Another new owner

[BonVoyager]

Hi , and thanks for signing me up. I didn't see an intro section so I guess this is the appropriate place to post first time. I just acquired a 99 last week and it's the green and black . It shows 39K on the clock but the title says EXEMPT on the mileage so I have no way of knowing it seems. It looks pretty good and clean and seems to run well . There is some noise when letting the clutch out in first and second. It's a chattering noise down near my right foot and I know that's where the clutch is but it seems to work fine. I've had it up to 70 for a short bit . The tailpipes are not black or oily inside either .
Everything seems to work except the radio. The tires look good too . I haven't tried the cruise yet. I live in a pretty rural area so I can get it out on the highway with virtually no traffic. I haven't ridden in nearly 30 years and I was able to get it going without stalling or tipping it over but this is certainly the largest bike I ever owned. My last bike in the mid 90's was a Honda V30 Magna I've been looking at bikes off and on for the last couple of years and really liked the Honda CTX1300 , a 2014 only model, but I was looking for something more affordable so my focus was on older machines with built in fairings . I got onto the Voyager first by seeing an 84 Goldwing on ebay. I started looking at them on FB and CL as well as cycletrader. And then on that site they had inserted a Voyager and I began the investigation in that direction . I really like this old bike but now that I have it I'm a bit nervous I've gotten in over my head Fortunately I have some mechanical experience albeit not a lot of really in depth level like tearing down engines but I have a good bit of tools . I'm thinking about taking it to a mechanic for a good check up . I see a lot of very knowledgeable folks are on this board so I'm glad to have found it .

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

James, Welcome!!!!!
The Voyager 1200 or XII is very easy to work on. Like yourself I've never torn an engine apart but I've done lots of wrenching (shade tree mechanics) and working on the Voyager is a breeze, seriously. Not only did Kawasaki build a bullet proof engine but there are a lot of skilled and knowledgeable folks on this forum. As for the mileage, if the bike runs don't sweat it as there are many XII's with over 100K, several with 200K and even a few with over 300,00 miles on them. When changing the oil don't look at the sight glass, use Shell Rotella 15w40 with filter and put 3qts 22oz (no more and no less). \
These bikes have a certain/special whine to them similar to George Jetson's space car, this is due to the square cut gears (as I've read, never checked myself but trust others).
Give the bike a good once over, change fluids (brakes, clutch, oil), check tires for proper air, check the rear end fluids and read read read!!!! There is tons of information on here and the search engine works great. If you have a question and can't find the answer just ask!!!
Rest assured others have wondered the same things you might think of.
Again WELCOME to the AVA

[JT Alt]

Welcome,
I had the same noise on mine when I bought it last year. I think if you remove the alternator you will find the bolt on the back loose. Put a little loctite on it and retighten it. It's a very easy fix that takes about 10 minutes. Hopefully that's all it is.

[SgtSlag]

Welcome!

Be sure to also change out the fork fluid! Dexron VI ATF is equal to 8 Wt Fork Oil, full synthetic, and it will last 2+ years. Any flavor of Dexron ATF will work, as 8 Wt Fork Oil, at 1/2 the cost of "Fork Oil."

The key is that the Fork Oil must maintain its stated viscosity across its entire operating temperature range. Turns out that Dexron ATF does the same thing... That is why many OEM's used it for fork oil, back in the 1970's. Fork Oils range from 5 Wt to 15 Wt, for viscosity. So, Dexron ATF is near the middle, at 8 Wt.: not too hard, not too soft. According to Goldilocks, "it's juuust right!..." Of course, YMMV. Cheers!

[GrandpaDenny]

Welcome!

For the radio, check the HS button on the radio, and the MUTE switches on the left handlebar and the passenger controls. I'm pretty sure we ALL have had this problem.

[BonVoyager]

James, Welcome!!!!!
The Voyager 1200 or XII is very easy to work on. Like yourself I've never torn an engine apart but I've done lots of wrenching (shade tree mechanics) and working on the Voyager is a breeze, seriously. Not only did Kawasaki build a bullet proof engine but there are a lot of skilled and knowledgeable folks on this forum. As for the mileage, if the bike runs don't sweat it as there are many XII's with over 100K, several with 200K and even a few with over 300,00 miles on them. When changing the oil don't look at the sight glass, use Shell Rotella 15w40 with filter and put 3qts 22oz (no more and no less). \
These bikes have a certain/special whine to them similar to George Jetson's space car, this is due to the square cut gears (as I've read, never checked myself but trust others).
Give the bike a good once over, change fluids (brakes, clutch, oil), check tires for proper air, check the rear end fluids and read read read!!!! There is tons of information on here and the search engine works great. If you have a question and can't find the answer just ask!!!
Rest assured others have wondered the same things you might think of.
Again WELCOME to the AVA

Scott, thanks for your welcome and info. I got the idea from the seller that he'd kept up with everything pretty well. I'm probably going to reach out and ask him if all of this is up to date. I did not get any service records unfortunately. I did pull off the tank fairing ( if that's the right name) because the battery needed a good charging. I did get a battery tender with it that looks in very good shape . I checked the radiator and reservoir which looked clean although there is a little rusty residue in the filler neck. While I was at it I went ahead and took all of the covers and saddle bags off to just get a good look and familiarize myself more with the subcutaneous layer I have noticed the whirring sound which I like but this sound is a little something different and it's not by the alternator. If it needs a clutch job it's not going to bother me . It seems like a great bike and drives well from the short time I've used it . Boy , that sight glass is pretty useless it seems. I can't tell anything from it . I'm thinking about doing an oil change so I can be sure . I wish I could check the level. Seller told me it had about a 1000 miles on the oil though. I still have to transfer it into my name and will next week or so.

