Hi y'all...just picked up an '89 1200 yesterday with 44k on it for $1400, seems to run fine, can't get the od light to pop, and can't get the cruise to work as a consequence...everything else on the bike seems to work, it's a very nice ride (going to have to boost the air in the back shocks to accommodate my *cough* large *cough* frame ) but other than that it operates like a large bike should...anything I'm missing in not being able to get the od light to light? 5 forward speeds, correct? Right around 3500 rpm at cruising speeds?
Coming off of a '92 Kaw Concours C10, so there are definitely similarities between the two, and it feels like it's in the same family for sure. I was a member of the Concours forum, and this one feels just like that one did, SO glad we have this tool to turn to with questions!
Thanks for any help!
Tim in Manteca, Ca.
The OD will not light until your in 5th gear nor will the cruse set unless in 5th. Does the cruse control on/off button light up at all on the false tank?
2017 Gloss black Victory Vision 1996 Kawasaki Voyager Just sold 1981 Kawasaki GPZ550 (sold)
I did a whole bunch of background reading before I plunked the cash down, I have a general idea of what is supposed to happen, and the sequence it's supposed to happen in, and the overdrive light is not lighting up in 5th gear...it's probably something I'm not doing right, but I can't figure out what that might be...I am definitely in 5th gear, but no od light...
And yes, everything seems to be normal with the cruise...the green on light comes on, but the lack of od light keeps it from achieving a "set" light...
Im not sure of all the things you can look for but I know there are two micro switches located on the front break lever side of the handlebar, it could be that the micro sw is sticky. Spray some electrical contact cleaner (not WD40) in there and see if that helps same goes for the rear break foot pedal.
2017 Gloss black Victory Vision 1996 Kawasaki Voyager Just sold 1981 Kawasaki GPZ550 (sold)
Somebody else may know for sure , But isn't there a switch near the left side, bottom of the motor that has something to do with the OD light. I believe it has some wires running to it. I think it also has something to do with the neutral light also, maybe two separate switched. Hope this idea helps.
The OD/Neutral switch is located below the oil level sight glass. Follow the wires, which go below the alternator chrome cover, down to where they connect to the switch.
Black/Red is the neutral switch wire colour and Black is the OD switch wire colour. The neutral switch wire connects directly to the male brass terminal at the center of the switch but the OD portion of the switch has a Black short wire with a male connection which comes from a brass eye washer under the nut of the switch, and connects to a female plug of the small wire harness.
You will also see a Black/Blue wire for the oil pressure switch.
Check these for cleanliness/contact.
Dave
Outstanding, Dave and John! I will investigate these wires tomorrow after work, fingers crossed! Everything else seems to be normal on the bike, and the PO stated that the cruise works as it was intended to work, so...
Thought I would throw up a pic of my new (to me) 89 Voyager XII, from 1:30am Monday morning at work...
Good looking bike I have had my'99 for 6 1/2 years and added 38000 miles to it. I paid $5000 for it with 22000 miles,maybe a little high,but never sorry I bought it.
Thank you sir! Got new rear shocks on the way, these have shock oil coming out of the pressure port on the fairing, still has a halfway decent ride, but it will be tons better with the Progressives...
Previous owner took the rear speakers off, doesn't bother me because I don't see myself using the radio anyway...my phone, Pandora Radio and good-quality ear buds are the way I ride...
Has anybody done away with the radio and installed anything else in its place, that you've seen?
Yesterday took the Voyager from Manteca, Ca. into Castro Valley, Ca. to visit Mom and back...great ride, if a little hot. Can't wait for the summer mesh riding jacket I ordered to come in! We are supposedly looking at a week of 106-degree days out in the Ca. central Valley...
Me Again wrote:106 degrees ? Wow.
You should come here to Wisconsin . Mid to upper 70's for highs.
Bring your long johns . Mid 50's at night .
Great riding weather.
LOL! Yeah, the last few years our summer temps have been not what anyone would call "mild"...Your weather sounds optimal right now, just don't think I could deal with your Winters up there...
timmerz_1 wrote:Hi y'all...just picked up an '89 1200 yesterday with 44k on it for $1400, seems to run fine, can't get the od light to pop, and can't get the cruise to work as a consequence...everything else on the bike seems to work, it's a very nice ride (going to have to boost the air in the back shocks to accommodate my *cough* large *cough* frame ) but other than that it operates like a large bike should...anything I'm missing in not being able to get the od light to light? 5 forward speeds, correct? Right around 3500 rpm at cruising speeds?
Coming off of a '92 Kaw Concours C10, so there are definitely similarities between the two, and it feels like it's in the same family for sure. I was a member of the Concours forum, and this one feels just like that one did, SO glad we have this tool to turn to with questions!
Thanks for any help!
Tim in Manteca, Ca.
