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    The Voyager has landed!

    And now for something *completely* different:

    Just trailered it home last night from Coal City IL. It's a 2000 Kawasaki Voyager XII with just under 22k miles. Got a particularly good deal on it, because when I went to pick up this bike that was advertised as running/riding well, it was obviously running on only 3 cylinders with an occasional "pop" from the fourth. With a 99% likelihood this is a case of clogged pilot jets. Looking at the immaculate condition of the rest of the bike, I decided to take that gamble. Besides that it needs some tires and fork seals, but I take that as more or less a given with an older bike. It will also be treated to a full fluid/filter/preventative maintenance service to baseline everything. I've got all winter to knock this stuff out.

    IMG_1906.jpg
    Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
    Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

    #2
    Looks mint, mechanical is easy.
    1986 1150EF
    2008 GS1250SEA

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      #3
      Nice rolling loveseat.

      Comment


        #4
        I love this whole crazy project, and can't wait to see it up close.

        It actually looks like there's not much of a "project" there, honestly. You'll have to ration out the few tasks needed so you can get through the winter sane.
        1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
        2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
        2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
        Eat more venison.

        Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.

        Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.

        SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!

        Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!

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          #5
          Always wondered what Kawa.'s idea was with the Voyagers. Back then most all bikes kept getting lighter and more HP. Kawa. went opposite, heavier and less HP....1984 Voyager- 6 cyl., 1286 cc, 130HP, 698 lbs. vs. 2000 Voyager- 4 cyl., 1196 cc., 97HP, 715 lbs.
          1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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            #6
            I had a friend who owned one. Used to *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ him off that my fully loaded (Vetter) 1980 Gold Wing 1100 would outpull his Voyager up a hill and get better gas milage. The Voyager is a great bike however.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by craz1 View Post
              I had a friend who owned one. Used to *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ him off that my fully loaded (Vetter) 1980 Gold Wing 1100 would outpull his Voyager up a hill and get better gas milage. The Voyager is a great bike however.
              Something must have been mechanically wrong or maybe he was pulling a pop-up camper behind his? The 86+ 4cyl Voyager XIIs are supposedly the "sort of" hot rods among the 80s big tourers, well them and the 1st gen 83-85 Venture 1200s. The older 6 cylinder models I know a lot less about, aside from the fact that I would assume a 120hp 6 would easily outgun an older 1100 GW?
              Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
              Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by rphillips View Post
                Always wondered what Kawa.'s idea was with the Voyagers. Back then most all bikes kept getting lighter and more HP. Kawa. went opposite, heavier and less HP....1984 Voyager- 6 cyl., 1286 cc, 130HP, 698 lbs. vs. 2000 Voyager- 4 cyl., 1196 cc., 97HP, 715 lbs.
                From what I've seen, you got part of that right part of that wrong: the Voyager XII was notably lighter than the big 1300 six cylinder model that preceded it, and while claimed HP was perhaps down, the new 1200 4cyl pulled harder down low and overall the bike was a fair bit quicker: 12.6 quarter mile for an 800lb (wet) fiberglass ensconced road going liner was pretty darn swift for the 80s!

                From Cycle World's '1989 review:
                "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."
                Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
                Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

                Comment


                  #9
                  You're right gtem, I got the wgt. backwards. from motorcyclespecs.com. According to them, the 1200 is 16 lb. lighter than the 1300 The earlier model 6 cyl. was the 715 lb. dry wt., max. power 130HP., max. torque 87lb-ft The later 4 cyl.. 699 lb. dry wt. max. power 97HP, max torque 79.5.... The 6 cyl. 1300 ran the 1/4 mi. in 13.1 sec @ 100mph. funny thing nowhere I looked showed any 1/4 mi time nor speed for the 4 cyl. 1200. If the 12.6 1/4 mi is correct, that's a full half sec. faster than the 1300..... I read that Cycle World article and it did say the 1200 didn't give up anything to the 1300. I can't say, I've not ridden a 1200, but I'd have thought the 1300's 33 more HP and 8 lb-ft more torque would promptly took care of the extra 16 lb. wt., but I guess it doesn't.
                  1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Nope his was a brand new bike, 1st year 1986 with a few thousand miles on it. Roll on throttle going up a fairly steep grade in 5th gear. Didn't out pull by much but did. He was a Las Vegas motorcycle cop so he did know how to ride so no excuse tbere I also had an 85 Venture Royal and yes that bike was fast. Fooled a lot of Harley riders with that one.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      A the 5th gear roll on makes sense craz1, apparently 5th gear (top gear) on these ZG1200s is geared very tall for laidback highway cruising (iirc 2500rpm @60mph, to a GL1100's 3700rpm at 60), but would put it at a torque disadvantage against the GW for sure.
                      Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
                      Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by rphillips View Post
                        You're right gtem, I got the wgt. backwards. from motorcyclespecs.com. According to them, the 1200 is 16 lb. lighter than the 1300 The earlier model 6 cyl. was the 715 lb. dry wt., max. power 130HP., max. torque 87lb-ft The later 4 cyl.. 699 lb. dry wt. max. power 97HP, max torque 79.5.... The 6 cyl. 1300 ran the 1/4 mi. in 13.1 sec @ 100mph. funny thing nowhere I looked showed any 1/4 mi time nor speed for the 4 cyl. 1200. If the 12.6 1/4 mi is correct, that's a full half sec. faster than the 1300..... I read that Cycle World article and it did say the 1200 didn't give up anything to the 1300. I can't say, I've not ridden a 1200, but I'd have thought the 1300's 33 more HP and 8 lb-ft more torque would promptly took care of the extra 16 lb. wt., but I guess it doesn't.
                        Re-read the Cycle world piece, it's not a 16lb disparity but apparently a 150lb difference: "even though it weighs 150 pounds less"
                        Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
                        Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by gtem View Post
                          From Cycle World's '1989 review:
                          Genuflect when you say that!

                          I miss Cycle World. I remember how sad I was as it got skinnier each month; when it went quarterly a few years back, I felt like I was sitting at an old friend's deathbed.

                          I'm so glad I still have my first one (Nov '71), as well as some other notables ('77 KZ1000, 2012 ZX1400R). And of course the July 1982 issue that raved about my newly redesigned 11E.

                          RIP Cycle World
                          1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

                          2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.

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                            #14
                            I love that they have their whole archive uploaded online and accessible to all (for now?) without a paywall though a pop up prompts me to log in every time I visit. I'm only 34 so a lot of the vintage bike reviews I read are before my time, but even I get wistful reading the old stuff, reading about the relatively low traffic roads out in CA at that time.
                            Previous GS fleet: '78 1000C, '79 750E, '81 650G, '82 1100G, '81 1100E
                            Other rides: '77 XS500C, '78 XS1100E

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Congrats!!! I was wondering if your were going to get the Voyager. Glad you did! Nothing like riding around on a vintage touring bike. Be wary of mice trying to move in, I trapped a few trying to move into my Goldwing already this fall. Best!
                              Jedz Moto
                              1988 Honda GL1500-6
                              2002 Honda Reflex 250
                              2018 Triumph Bonneville T120
                              2023 Triumph Scrambler 1200XE
                              Cages: '18 Subaru OB wagon 3.6R and '16 Mazda 3
                              Originally posted by Hayabuser
                              Cool is defined differently by different people... I'm sure the new rider down the block thinks his Ninja 250 is cool and why shouldn't he? Bikes are just cool.

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