1987 kawasaki voyager 1200 review

Touring riders are supposed to be rich as Midas, with saddlebags full of money they're practically panting to spend. Maybe so, but for those of us with buying power a few clicks down, Kawasaki offers its Voyager. If you want proof by the numbers, try these figures on for size: At $8700, the Voyager is $1100 less expensive than the next priciest tourer, Yamaha's Venture; $2800 less than Honda's GL1500; and a whopping $4300 less than Harley-Davidson's FLHTC Ultra Classic.

Kawasaki's Voyager is also the quickest in its class. The liquid-cooled, 16-valve, five-speed inline-four provides acceleration both from 0 to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile that whips every other big-rig tourer. It complements that impressive speed with an almost ethereal smoothness (courtesy of twin gear-driven counterbalancers), a broad powerband, tack-sharp carburetion and instantaneous throttle response. The Voyager's the class lightweight, too—at least of the big Japanese tourers. Only Harley's FLTC and FLHTC and BMW's K100LT scale under the Kawasaki's 803-pound wet weight.

But then, the Voyager entered the high-stakes touring game in 1986 with those attributes, as the quickest, least expensive and one of the lightest. Not much has changed since then. In 1987 the Voyager gained a cruise control, rear speakers for the AM/FM cassette deck, winglets on the fairing's trailing edges and different paint. Otherwise, the firm's flagship tourer remains the same, with steel-tube frame, triple-disc brakes, manually adjustable suspension, 16-inch front and 15-inch rear wheels, hydraulically adjusted valves and a multitude of adjustments for rider and passenger accommodations.

Out on the superslab, in the land of chicken fried steaks and bottomless cups of coffee, a rider rarely feels he's had to give up much of consequence in trade for the Voyager's bargain-basement price. The fairing offers good wind protection for average-height riders, the riding position is roomy and relaxed and, set in the lower range of its adjustment, the suspension lets the bike fairly float over a wide variety of road surfaces. There's abundant small-item storage, the stereo offers decent sound quality plus a host of adjustments to amuse the rider, and the cruise control works competently, exhibiting only a slight jerkiness in maintaining speed on downhills.

Still, there are shortcomings, and first among them is the saddle. The soft, thin padding practically guarantees you'll be ready to take a break well before the bike runs through its 6.1-gallon fuel supply. The Voyager lacks a particularly refined sense of straightline stability, too. The Dunlop Gold Seal F21 front tire follows rain grooves and pavement ruts, and even on a smooth surface the bike wanders slightly. And a passenger will complain about both a shortage of weather protection and a surfeit of wind noise.

Once a rider reaches the bright lights of the big city, he'll be thankful he's not paying for some things most other tourers have aplenty; namely, weight and clumsy low-speed handling. The low mass, 16-inch front wheel and tillerlike handlebars help yield remarkably light, quick steering, making the Voyager one of the most agile touring bikes at slow speeds. That same steering quickness, though, exacts a penalty. It's tough to maintain a precise course at slightly more than a walking pace, especially if the bike's burdened with a full load and passenger.

Many of those traits characterize the Voyager's twisty road behavior as well. The bike feels nimble, with slot-car steering response that gets it in and out of corners quickly. Such assets help rank Kawasaki's Voyager—again—near the top among touring bikes for back road handling. Still, a rider needs to exercise a gentle hand at the helm. Flicking the bike into turns makes the front end feel rubbery, and discourages further exploration of the rather limited cornering clearance; the footpegs touch down first and at a lesser lean angle than almost any other modern motorcycle.

For a solo rider, setting the suspension to eight psi in the front, 25 psi in the rear (5.7 to 8.5 psi and 21 to 36 psi are the suggested ranges, front and rear) and clicking the shocks' rebound damping to the fourth of their four adjustments gives the best compromise for ride and handling.

Unfortunately, the Voyager's lengthy roster of bests and mosts is accompanied by a similarly long list of annoyances. Of all the available adjustments to the handlebars, trunk, passenger saddle and windscreen height, only the bars offer any useful range.

Anything but the farthest rearward position for the trunk and saddle cramps riders and passengers of average size, and the same riders end up looking through the top edge of the screen at its lowest position. Moreover, the narrow saddlebag openings force you to jam the bag liners in as if you were stuffing a turkey, and the stereo's main controls are too small for use with heavy gloves. Balancing that list are the easy-to-use two-stage mainstand, and the quick-detach saddlebags.

What's important to remember is that many of the Voyager's faults are largely inconveniences, and not due to the bike's fundamental approach to touring—one of low-buck; not low-ball. This motorcycle takes the basic touring-bike formula and folds in a generous mixture of speed, light weight and agility. For the rider who wants a full measure of amenities for the long haul, but who has to hold onto a dollar until that eagle grins, Kawasaki's Voyager still represents a sound investment.

