question and a story

[virgorabbit]

Went to the local kawi dealer to ask some basic questions about my new voyager....1)asked about running synthetics in this age of bike (1986) A: well if you want to I guess you can, but from what I've heard, once you run conventional you shouldn't go to syn's. 2)Why is the ride so rough, I feel every crack and gap? A: then just let out all the air from the frt and rear susp. 3) What about Progressive springs and shocks? A: Maybe your susp. is not working correctly b/c if it is, the ride should be awesome, bring it in so we can check it out! I asked to buy a service manual....A: Oh not sure if we have them but I'm sure we can order you one. I don't think I want to take my bike there anymore. The question: I bought the correct igniter online, any issues I need to know about putting it in, like disconnect the battery or pulling any fuses?

[SgtSlag]

When installing electrical components, disconnecting the battery is always a safe bet.

Did you have questions about the issues you raised with the mechanic, or were you testing him?

[jn1200]

Most dealers/mechanics have never seen a Voyager let alone worked on one.
Best to ask questions here & do the basic work yourself.

I'm sure your suspension has seen better days---
Progressive fork springs & spring loaded rear shocks are the best improvement you can make on the bike.
Easy to do to yourself.
http://www.abbikeboard.com/jeff/spring/spring.html
Change your fork oil to.
Synthetic oil is fine for our bike. Your dealer doesn't know what they're talking about..

Buy a service manual on Ebay, or ask here, some have them downloaded.

[virgorabbit]

I was kind of just seeing what their answers would be....I trust you guys wayyyyyy more than the dealership. Whats interesting is they gave me the exact answer to the oil question that was posted on here (about how I have to use "motorcycle oil or Kawasaki oil") I chuckled in my mind.

[biggersm]

Many folks on this forum will recommend Rotella T (the dinosaur type, not synthetic). Our maintenance guru, Carl Leo used it exclusively and got over 300K miles on a XII. You will not experience any problems with going from dinosaur to synthetic but not much benefit either. The major problem is if you see "energy conserving" in the SAE ring means it has molybdenum which will make your clutch slip.

While on the subject of oil please tell me you know about two drain bolts and a cartirdge oil filter.

Glad you have the 1248 igniter.

Progressive suspension is the way to go!

Mr. JN1200 gave you the link for installing the front springs and I dare say putting a pair of shocks on the rear is even easier (in fact the only hard part is getting the springs on the shocks, putting them on a Voyager XII is very straight forward).

I have lost faith in dealerships. Find a mechanic familiar with the Voyager XII in your local area. Better yet call or e-mail Carl Leo with your questions:

voyagerparts@bellsouth.net 731-413-8666

[gearheadfla]

I second everything said. My local Kaw dealer has a XII for sale, I could not pass this up so I grilled them about it, they know NOTHING about that bike. I was on my 88 that day, the salesman was looking at it and said "I see you even have the optional rear speakers on it" (the ones on their 01 was missing) nuff said.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Jim, that's like taking candy from a baby! Good for you, teach them a lesson.

[SgtSlag]

Gentlemen!... Ease off on the dealership mechanics, please! The last Voyager XII was produced over 12 years ago. How many different bike models has Kawasaki produced in the past 12 years? How many other brands of bikes do these dealers sell/service? How many of their mechanics were around, and actually working on bikes, 12 years ago?... Times change, and even if they have experience that goes farther back than 2001, they likely have worked on more then 50 different bike models (most bikes get tweaked/modified every year -- the next year's version is not entirely the same bike...).

We have the luxory of working on one year, make, and model of bike. We have the luxory of getting deeply involved with one year/make/model of bike. They, on the other hand, work on many different bikes each week! Not only different models, but different years of the same models. They have a difficult job: there are similarities, and commonalities, but each bike is different.

The Voyager XII's were almost identical, between 1986 through 2001. That is much of the reason why the bike model died: it became the same bike, stale, nothing new, ho-hum, and boring, within the market place. Virtually no other bike make, or model, ever had that experience, before, or since.

Find a skilled mechanic, whom you trust. Develop a relationship with them. Take your bike to them, so they can learn it. I have highly skilled mechanics who I work with. I have taken my bikes to them since 2006, and they became familiar with them enough, to know how to fix them with great expertise. I am now down to a single bike, my Voyager XII. They know it, and me, quite well. That rapport is something I highly esteem and value -- it pays dividends every year, and it is worth my time, and effort to cultivate. Of course, YMMV. I wish you luck. Cheers!

