Venture or Nomad, Need opinions

[Brian D.]

Hey all still debating on which bike and the nomad is a bigger bike engine wise and quite a bit cheaper and I know all the accessories you get with venture and I really like them both but can't decide, had indeed sat on both and the nomad is lower. anyway any thoughts appreciated can get the 07 venture @ 13,900.00 or the nomad @ 9,800.00 Thanks Brian D.

[donaldj2242]

If you plan on during a lot of touring, you can't beat the Venture.

[pegscraper]

One of the biggest differences is going to be the engine type. Ours is a V4 and the Nomad will have a V twin. If you have a preference one way or the other that may help. The V4 will like to be revved up a little higher than the V twin will. If you get to take one for a test drive keep that in mind. If you shift it too low it will feel like it has no power. Wind it up a little and it will outrun the Nomad. In fact, don't be afraid to wind it up until it hits the rev limiter, which will be about 80 or so in second gear. With the rev limiter you can't hurt it.

 

Other differences would be the bag or trunk style, and fairing or windshield style.

 

This V4 engine has been around since '83. It's virtually maintenance free and will last a long time. Many bikes around here have over 100,000 miles and are still going.

 

With the Nomad, I believe you have to add a cruise control if you want it. The Venture already has one.

 

Let us know what you pick.

[Gene-b]

Well lets see, I have a 2007 Venture.

 

I Guess that says it all!

 

[ricky lopckhart]

Good luck with that bike. I know you will enjoy that Venture alot.

[BuddyRich]

Had an 01 Nomad FI. Sold it for my 05 Venture. All I can say is this Venture is WAY BETTER. First it will leave the Nomad sittin in the dust as far as speed. Love the trunk/ cruise control/radio and all the stuff your not going to get on the Nomad.

[hig4s]

Both are very good bikes,, the Nomad compares better to the Royal Star Tour Deluxe.. same bike as the Venture but without the intercom, radio, trunk, and with a Plexi fairing. Price is closer too. Personally I think the RSTD is more comfortable than the Nomad, and the Venture has the same seating position with even better saddle.

[Relaxin]

Brian, I traded my 07 Nomad 1600 for my 08 RSV. As most will say each bike has it's pros and cons. IMHO... the Nomad IS lower and more comfortable at a stop BUT I'm usually not stopped that long. It has a longer gas tank (but only 5 gal v the RSV 6 gal) and the whole feel of the bike is more stretched out. I did NOT like that the saddle bags opened from the side. I also don't feel that it was as responsive on the twisties as is the RSV. With the RSV I feel a bit more cramped in the saddle BUT the stock seat is THE most comfortable stock seat I ever sat on. (Nomad stock seat sucked and was replaced with a Mustang w/backrest). I had installed a quadzilla fairing on the Nomad which really added to the looks. I had also been fitting a trunk for the back. That was one of the reasons I traded it. The RSV had everything I was trying to retro fit on the Nomad. Also, my wife was driving an 07 RSTD when I had the Nomad. She smoked me BAAAAd coming from a red lights. ( Just a man thing I guess) The RSV has way better engine performance and response than the Nomad 1600. My wife and I do distant riding on the weekends so the cruise control was another selling factor for me. My daughter rides 2 up with me on some trips and she fell in love with the RSV. She loves the music, intercom, but most of all she loves the seat. She says it is VERY comfortable. She claims she nods off at times.

I have nothing bad to say about the Nomad (cept for the stock saddle) and at times I miss the 'stretched' out feeling but item for item and for touring 2 up I love my RSV. I owned the Nomad for almost exactly 1 year before trading it for the RSV. We have a good relationaship with the dealer so I didn't lose as much as I thought I would. All in all I'm glad I traded. Of course this is only MY opinion! Here is a pic of the Nomad the day I bought it and the RSV shortly after buying it. Jerry

[jonesy]

Went from nomad to venture with doubt wise move if you ask me.

[Jerry W]

Uh, considering the people you are asking, it might be kinda' like asking the fat guy in the bakery which is better, cookies or brussel sprouts. :rotf:

[Steve S]

The Nomad is a wonderful ride. I bought an 01 Nomad from my son when he went back to school. If I had ridden a Nomad before I bought the Venture I would not have a Venture now. But now that I own one, I would not get rid of the Venture for anything but another Venture.

 

The Warden and I LOVE touring and the Venture is perfect for us. Plenty of power to pull a trailer and quick enough for me in the twisties when I am solo.

 

One thing I would do is find someone with a Venture and have a little race with you on the Nomad. I promise you that you will buy the Venture. There is just no comparison when it comes to the horsepower and pep of the Venture.

 

Oh, the Nomad I have is for sale too. It's an 01 with 33,000 miles on it. It's a good, well maintained bike with lots of life left in it. I am going to post pics and list it when it gets warm enough to clean it up good. I can't seem to find time now. Whenever it gets warm enough to wash it, we go riding instead:whistling:

 

Good luck with whichever one you buy. And always RIDE SAFELY.

[Midnight Rider]

Same story here. Had the Nomad first, wife hated the back seat. She would ride 20 miles and want to go back to the house. I bought the venture and by far the best bike I have ever owned. The wife really enjoys riding it as well.

 

Dale

[PITBULL]

Really REALLY like the looks of the Nomad. Side loading bags suck! ALOT. Had them on my old Venture. The 2nd Gen Ventures seem a bit cramped for me. But I got lots of friends that love their 2nd generations. And I dont blame them. I was in the unique position this summer when I was bike shopping.....money wasnt really an object.....that RARELY happens. So I found myself looking back and forth...Venture-Nomad, Venture-Nomad. It was an EZ choice. I bought a Roadstar Midnight!

