Still shopping for a Voyager but I have a few questions

[Mag00]

Hi gang!

I joined and logged on about a month ago, asking questions about a 1994 Voyager that I was interested in. It's on consignment at a local dealer and when I joined it was priced at $5,000 which a lot of you agreed was way too much.

Yesterday, the seller lowered the price to $3500.00 which I still think is too much, and I'll worry about that when the time comes if I decide I really want it.

But, I went ahead and took it for a test ride today. Notwithstanding the issues it has that I talked about before, it ran good but I couldn't get the cruise control to engage. I turned it on and tried to set the speed at 50-55 mph but it didn't work. Is it malfunctioning does the CC engage at a higher base speed?

Also, I noticed a lot of gear whine from the engine. Does this motorcycle have a gear driven cam? Are they normally really noisy in this manner?

Otherwise like I said, it ran good, gear box was tight and shifted fine, and there was plenty of power.

Thanks!

[gearheadfla]

Now that price is getting in the correct range, as far as the cruise, it has to be in 5th gear to in-gauge, if it still don't it is probably one of the safety switches either out of adjustment (the most common one is the rear brake switch) or dirty. Gear whine? Does it do it all the time or only moving ? This bikes can be a bit clunky at times but bulletproof, what you may have heard is the Alt, check it out a little closer, maybe a alt. bearing complaining a bit, that could be a good "negotiating" factor on the price. At that price it is worth a better look.

[debron]

Bob, ZATommy in Prescott, AZ is selling his '01 Voyager XII, asking $3,000. See this thread for info:
http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... =15&t=7550

[Mag00]

Gear whine? Does it do it all the time or only moving ?

I hear distinct whine at speed. Doesn't matter what speed--35, 45, 60 etc. It's most noticeable when cruising. It shifts fine, seems to run fine at speed. No unusual noises. It's a distinct gear whine kind of like what the Honda ST1100 is notorious for--audible gear whine but not a performance issue.

Is the 1200cc inline four on the Voyagers a basically quiet engine? I'm thinking this noise I hear is normal. But I just wanted to check with you guys to make sure.

BTW, the whine occurs only when moving. It's not the tires. I did maneuvers to check for sound coming from the tires.

[Mag00]

Bob, ZATommy in Prescott, AZ is selling his '01 Voyager XII, asking $3,000. See this thread for info:
http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... =15&t=7550

thanks.

[sheiserman]

As far as the cruise problem is concerned, does the OD light come on?

In addition to what gearhead suggested, I'll throw that in. The little brass "switch" down by the sight glass was my problem. Carl Leo fixed it over the phone.

[debron]

I hear distinct whine at speed. Doesn't matter what speed--35, 45, 60 etc. It's most noticeable when cruising. It shifts fine, seems to run fine at speed. No unusual noises. It's a distinct gear whine kind of like what the Honda ST1100 is notorious for--audible gear whine but not a performance issue.

Is the 1200cc inline four on the Voyagers a basically quiet engine? I'm thinking this noise I hear is normal. But I just wanted to check with you guys to make sure.

BTW, the whine occurs only when moving. It's not the tires. I did maneuvers to check for sound coming from the tires.

The 1200 inline 4 is not a quiet engine. The whine (common) is reportedly from the (bullet proof) straight-cut gears. There is an article on the XII Tech Tips webpage on adjusting the backlash thing-a-ma-jig that has helped some folks, but not others reduce the noise.

My '01 had a loud whine from 70-71 in 5th and a similar but quieter whine in 4th around 50mph. My '95 does not have that whine, but still, it's not quiet. But it is smooth and strong. And fast. I run out of speed limit pretty quickly in 2nd gear.

[gearheadfla]

It's not a whine, she's singing to you as you travel down the road to thank you for taking her into your family.

[Mag00]

As far as the cruise problem is concerned, does the OD light come on?

In addition to what gearhead suggested, I'll throw that in. The little brass "switch" down by the sight glass was my problem. Carl Leo fixed it over the phone.

I can't remember if the OD light came on. I may have been in third gear when I thought I was in 4th, and I may have been in 4th when I thought I was in 5th. But I'm fairly sure that when I couldn't get the cruise to work in 4th I shifted to 5th and tried, but the highest speed I could go at the time was just over 50 due to traffic. I should have tested the cruise control when I was on the highway but I didn't think about it. They'd probably let me test ride it again.

Is there a minimum speed that the cruise control will engage at? 55 mph maybe?

[Mag00]

It's not a whine, she's singing to you as you travel down the road to thank you for taking her into your family.

Well, she needs to work on her high-pitched voice.

I'm thinking the whine has to do with the straight cut gears as Ron said. But this puppy sings, so that's why I asked, because I'm wondering if it's going to bug the hell out of me after owning it for a while.