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Kawasaki Voyager Xii

Kawasaki Voyager Xii May 1 1989

Kawasaki Voyager XII

CYCLE WORLD TEST

The smallest giant

MONUMENTAL WORDS OF INSIGHT SOMETIMES come at odd times and places. In this instance, it was at a filling station in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The speaker was looking at a road map, trying to figure the best way back to Los Angeles without getting lost, then he looked up and a totally unrelated thought struck him. "This might be the only Japanese bike to be less complicated than the model it replaced." The speaker was Feature Editor Jon Thompson, the bike was the Kawasaki Voyager XII, and the words were indisputably true.

Back in the early Eighties, Kawasaki had no idea what to do with the all-but-useless six-cylinder monsterbike it had developed. At the time, the only place that immense size seemed to be acceptable was the touring market. Fine. That's where the big 1300 went. In subsequent years, the Six was the subject of more size jokes than William “The Refrigerator” Perry.

Then along came 1986 and the Kawasaki Voyager XII. The 1200 was everything the 1 300 wasn't—namely small,> at least for a touring bike. And now. the 1989 1200. which is basically unchanged from the original model, is the only touring bike that Kawasaki officially offers, even though hardcore mass addicts can still find the discontinued Six at some dealers.

What's most interesting about the Voyager XII is that even though it has two less cylinders, even though it weighs 150 pounds less, and even though it has half the cubic stuff that the 1300 had, it seems to give away nothing. In fact, the 1 200’s engine is noticeably stronger than the I 300's. It produces more bottom-end power and revs out to a healthy mid-range. Both motors have a zippy, race-car exhaust note, but on the big Six, the engine always sounded like it was working way too hard. The XII has a lope-along mode that’s much more relaxing. And in that mode, engine vibration is all but unnoticeable. Oh. you can tell a slight difference between acceleration and coasting with the clutch pulled in. but you have to think about it some. The Voyager is still about as smooth as motorcycles get.

And the all-important list of touring items is about as long as you need. No matter how far you lean towards materialism, chances are you'll be satisfied by the XII. It has all the right stuff: an ÄM/FM cassette deck; an excellent cruise-control system; passenger speakers and controls for the stereo; píenty of storage. What it doesn't have is a decent tool kit—the one in a Honda Gold Wing, as poor as it is. puts the Kawasaki's to shame. It also doesn't have an onboard compressor for the suspension, or for any kind of inflatable seat-comfort-enhancing device. That, it could use. The XII's seat is thin and uncharacteristically low-ball—out of place on a top-of-the-line luxury tourer.

But then the seat on the old 1 300 was really never anything to get excited about, either. That's about the only thing the two have in common —Kawasaki really did succeed in its goal of making the 1200 as much unlike the 1300 as possible. With that goal in mind, it's easy to understand much about the 1 200. Kawasaki went overboard trying to make it small and maneuverable to compensate for the Six's problems. And it is the smallest, best-handling of the big touring bikes. Turning it requires virtually no effort at all—quite a change from the freight-train-like Six. In fact, cornering is so easy that you find yourself scraping footpegs w ithout really trying.

Conversely, holding the XII straight on a long, curveless freeway requires a little more concentration than it does on other big touring bikes. Just as soon as your thoughts start to wander and riding the bike becomes the secondmost-important thing on your mind, the bike takes the opportunity to make slow, lazy weaves in the lane.

While we're griping, we might as well mention the fairing. It offers protection that is merely OK compared to most of the others on the market. Basically, too much air finds its way around the fairing, despite the addition of small w'inglets on the outside edges of the fairing, a modification first made to the 1987-model XII.

It’s interesting to note that in Cycle Worlds June, 1 986, touring bike comparison test, we complained about virtually all the same things: the thinly padded seat, the slight weaving and the fairing’s air spill-over. In fact, Kawasaki has made only three major changes to the Voyager XII since then: the addition of passenger speakers, cruise control and the change to a champagne color. That's a shame. > because with the addition of a better fairing and seat, plus improved stability, the Voyager could lay claim to being the best touring bike in the country.

Instead, the Voyager now sits at the top of a much smaller nitch. With the Honda Gold Wing taking the six-cylinder approach, the Kawasaki is left as the smallest and lightest of the heavyweights. It’s also the cheapest—by over $1000. Compared to the old 1300, the XI1 goes to show you that sometimes you can make your best progress by taking a few steps back. Compared with some of the other more-finished tourers, though, it’s still a few steps behind. 0

SPECIFICATIONS

VOYAGER XII

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Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII Reviews - Page 2 of 4

2000 kawasaki zg1200 voyager xii from united states of america.

Best most fun bike comparably

I ride my bikes hard. This is the 6th Voyager I've owned. The previous 5 were all 84's with the 6 cylinder which were a lot of fun. This 2000 I have now is a 4 cylinder, but lacks no power. Recently went to North Carolina and rode the Tail of the Dragon (318 curves in 11 miles), and scraping pegs in almost all the corners was a blast.

I absolutely love the Voyager and recommend anyone interested in a big bike to check it out before buying a Goldwing.

Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st June, 2020

29th Dec 2021, 20:45

Where can I get an antenna mast for a 2002 Kawasaki Voyager II? I cannot find one. They discontinued that part.

