Voyager comeback?

[ghostler]

Kawasaki could not get more than 30 mpg AND still meet newer, tougher, EPA emission requirements so the V-Twin Vulcan platform won out.

with automobiles twice the weight of a voyager getting better than 30mpg i find this statement hard to believe.

Has to do with aerodynamics. It's why the Voyager gets good gas mileage until one gets above 65 MPH (107 kmh). A motorcycle designed streamlined can get over 100 MPG. May also be related to modifications to engine to squeeze extra MPG within new EPA regulations may be cost prohibitive versus change in type of engine. Cars went through the same evolutionary process until computer controlled carburetors and fuel injection came into being with various engine modifications.

[OT] We saw the air-cooled VW's go away because of difficulty to meet EPA. I foresee the same future with air-cooled motorcycles. H-D is testing the waters with their V-Rod and new mid-sized water cooleds. We might start seeing a lot more aluminum and composite materials to further reduce weight on heavy weight motorcycles, would be my guess.
Anyway, my two cents.

[rscott6942]

People ask me who are beginning to ride what is the best bike and I tell them all the same answer. The best bike is whatever is the best bike for you. I started on an Intruder 800 as a learning bike. Within 5 months I went to an 1100 Sabre. I only sold that to a friend because he lost his bike in Hurricane Sandy and I bought a friends VTX 1800 (the biggest mistake of my riding life). While it is in the same weight range of the Voyager it handled like a tank with way too much torque for me off the line. I sold that bike and was able to get an 03 Voyager and I've never been happier. The bike fits my style of riding be it long distance or just a cruise in the mountains of Georgia. I love getting 48 mpg and the smoothness of the ride.

I am going to ride this until I can't get any more replacement parts or I give up riding whichever happens first.

[Highway Rider]

So Kawasaki could not get the miles per gallon to weight ratio, and meet EPA requirements. I would find that hard to believe. Here are a few examples. Now all the mpg posted here are all subject to scorn, and that is all relative to how far one twists the throttle and I love to twist it.

Kawasaki 1200 Voyager---1200 cc-700 lb---45+ mpg not the case for me more like 35 to 40 mpg
Kawasaki Concourse------1400cc--688 lb---37 to 44 mpg----4 cylinder
Kawasaki 1700 Voyager---1700cc--895 lb---34 to 40 mpg----2 cylinder
Honda Goldwing-----------1800cc--900 lb---37 to 40 mpg----6 cylinder
Triumph 1200 Trophy SE--1200cc--670 lb---45 to 50 mpg----3 cylinder
BMW K1600 GTL------------1600cc--710 lb---34 to 45 mpg----6 cylinder

All motorcycles posted here are 2014's except for the Voyager 1200 which was a 1989.

Now I know that these numbers are not an exact science (but close enough as far as I am concerned) to show what the weight to mpg ratio are. So you can make you own assumption as what to believe but for me I still see no reason why they could not go with a inline 4 . After all they still have the Concourse in production and Honda and BMW both have a 6 cylinder. So I would have to think that is more of a marketing campaign to compete with the large v twins. After all Kawasaki did come out with 4 models using 1700 motor, The Vaquero,Voyager,Nomad,and one model has since been retired the 1700 Custom.These models are all different but all so close. It's all comes down economics. How Soon one would get profit back on investment.

The Concourse, Triumph and BMW are sport touring bikes. These are like thoroughbred horses.High strung and spirited ready to carve the canyon roads with ease and speed. Mostly for 1 up riding but I'm sure 2 up would be just fine. I,m not sure how I would feel after a 1000 mile day on one of these I have never tried it on one of these. Never found someone who would let me take one for that long of a ride.

The 1200,and 1700 Voyager, Goldwing are what I would call the true tourers. These are draft horses
Great for 2 up riding and by no means a slouch on the canyon roads. I'm sure that one could do 1000 miles a day with ease if one was wanting to on any of these three. I have done at least (7) 1000 mile plus rides in a day on my Voyager 1200 and no problems.

Just my thoughts