[virgorabbit]

To play the devils advocate...if using synthetic oil gives me no benefit, they why use it? I have read here about the 2 drain plugs, but am unsure about the cartridge oil filter. Can you recommend a good filter to use? maybe kn? Ironically, the dealership where I bought the bike (Victory, BMW and Honda) has an old timer who used to work for Kawasaki and I have a good vibe from him-he even agreed to put the progressive susp. on for me. Taking stuff off I can do.....putting it back on is another thing. Now if I can only lure him to do this work AWAY from the dealership, I'll be set. Like they say "cash under the table talks and bs walks"

[Okie34]

I must be pretty lucky. Dealership owner here has been selling Kawasaki for 25 years & rode a XII. The mechanic is a young fella but willing to listen. Sometimes I wish he would pick up the phone & talk to Carl though. There's 3 or 4 XII's around here, so I know he gets to work on others. The positive side is I know what beer he likes & am willing to feed his wife & rug rats occasionally with backyard bbq. It does pay to befriend the guy who turns the nuts.

[SgtSlag]

Synthetic oils have their advantages:

1) Their breakdown temperature is over 400 F; conventional oils break down at 250 F;

2) They don't have Viscosity Index Improvers, long molecules which get broken down by the gears in a M/C's transmissions, so they don't lose their multi-viscosity nearly as fast as conventional oils do;

3) They will last much longer than conventional oils, meaning fewer changes, twice as long as conventional oils, perhaps even longer;

4) greater viscosity ranges, some run 0W-40; drastically lower pour points than conventional oils, meaning easier starts in colder weather.

Shell Rotella T6 (5W-40) is sold as a synthetic. It is really a highly refined Type III, conventional oil (synthetics are made from Type IV/V base oils), which behaves like a full synthetic oil. It's a great product, at a reasonable price, available at Wal-Mart -- you can find it nearly everywhere. Cheers!

[jn1200]

What do you mean? "Getting the springs on the shocks" ????




Mr. JN1200 gave you the link for installing the front springs and I dare say putting a pair of shocks on the rear is even easier (in fact the only hard part is getting the springs on the shocks, putting them on a Voyager XII is very straight forward).

[biggersm]

The Progressive 412 has shocks and springs ordered seperatly. The spring has to be compressed before it is put on the shock. It should be noted there is a medium and heavy duty spring available.

Don't get the 412 series and the 12 series confused. I think the 12 series might be all in one (pre installed spring)

[jn1200]

The 412 HD is the rear shock to get. It's all assembled.

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/pr ... odelID=458

[kjsett]

To play the devils advocate...if using synthetic oil gives me no benefit, they why use it? I have read here about the 2 drain plugs, but am unsure about the cartridge oil filter. Can you recommend a good filter to use? maybe kn? Ironically, the dealership where I bought the bike (Victory, BMW and Honda) has an old timer who used to work for Kawasaki and I have a good vibe from him-he even agreed to put the progressive susp. on for me. Taking stuff off I can do.....putting it back on is another thing. Now if I can only lure him to do this work AWAY from the dealership, I'll be set. Like they say "cash under the table talks and bs walks"

http://mob1162.photobucket.com/albums/q ... 1340519676
http://mob1162.photobucket.com/albums/q ... 1340519676
Pictures of a disassembled filter. Be sure to get new O rings with your new filter and replace them every time (otherwise they might leak). I bought a filter and there wasn't any O-rings in the package (OReillys replaced it for me).

[virgorabbit]

Oh yeah, 412hd is gonna be the shock! The old ball n chain and I already exceed the 488 LB cap of the bike. Looks to be easy off and easy on.

[biggersm]

The Progressive 412 has shocks and springs ordered seperatly. The spring has to be compressed before it is put on the shock. It should be noted there is a medium and heavy duty spring available.

Don't get the 412 series and the 12 series confused. I think the 12 series might be all in one (pre installed spring)

Sorry I had my twelves confused. If you have a 12 series you will have to mount the spring to the shock. If you don't have the right tools there are other methods by which to do this. I have head of a creative combination of vice clamps and hose clamps and I'm sure there are some other creative (and perhaps somewhat dangerous) ways to get the job done.