2002 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII from United States of America

I like the low cost of a high mileage tourer. Best value tourer

General Comments:

The Kawasaki Voyager 1200 is dated but still a rock solid performer.

Best touring bike for the money. Less cramped than a Gold Wing.

Lots of power, storage, comfort.

Review Date: 28th June, 2019

1993 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII from Germany

Ride 200 miles without a visor on your helmet and still have a smile on your face when you arrive

Wrong alternator fitted by a previous owner (Suzuki) shorted and fried a lot of electrical (including the speedo/revcounter) components.

Clutch cage bearings worn out.

Speedo drive/gear rusted solid.

Turn signal cancelling stopped working.

I live in Germany and it's very difficult to get any of the plastic parts. However many of the components are used on other Kawasaki models. So with a bit of patience and the internet, alternatives can be found.

After a bad crash caused by a mysterious uncontrollable tank slapper at about 90mph, the fairing and trunk are destroyed and it's too expensive to get the parts second hand from the States to here (price + freight + import taxes + customs).

So it'll get rebuilt with the help of Vetter...

Apart from that, a wonderful bike that I enjoyed riding. Sure it had problems with the front end wobbling, but that was mostly a problem with fork pressure/tyre pressure and/or rear suspension set up.

It was a joy to ride either on the autobahn or in town, alone or two up with all our junk.

I'm thinking about buying another, but here in Germany they can be very expensive...

Review Date: 7th January, 2016

1993 Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII from United States of America

Fast, top heavy, forks tend to shimmy easy, and is low maintenance

Well, it's a very well engineered machine, as every Kawasaki I have owned through the decades has been. Fairly low maintenance machines. After 80,000+ miles, keep some synthetic 20-50 weight oil on hand.

Well, the main issues with this particular bike are that the forks tend to shimmy at take off at times, and when sharp bumps (holes, rocks, etc) are hit. Also, try to keep both hands on the handlebars, as it will start to shimmy a little going down the road sometimes, and could get uncontrollable. I'm looking at adding an aftermarket superbrace to see if that controls the forks shimmy issue.

The other issue is that it is very top heavy. You sit higher than the other full dress 1200+ bikes. Reminds me of my 1960s, and 70s Honda CBs; top heavy and 800-900 lbs, plus a rider sitting even higher, can get to be quite a workout!

Overall, it should still be on the road for much longer, as it's a "Kow", built in Nebraska!

Review Date: 12th August, 2015

1st May 2016, 03:45

If the front of the bike shimmies, your tires are cupped due to low pressure. If you keep the tire pressure slightly higher, tires will not cup as easy and the bike will be very smooth even if you remove your hands from handle bars briefly. You will notice when tires are brand new there is no tank slapping or shimmying.

4th Sep 2016, 06:59

The Voyager 12 is a wild mustang. Hold on or it will buck you off.

16th Mar 2017, 23:26

Why do you say it will buck you off?? Is it not stable at high speeds?

20th Jul 2017, 17:07

The shimmy problem probably with the front was most likely a tire problem; cupped, low pressure, the tires on a shaft drive cup and cup more on the right side and it's noticeable more if the bike has been driven hard, and if the bike had stock front springs the air pressure might have been low also; you can't use a bicycle tire pump to put air in with, there is a special pump to pump them and the rear air shocks up with; any Harley shop will have one.

And these bikes have a low center of gravity; it's a very nimble bike, yes it's not as low as a sports bike, but it's lower than the other big touring bikes.

The only complaint I have with these bike is the seat; it's 1980's tech. And it gets to you. On long long rides, I got an air seat pad I use.

24th Mar 2019, 19:22

Definitely not a beginner's bike.

4th Apr 2020, 02:27

Neither is a Goldwing or an Electraglide Ultra!

24th Aug 2020, 15:09

Every one of the dozen or so I've owned have done this to a certain extent. I don't know what does cause it, but it ain't the tires.

21st Nov 2020, 15:22

You are right, they are better!

Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII (1986-88) technical specifications

Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII is produced in 1986-88. Engine is Four stroke transverse four cylinder. DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder, displacement 1196 cc / 72.9 cu-in , produces power 97 hp / 72.3 kW @ 7000 rpm and 11.0 kgf-m / 79.5 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm. Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII weighs 317 kg / 698.9 lbs. Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII has 1 photos.

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Kawasaki Voyager 1200 Specs, Manuals, & Info

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On this page you’ll find:

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Voyager 1200 Specs & Details

The Voyager 1200, also known as the ZG1200 or Voyager XI/XII, was a touring motorcycle produced by Kawasaki from 1986 to 2003.

Specs for the Kawasaki Voyager 1200 include:

• Engine Displacement : 1196cc
• Cylinders/Engine Type: Transverse four cylinder liquid cool DOHC 4 stroke.
• Compression Ratio : 10:1
• Transmission : 6 speed
• Wet Weight: 698 lbs

Find a Voyager 1200 for Sale Near You

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Venture Royale vs. Kawasaki Voyager XII

By Debron August 24, 2010 in Watering Hole

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This question has probably been asked but I couldn't find anything searching the forum.

