NORSHUD said:
Thanks everyone, I have been out all day looking at bikes. I am choosing between 3. New or used GL1800, K1200LT (mainly the one I referenced) and a new Kawasaki Voyager. I have always rode bikes with a foot forward position like cruisers. The last 1.5 years has been on a 2009 Suzuki Burgman Executive which I plan to keep for commuting. I have sat on the GL and K bikes and the leg position, I think, will give me problems. My legs cramp in this position even though I am only 47 years old (rode hard and put up wet, I guess). I am kind of leaning toward the Voyager. Nice bike and value for what you get for $14.8 new out the door with a 3 year warranty. I have followed this forum for years learning all I could about the K1200lt but I really don't want to make a $10 grand mistake. I plan on keeping this bike for a long while. I am looking for 2 up comfort for my wife. We have done 300+ day rides on the Burgman and it carries my 200 plus her 155 pound weight just fine and is fun in the twisties. The suspension is hard on you for that ride and the seat is and I would like a radio for road trips. I still long for a K1200 and I even have not let the "trio" scare me off (final drive, ABS computer or clutch) even though the bike I am looking at just had a clutch replaced from a leaking seal at only 22K miles. The owner I have had emails with really seams like a straight up guy but he has been out of town for me to even sit on the bike. I hate to ask a Kawasaki Voyager question on a K1200 site but do any of you know of a reason to stay away from that bike other than it being a cruiser/tourer based bike? Again a K1200 won't do me any good if my legs won't let me ride it. Thanks again everyone and ride safe.
The best place to ask Voyager questions is probably here:
http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/
Unfortunately, you have to be an AVA member to see the full list of forums. Since I dropped my membership after selling my Voyager XII, I no longer have access to the brand-specific forums.
The three bikes you mention are rather different. I would suggest you spend some time thinking about what you really want before deciding.
If you want a cushy Cadillac, then the Wing is probably your choice.
If you want performance and technology with a good dose of luxury (BMW 7 series, Mercedes, etc.), then the LT is your choice.
If you want appearance and nostalgia, then the Vulcan Voyager is your choice.
I left the Kawasaki fold as I wanted a bike with modern technology, smooth and quiet engine, more performance than my Voyager, etc. The "new" Vulcan Voyager is a cruiser with bags and trunk and just isn't my cup of tea. If I wanted a piece of motorcycle history, I'd buy the real thing (H-D) and not a copy.
While I was still an AVA member and still hoping that Kawasaki would come out with a true successor to the Voyager XII, possibly based on the Concours 14 drive train, most of the reports from those moving from the XII to the VV commented on these shortcomings:
1. More heat from the engine
2. More noise
3. Less comfort for the passenger (comments that the trunk vibrated against the pillion's back)
4. Much poorer fuel economy (48 MPG on the 1200 down to 40 on the 1700)
5. Whine from the belt drive
6. Engine that stalled for no apparent reason at stop lights. I believe they had a TSB or maybe even a recall on this that required a mod to the ECU, but I saw reports that even the modded bikes often still stalled.
This information is a few years old now, so maybe these issues have been addressed. I do recall reading that a heat shield kit had been installed on later models and was available for sale for earlier models.
I would suggest checking out the AVA web site and making a post or two and see if one of the current VV owners will respond. I also recall seeing a road test not too long ago on the VV.