Jeez, but that Voyager is Smooth!

I've got a 50 mile commute (one way) to work. Friday's a good day to ride because traffic is light, but I hate piling up the miles on the 900. So I'm riding the Voyager XII on Fridays. Don't get me wrong, I love that 900, but the Voyager is an awesome bike for freeway riding. Tons of power, smooth as glass, and super comfy. Like an Easy Boy with a windshield. Lots of people have never even heard of Kawasaki Voyagers. They stopped making them in 2003, and you can find old ones for not much money. Mine's got 65,000 miles on it, and it runs great. If you see a cheap one in your area, give it a test ride. Who knows?

You know, I also dislike putting many miles on my Z's and (bite my tongue) am also considering a big windshield protected monster to aid in commuting...haven't really thought about a Voyager...maybe I will:) :whistle:

I also have a 2 wheeled land yacht. It is an 84 Wing. Nice bike, but with the green blood flowing through me I have started to look for a Voyager. I din't know until recently that they built them until 2003. They certainly do look like a nice machine. The search and the convincing the mrs. continues!!!

Mark

I have an 88 Voyager XII. I like stereo. I like cruise control. I like 45 mpg highway mileage. I have added a Hartco aftermarket seat and don't miss the stocker at all which was not nearly as comfy. I have cut down the windshield so I can see over it easily and added KuryAkyn ISO pegs to stretch out. When I brought the Voyager home, I didn't think I would be able to walk again after about a 1000 mile ride. The footpeg position is uncomfy for me on long rides and I like to stretch out some and the seat became torture with the feet locked down underneath me. The couple small mods I have made make the bike a real nice ride... did I say it got 45 mpg riding two up at moderate highway speeds. Nice to fill up at over 200 miles on the clock... Oh yeah... and they quit building the Voyager XII in 2005 and not 2003.

What engine does the Voyager have? Is it still the inline six 1300 or a smaller inline four?

The Voyager XII has a 1200cc, in-line 4-cyl. Shaft drive.
Voyager made a XIII, a 1300cc bike, but I don't know anything about it. The V-13 is also not in production, but I don't know when the last model year was.

ltdrider wrote:

The Voyager XII has a 1200cc, in-line 4-cyl. Shaft drive.
Voyager made a XIII, a 1300cc bike, but I don't know anything about it. The V-13 is also not in production, but I don't know when the last model year was.

The Voyager 1300 was last made for the 1988 model year...and it was the 6 cylinder....and 1988 was the first year production for the Voyager XII. Mother kawasaki says that the last year for production of the Voyager XII was 2003:)

Yes, the Voyager is a sweet bike and has been for many years but there's a new kid in town, called the Concours 14. High performance touring at it's best!

Dude, Sweet Ride! I've always loved and wanted a Voyager. I vividly remember several visits to bike stores and sitting on a Voyager and wishing I could ride out with it. I'm jealous. Enjoy!!
Terry!

Wow Tim, she sure turned out pretty!

Are you getting as good of fuel mileage on your Voyager as WG is getting with his?
If so, I imagine it's in the streamlining of the bodywork and how it's geared? Of course being gentle with the throttle probably plays a good part in that too.



Bluemeanie wrote:

Yes, the Voyager is a sweet bike and has been for many years but there's a new kid in town, called the Concours 14. High performance touring at it's best!

High performance is right! :woohoo:

Maybe I'm just nostalgic over the original Concours, but I sat on one of those out at Temple City Powersports a few months ago and walked away totally unimpressed.

The seat height is rather tall, and the bodywork IMHO makes it much to bulky looking. Like a mix of an obese Honda Helix and a Tron bike. :S

Diff strokes for diff folks though, right?

The first year for the Voyager XII was 1986. In 1987 they changed the front forks in that while they kept the same OD fork tube they thickened the walls. Other that the fork tubes the only changes that the XII ever went through were annual paint schemes.

The 1300 Voyager six was basically a KZ complete with 32 MM valve shims, liquid cooling and fuel injection. The 1200 Voyager was more of a real touring bike with hydraulic valves and better integrated electronics. While they did manage to lighten and refine the XII over the 1300 Six there were some real compromises, notably the in the front ends. The 1200's are prone to head shake, something that the 1300's have never been troubled by.

I recently sold my Voyager XII only because my wife wouldn't ride it saying that it was "An old man's bike". Frankly, she don't know squat. My 1200 was a real goer, with bags. It would easily out run any 1500 GoldWing and, if the suspension was pumped up, would corner pretty well without too much scraping.

I still have my 1300 Voyager, a fuel injected 1985 model, which will soon emerge as a 130 HP street cruiser.

I really like the six cylinder engine which sounds every bit like a formula one car when it's fitted with a six into one exhaust system.

KZCSI

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