I'm considering buying a Venture Royale or Kawasaki Voyager XII. I realize where the prejudices lie in this forum, but I would be interested in your thoughts and opinions on the two bikes.

Note: If I buy the Venture, I will become a subscribing member!

Thanks for you input!

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Both bikes are good and you won't make a mistake with either one.

True the RSV hasn't been updated in a generation (okay, 11 years), but it is bullet proof.

When I did my test riding I did the technical comparison but also decided by the seat of my pants. Tried the Harley, Gold Wing, RSV... and seating position, handle bar position, even the foot boards were more comfortable on the RSV for me. Its got to be what you are most comfortable riding, what you feel confident with. LOL - and yes... your riding partner has to agree too !

This question has probably been asked but I couldn't find anything searching the forum.   I'm considering buying a Venture Royale or Kawasaki Voyager XII. I realize where the prejudices lie in this forum, but I would be interested in your thoughts and opinions on the two bikes.   Note: If I buy the Venture, I will become a subscribing member!   Thanks for you input!

Why if you buy the bike?? Our "Ambassador" rides a Cow a saki Voyager

At least one member currently has a Voyager XII and I know others have as well. Lowell aka The Ambassador decided to get rid of his 1st gen Venture and keep his Voyager because it has a lower center of gravity and was easier for him to handle, if I recall what he had to say about it.

I've got both an 83 royale and a 96 cow both are great bikes,they both will get up and go the cow is geared real low in 1st and is very well balanced and isn't top heavy like the venture.If I had to give one up it would be a hard decision.If I were you I'd get both of them if I could.

I was asking myself the same question so bought 1986 back issues of Cycle World and Cycle Guide from E-bay with comparison tests of the Venture MkII to other tourers of the day (GW, Voyager, Cavalcade, HD FLH, and some others) to see what folks said when these relics were new.

Cycle World was predominantly Gold Wing with Yamaha coming in a close 2nd to the reviewers. There was no #3. I found this puzzling since they had big problems with the Gold Wing's air suspension and had to continually stop to air it up.

Cycle Guide rated Yamaha's "Highway Hotrod" as they called it #1 and GW a close second. High marks for power and riding position. Nothing but the BMW K100 could come close to keeping up with the Yamaha in straight line acceleration. Nothing but the Yamaha could come close to the BMW in the twisties.

Their comments on the Kawi were it was nice with a lot of features while not as well sorted out package as some of the others. But a bargain at the price for the time.

Since you can do anything you want to a 20+ year old bike you can make either into what you want. Buought right for the condition and you can't go wrong with either.

Ok are you asking bout the new voyager or the older one? I will say I do like the looks of the new one alot!! i dont think it has the room of the venture but it is updated! From what I have read about it it has plenty of power and it follows the ultra alot on stuff. I think I read some were that they have redone the 2010 already alittle to make it not as hot for the riders. Both bikes will give you great service just ride both and see what you like.

Independent review ... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/694971/a_review_of_the_yamaha_royal_star_venture.html

http://www.ridermagazine.com/output.cfm?id=2226349 (RSV tied for 1st with Harley... Kawasaki last)

... stilll.... compare the ride and what you are most comfortable with

As far as I know the Kaw is a good bike. The only things I have heard negative are in maint. (I have a friend with a Vulcan that stays in the shop) and the room. The Kaw is a little cramped compared to the RSV. If you're a large person or tall you may find the Kaw a little small feeling but if not then that may not matter. The RSV is much more comfortable for the passenger (re my wife. We test rode) but it does have a higher center of gravity. I have no issues with low speed handling but then I get plenty of practice with the PGR. Some have noted that the RSV is unruly at low speeds so that's something to consider if you have had issues in that past with other bikes. Each bike has it's pros and cons so I would test ride both if you can. I chose the RSV because it was the right bike for me but you need to check them both out.

Either way you are welcome here.

I should emphasize that I am looking at the VR, not the RSV, that is, a first generation, mark II - 1987-1993 - vs. a Kawasaki Voyager XII, the 1200 from the 1987-2003 era, not the new Vulcan Voyager. The RSV is a totally different bike from the VR, and the Voyager XII is totally different from the current Vulcan Voyager.

http://www.naute.com/funimages/cowasaki.jpg

One of my concerns about buying a first gen Venture Royale is that they went out of production in 1993, 17 years ago. I know the engines are generally good for 200,000 miles or more but there are a zillion other parts on a motorcycle. I'm concerned about the availability of replacement parts and accessories. What is your experience?

I am sure it applies to either The Venture Royale or the Voyager XII. But there are a lot of resources out there and the World Wide Web has made it easy to find the things you need. Craigslist, Ebay, Venture riders forum and just a few of those resources.

As for the Kawasaki Voyager I personally can get you any part you need, Chrome, alternators, CB, engines, ignitors, any body part you may need( may not color match but for what I charge you can have it paint matched and still be ahead of OEM you name it. Right now I have a nice selection of accessories. If you do go Voyager avoid the 86 model year and if you find an 87 remove the false tank and look for the ignitor. You want the number 1248. The 86 did not have cruise or passenger speakers. Kawasaki Still has Voyager Parts available new but no accessories.