[nelsonrl]

Really a hard bike to compare to a venture. I rode a nomad FI for several years. It was a strong, reliable bike. I would not be to concerned about the V-twine. It will likely go faster than you need to move on two wheels. The nomad is definitely a cruiser style and not a tourer. If I could own two, I would probably have keep the nomad for short around town rides. It is not a comfortable bike for the passenger, but was not TO bad for the driver.

 

It really is an apples and oranges comparison though.

[RedRider]

And don't forget - 5 year warranty.

 

RR

[hig4s]

another nice bike the style of the Nomad is the Yamaha V-star 1300 tourer,, that new 1300 V twin watercooled engine is pretty sweet.

[Sleeperhawk]

another nice bike the style of the Nomad is the Yamaha V-star 1300 tourer,, that new 1300 V twin watercooled engine is pretty sweet.

 

 

Hmm, looking at getting a V-star 1300 for the Mechanic for just riding around locally, but on the longer trips she will be on the RSV with me.

She will be taking the Motorcycle Safety course in April, then get her license again. She had one long ago, but never kept it renewed.

[Riderduke]

Hmm, looking at getting a V-star 1300 for the Mechanic for just riding around locally, but on the longer trips she will be on the RSV with me.

She will be taking the Motorcycle Safety course in April, then get her license again. She had one long ago, but never kept it renewed.

What weekend in April. Sounds like a potential Meet and Eat:whistling:

[Guest Banny]

My previous ride was a 2001 Nomad 1500cc FI. The 1500cc version has reviews of being a fantastic choice for a long distance "cruiser". I customized my Nomad and rode it for 7yrs, traveled as far as KeyWest Florida and at no time was I at all uncomfortable in the saddle. For me, I mostly enjoy long distrance rides! The Nomad 1600cc version does not hold the same "high regard" in it's reviews. Several friends of mine have 1500cc & 1600cc versions and everybody really enjoys thier bikes! I have also riden the 1600cc Nomad but did not find it to be as enjoyable as my 1500cc, mostly because of the uncomfortable seat on the 1600cc. Last riding season I decided to trade in my Nomad, it was time for another new bike. I considered buying 3 different possibles; another Nomad, Harley Davidson or a Yamaha Venture????? I have also riden many miles on the HD and enjoyed it for what it was as well. All 3 bikes are individually very unique to themselves, they are not at all the same!

PURCHASE OF CHOICE: 2007 Yamaha RSV. This is a fantastic bike, I have absolutely no regrets! Reasons for owning a Venture, the list is almost endless & having this website is a definate bonus for those who ride a Venture!

[Red Ryder]

Brian, I guess the biggest Questions is, will you be ridding Solo or Two Up? I sold my 04 V*1100 and now own a 03 RSV. Dave, a good friend, had a Nomad and we would switch bikes. The Nomad was a nice bike, quick enough, and comfortable like the V*. But for long distance trips Dave grew tired of not having enough space to put things and the better half wanted more comfort. They sold the Nomad, bought a HD-Ultra Classic and are still trying to get comfortable on that. Both are big people and I feel they should have bought the RSV and been much happier. Oh yea, last night having coffee, Dave mentioned his warranty was about up and he is thinking of buying the additonal 5 year warranty for $1,800., standard on RSV. Buy what you feel is right for your ridding desires, your always Welcome here. Later-

[Sleeperhawks Mechanic]

What weekend in April. Sounds like a potential Meet and Eat:whistling:

 

It will be a crash course, in more ways than one!!!!:dancefool:

[86er]

No, No, No Bobbie! :no-no-no:

No crashing allowed!

 

[keithert]

I had a 99 Venture from 99 to 03. I put 48,000 miles on it. It was a very comfortable bike but more than I wanted for in-state riding. I traded it for an 02 Nomad 1500 FI. The Nomad was more what I was after in terms of the size of the bike and I liked the ability to remove the stock windshield and substitue a smaller one. It's seating position and seat comfort was not nearly as good as the Venture's was. I tried a custom seat, a Mustang seat and finally a Corbin seat. With the Corbin seat it was comfortable enough for the distances I rode it but still not nearly as good as the Ventures seat. I temporarily gave up riding in 07 and traded the Nomad for a sports car. In 08 I bought another 1500 Vulcan. I have also put a Corbin seat on it. Again it is good but not a Venture in terms of comfort. I am strongly considering getting an RSTD in the future. I still don't really want the fixed fairing of the Venture but think the RSTD might be just the bike for me in terms of comfort, performance and reliability. I just wish they had come out with the damn thing in 2003! Converting my Venture to a RSTD front end would have been much less costly than buying different bikes!

[keithert]

Dave mentioned his warranty was about up and he is thinking of buying the additonal 5 year warranty for $1,800., standard on RSV.

 

$1800 for the warranty is a crime. The Kaw warranty is readily available for around $450. Back in 2005 I paid $300 for it.

[hig4s]

I am strongly considering getting an RSTD in the future. I still don't really want the fixed fairing of the Venture but think the RSTD might be just the bike for me in terms of comfort, performance and reliability. I just wish they had come out with the damn thing in 2003! Converting my Venture to a RSTD front end would have been much less costly than buying different bikes!

 

So I take it you never knew about the 1999 to 2001 Royal Star Boulevard