Newby to Site and possible Voyager XII purchase

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

As for Insurance I too have Progressive that costs me $279 a year and that includes a rider on the policy for up to $5,000 in accessories.

Photos, well be sure you are selecting the Img button above when composing a message. The URL button will only post a link.
the string of coding should look like similar to this "[img]~URL--Image~[/img]", to test it just add the brackets with the letters "img" included inside and remember the backslash in the closing set of brackets on your posting where it only posted a link.

[Bill O]

I have my cars with Flo, but their quote to add my bikes was too high. I have my two Voyagers under a separate policy with Geico for about $25 per month each.

Bill O

[Waterwalker]

So we got her home...guess we will start with cleaning the gas tank, checking/cleaning carb, ect. ect. So excited too have a new toy. So have you heard this..."Don't expect me to ride far with you!" Then you open the garage and they say, "Can I sit on the seat behind you?" OH-don't you just love it!!
Got to get busy.......

[Waterwalker]

Ok so how do you know a rookie (newbie)...by his post questions?? Streetster, Grand Tourer, King Of the Road, ect...break it down for me please. Is it rides, time with group, count of posts??? Thanks,

[Lucasind]

http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=7557" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is a link to a discussion that should answer your questions, ..........tony

[Mr Jensee]

See the post below with a picture of my Voyager enroute home when I bought it several years ago.

[Mr Jensee]

Go to photobucket and bring up the picture. If it is larger than 600x400 size then resize using the resize photo tool in the editor. Left mouse clik on the Img address to the right of the picture and highlight, right click copy then come the AVA site and above where you type posts you will see an icon that says Img. Click on that, past the address of the picture you brought over from photobucket and paste it between the brackets. Do a preview and if it shows up you are done.

[Waterwalker]

http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=7557

Here is a link to a discussion that should answer your questions, ..........tony

Well well...Now I see thru rose colored glasses. I was just wondering of the significance of stars, rankings, and such.

Over the years of jet boat forums you learn real quick to check several sources if you really want a comparison. And then there will be those who stand out as upright guys with knowledge, those that have bits of info, and those that like to think they know.

So thanks for the link on rankings, for what they might be worth.

[Waterwalker]

Go to photobucket and bring up the picture. If it is larger than 600x400 size then resize using the resize photo tool in the editor. Left mouse clik on the Img address to the right of the picture and highlight, right click copy then come the AVA site and above where you type posts you will see an icon that says Img. Click on that, past the address of the picture you brought over from photobucket and paste it between the brackets. Do a preview and if it shows up you are done.

Thanks for the pic info...didn't spend a lot of time working with it. You know how it is being the first day with a "new to me" bike. Had to rearrange the garage some, get metric tools back out and aligned, figure out the center stand with part missing, and such other things. We will for sure fix the centerstand at the earliest time slot. I am fortunate to have been in "metal works" for 18yrs.

My trailering looked similar- just didn't have a trailer to match my straps!!
Thanks

[Mr Jensee]

FYI, I see center stands on EBay all the time. You can probably pick up one cheap. Save yourself some welding. http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-Kawasaki-Voy ... d2&vxp=mtr

[Waterwalker]

OK so we have now have enjoyed combing this site and tinkering with this new to me "older" bike. Since I got it to the point of starting, and consistent idle, guess I will take this conversation to the TECH forum. Thanks for the welcome! I have enjoyed reading just about every post on the tech pages (all11-530+posts), some more thorough than others. Brain fried??? Maybe, but really good info and time saving, tips. See yall on the other pages! Thanks again.

[Highway Rider]

Mr Jensen it looks like the trailer has a tire off of the rim?

[Waterwalker]

Who's looking at the tire? Gotta new toy and besides-his tie down straps match the trailer!! I did wonder if he drove far with that tire like that.

[Mr Jensee]

Yeah that's why the picture was taken. I travelled from Lafayette to a town of Belton just south west of Waco Texas to get the bike. I pulled a UHaul trailer from here to there. Once I had decided to buy the bike, we loaded it and my friend and I towed it home. Bear in mind I drove from 6 am to 3 pm when we arrived at the destination. It was January, we headed home and somewhere in the middle of nowhere on a very dark Texas highway at 1 in the morning we caught a flat tire. Thank heaven we had my GPS because we needed it to find out where we were and get the UHaul company to get us a spare. It was 4:30 or there bouts before someone found a spare for that little fat wheel and got us back on the road again. It was below freezing and not a pleasant experience but in the end it was worth all the trouble.