I have a 1986 VR and my wife has a 1988 Voyager. They are both great bikes but I still prefer my VR. There is a noticable diference in power, she has a little trouble keeping up while accelerating, and this is not redlining or over doing it. The VR handles curves much better once rolling, it is almost like a sport bike. The VR does have a higher center of gravity and has a much heavier feel while stopped. The Voyager seems more steady while ridding 2 up, at least to me. The Voyager has a much easier to use center stand. They both get close to the same gas mileage. In my opinion. you can't go wrong with either bike.

...They both get close to the same gas mileage...   Don

This is interesting. From what I've found on this forum and talking to a few owners, 38 mpg seems to be the standard gas mileage for a VR, though with some tweaking and modifications some people seem to be able to get 42. Most everyone with a Voyager claims 45-50 mpg, at least while traveling under 70 mph. This has been one of the factors influencing me towards the Voyager

Realistic on a Voyager is 45-47, there are many that boast they get so much better gas mileage that others. remember the speedo cable drives the odometer as well so if you are off 10% on your miles per hour it also affects the odometer thus affecting your mpg calculation. I can tell you that the VR does curve or Corner better, as for keeping up that is all about the rider. I put progressive suspension front and back on my Voyager and you talk about a different bike as far as corners,curves and turns.

On my 86Vr I get an average of 43 mpg. This is riding on hills, mountains and twisties. I ride on secondary roads no interstates. I prefer scenic routes.

Debron,   Realistic on a Voyager is 45-47, there are many that boast they get so much better gas mileage that others. remember the speedo cable drives the odometer as well so if you are off 10% on your miles per hour it also affects the odometer thus affecting your mpg calculation.

Isn't this also true of the Venture? It's my understanding that the 10% speedo error is, by design, across the board with the metrics.

Debron, I put progressive suspension front and back on my Voyager and you talk about a different bike as far as corners,curves and turns.

I take it this means your Voyager is now a super bike through the curves, or at least as good as the VR?

Let me say I have never ridden the VR, I have ridden several voyagers, the air suspension is good but The progressive suspension gave me more confidence and I felt my bike handled much better in the curves and the corners than when it had the Standard air suspension.

I will say this and I am sure I will be scolded, but The Kawasaki Voyager XII is the best bang for your buck in tourbiking. Parts are readily available both new and used the only component I have ever had go out on a voyager was an alternator and it took 15 minutes to change, the center stand is very easy to use, oil changes take 15 minutes and can be done with the bike on the center stand, Final drive same way. It is the only tourbike to my knowledge that has a passenger seat the moves front to back like a seat in a car for rider adjustment and has a trunk that moves forwad and back to give the passenger more room.

I have a buddy that has a 2003 with 26,000 that includes a piggybacker trailer for $7000.. Very nice bike well maintained.

I put progressive suspension front and back on my Voyager and you talk about a different bike as far as corners,curves and turns.

I had this experience on my current ride, a Honda Shadow Sabre VT1100 by changing tires. I replaced the stock Dunlops with Metzler ME880's and it was like adding power steering to the bike! I can ride through the curves without even thinking about it at higher speeds and greater lean angles, with no effort!

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Input on a '03 Kawasaki Voyager XII

Discussion in ' Road Warriors ' started by Kbetts , Apr 15, 2007 .

Kbetts Long timer

I saw a Voyager XII and gave the guy a call. It has 5k on the odo and it is advertised as in perfect condition. He's asking $7500, $8000 with the matching Corbin seat. That price seems at the bottom of the asking price range on the bikes I found for sale. Is there much demand for these and could I resale it and recoup my money if I don't like it? I can't find any reviews on the web and was wondering if it's a good choice for a first time tour bike. My wife is more and more interested in touring and we did our first overnight last month. Is this a good starter for a big tour bike before we put $20 grand into something? All owners reports on the Voyager seem to be very positive, but qualified with "for the price". I'm also considering a Uly and a Tiger, and maybe the big DL. Is this bike going to provide the satisfaction of the Uly or the Tiger? So I'm looking for some input before I go see the guy on Wednesday and take it for a spin. Thanks for any replies. Keith

