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Texas
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here for more pictures of "Ruby Earl"
Last taken July 20, 2008 and December 4, 2008
 
 
In June of 2005, I purchased a 2005 Kawasaki Nomad. Since
then I have taken a number of trips and day rides and I have
found the 1600 to be everything that Kawasaki says it is and
more...
Kawasaki standard write-up for 2005: One of Kawasakis
most popular motorcycles has returned to the lineup for 2005
with a new name and several enhancements that make this leading-edge
cruiser even better. The new Vulcan® 1600 Nomad retains
the elegant style of the Vulcan 1500 Nomad, but features more
chrome, enhanced passenger comfort, and the big V-twin engines
displacement has been boosted to 1,552cc to give it an even
keener powerband.
Beginning with the Nomads V-twin engine, displacement
has been increased from 1,470cc to 1,552cc. Combined with
new settings for the electronic fuel injection settings, the
1600 Nomad produces extra torque that cruiser riders will
appreciate.
Other design features carried over from the previous engine
include single overhead cams 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 revised Mitsubishi 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 is each
injector contain four small nozzles, with two aimed at each
intake valve.
A
16-bit electronic control unit (ECU) features programming
tailored specifically for the Nomads 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 provide the 1600 Nomad
with the best balance of power and performance, so the rider
has an abundance of torque for any riding condition.
Other refinements include larger engine mounts and a gear-driven
engine counterbalancer to reduce handlebar and floorboard
vibration, yet these features do not interfere with the engines
distinctive V-twin rumble.
Also, the 1600 Nomads steering has been lightened by
reducing the offset of the front fork from 20 to 15mm. The
result is that the motorcycle feels more neutral at low speeds,
as when maneuvering in parking lots.
In addition to its elegant, low-slung chassis, the new 1600
Nomad is endowed with more chrome and comfort features: New
chrome engine guards are standard and a new, thicker passenger
seat includes a backrest and aluminum grab bars. Plus, new
redesigned pillion floorboards for the passenger replace the
floorboards of the previous model. Combined, these features
make long-distance rides more comfortable and pleasurable.

2005 Kawasaki Nomad Specs:
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.
...And you shall henceforth be known
as
"Dances With Deer"
On Thursday, April 24, 2008, a group of
us were riding South on Hwy 674 between Rock Springs,
TX and Bracketville, TX. We were about 30 miles North
of Bracketville and riding as a group about 55 MPH. It
was about 2:30PM and I was located in the middle of the
group.
Out of the tree line to my right sprang
a deer that ran into the road and started running parallel
with my bike. Startled, I ducked my head and quickly accelerated
hoping to make the deer pass to the other side of the
road behind me instead of in front.
According to Chuck "txcwdancer"
Burt (riding directly behind me) and John "coon"
Cunningham (riding behind Burt), the deer then JUMPED
over me. I couldn't see, due to being ducked down. As
the deer jumped in the air over me, it twisted its' body
with its' rear legs going one way and its' front legs
going the opposite direction. While the deer twisted one
of its' hoofs scratched the top of my helmet. 
The deer tracked over me and landed on the
other side of the road where it landed on the pavement
and slid off into the gravel and dirt. I was told that
it didn't get up and flee. It must have broken it's back
during the jump. I was looking in my rear view mirror
hoping that txcwdancer wasn't going to get hit, not knowing
that it flew over me. All I could see was a cloud of dirt
when the deer hit the other side.
Being versed in EMS procedures, txcwdancer
and coon thought that they were going to have to help
me. They thought I'd been hit, but once they saw that
I was still upright and riding along OK, they were relieved.
Needless to say, when we stopped on the
side of the road about a mile or two down, everyone let
me know what happened. I feel lucky to go through that
without a scrape (well, except for my helmet). That deer
could have landed on top of me and broken every bone in
my body.
As far as I know, there are no photographs
or video of the incident. Txcwdancer was busy photographing
the whole trip, but didn't have any of his gear running
at the time.
I'm thankful to be alive and breathing.
John "Coon" Cunningham's account
of the incident:
I was the second bike in line behind Trip
when the deer decided to use him for a vaulting standard.
From where I was, it looked as if the deer made solid
contact with Trip. Txcwdancer was right in front of me
and right behind Trip and we were readying ourselves to
help Trip. Both of us having EMS training and knowing
for a fact that Trip was going down. For some unknown
reason Trip blew on through what looked like full contact
and the deer twisted on to the left side of the roadway.
I do believe the deer broke his back because when he hit
the pavement his rear half was pointed skyward and his
chest and front half was on the ground.
All of this happened in a split second and
nothing could have been done to prevent it. It's a site
I will never forget. I'm glad it turned out like it did.
It could have been worse, a lot worse.
We resumed with no delay looking closely
for more deer. And at the next stop found what we think
may be the scuff mark that closely resembles the hoof
of the deer precisely on the top of Trips helmet. Txcwdancer
has pictures of his helmet to confirm.
Feel free to email Trip at any of
the following email addresses:
robert@hilliard.ws
danceswithnomads@kawanow.org
trip@blueknightstx34.org

