Venture or voyager?

[fatmansauto]

What bike handles better 1300 Venture or1200 Voyager? Wife says next bike is last till retirement. I had a 96 GL1500 2 Cavalcades last bike 06 m109. Performance and riding in crosswinds is also important. Thanks Mike

[Wanderer]

Talk to ADC. He bought my Voyager. I never rode a 1st Gen so I can't speak to that, but the Voyager was one fine ride.

[eagleeye]

Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, get on each and go for a ride, then you'll know.

 

Good luck choosing,

Steve

[ADC]

The best way to tell which you would like is to ride both,they're both good looking scoots,both have plenty of power and both ride good the one advantage I see with the Voyager is that it is very well balanced with a low center if you see holding an 800 lb. bike up at a stop light being a problem in the future then the Voyager would be the way to go,it just doesn't feel like it ways that much compared to the Venture and handles very well at slow speed.

Arthur

[6m459]

Isn't the Kawi Voyager an in line 4 engine?

 

For no good reason, I am rather partial to V engines like the Venture's V4.

 

Just my $0.02.

 

Hope this is of interest.

 

Brian H.

[timgray]

How are parts availability. The 1st gen ventures have a huge amount of parts available in used and aftermarket.

 

Did the voyager get enough made to have a huge parts supply out there?

[wild hair 39]

i like the voy,not as top heavy,good ride at h.w speed,10% better gas milage,maybe a little quicker in the twisty,lots better,at parking lot speed,725#,6 gal gas tank,the parts i have needed,have been ease to find,have put 80,000 on my 94,

parts

1 drive shaft 100,000,onthe clock,lack of grese

2 rear end 120,000 loud whine

3 throdle cable,the pull one

4 now has 138,000 on it,has an oil leak,i haven't found yet,not bad,just a mass

5 progressive spring in front

 

low milage old voy, needs all grease and fluoadle changes

 

 

1st gen 164,000 on the clock,about the same same,parts wise,no rear end

 

my real draw back with the 1st gen is the low speed handling,parking lot,sudden stops,i dropped it many times,lot heaver to pick up,than the voy,HWY speed, 1st gen is little better ride,twisty,don't drag the pegs as quick

maintain wise ABOUT THE SAME,dealers don't want to work on them,to old for these young mac.

 

 

pm me if i can help any more

[Gearhead]

I have an 87 VR, Dad has an 03 Voyager. I agree with most of the comments here.

• Voyager was made in same configuration from 86 to 03, so if anything parts should be more available.
  
• Dad likes his. He and Mom cruise all over the place on it.
  
• Voyager is 30 or 40 lb lighter, but feels lighter still when manuvering around by foot due to lower seat and maybe lower CG. That said, I don't have any problem manuvering my VR - my legs are long. Once moving on either bike the handling is fine.
  
• They feel about the same power-wise. Magazine tests back this up.
  
• I think the Venture looks better, but not that much difference there and it's subjective.
  
• VR stock seat is more comfy for most, I think.
  
• Voyager has a more foot-forward riding position. VR is slightly sportier with feet more under you.
  
• Both have a big following with forum support and such. Not like a GW in either case, though.
  
• Voyager's balanced-shafted I4 is sewing-machine quiet and smooth. I kinda like the pulsey rumble of the V engine.
  

You'll have fun with either.

 

Jeremy

[jasonm.]

I don't know where some got their facts. Fact is the Voyager 1200 is hardly more than 10# lighter. I have the test magazine from 1990 to prove that. Second I had a Voyager 1200. It's junk to me. Lousey cornering clearance, bike shimmy'd solo when ever you got it going somwhat spirited around corners. Yes the steer bearings were checked. Need the weight of the passanger to keep it stable. The frame design did not have the support bars the Venture has front to rear. A design requirement for rubber mounted engines that both bikes have . At Least Yamaha was thinking. My Voyager snapped a starter chain. A common problem for them. Requiring the cases to be split and crankshaft removed. Kawi would not warranty it even just 30 days past the 2 year warranty. I have a long list of other issues all before 20k miles on it. I would not take another Kawi...even if given to me for free. They, as a company-SUCK ...actually I would take a free one , then sell it. Venture other than the L.E.D. radio display, is a totally better thought out bike.

Edited June 10, 2009 by jasonm.

[Sheradan]

I have known 3 differnt people with Voyagers. All had various electrical problems. That takes it off my list.

[Gearhead]

There's a lot of happy Voyager owners out there. But I will confess I compared wet weight to dry weight. As Jason said, they are about the same as a VR.

 

Jeremy