Ursa Major Bemused

Along with the outgoing Connie and KLR, the XII's a remnant of Kawi's strategy of selling bikes for a couple of decades with no changes except the paint - the tooling was amortized in the 80's, so they could price it way below the newer competition. Interesting strategy, I guess it worked for the KLR and Connie, but you don't see too many Voyagers around. I rode one once for about 100 miles (a few years older than an '03, this was in the mid-90's). It was a little cramped for me (most bikes are) but otherwise fine, in a "suddenly it's 1982" sort of way. Nothing wrong with that, just very old 'tech - the bike was designed to compete directly with the Honda GL1100 Gold Wing. I remember the reason they named it the Voyager XII originally was to distinguish it from the XIII, the touring version of Kawi's late '70's KZ1300. I'm not sure there's much demand for the bike - it wasn't that competitive with the 4 cylinder Gold Wings or Yamaha Venture when it was introduced in the '80's, and time (and the competition) haven't stood still. If that's the price point you're focused on, you can probably find '99-'01 BMW K12LT's within a couple of thousand $$ if you look at www.ibmwr.org/market or at www.bmwlt.com . The Voyager XII is a very different bike than a Ulysses or Tiger - probably not a lot of people cross-shopping those three. It might provide the same level of satisfaction as the other two (only you can decide) but in a completely different way. If you're going to go for it, I'd hit the guy pretty hard on the price, I doubt you'll have much competition.

markjenn Long timer

Wow, I had no idea Kawasaki was even building them in '03. I thought Kaw, Yamaha, and Suzuki had pretty much given up beating their head against the GoldWing wall ten or fifteen years ago. I'd drive a HARD bargain and be sure you want it - they'd be hell to flip, I'd think. - Mark

Ursa Major said: The Voyager XII is a very different bike than a Ulysses or Tiger - probably not a lot of people cross-shopping those three. It might provide the same level of satisfaction as the other two (only you can decide) but in a completely different way. If you're going to go for it, I'd hit the guy pretty hard on the price, I doubt you'll have much competition. Click to expand...

Dranrab Luap Gruntled and Imperturbable

The Voyager is to the Gold Wing what the Concours is to the ST1300.

McB Long timer

My 78 year old neighbor has one. He and his wife do some serious trips on it. He said she usually sits back and reads a book on the long ones.

Just a thought - if you're looking for a comfortable two-up tourer to get your wife interested, why not a late R1100RT (99-00)? There were two nice ones posted in flea market last week, and one of them (a black 99, lots of farkles) had the price reduced to below $7k a day or two ago. Relatively comfortable passenger seat (esp with the right seat), a hell of a lot more fun for the rider than the Voyager, and easy to re-sell without much of a loss, if any. Lots of knowledge and support here and at MRN. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219982&highlight=r1100rt http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219967&highlight=r1100rt

Ursa Major said: Just a thought - if you're looking for a comfortable two-up tourer to get your wife interested, why not a late R1100RT (99-00)? There were two nice ones posted in flea market last week, and one of them (a black 99, lots of farkles) had the price reduced to below $7k a day or two ago. Relatively comfortable passenger seat (esp with the right seat), a hell of a lot more fun for the rider than the Voyager, and easy to re-sell without much of a loss, if any. Lots of knowledge and support here and at MRN. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219982&highlight=r1100rt http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219967&highlight=r1100rt Click to expand...

okbob51 okbob

If you want a low cost, high reliability, 45+ mpg, not so hard on tires, cruise controlled, am/fm radio, huge storage with excellent comfort and good power......buy the Voyager. These bikes often go 200,000 miles with minimal maintence. There remains an active Voyager group (AVA) that has a rally each and every year. The Voyager just might be the best kept secret in long distance touring. .

I googled AVA and got "Adult Video Awards".

Hoopjohn Been here awhile

Here is some info on history of the Voyager. Kawasaki came up with the 6 cylinder KZ1300 in 1979. Its engine was the fore runner of the Voyager, which appeared in 1983, using the 6 cylinder engine. This was Kawasaki's first full dress touring bike. In 1986, Kawasaki changed the Voyager to the 4 cylinder 1200cc motor. 86 & 87 models were prone to problems....serious problems. Kawasaki addressed the problems and a lengthy run of production began. The bikes were reliable and maintenance was minimal. Production continued up until 2003. The Voyagers were never big sellers. This is what led to their demise. Of course, Kawasaki never really embraced the model. Yet another example of incompetent Japanese marketing efforts. I purchased a 1992 Voyager in 1995. Paid $3500 for the bike and it had 4000 miles on it. Rode the bike 2 years. It performed flawlessly. Capable of 2 up 100 mph travel all day long. Plenty of acceleration pep to keep up with todays insane traffic. Comfortable ride. Decent stereo. Adequate wind protection. I sold my Voyager in 1997 when a parcel of land became available and I needed some cash. Advertised the bike on the then somewhat fledgling internet at $5200 and was besieged with emails. Sold the same day. I built a log home on the land parcel and I couldn't be happier with my residence. Not as plush as the Gold Wing or BMW K1200 or HD Ultra Classic, but its got more than adequate comfort for 2 up travel cross country. Pricing. The MSRP of an 03 was a paltry $12000 and change. So weak was the demand, that discounts were the order of the day. In the real world, Voyagers had somewhat soft resale prices. Personally, I think $7500 - $8000 is top dollar for an 03 model. While these are pretty decent bikes, resale values on them has never been terrific. Kelly Blue Book gives their retail price at $7590. While Kelly Blue Book prices are a matter of debate, its at least some measure of what a dealership would get (or at least ask) for this bike. Trade in price (Kelly Blue Book) for this bike drops off to a paltry $5255. I have always thought a private party sale should be somewhere between trade-in price and retail price. If the bike is exceptional, has new tires, new battery, and recent service (documentation in hand of course), then, and only then should one consider paying full retail.