Articles
My
List Of Top Ten Texas Roads by Trip
My List Of Top Five
East Texas Roads by Trip
Bike Camping Lists
Trip's
Camping List - If you're not trailering
Trip's
Camping List - If you are trailering

Trip Reports (Honda Magna)
Texas Hill Country Trip, "The 3 Amigos Tour" - October, 2001
Arkansas Trip, "You're in ARK - IN - SAW" - June, 2002
Texas Hill Country Trip, "We Ride Again" - September, 2002
Texas Big Bend Trip, "Riding the Texas Top Ten" - May, 2003
Colorado Trip, "Roadway To Heaven" - August, 2003
Talimena Highway, "Scenic Highway 1" - October, 2003
Riding the "Pig Trail" - Highway 23 - May, 2004
The "Pig Trail" REVISITED - Highway 23 & 123 - June, 2004
Colorado/Wyoming Trip, "Yellowstone Experience" - September, 2004
OK/AR Trip, "The Run For Eureka Springs"
- April, 2005
Trip Reports (Kawasaki Nomad)
Mustang Island Trip "Plan B"
- September, 2005
Deal's
Gap/Natchez Trace "Slaying The Dragon"
- October, 2005
Texas
Big Bend "Quest for the River Road"
- May, 2006
Arkansas
Tour "The Hog Days of Summer"
- July, 2006
Ozarks
Tour "Running The Ozarks"
- October, 2006
Texas
Hill Country Tour "Just Get's Better & Better!"
- April, 2007
Dyass
Air Force Base "Up Close With A B-1 Bomber"
- August, 2007
Utah 2007 - "Grand Array Of Unique Beauty"
- October, 2007
Texas Hill Country Nirvana "Two trips to HC!"
- Sep/Oct, 2008
The KawaNOW National Rally - Custer, SD.
- June, 2009
Day Trips
Run To Queen Wilhelmina
- Saturday, February 4, 2006
Run
To Jefferson/Lunch at Auntie Skinner's
- Saturday, March 4, 2006
Photos used by Robert "Trip"
Hilliard

On September 18, 2006, a meeting was conducted at the Texas
Department of Agriculture in Austin, Texas. The theme for
the meeting was "Strengthening Our Partnership for Texas Children,
Roadmap to the Future of Child Nutrition". As part of that
theme, a picture I took of Highway 170 between Study Butte
and Presidio was used.
Trip Videos produced by VideoCafe
(All videos produced for Windows Media Player)

Going For A Ride
Combination Montage video of Rides
Deal's Gap-Natchez Trace Ride
Yellowstone-Tetons Ride
Freedom of the Saddle
Hill Country & Big Bend Tour
Talimena Scenic Byway-Hog Days Of Summer 2006
Life Is A Highway - Texas VROC MCH Rides
Running The Ozarks-Fall 2006 Ozark Tour
Running The Ozarks-Fast Forward Hyper Video
"I Believe I Can Fly"
"Utah-Grand Array Of Unique Beauty"
"Arizona Ramblin"
"Meet In Big Bend 2008 - TexasVROC"
"KawaNOW 2008 Rally Video"
Trip & Ruby Earl featured in TV Commercial
"KawaNOW 2009 National Rally Video
Riding Maps and Routes
(Choose a state for a look at some riding possibilities.)
Arkansas
Colorado
Mississippi
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Tennessee/North Carolina
Texas

To date, estimated travel miles on a motorcycle:
65,000

Accessories installed:
Kawasaki
F&S Vulcan Windshield.
Kawasaki
F&S Fork Shields.
Kawasaki
F&S Engine Guard.
Kawasaki
Hard Bags.
Kawasaki
F&S Hard Bag guards.
Kawasaki
Sissy Bar and Fender Rack.
Kuryakyn
Grips with Throttle Boss.
Kuryakyn
ISO Highway Pegs with Stirrups.
Brakeaway
Motorcycle Cruise Control.
Sage
Brush Engine Guard Chaps and Dresser Chaps.
Garmin
Zumo 550 GPS with RAM Mount.
J&M CB with whip antenna.
Utopia Backrest.
Fire & Steel Tachometer.
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