2010 Kawasaki VN1700 Custom (Nomad) – SN743

2010 Kawasaki VN1700 Nomad – 17,537 Miles – Vance & Hines – Florida Import – £7,495

A beautifully presented, fully equipped heavyweight touring cruiser

Freshly imported from sunny Florida, this Kawasaki VN1700 Nomad is an absolutely beautiful example of one of Kawasaki’s finest large-capacity touring cruisers.

Having covered just 17,537 miles from new, the bike has been garage kept and its overall presentation certainly reflects that. The metallic two-tone paintwork remains deep and glossy, the extensive chrome work presents extremely well and, as the photographs show, this is a motorcycle that has clearly been cared for.

The Nomad was built for riders who wanted the imposing looks and character of a traditional American V-twin cruiser, but with the engineering, dependability and long-distance usability for which Kawasaki became renowned. With a huge fuel-injected 1700cc V-twin, six-speed transmission, belt final drive, electronic cruise control and genuine touring equipment, it is a serious mile-eating cruiser rather than simply a bike styled to look like one.

The history of the Kawasaki Nomad

The Nomad name first appeared in 1998 on Kawasaki’s Vulcan 1500 Nomad. Kawasaki deliberately developed it for the emerging class of large American-style touring cruisers: motorcycles combining the open appearance of a traditional cruiser with a substantial windscreen, hard luggage and genuine two-up touring ability. The 1600 Nomad followed, before Kawasaki completely redeveloped the concept for the introduction of the Vulcan 1700 family in 2009.

The VN1700 represented a significant step forward. Kawasaki increased capacity to 1,700cc – approximately 103.7 cubic inches – and paired its fuel-injected V-twin with a new six-speed transmission with overdrive. The previous shaft final drive gave way to a strong, quiet belt drive, while Kawasaki’s Electronic Throttle Valve system allowed the Nomad to gain one of its most useful touring features: electronic cruise control.

Within the Vulcan 1700 range, the Nomad occupied a particularly attractive middle ground. It retained the uncluttered appearance of a classic cruiser but added the equipment serious touring riders actually wanted: large lockable hard panniers, a substantial windscreen, passenger backrest, passenger floorboards, touring seat and extensive protection bars. It therefore offered much of the long-distance capability of the larger Voyager without the bulk of a full touring fairing and top box.

This particular VN1700 Nomad

Our bike is exactly what a Nomad should be: big, comfortable, imposing and beautifully equipped.

Finished in a very classy metallic titanium/champagne and black two-tone, the paint suits the enormous amount of factory chrome perfectly. The deeply valanced front and rear mudguards, colour-matched hard panniers and chrome detailing give the motorcycle a genuinely premium appearance.

Looking closely through the photographs, this example is particularly well specified. Alongside the equipment already mentioned, I can confidently identify the following:

• 17,537 miles from new
• Freshly imported from Florida, USA
• Garage kept
• Powerful 1,700cc fuel-injected V-twin
• 6-speed transmission with overdrive
• Low-maintenance belt final drive
• Electronic cruise control
• Vance & Hines twin exhaust system
• Aftermarket handlebar-mounted speaker system
• Chrome engine/crash bars
• Additional highway pegs mounted to the engine bars
• Large touring windscreen
• Large colour-matched lockable hard panniers
• Chrome pannier protection rails
• Deep, supportive two-piece touring seat
• Large padded passenger backrest
• Rider floorboards
• Passenger floorboards
• Heel-and-toe gear change
• Extensive chrome engine and transmission covers
• Twin front brake discs
• Attractive cast alloy wheels with polished rims
• Deeply valanced touring mudguards
• Chrome pannier trim and integrated reflectors
• LED-style sculpted rear light assembly
• Very attractive traditional Kawasaki Vulcan tank badging
• Pre-delivery inspection completed
• Fresh oil and filter change
• Fresh MOT carried out September 2026
• £7,495

1700cc of effortless V-twin cruising

The heart of the Nomad is its enormous 1,700cc V-twin. Kawasaki designed the engine around effortless low and mid-range performance rather than chasing high revs, giving the bike exactly the relaxed character a machine of this type deserves.

Open the throttle and there is a huge wave of V-twin torque available without constantly needing to work the gearbox. Once up to motorway speed, sixth-gear overdrive, the belt final drive, broad floorboards, substantial screen and electronic cruise control all combine to make this a motorcycle genuinely capable of covering very large distances in comfort.

The Vance & Hines exhaust system fitted to this particular example complements that character beautifully. Visually, the long chrome silencers look completely at home against the extensive factory chrome, while giving the big Kawasaki V-twin considerably more presence than the standard exhaust system.

For motorway and touring use, the additional highway pegs are another worthwhile addition, allowing the rider to stretch out and change position on longer journeys.

The fitted aftermarket speaker system adds another useful touring touch and consists of a pair of compact chrome speaker pods mounted neatly around the handlebar area.

Built for two

The Nomad was designed from the beginning as a genuine two-up motorcycle rather than a cruiser to which touring accessories were added as an afterthought.

There is a generously proportioned rider’s seat, separate passenger section, large padded passenger backrest and proper passenger floorboards. Combined with the protective screen and hard luggage, this makes the Kawasaki particularly well suited to weekends away, European touring or simply spending a full day on the road.

The enormous colour-coded panniers are also one of the features that really distinguish a Nomad from an ordinary cruiser. They are integrated into the styling of the bike rather than looking like aftermarket luggage, while the surrounding chrome rails add both visual detail and additional protection.

Condition

For a heavyweight American-market touring cruiser, this motorcycle presents exceptionally well.

The paint has a deep gloss, the metallic finish really comes alive under the light and the black lower sections provide a fantastic contrast. The chrome exhausts, engine covers, intake cover, pannier rails, backrest supports and front protection bars all give the bike a wonderfully substantial appearance.

Most importantly, it hasn’t simply been imported and put straight up for sale.

The bike has undergone our pre-delivery inspection, received a fresh engine oil and filter change, and has a fresh MOT carried out in September 2026, giving its next owner the reassurance that the bike has been properly prepared before handover.

A proper American-style mile eater

The VN1700 Nomad is one of those motorcycles that makes considerably more sense once you see one in the metal.

It has genuine physical presence, a wonderful traditional V-twin silhouette and acres of chrome, yet underneath the styling is a thoroughly modern fuel-injected touring motorcycle with six gears, electronic throttle technology, cruise control and belt drive.

And unlike the much larger full-dress tourers, the Nomad still looks and feels like a proper cruiser.

With only 17,537 miles, a great specification, Vance & Hines exhausts, hard luggage, windscreen, passenger backrest, highway pegs and speakers – together with its excellent overall condition – this is a lovely example for somebody looking for a serious long-distance cruiser with bags of American character.

£7,495

Freshly imported from Florida | PDI completed | Fresh September 2026 MOT | Fresh oil & filter

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