[BonVoyager]

Welcome,
I had the same noise on mine when I bought it last year. I think if you remove the alternator you will find the bolt on the back loose. Put a little loctite on it and retighten it. It's a very easy fix that takes about 10 minutes. Hopefully that's all it is.

Jt , thanks for the input , I did see something about this. This sound is not by the alternator but on the other side. Could that still be it ? The alternator seems pretty easy to get at though. It seems to charge fine as well . I notice when it's idling that there is a ticking sound , not much of one , under the lower right side cover where the clutch is a presume. It engages fine though , it's just that chattering sound.

[BonVoyager]

Welcome!

For the radio, check the HS button on the radio, and the MUTE switches on the left handlebar and the passenger controls. I'm pretty sure we ALL have had this problem.

Denny , thanks for that advice. The seller told me it could even be a fuse and that he's never bothered with it because he didn't use it . I have to find the fuses first I'll definitely try what you're saying though!

[BonVoyager]

Welcome!

Be sure to also change out the fork fluid! Dexron VI ATF is equal to 8 Wt Fork Oil, full synthetic, and it will last 2+ years. Any flavor of Dexron ATF will work, as 8 Wt Fork Oil, at 1/2 the cost of "Fork Oil."

The key is that the Fork Oil must maintain its stated viscosity across its entire operating temperature range. Turns out that Dexron ATF does the same thing... That is why many OEM's used it for fork oil, back in the 1970's. Fork Oils range from 5 Wt to 15 Wt, for viscosity. So, Dexron ATF is near the middle, at 8 Wt.: not too hard, not too soft. According to Goldilocks, "it's juuust right!..." Of course, YMMV. Cheers!

Sarge , thanks for that input. That's good news since you can get Dexron VI at walmart and auto parts places easily. I know that it's far superior to the older Dexron oils as well . I made sure to swap the old Dex IV out of my GMC to the VI several years ago. It's something I have to ask the former owner about for sure. I saw where a long time member put springs in his forks so I'll have to investigate this further

[BonVoyager]

So I noticed something a little odd to me. I got two manuals with the bike. One is the service manual which shows for the year 1986 on the back and covers what seems to be an oddball model ZG1200-A1 . The other is a supplement which says it covers all models from 1987 to 03 except the 99. These models all end in B1- B17. THis would make my bike B13. So what's up with this ? They did make a 99 , correct? My title says its a 99. You know when you go to a hotel there isn't a 13th floor because of superstitious people (of course the 14th floor is actually the 13th floor! ) . I know this isn't the case here but that's what it made me think of. I'm just curious why the supplement skipped my bike .

[GrandpaDenny]

Welcome!

For the radio, check the HS button on the radio, and the MUTE switches on the left handlebar and the passenger controls. I'm pretty sure we ALL have had this problem.

Denny , thanks for that advice. The seller told me it could even be a fuse and that he's never bothered with it because he didn't use it . I have to find the fuses first I'll definitely try what you're saying though!

There are IIRC two inline fuses (maybe only one) behind the headlight. I had one come a little loose a couple of weeks ago and it was driving me crazy - the radio would cut off, the light would go out, but the clock would stay on. I kept squeezing the 10-pin connector and dreading having to kronk with it, but that wasn't the problem.

So describe what exactly do you mean by "the radio isn't working" - what's showing up on the radio display, if anything?

[BonVoyager]

Ok Denny , I'm sorry I took so long . I wanted to get out there and play with it. So I got it to come on and lock on an FM station . It also scanned the AM frequencies but reception is poor out here. The mute button being in or out makes no difference. I also pressed the handlebar mounted volume button and observed the volume going up on the screen but there is no sound. Turning the volume button on the left side does nothing. When I had the fake tank off I saw a black fuse box and checked the radio fuse and it was good. So I guess I"m going to have to take the "tank" off again? Where else should I look? The speakers are where they should be and appear in good shape. I'm having trouble reading the buttons as well so I'll go out and look again for an "HS" button. I"ve yet to find anything stating what this stands for . I looked in my manuals for the button layout and nothing. I can't find passenger controls either. When I turn the bike off and back on the radio goes back to 530 AM .
Thanks for the help

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

The radio by default will show the time unless the radio is turned on. Once the radio is on it will show the station it's programmed to and not the time (unless you push the clock button, but it will only show time while pushed).
Looking at the radio and the array of buttons below it the HS button is the last one to the right (under the cassette player).
The buttons from left to right are as follows; clock/time set (small clock face, amber colored), Preset buttons #1, #2, #3 & #4, ME (memory - press and select a pre-set for radio station preferences {also amber colored}), AM/FM, LO, MTL, and finally HS (headset - to transfer sound from speakers to intercoms).
Hope that helps if you are having trouble reading yours!

[triton28]

Audio System manuals
https://amervoyassoc.org/zg1200manuals.php