type: 4-Stroke, Liquid-Cooled, SOHC, 4 Valve Cylinder Head, 50° V-Twin
Displacement: 1,552 cc
Bore and Stroke: 102.0 x 95.0 mm
Maximum Torque: 94 lb-ft @ 2,700 rpm
Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
Fuel Injection: DFI with Keihiin 36mm Throttle Bodies (2)
Ignition: TCBI Dual Plug Digital Advance
Transmission: 5-Speed
Final Drive: Shaft
Rake/Trail: 32°/7.2 in.
Front Wheel Travel: 5.9 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 3.9 in.
Front Tire Size: 150/80-16
Rear Tire Size: 170/70-16
Wheelbase: 66.5 in.
Front Suspension: 43mm Fork
Rear Suspension: Twin Air Adjustable Shocks, 4-Way Rebound Damping
Front Brake Type: Dual 300mm Discs with Twin-Piston Calipers
Rear Brake Type: Single 300mm Disc with Twin-Piston Calipers
Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.3 gal.
Seat Height: 28.3 in.
Dry Weight: 772 lb.
2007 Kawasaki Nomad 1600:
Colors available were Ebony, Candy Cardinal Red/Metallic Titanium and Ebony/Metallic Titanium.
Engine: Four-stroke, air/liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, 50-degree V-twin
Displacement: 1,552cc / 95ci
Bore x stroke: 102.0mm x 95.0mm
Compression ratio: 9.0:1
Cooling: Liquid
Induction: Digital fuel injection with dual 36mm throttle bodies
Ignition: TCBI dual plug with digital advance
Transmission: Five-speed
Frame: High-tensile steel, double cradle
Rake / trail: 32 degrees/ 7.2 in.
Front Suspension: wheel travel 41mm hydraulic fork / 5.9 in.
Rear Suspension: wheel travel Dual air-assisted shocks with four-way rebound damping / 3.9 in.
Tire: front 150/80x16
Tire: rear 170/70x16
Brakes: front / rear Dual 300mm hydraulic discs / 300mm disc
Overall length: 99.0 in.
Overall width: 40.9 in.
Overall height: 59.3 in.
Seat height: 28.3 in.
Dry weight: 772 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase: 66.5 in.
2008 Kawasaki Nomad 1600:
Colors available were Metallic Diablo Black, Two-Tone: Metallic Ocean Blue / Neutron Silver, Two-Tone: Candy Fire Red / Metallic Diablo Black.
Note: Last year for the 1600cc motor in the Nomad.
Engine Four-stroke, air/liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, 50-degree V-twin
Displacement 1,552cc / 95ci
Bore x stroke 102.0mm x 95.0mm
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Cooling Liquid
Induction Digital fuel injection with dual 36mm throttle bodies
Ignition TCBI dual plug with digital advance
Transmission Five-speed
Frame High-tensile steel, double cradle
Rake / trail 32 degrees/ 7.2 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel 41mm hydraulic fork / 5.9 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel Dual air-assisted shocks with four-way rebound damping / 3.9 in.
Tire, front 150/80x16
Tire, rear 170/70x16
Brakes, front / rear Dual 300mm hydraulic discs / 300mm disc
Overall length 99.0 in.
Overall width 40.9 in.
Overall height 59.3 in.
Seat height 28.3 in.
Dry weight 772 lbs.
Fuel capacity 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase 66.5 in.
Warranty 24 months
Good TimesT Protection Plan 12, 24, 36 or 48 months
For 2008, Kawasaki offers XM satellie radio through a new state-of-the-art audio system offered on the VulcanT Nomad 1600 Touring model.
2009 Kawasaki Nomad 1700:
Colors available were Metallic Diablo Black, Two-tone: Candy Diamond Red / Pearl Luster Beige, Two-tone: Metallic Nocturne Blue / Pearl Luster Beige
New 1700cc, Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, V-twin
Engine Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, SOHC, four valves per cylinder, V-twin
Displacement 1,700cc / 103.7ci
Bore x stroke 102 x 104mm
Compression ratio 9.5:1
Cooling Liquid, plus cooling fins
Ignition Digital fuel injection, dual 42mm throttle bodies
Transmission Six-speed with overdrive
Frame Steel, double-cradle with box-section single-tube backbone
Rake / trail 30° / 6.7 in.
Front Suspension / wheel travel 45mm hydraulic fork / 5.5 in.
Rear Suspension / wheel travel Swingarm with twin air-assisted shocks, with 4-way rebound damping / 3.1 in.
Tire, front 130/90x16
Tire, rear 170/70x16
Brakes, front / rear Dual 300 mm discs, dual twin-piston calipers / Single 300 mm disc, twin-piston caliper
Overall length 98.4 in.
Overall width 40.4 in.
Overall height 56.7 in.
Seat height 29.5 in.
Curb weight 822.5 lbs.
Fuel capacity 5.3 gal.
Wheelbase 66.5 in.
Warranty 12 months
Good TimesT Protection Plan 12, 24, 36 or 48 months