It never ceases to amaze me that these great looking/running bikes can be found for such LOW money$.you did very well at only 1400 !
congratulations on your find ! each bike in our group of XII's ,ran flawlessly to and from the rally... I only saw one guy that had to call a tow truck to get his 1700 to the Days Inn then take it to a local shop to find out why it quit running on him. Later I heard that vibration caused the battery cables to come loose, till the bike died,he also lost a couple of other nuts and bolts along the way due to vibration.an easy fix,that could have been way worse,likely ,a drop of loc-tite on fasteners is in his future. ...I could not be more pleased with the purchase of my XII, plan on keeping it till the end, then my son will continue riding it . ...............Tony
Yeah, I couldn't believe the price when I saw it on Craigslist, had to contact the guy to first verify the price...There are a few things that need attention, the shocks were the first obvious "right now" fix needed...
But that motor! Talk about a flat-line torque curve...it feels actually the same as my Concours, just larger...and 'WAAAAYYY less buzzy at the grips!
timmerz_1 wrote:Thank you sir! Got new rear shocks on the way, these have shock oil coming out of the pressure port on the fairing, still has a halfway decent ride, but it will be tons better with the Progressives...
Previous owner took the rear speakers off, doesn't bother me because I don't see myself using the radio anyway...my phone, Pandora Radio and good-quality ear buds are the way I ride...
Has anybody done away with the radio and installed anything else in its place, that you've seen?
Yesterday took the Voyager from Manteca, Ca. into Castro Valley, Ca. to visit Mom and back...great ride, if a little hot. Can't wait for the summer mesh riding jacket I ordered to come in! We are supposedly looking at a week of 106-degree days out in the Ca. central Valley...
If you had oil coming out from the port that fills the front forks, there is a good chance that it has progressive springs in it, the spacer also has a few parts to stop that oil going back to the fill. As for the rear it will feel like a different bike the next time out..
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
timmerz_1 wrote:But that motor! Talk about a flat-line torque curve...it feels actually the same as my Concours, just larger...and 'WAAAAYYY less buzzy at the grips!
Fours have traditionally had a 'buzzy" area of the rpm range, and Kawasaki is no exception, so for the Voyager 1200's they did their homework to eliminate that. They sure did a great job! I own two of the 1300 sixers and am very spoiled since they have no vibes at all, but I recently bought a '82 KZ1100D Spectre four street rod and it reminded me how much fours vibrate at a certain rpm. Makes me wonder how I ever survived the days on my Yamaha XS650 twin!
The only parts that are reused with the Progressive Springs are the plastic cover - the clip- and the plug . The steel sleeve, collar and brass filter are not reused.
ekap1200 wrote:
timmerz_1 wrote:Thank you sir! Got new rear shocks on the way, these have shock oil coming out of the pressure port on the fairing, still has a halfway decent ride, but it will be tons better with the Progressives...
Previous owner took the rear speakers off, doesn't bother me because I don't see myself using the radio anyway...my phone, Pandora Radio and good-quality ear buds are the way I ride...
Has anybody done away with the radio and installed anything else in its place, that you've seen?
Yesterday took the Voyager from Manteca, Ca. into Castro Valley, Ca. to visit Mom and back...great ride, if a little hot. Can't wait for the summer mesh riding jacket I ordered to come in! We are supposedly looking at a week of 106-degree days out in the Ca. central Valley...
If you had oil coming out from the port that fills the front forks, there is a good chance that it has progressive springs in it, the spacer also has a few parts to stop that oil going back to the fill. As for the rear it will feel like a different bike the next time out..
No oil coming from the forks air cap, just the shocks...rec'd the new Progressive shocks yesterday, now just trying to carve out some quality time for installation...working loooong hours nowadays.
I don't think any upgrades were done on the bike prior to my purchase, other than a power-amp for the speakers, and that isn't working...so I think I'm starting with a bone-stock XII, and can pretty-much create my own ultimate cruiser out of the formidable package that these bikes are just in stock trim...at this time I'm not noticing anything I would change about the forks, running about 20psi in them, but haven't ridden 2-up yet, waiting till after the new shocks go on for that...
One thing that gets me is: my Concours C10 is a 1992, was built 3 years after this Voyager...why in the world couldn't Kaw apply the anti-vibration technology they built into the 1200 in '89 into the 1000cc motor they manufactured for the Concours in later years?? That grip-numbing buzz after a couple of hours is almost lethal, and is the main reason I was looking for an easier-riding replacement...glad it happened now, of course, but hated to get forced into looking...
timmerz_1
If you have "stock" springs in the front forks and are running 20 lbs PSI in the front forks, that is, according to the service manual, too much. The usable range is 5.7-8.5 PSI with the standard being 7.1 PSI.
I was not sure of your fork springs, ie. stock or Progressive.
Progressive don't require any air pressure, although I find mine seem the best with about 5 lbs. PSI.
Dave
) but other than that it operates like a large bike should...anything I'm missing in not being able to get the od light to light? 5 forward speeds, correct? Right around 3500 rpm at cruising speeds?