[Steve do]

Waterwalker, I caught your post about a jet boat. Whatda have, I had a 1976 Taylor SJ with a 496 big block chevy in it. Another expensive toy and a lot of fun.
Steve do

[Waterwalker]

I had a Southwind Tunnel hull w/496BBC. Gave it to my son. He pulled motor sold the hull/trailer to Arizona, and got a TX20. We still run Tawakoni, Lavon, and between stumps at Hubbard. Friends all over. Check out Texas Hot Boats on FB.

I'll try this here:

[ksawatsky]

Hello, and welcome to Voyager ownership! You'll enjoy her! Thanks for the PM -- to which I replied -- but I thought I'd add my 2 cents here as well. You're not tat far from me, so if you ever need some eyes or assistance, let me know.

The advice above is all on target. This forum is incredibly helpful, and although I no longer have my Voyager, this forum remains one of the highlights of when I did. The Lone Star folks are great, and I even got to meet Mr Jensee one day when he flew in to the Metromess.

$1000? That's crazy talk. There is zero reason to have any work done at a dealer, even if you find one who really will work with you. General rule of thumb is that they won't even look at any bike more than 10 years old, and really yours is too easy to need them unless something goes seriously sideways. If that happens, you're most likely going to part her out anyway.

Trailering the Voyager is simple! I took mine on a family vacation out to CO and then up through the parks up into Canada -- 6000 miles or so. A wheel chock for the front and two short -- STRONG -- straps pulling from the bars under the bags to somewhere forward and you're good to go.
Let me know if I can assist with anything. I even have a tire changer, etc. so can help...

[SgtSlag]

ksawatsky,

Here's a parts list only, with costs, of what I did to my new-to-me Voyager:

$250 New Tires, set
$100 Prog. Fork Springs
$225 Prog. Rear Shocks
$80 Headlight Modulator
$50 Brake Modulator
$15 Gallon of Engine Oil
$10 Oil Filter
$6 ATF for fork oil change
$10 Hypoid Gear Oil for rear axle fluid change
$10 Brake Fluid for replacing both brakes and clutch
$15 Coolant for flush/fill
----------------------------------------
$771 in parts and materials alone -- no labor included.

If you subtract the modulators, it is still $641 in parts and materials. Add in any labor, at $80/hour, and it quickly jumps closer to $1,000.

I need to know my tires will provide excellent wet grip in the rain, riding two-up -- I know we will be riding in the rain, so there is no other option for me, but to replace whatever rubber the bike comes with, installing tires I know will perform.

The Progressive suspension can be skipped, but I consider it essential, as well as the modulators -- personal choice.

Unless the PO can provide me with up-to-date maintenance records on all fluid changes, demonstrating they are not in need of changing, I will assume they are overdue. My bike demonstrated that many of the fluids had, in fact, been ignored by the PO.

If the battery is old, or failing, add in another $80-$120, depending upon the type you want to install (did the PO take proper care of it?...). Add in any upgrades you may want: Trunk Extender -- $45; highway floor boards for the driver -- $50; extra riding lights up front, on the fork tubes -- $80-$120+; radio repairs, if necessary; and the list could go on. I don't consider this, "crazy," I consider it realistic. I've kept track on used cars, and motorcycles, and budgeting $1,000 is on the low end, depending upon the vehicle, and what I want out of it. Labor costs are the biggest drain, if I have to have it done professionally. Cheers!

[Waterwalker]

Once again-thanks for all the feedback. Several things I've learned from past forums (boating world) you can read all you want, gather all the info-tech stuff, yet in the end one needs to be wise enough to know their abilities, capabilities, and risk levels they want to take in any maintenance. Just like an old 289 or 396-no problem. Give me some high tech electronic engine and I'm lost. So with the bike it's the same...fluids, brakes, battery, coolant flush etc.-no issues. Carbs I don't do. Electronics I don't know-radio/cassette?? Basically it is a give and take. So all I read is taken in, categorized, noted on a check list, me to do, them to do. One day soon I'll ride, tinker some more, and ride again. Safety first and always first- I've already had an older Harley totaled out from under me (back in 70's). Again-thanks for all the input.