New Owner Reports- 2010 Voyager 1700

[HMB Don]

Yesterday I did my first 300 mile day on the 1700. A little over a week ago in installed 2 inch risers, with the new Corbin seat and back rest the 1700 is beginning to fit me much better. After yesterday I'm really beginning to like the 1700 more. I rode 600 total mles last week and the engine, and suspension are starting to free up. My favorite speed is 65 mph, at this speed it rides smooth and the sound from the pipes; priceless. After 3100 miles I'm enjoying the 1700 a lot more, and slowly letting go of the 1200 Voyager.

Today I started with the floorboard relocation; moving them back 3 1/2 inchs. Hoping to be ready for Kanab. Maybe we can get an early morning ride going.

Don Medina
2012 Voyager 1700

[David (N. Alabama)]

Sounds great Don. I will either be on the Versys or the Nomad for the Rally. Leaning towards the Versys because the guy I will be travelling with will be on a ZZR600 sport bike. Might be ordering a Russel Day Long seat for the Nomad/Voyager so that might change my mind towards the Nomad.

Either way, I am definitely up for some early morning riding.

[HMB Don]

Here I go, I've had a hard time with this new Voyager. I really liked my 1200 but it must have been time to get a new motorcycle. That was almost 11 months ago. On Sunday 11 11 2012 I returned from my latest ride, it was to Vail, Arizona, to attend the Wheels Rolling West Ride-In Hosted by the Enchanted Voyagers members Bob and Dorothy.

I now have 27,400 miles on this new Voyager 1700, oil consumtion has gone to zero. I use Amsoil with extended oil changes, 10,000 miles between oil changes. A new rear tire again E3 the last one lasted 19,200 miles. I found a large rock in the belt drive, seems to be ok. Cleaned my K & N air filter. New front tire at 12,500 miles still looks good. New front brake pads Galfer 24,812 miles, rears brake pads were still like new, I'm a front brake person. I've added heated grips, heated seat, moved floorboards back 3 1/2 inches, installed 2 inch risers, Duane's trailer hitch, Clearview shield, Corbin seat.

What does this Voyager do better then the 1200, most everything. As of this last trip, I'm hooked; at the AVA Rally I was still missing my 1200. But the way this big twin can eat miles, I ride at a steady 63 mph and get 47 to 49 mpg. But when I need to get somewhere fast 75 to 90 no problem, mpg drops from 38 to 29, if you want to hang around the 100 mph for long times it will; the price is low 20's for mpg. Want to rail mountain roads, the frame is up to it. Got to play with some young guns on the way back from Vail.

But best is the sound of the pipes when backing off of the throttle entering a turn, then wacking that throttle wide open at the exit. I wish it had a six gallon fuel tank, fuel tank under the seat and single rear shock, a full water cooled engine. Has head shake on some California roads, but in Araizona roads none. I checked steering head bearings ok, rebalanced the front tire. The front feels smoother, but that head shake, I'm still going to add a little preload to the steering head bearings.

The heat from the engine, the more miles it gets a bit better, after the 1200 with heat sheilds, it took some time to live with the heat; I'm ok with it now. Because it, just likes to eat miles.

Don Medina
President
NorCal Voyagers Club

2012 Voyager 1700

[NSASarge]

I had a 2005 Kawasaki 1600 Nomad. Great bike. We had only put about 45k on it in the 6 years we had it, but we really enjoyed it. On 07 March 2012, I stopped into my dealer to order a new faceshield for my helmet. I noticed the dark blue and silver Voyager sitting in the corner of the showroom. I asked if it was the new 2012 Voyager? The salesman said NO, it's a new 2010 Voyager. Huh?!? Whadaya mean new 2010? I asked how many miles on it. He said he didn't know because they had not put a battery in it yet. OK. Why is it still here. He said it was because they had not sold it yet. (DUH) I paused to look at it a while and then asked, How bad you wanna sell it? My Nomad was paid off and I really liked this bike. The salesman said I should speak to the owner about a deal. I did and they were willing to get rid of it just because it had been there so long. I made a great buy and got out the door with tax/title/tags, a couple t-shirts for well under 14k. I picked it up that Saturday, 10 March 2012. So, I had a zero mileage 2-year old new bike. Took it home and we planned our next bike trip.
I've had a couple maintenance issues with the bike. The airbox covers started to bubble up and the finish was starting to come off. The dealer got me new ones including the complete airbox chrome cover. I keep the center disks in their packaging and may polish out the covers to leave them chrome. The side trim piece on the right saddlebag vanished on a drive to work one day. I know the dealer didn't have to, but, he replaced it anyway. After our trip to Pigeon Forge, TN last year, the display on my stereo unit went blank. The dealer asked if it got wet? Uh, yeah. we rode in the rain a good part of the way there and back. I was told that the repair bill to replace the unit was well over 1k! I'm looking for the GTPP 4-year extension which I must buy by 10 March 2015. I running AMSOIL 10w40 full synthetic with Purolator filters after the suggested breakin period.

[Terros]

Nothing wrong with a hold over, as I said before here, bought a New Suzuki Cavalcade off the floor that was 4 years old, had it 8 years.

Congrats on the New bike.
Bob

[NSASarge]

I guess my only real complaint is the amount of heat that 103cu/in engine gives off! Feels like my pants are being ironed while I'm wearing them. I wish Ma Kaw would do something about it. Now I've heard about the KAMS kit available at the tune of nearly $400! Why won't Ma Kaw fix this!?!

[debron]

I guess my only real complaint is the amount of heat that 103cu/in engine gives off! Feels like my pants are being ironed while I'm wearing them. I wish Ma Kaw would do something about it. Now I've heard about the KAMS kit available at the tune of nearly $400! Why won't Ma Kaw fix this!?!

It's not just a Kawasaki issue, it's a characteristic of all large V-Twins. Those huge cylinders produce a lot of heat compared to small cylinders such as on the XII.

[Terros]

My old V4 Suzuki Cavalcade was't much better. I use to do ribs on my side case when the fan came on.