New 1700 Voyager

[Mikey864]

Has anybody purchased one of these yet?? I've got a 99 nomad and just love the look of this bike!! If anybody has one put up a report on how it rides and handles and all the little goodies on info you can

thanks
Mikey864

[rstasak]

Originally Posted by Mikey864

Has anybody purchased one of these yet?? I've got a 99 nomad and just love the look of this bike!! If anybody has one put up a report on how it rides and handles and all the little goodies on info you can

thanks
Mikey864

Yes, I bought a Titanium model some 3 weeks or more ago and already sold it.
My wife was very uncomfortable as compared to a Yamaha Venture or Gold Wing. The backrest for her didn't come down far enough.

Heat was a Very Big issue. The rear cylinder and on the right side was extremely hot in traffic, at a stop or on hot days even too uncomfortable during highway travel.

The transmission was clunky and very noisy up through fourth gear.

Too much down shifting for a 1700cc bike when slowing from most any speed.

Fuel mileage was horrible. My Venture or past Gold Wings were far better.

As for handling it was great as well as driver comfort. I'm only about 5' 8" or
a little more. The controls were good once you use them a time or two .

Style was very good, loved the additional highway lights at night. Didn't like the fact of suggested price for intercom hookup to be in the area of $500.00.

My Venture and Gold Wings both came with intercom hookups. Maybe in the future Kawasaki will iron out their shortcomings. It's priced just about where you would want it to be but with additional engineering to smooth out the ills it can get better .

[DaveMc]

Its too bad rstasak didn't like his Voyager. I've got 870 miles on mine now and I love it. No complaints from my regular passenger about being uncomfortable. In fact, just the opposite. The ride is smooth, and the air-adjustable shocks and adjustable dampening should provide enough adjustment to keep anyone happy. Mine is fine so far with the factory settings. After a recent 1-hr ride both me and my wife agreed that we could have ridden much, much longer. Neither one of us felt tired from being in a bad riding position, too much bounce, hard suspension, etc.

One thing I did was rotate the handlebars forward so that they just stop short of hitting the fairing when turned all the way to the stops. No need for risers, no shoulder pain, etc.

It handles like a heavy beast at slow speeds because, well, it is a heavy beast. I am learning to avoid certain situations with a big bike (turning-and-stopping at very slow speed, don't pull into a parking spot that slopes downhill, etc.). Get it rolling, however, and it handles very well, surprisingly well. I can throw it around safely just as easily as I did my smaller Suzuki (C50T).

Yes the engine is a little hot on the right side, especailly if you are used to riding a smaller water-cooled bike. It is the nature of the design. If you want a big v-twin, heat comes with it. I prefer the aesthetics of the v-twin over the Goldwing, so I live with the heat. The only time I really notice it is when the outisde temperature is over 90 degrees and I am stopped in traffic. Otherwise I barely notice it when the bike is moving.

I can't speak to fuel mileage accurately yet, since at 870 miles the engine is still fairly tight.

I too wish it came with the intercom installed, but Kaw is trying to keep the price down. It seems reasonable to me that not everyone who buys a big bike wants intercom as standard.

Tons of power. It cruises at 75 mph under 3000 rpm (6th gear). The Venture is not in the same class as far as power is concerned (but maybe it is in the size and weight categories). I am hoping to take an interstate trip on mine in August.

[Mikey864]

Thanks for the replies guys!!! Rsstak Sorry you had such bad feelings for the bike but as the other replier said the V-twins do put out alot of heat. My nomad gets hot in traffic on the right side. Alot of the other problems will probably go away once the bike has a few thousand miles on it. Anyways thanks for the comment. I really like the looks of this bike and want to get one as soon as i get back to work

Mikey864

[Ruger]

Originally Posted by Mikey864

Thanks for the replies guys!!! Rsstak Sorry you had such bad feelings for the bike but as the other replier said the V-twins do put out alot of heat. My nomad gets hot in traffic on the right side. Alot of the other problems will probably go away once the bike has a few thousand miles on it. Anyways thanks for the comment. I really like the looks of this bike and want to get one as soon as i get back to work

Mikey864

I was at the dealer today drooling over the new 1700 series. I was talking with a man that traded his GoldWing on the Voyager and had about 1200 miles on it. He loves his. Said it was as smooth as the GW and love the feel and power, he did say that it got a little warm when sitting in traffic but nothing bad, and he loved the was it handled cross winds and buffeting from 18 wheelers. I sat on it and the seat must be a gel or memory foam. It felt really good.

[trjam]

well I finally got to sit on one at the local dealer in Matthews. It was the blue with ABS. oN MY 2008 Nomad I had put a mustang seat on it that moved me forward just a bit. Nothing uncomfortable and I am 6.0 275. Sitting on the 1700 reminded me of sitting on mine with the mustang seat. It felt fine. I liked the hardbags and when opened they did not seem the bit flimsy to me.

All in all, if I had been there with a few beers in me, I might have left with it. It is a nice bike.

[Chad_Clearwater]

I "test sat" one last Saturday...I like it. I owned an '83 Goldwing a few years ago and I'll admit the Goldwing, even that old, was "plusher" than the Voyager, but I think the Voyager is a bargain in the bagger market.

As for no intercom - heck, that's what Bluetooth is for. Whatever I get next both my and my wife's helments will have Bluetooth...I figure no wires, no corrosion and I can use the wireless technology for tunes, GPS, and if needed the phone.

