Observations

[Keithm]

Ok well I've had the bike for a year and the wife and I have taken it across the states twice. It's a 99 now has 26000 on it. Near mint condition. I've been riding for 30 years and have seen some interesting stuff out there. This bike is a great value for the money, reliable , quite, easy to wok on not that you need to. I would love to have seen a reverse and the "spaghetti noodle fork" left something to be desired, and yes I did all the suspension upgrades and it did help but it need more. The seat was adequate the performance was smooth, drive train is strong but a tad noisy nothing bad . Here's the thing I can deal with all that because the price was so much cheaper then a wing or lt. Now if Kawasaki could just start building tourers again we'd all have it made

overall very pleased. No better value for the money , well there was this suz.........

Keith

[Me Again]

Now if Kawasaki could just start building tourers again we'd all have it made .

They are building a Voyager and those who own them say they are much more comfortable than the XII.
It's called a Voyager 1700 (I tend to leave off the Vulcan part) .Vtwin .Still a lot more bang for the buck compared to the competition .Still out of my price range.
Been around for 5 years now ,had a few upgrades now so it should be about ready to go .
If you prefer 4 cylinders ,maybe you could buy 2.
P.S. This is not a declaration of war ,so be civil .

[gearheadfla]

I now also own a Kaw V-twin, a Nomad 1600, it is a good running engine, smooth, not real bad in the engine heat dept, compared to the XII it is a GAS HOG, 33mph, my XII does 50mph, the XII would eat the Nomads lunch in the shear acceleration dept, but the Nomad will also cruise at 80mph with little effort, have had it over 100 once just to do it and it was very steady, when I get the XII up there it tends to "blow around" some. I'm thinking the tour pack is most to blame for that. I have never ridden a 1700 but when I was shopping for another bike for the stable I spent a lot of time trying them on in the showroom, at 6'3'" and 270 I found the 1700 a little cramped, I also find my XII a little cramped but I can deal with it, the Nomad is stretched out more with the forward controls, add highway pegs and it is prefect for my long legs, but I can see where a shorter or even average height person may be too stretched out on it. The V-Twins are diffidently more of a grunt ride than the ultra smooth inline 4's, but I like both of them. I think Kaw builds the best of all of them and a close second would be Victory. As far as the other American V-Twin, sorry, just don't like them, I have rode them, in my opinion even the Ultra is too small and cramped. Kaw's are roomier, and will get you home.

[debron]

Well, Keith, that was a somewhat lukewarm review. The XII is not for everyone. I've had a XII for 3 years and over 45,000 miles. I went for a ride today and am always amazed at how sweet it runs! Smoooooooth, nimble, comfortable, and great gas mileage on regular gas! The design is dated (but then, so am I!) but it runs and handles so great. . .

[Keithm]

I guess it was lukewarm, it would have been much more grandiose if the low speed handling were better. Like I said a wing handles much better but the price puts it far out of my range. The v bikes are not tourers they are cruisers with bags and a trunk. Not sent to offend just an opinion. It will get you home and it does it smoothly. Btw has anyone ever tried a larger diameter fork?

[debron]

I find low speed handling of the XII to be excellent when the front tire is new, but deteriorates and develops the infamous low speed wobble as the tire wears. so much so that even before the tread is gone I want a new bike! (Or at least a new tire!)

Btw has anyone ever tried a larger diameter fork?

Ma Kaw did - They bumped up the fork diameter from the '86 with the '87 model (and newer.) But you're probably asking about larger still!

[gearheadfla]

I guess it was lukewarm, it would have been much more grandiose if the low speed handling were better. Like I said a wing handles much better but the price puts it far out of my range. The v bikes are not tourers they are cruisers with bags and a trunk. Not sent to offend just an opinion. It will get you home and it does it smoothly. Btw has anyone ever tried a larger diameter fork?

Don't seem right, I have entered and done very well in slow games with my XII, the only thing that gives me problems is the keg push, I can't see the front tire to tell where the keg is going. It is MUCH better than my Nomad in the games. Seat time and practice may do you wonders.

[bikerking.biz]

I guess it was lukewarm, it would have been much more grandiose if the low speed handling were better. Like I said a wing handles much better but the price puts it far out of my range. The v bikes are not tourers they are cruisers with bags and a trunk. Not sent to offend just an opinion. It will get you home and it does it smoothly. Btw has anyone ever tried a larger diameter fork?

Low speed handling is very good on the XII, if yours is wobbling, feeling a little strange or other things, then something needs attention. This subject is covered very well in this board, so do some searching and find out what is wrong with yours.

[Mr Jensee]

My riding buddy just acquired a nice 2001 Concours ZG1000. My Voyager can easily keep up with him and because of my suspension modifications with Progressives all the way around, the only thing he can do that I can't is lean way over in the turns. With our horsepower ratings about equal I am amazed how fast and nimble a big antique touring bike can actually be.