However, sometimes changing to a different brand of oil or making certain adjustments and/or changes can alleviate the noise somewhat.

[sheiserman]

I can't remember if the OD light came on. I may have been in third gear when I thought I was in 4th, and I may have been in 4th when I thought I was in 5th. But I'm fairly sure that when I couldn't get the cruise to work in 4th I shifted to 5th and tried, but the highest speed I could go at the time was just over 50 due to traffic. I should have tested the cruise control when I was on the highway but I didn't think about it. They'd probably let me test ride it again.

Is there a minimum speed that the cruise control will engage at? 55 mph maybe?

I don't know if there's a minimum speed or not, just that the OD light has to be working for the cruise to work. My OD light was flickering, and every flicker caused the cruise to shut off. Grounding the black wire that runs to the OD/Neut. switch took care of the flicker. Grounding the switch also causes the OD light to be illuminated in all gears all the time. That's fine by me. You may not like that.

I don't know what the availability or cost of what that little switch would be, but I think it would be pretty easy to change it out during an oil change if one doesn't want the OD light on all the time.

[debron]

Well, she needs to work on her high-pitched voice.

I'm thinking the whine has to do with the straight cut gears as Ron said. But this puppy sings. . .

My '01 didn't sing, she howled! But all I needed to to was speed up 1 mph or slow down 1 mph and she quieted right down!

[bikerking.biz]

I can't remember if the OD light came on. I may have been in third gear when I thought I was in 4th, and I may have been in 4th when I thought I was in 5th. But I'm fairly sure that when I couldn't get the cruise to work in 4th I shifted to 5th and tried, but the highest speed I could go at the time was just over 50 due to traffic. I should have tested the cruise control when I was on the highway but I didn't think about it. They'd probably let me test ride it again.

Is there a minimum speed that the cruise control will engage at? 55 mph maybe?

Minimum speed required for the cruise to work is about 35 mph. If it doesn't, and the cruise light is on, there is an excellent chance that one of the switches at either the clutch, front brake, or rear brake is tripped when it shouldn't be.

[vxiirider]

Unless the system has been modified the bike has to be in 5th gear and over 55 MPH in order for the cruise to engage.

[Lucasind]

.....page 39 of the owners manual under the cruise control operation section states the following..."This motorcycle is equipped with kAWASAKI'S CRUISE CONTROL system which is designed to maintain any speed between 30 - 80 mph (48-128km/h) inOD 5th gear ".

[Mag00]

.....page 39 of the owners manual under the cruise control operation section states the following..."This motorcycle is equipped with kAWASAKI'S CRUISE CONTROL system which is designed to maintain any speed between 30 - 80 mph (48-128km/h) inOD 5th gear ".

Is it possible to override that feature so cruise control can be used in 4th gear?

[kjsett]

.....page 39 of the owners manual under the cruise control operation section states the following..."This motorcycle is equipped with kAWASAKI'S CRUISE CONTROL system which is designed to maintain any speed between 30 - 80 mph (48-128km/h) inOD 5th gear ".

Is it possible to override that feature so cruise control can be used in 4th gear?

Someone posted a way to do that. I would like to find it again also as there are times and roads where it would be handy. They added a switch where the "OD" light is always on when activated so it fools the CC into thinking it's ok to operate. Course you have to remember which gear you are in.
Don't have time to look as i type this, but check the Tech section. I will when I get home later as I think that is an easy winter project for next season.
Ken

[gearheadfla]

Mine is by passed some how, cruise works in all gears and the OD light don't come on at all, kinda wish it did so I would stop looking for 6th gear, if I ever find it I will post that event.

[sheiserman]

Is it possible to override that feature so cruise control can be used in 4th gear?

Locate the OD switch down by the sight glass. There are two wires connected to it.

Disconnect the black one, and then ground it. I misspoke (mistyped?) earlier when I said to ground the switch. Just run the black wire to ground, and voila.

I did find the switch online and it is $22. I think it would be real easy to swap that switch out during an oil change and just be done with it. If it isn't just that easy, I don't know why. Someone else would have to explain that.

I don't know how often bulbs go out in the instrument cluster. If the bulb itself was bad, I don't know if that would screw things up. Seems to me it would be a problem if the bulb was bad. That wasn't the case for me, and simply running the black wire to the frame gave me cruise without any further repair.

I am a fan of instant gratification.

[carl leo]

the switch is not the problem. the small brass tab bolted to the shift drum signals the switch that the machine is in 5th gear allowing the cruise to engage. this little tab is about $2 from kawasaki but the bevel drive has to be removed to replace it. this is about a 3-4 hour job for a $2 part............