[MauiAl]

The does not and was not intended to compete with a Gold Wing. No touring bike really can. It's what it is. I did a test ride and didn't care for it.

[mikem12]

Bought mine in June, I have put 2k on it since. I am hoping for some improvement in mileage down around 29mpg. To date there are no accesories for it. No back rest or arm rest. I would have thought Kaw would have had this already on the way.

[rstasak]

You can get a matching backrest from UTOPIA in Ohio. There are some accessories available such as intercom systems. Look up Utopia on the internet and do all your ordering. They will give you a build and ship date upon ordering.When I had mine for such a short duration It was at least giving me near 34 MPG if the readouts weren'y lying. I have read tests given just previous to their release maxed out at 38 .

There's a Kawasaki dealer in Howell,Mi one of the largest in the Midwest and the fellow in parts and accessories is a Big nut over the Voyager and keeps up with all the latest info on accessories. Give him a call.

Perhaps some day I'll come back to this bike but for now I'll stick with my Yamaha Venture. Extremely reliable, well outfitted, great waranty and gives 41 plus MPG.

Later, Mr.Clean

[mikem12]

thanks for the info, there are things that have to be gotten used to. The engine is a long stroker and it thumps when given a hard throttle. This thump is much more than the Harley Ultra I traded.

[Slow Ride]

I stopped in last week and looked at a blue ABS model. I couldn't sit on it the dealer just got it in that day and didn't have it fully assembled. Of couse I couldn't get it out for a ride, and the dealer wanted full list price. He made me a couple offers to trade in the Nomad, but I've got 2 good bikes at this point. I think if the dealer would have worked a little harder I might now own a Voyager, but, as it is now I think I'm going wait for a 10. I would guess a few minor kinks will be worked out and more avalibility. I haven't seen any out on the street yet but am looking forward to talking to an owner in person. It doesn't necessarily bother me to see one or two negative reviews, after all we all have our own preferences as to what works for us, but if I see several negative reviews, I might look somewhere else. Ride Safe.

[V2K_CCTX]

I've heard the engine is a step uo from the 1500/1600...better sound, feel pull...any experience....

[mikem12]

it's a long stroke engine as such when the throttle is pulled hard it thumps on compression stroke. It's rated at 87hp so it pulls just fine and is very smooth. I just can't get over the mpg.

[V2K_CCTX]

My v2K got horrible mileage till i had a few kmi on it...synthetic oil really helps too...give her some...another thing that will help is intake, exhaust and PCiii setting a good map, the stock exhaust is restrictive, no surprise, and i am not sure on the 2010 1700 you have, but i believe cat's are becoming required for emissions, first thing i pulled of my 14! Bike will run much cooler too!

[Kodiakmac]

I've had mine for 2 months and I've put on 5100 kilometers(3200 miles).

Minuses: Bloody heavy at low speeds (as previous poster noted), Windshield to high (I fixed that). MPG isn't as good as H-D Electra Glide, Vibration/buzzy radio rattle when volume at 3/4, radio setting controls too complicated for this old fart.

Plusses: Cost (when compared to competition), Wonderful wet weather protection (needed this summer in Ontario/Quebec), comfortable passenger seating (1st bike I've owned that me wife can tolerate for a day), engine heat is no worse than E-Glide, good engine torque, good looks (a subjective thing), nice handling at rolling speeds.

[WPADude]

Stopped by my local dealer yesterday and saw that they just got their Voyager in. First thought was, I like the color (titanium). Continued the walk around and decided I like the looks of it. Threw a leg over the seat and lifted it up off the stand. Yes, a bit hefty. To compare, I'm riding a 900lt. I thought the ergos were nice. Display and gauges seemed good and easy to see. Radio operation seemed to me at least to be straight forward. Sound out of the speakers seemed good. Ok, I then had the GF climb aboard. Well in about 30 secs of sitting on it I feel she was ready to write a check. She just loved that back seat and rest.

Ok, now over to the Nomad. Easier to get up off the side stand. The seat is just as nice. Started it up and really liked the sound of it. I feel it fits me a bit better than the Voyager, maybe better than my 900lt.

At this point in time, I'm not sure I want a full touring rig yet. The Voyager I believe would be that bike to get. Told the gf to let me get the nomad and then get the voyager later down the road. She said "we'll talk about it"

[Kodiakmac]

The seat is just as nice.

Not the passenger seat...just ask me wife!! She can go all day on the Voyager. She could manage about 90 minutes tops on the '07 Nomad.

[powershotent]

rider magazine just did a 4 tour bike runoff excluding the GW. voyager came in 4th victory 3rd and venture and HD came in tie for 1st. Major complaints were comfort and slow speed handling felt like a tank.

[WPADude]

[QUOTShe could manage about 90 minutes tops on the '07 NomadE][/quote]

I would love to stay in the saddle for that long. I get about half that with the kawi gel-seat.

I thought the seats were identical on the '09 nomad and voyager. I was thinking back that the nomad didn't have the grab strap for the passenger. My friend was really liking the voyagers back rest with the arm supports. Granted, we only sat on each bike for 10 mins, so I truly can't give a fair + or - without a test ride. I could make a move now on a nomad. The voyager would wait until next spring. I need to hear and read more user thoughts on the bike.