There is a beautiful and varied range of touring motorcycles today that offer the best in comfort and luxury on long highway rides. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle have been nailing this formula for a long time now. The influence of low-slung American land yachts has also led brands like BMW and Honda to offer some pretty cool luxury touring bikes loaded with modern features.
While BMW offers an extensive lineup with the K 1600 series and the old-school-vibing R 18 bunch, things are a lot more limited for Japanese bike makers. Among Japanese manufacturers, the Honda Gold Wing is the most popular offering. However, there is a forgotten gem from Kawasaki that is the only comfortable highway companion to perfectly replicate old-school, big-twin American charm.
All-Day Highway Runs Are The Coziest On Touring Bikes
A rider and pillion touring comfortably on a 2026 Indian Pursuit on a freeway, side profile rolling shotIndian Motorcycle
Touring bikes are the perfect companions forall-day highway runsbecause of their superior wind protection, comfortable seating, neutral ergonomics, and ample seating space for two. They are also loaded with technological features that focus on comfort, convenience, and entertainment to make long rides fun. While the touring motorcycle segment has now evolved to include various styles like sport-tourers, adventure tourers, and crossovers, it is still the OG bunch of heavyweight full-dressers and baggers that lead the show in offering the most beautiful and laid-back highway-riding experience with superior practicality and features.
Especially The Low-Slung Models
Riders on 2016 Harley-Davidson Street Glides cruising through townHarley-Davidson
This is primarily because of the laid-back rider triangle with forward-set footpegs (and even footboards in some cases), a tall, wide handlebar inclined towards the rider, and uncompromised seating comfort with chunky and well-contoured seats. Then there is the fact that full-dressers and baggers are equipped with commendable luggage-carrying capacity right off the showroom floor. The heavyweight models are also mostly equipped with big-twin engines with displacements over 1,500 cc, long-stroke designs, and meaty torque. These features give the engines their unique characteristics and punchy performance.
Full-Dressers Or Baggers: Which Is Better?
Full dressers do have a slight edge here due to standard top cases. Also, these top cases come with integrated back support for the pillion. However, they add weight and affect the riding appeal. This is a trade-off that gives baggers an edge, offering lighter handling and a sleeker, cooler visual appeal with custom-bike cues. Baggers have a lower center of gravity owing to reduced top-heaviness from the absence of a loaded top box.
A sportier suspension for sharper cornering performance sometimes complements the lower weight. Furthermore, some baggers also come with detachable side cases, which can instantly transform them into urban-friendly motorcycles. However, since we are focusing on highway riding capabilities, both are solid options. It just comes down to personal preferences for riding solo or with a pillion, and the size or amount of luggage.
Kawasaki Offers Some Gorgeous Touring Alternatives To Harley-Davidson
A rider using the top box of the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager, cinematic front close-up shotKawasaki
Even if you are confused about whether to choose a bagger or a full-dresser, Kawasaki is currently the only motorcycle maker that offers the option to choose between the two. This is thanks to its seasoned and classic-vibing Vulcan 1700 lineup. While Honda offers the most loaded Japanese touring bike with the Gold Wing, the Vulcan 1700 series is for those who fancy old-school charm and want a more refined and reliable alternative to Harley-Davidson models.
Rider and passenger on a 2025 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LTKawasaki
Kawasaki also offers an impressive middleweight alternative to American V-twin touring-ready cruisers like the Vulcan 900 Classic LT. However, it is not as enticing as the go-big-or-go-home 1700s. Among the Vulcan 1700s, while the Voyager full-dresser offers more storage space and wind deflection, the Vaquero bagger steals the show with a cooler look and more engaging dynamics without compromising highway comfort. The Vaquero shares the same engine and hardware as the Voyager but is more affordable, making it a better value.
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A Forgotten Harley Rival From Kawasaki Handles Long Highway Days Beautifully
Price: $19,999
A Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is being ridden on the freeway front third quarter rolling shotKawasaki
The Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is a solid companion for long highway rides. This is thanks to its planted chassis, a massive V-twin engine with meaty low-end torque coupled to an overdrive six-speed transmission, and a frame-mounted fairing for solid wind protection. It also impresses with electronic features like cruise control, especially since Kawasaki has not extensively updated the Vulcan 1700 series since its 2009 inception.
Vulcan 1700 Vaquero cornering along a winding road side profile viewKawasaki
The Vaquero being unchanged for so long actually works in its favor, evoking old-school, time-capsule charm while also helping Kawasaki keep its most luxurious motorcycle priced under $20,000. For reference, rivals of similar caliber easily breach the $25,000 mark. Notable rivals include the $27,999 Indian Chieftain or Challenger and the $25,999 Harley-Davidson Road Glide.
