Curious

[hank43]

Anyone know why Kawasaki discontinued the 1300/6cyl? Looks like it was in production for only 3 years, 1983-1986. Any info about HP/Torque, etc?

hank

[Bruce in OK]

I don't have any technical data.

The short answer is the bike didn't sell well enough to be kept around. Those bikes were heavy. In the case of the 1300 Voyager, it was heavy with a high center of gravity. It was years ahead of its time in function and design.

[Mr Jensee]

Kawasaki had a history of producing fast powerful but gas sucking motorcycles. The economy dictates what the market can successfully sell. Two cycle triples are gone, the massive 6 cylinder Voyagers are gone, who knows what will be next.

[Me Again]

Anyone know why Kawasaki discontinued the 1300/6cyl? Looks like it was in production for only 3 years, 1983-1986. Any info about HP/Torque, etc?

hank

They were sold from 83 to 88 with a version selling in Europe until 89.
The reviews were unkind .They were big ,heavy, to full of gadgets and expensive.
They put out around 130 horses and weigh in at 840 dry (tack on 7 gallons of gas,5 quarts on oil,battery misc fluids and your pushing 1000 LBS ).
The 7 gallon gas tank sitting on top makes for some interesting parking lot maneuvers ,But get them on the highway and there is nothing more comfortable .
I've been riding a 1300 since 92 with a short stint on a XII ,then back to a 1300 .

[Skibou]

And Cycle World didn't help by voting them " the best light truck of the year".

[Bruce in OK]

And Cycle World didn't help by voting them " the best light truck of the year".

[hank43]

Anyone know why Kawasaki discontinued the 1300/6cyl? Looks like it was in production for only 3 years, 1983-1986. Any info about HP/Torque, etc?

hank

They were sold from 83 to 88 with a version selling in Europe until 89.
The reviews were unkind .They were big ,heavy, to full of gadgets and expensive.
They put out around 130 horses and weigh in at 840 dry (tack on 7 gallons of gas,5 quarts on oil,battery misc fluids and your pushing 1000 LBS ).
The 7 gallon gas tank sitting on top makes for some interesting parking lot maneuvers ,But get them on the highway and there is nothing more comfortable .
I've been riding a 1300 since 92 with a short stint on a XII ,then back to a 1300 .

Actually, 1000 lbs isn't bad, the 1700 is pushing that, and it only holds 5 gals. of fuel. The HP looks to be about double that of the 1700, would have been good for a trike. BTW, my 1700 weighs 1157 lbs as a trike, and does not have much power with that V-twin. Pile on two humans and a full tank, and you're pushing 1500 lbs, with only about 70 hp.

hank