lesjohns A Riding Granddad

http://www.amervoyassoc.org/ they seems to support the bike and it's good and bad points. they also have a for sale section that should give you some idea on pricing. There are several guys around that ride them and put lots of miles on them around here. They all seem to be pleasure riding crowd. In talking to them they claim the bikes will run and run. there was one a ride I went on last weekend. Think it was an 01 he was riding.

andy29847 Dirt Road Rider

I had a Voyager for 3 years. It was the best bang for my buck when I wanted a touring bike. The Voyager handles great for a big bike and the motor will let you bury the speedometer needle (125 on the speedo, 112 actual per GPS - fully loaded). I rode the shit out of mine and never had to spend money on anything except farkles, tires, and routine maintenance. If I was in the marklet for a full dresser I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Voyager.

tbirdsp REMF

You might also consider a used ST1100.

tbirdsp said: You might also consider a used ST1100. Click to expand...

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Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: review, history, specs

Class: tourer

Production: 1983-1988

Also called: Kawasaki Voyager 1300, Kawasaki Voyager XIII

Related: Kawasaki KZ1300

Successor: Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager

Specifications

Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: specs.

Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: images, gallery.

Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: video.

Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: manuals, parts, microfiches.

• Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager: Owners Manual
• Kawasaki KZ1300: Service Manual

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• 1987 Kawasaki Voyager Xii

1987 Kawasaki Voyager Xii Motorcycles for sale

1987 Kawasaki VOYAGER (1200 XII) XII 1200

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Posted Over 1 Month

LOW LOW MILES!! This clean 1987 Kawasaki Voyager 1200 XII with only 19,587 miles is a great touring motorcycle! This well cared for recent addition to our inventory is the Service Managers demo & runs great! Powered by a 97 horsepower 1196cc, Liquid cooled, four stroke transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder engine and 5 speed transmission, this Voyager 1200 XII has the power and range for the longest open road adventures! This Voyager 1200 XII is also equipped with cruise control, rear speakers for the AM/FM cassette deck, winglets on the fairing's trailing edges, disc brakes, adjustable suspension, 16-inch front and 15-inch rear wheels, hydraulically adjusted valves and a multitude of adjustments for rider and passenger accommodations and more! This well maintained classic touring Voyager 1200 XII will not last! We can get you approved no matter your credit history! BAD CREDIT NO PROBLEM!! 100% GUARANTEED CREDIT APPROVAL!!! FIRST TIME BUYERS PROGRAM! SECOND CHANCE FINANCING!! EVERYBODY RIDES AT ALL STAR CYCLES!! RIDE TODAY! Call All Star Cycle Sales e in today!

1987 Kawasaki VOYAGER (1200 XII)

1987 Kawasaki Voyager Xii 1200

Bettendorf, Iowa

1987 Kawasaki Voyager Xii 1200, Long, relaxing days in the saddle are what the Kawasaki Voyager XII motorcycle was built for. This machine lays claim to all of the features of a luxury tourer, from its spacious saddlebags and large rear trunk to its massive full fairing with wide windshield and deeply cushioned seat that's good for all-day cruising comfort. Passengers also benefit from an equally comfortable seating position, with grab rails, their own floorboards and an adjustable backrest. Truly, the Voyager pampers all of its riders.This one has been very well cared for, and it shows. Fully serviced and ready for your touring ride!! Be sure to check out brennys dot com for this, and lots of other bikes and ATVs.

Kawasaki : Other 1987 kawasaki voyager xii trike

Lake Placid, Florida

Make Kawasaki

Category Trikes

Engine 1200 CC

Voyager XII with Factory Trike kit that can be easily dropped and it's back to two wheels. Minor scratches due to age but nothing major.

2016 Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS

Des Moines, Washington

Model VOYAGER XII 1200

This Classic 1987 Kawasaki Voyager XII with extra chrome and one owner, always garaged. 20264 miles. Custom painted trailer with ice chest attached plenty room for a long road trip. Also comes with micro-phoned matching helmets and a cover to protect the bike.

2016 Kawasaki KX™450F

Model Voyager XII 1200

Category Sport Touring Motorcycles

This Classic 1987 Kawasaki Voyager XII with extra chrome and one owner, always garaged. 20264 miles. Custom painted trailer with ice chest attached plenty room for a long road trip. Also comes with micro-phoned matching helmets and a cover to protect the bike. This bike was built for long days in the saddle. This machine lays claim to all of the features of a luxury tourer, from its spacious saddlebags and large rear trunk with wide vented windshield and cushioned seat with backrest for the driver that's good for all-day cruising comfort. The passenger seat slides back/forth, to adjust for the comfort of the driver; the rear trunk slides forward/back to allow room for the passenger. Kawasaki's Voyager is also the quickest in its class.