One Of The Coolest-Looking Baggers Out There
2026 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero bagger cornering on a mountain road, front third quarter viewKawasaki
This is thanks to its custom-inspired styling. It gets blacked-out elements like the suspension, brakes, and the engine. Furthermore, a unique Metallic Brilliant Golden Black shade elevates its badass appeal further. Its curvy yet muscular design language helps highlight the Vaquero’s distinctive front fairings more prominently. Color-matched weatherproof side cases and a contoured seat design that blends into the motorcycle’s silhouette complete this Kawasaki touring bike’s head-turning visual appeal.
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Cozy Ergonomics And Ample Wind Protection Help Curb Fatigue
An action rear 3/4 shot of a 2023 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS with a pillionKawasaki
The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero impresses by balancing styling and highway comfort. Its cozy ergonomics are courtesy of a plush and well-contoured seat for the rider. This results in a low seat height of 28.7 inches, making it accessible to shorter riders. Furthermore, its standard forward-mounted footboards and a tall, wide handlebar translate into relaxed, long saddle times. Kawasaki offers optional features like a gel touring seat and even heated seats to dial up the comfort. Also, while the standard seat is not quite comfortable for a pillion, Kawasaki offers accessories like a backrest and passenger footboards to make it cozier.
Rider on a 2025 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero cornerintg into a winding road, front third quarter viewKawasaki
Its distinctive frame-mounted fairing is huge, with ample width that covers almost till the end of the handlebars. This, along with its subtle lower fairings, provides solid wind protection during highway runs. Since it’s a relatively minimal-styled bagger, there is always room for better wind protection due to its short windscreen. Kawasaki offers one of the most extensive lists of optional windscreens, ranging from 12 inches to 18 inches in height. It will surely fiddle with the visual appeal, but if one wants practicality over styling, this is the way to go.
Complemented By Features To Help With Long Saddle Hours
Ariel studio shot of Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager instrument clusterKawasaki
While the Vaquero is quite dated in terms of technology features, it still packs the essential bits to elevate highway rides with assistance and entertainment. The cockpit is quite the happening place with a sizable LCD flanked by four old-school, circular analog dials. There’s also an additional slimmer LED below this layout for the radio. A neatly integrated audio system with fairing-mounted speakers and intercom headset compatibility enhances onboard entertainment. The side cases are weatherproof and lockable, with a combined storage capacity of 20 gallons.
On the safety front, there is cruise control and dual-channel ABS. While the feature list is bare-bones by 2026 standards, it hits all the right notes to enhance the Vaquero’s highway riding capabilities. Notably, the Vaquero (along with the Voyager full-dresser) was the first Kawasaki model to feature a ride-by-wire throttle, predating any of the sportier Ninjas.
Underpinnings To Elevate This Land Yacht’s Highway Comfort And Stability
A Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is being ridden on the freeway front third quarter rolling shotKawasaki
There is no fancy stuff here. It is old-school and tried and tested. The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero has a sturdy double downtube cradle frame. It is quite heavy, which also contributes significantly to its 844.5-pound curb weight. But this heft helps with highway stability and the chassis’s longevity. The chassis is suspended on 43 mm telescopic front forks with 5.5 inches of travel and rebound-adjustable twin air-assisted rear shocks with 3.1 inches of travel.
Braking duties are handled by twin 300 mm discs coupled to two-piston floating calipers up front. The rear gets a single 300 mm disc coupled to a two-piston floating caliper. Grip duties are courtesy of chunky 130-section front and 170-section rear tires wrapped around 16-inch alloy wheels.
Powered By The Biggest Kawasaki Engine Today
Biggest Kawasaki Engine side profile close-up shotKawasaki
The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is powered by Kawasaki’s largest engine today. The 1,700 cc liquid-cooled V-twin has a distinctive 52-degree layout, which Kawasaki claims gives it a unique rumble and, hence, character. It produces 82 horsepower and, thanks to a marginally longer stroke, delivers meatier torque at 107.6 pound-feet.
This bagger is quite peppy thanks to its torque peaking at just 2,750 RPM with the surge starting as low as 1,500 RPM. This helps mask its heft well. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed transmission and a final carbon fiber belt drive. Its fifth and sixth gears are overdrive units that help keep the engine relaxed when at highway cruising speeds.
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This Classic-Vibing Bagger Deserves More Attention
A Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero parked on a mountain road side profile viewKawasaki
The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero woos us with features, luxury, and styling that have been tried and tested over the years. Hence, the chances of any failure are very low. This helps build trust in the durability and longevity of this touring bike. Furthermore, its time-capsule formula, with little to no updates over seventeen years, has helped keep pricing aggressive. Compared to modern rivals, the Vaquero’s styling, comfort, and highway-riding capabilities are not far off.
Hence, its extremely aggressive price tag of $19,999 makes it a killer deal. Its closest rival—the BMW R 18 B—is priced at $21,770 but struggles to match the Vulcan 1700’s comfort and wind protection, among other things. In today’s world of tech-savvy touring bikes, an old-school charm like the Vulcan 1700 is necessary to balance the scales.
Source: Kawasaki