2017 Kawasaki KX450F

Chicago, Illinois

Category Cruiser Motorcycles

31,000 miles like new

2015 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS

This Classic 1987 Kawasaki Voyager XII with extra chrome and one owner, always garaged. 20264 miles. Custom painted trailer with ice chest attached plenty room for a long road trip. Also comes with microphoned matching helmets and a cover to protect the bike. This bike was built for long days in the saddle. This machine lays claim to all of the features of a luxury tourer, from its spacious saddlebags and large rear trunk with wide vented windshield and cushioned seat with backrest for the driver that's good for all-day cruising comfort. The passenger seat slides back/forth, to adjust for the comfort of the driver; the rear trunk slides forward/back to allow room for the passenger. Kawasaki's Voyager is also the quickest in its class.

1991 Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII

Request Price

Francis Creek, Wisconsin

1991 Kawasaki ZG 1200 Voyager XII, Nice 1200cc touring bike! - Kawasaki's Voyager is the quickest in its class. The liquid-cooled, 16-valve, five-speed inline-four provides acceleration both from 0 to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile that whips every other big-rig tourer. It complements that impressive speed with an almost ethereal smoothness (courtesy of twin gear-driven counterbalancers), a broad powerband, tack-sharp carburetion and instantaneous throttle response. The Voyager's the class lightweight, too—at least of the big Japanese tourers. Only Harley's FLTC and FLHTC and BMW's K100LT scale under the Kawasaki's 803-pound wet weight. But then, the Voyager entered the high-stakes touring game in 1986 with those attributes, as the quickest, least expensive and one of the lightest. Not much has changed since then. In 1987 the Voyager gained a cruise control, rear speakers for the AM/FM cassette deck, winglets on the fairing's trailing edges and different paint. Otherwise, the firm's flagship tourer remains the same, with steel-tube frame, triple-disc brakes, manually adjustable suspension, 16-inch front and 15-inch rear wheels, hydraulically adjusted valves and a multitude of adjustments for rider and passenger accommodations. The fairing offers good wind protection for average-height riders, the riding position is roomy and relaxed and, set in the lower range of its adjustment, the suspension lets the bike fairly float over a wide variety of road surfaces. There's abundant small-item storage, the stereo offers decent sound quality plus a host of adjustments to amuse the rider, and the cruise control works competently. Once a rider reaches the bright lights of the big city, he'll be thankful he's not paying for some things most other tourers have aplenty; namely, weight and clumsy low-speed handling. The low mass, 16-inch front wheel and tillerlike handlebars help yield remarkably light, quick steering, making the Voyager one of the most agile touring bikes at slow speeds. That same steering quickness, though, exacts a penalty. It's tough to maintain a precise course at slightly more than a walking pace, especially if the bike's burdened with a full load and passenger. Many of those traits characterize the Voyager's twisty road behavior as well. The bike feels nimble, with slot-car steering response that gets it in and out of corners quickly. Such assets help rank Kawasaki's Voyager—again—near the top among touring bikes for back road handling. Still, a rider needs to exercise a gentle hand at the helm. Flicking the bike into turns makes the front end feel rubbery, and discourages further exploration of the rather limited cornering clearance; the footpegs touch down first and at a lesser lean angle than almost any other modern motorcycle. For a solo rider, setting the suspension to eight psi in the front, 25 psi in the rear (5.7

1987 Kawasaki VOYAGER

Columbus, Texas

CHEAP TOURER This is a 1987 Kawasaki Voyager XII that is in really good condition for it's age. Runs very smooth and shifts through all the gears nicely. Has a brand new battery in it. Very smooth ride. The body is very straight with no signs of any damage. Just the normal scratches here and there, and not many of those. The seats are very comfortable, and the tires both have thousands of miles of tread left on them. The radio comes on, but can't get the music to play, just an audible click noise. All blinkers and headlights work as they should. Just a good, cheap tourer to help you see the country! Give us a call at 979-733-8444 with any questions at all.

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Post by 1953rick » Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:54 pm

Re: Best Years

Post by Sidehopper » Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:20 am

Post by 1953rick » Sat Jun 26, 2021 12:16 pm

Post by Sidehopper » Sat Jun 26, 2021 3:20 pm

Post by Earlives3 » Fri Dec 31, 2021 2:49 pm

Post by Scott-(Altoona, PA) » Mon Jan 03, 2022 5:28 pm

Post by Heavy Armor » Tue Jan 18, 2022 4:16 am

Sidehopper wrote: ↑ Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:20 am Finally, there is some agreement that the last couple of years of production ('00-'03) had some issues with quality control so some things didn't get enough lube, though if proper maintenance was kept up this may be less of an issue.

Post by Nails » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:51 pm

Heavy Armor wrote: ↑ Tue Jan 18, 2022 4:16 am I just picked up an '01 this weekend and would love to hear more about this.

Post by Heavy Armor » Thu Jan 20, 2022 2:32 pm

Nails wrote: ↑ Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:51 pm Heavy Armor wrote: ↑ Tue Jan 18, 2022 4:16 am I just picked up an '01 this weekend and would love to hear more about this.

Post by HMB Don » Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:14 pm

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