2010 Voyager blows new Venture away

[Eddie]

What a nice bike . This thing has the all stuff we have been crying about for years. I spent close to an hour with this bike at the show yesterday and can tell you there will be one in my stable shortly.

I watched two Hd guys try to pick this bike apart, they walked away saying "they did it". A modern day Ultra.

Priced with the Venture, not the HD . It a shame that yamaslow is letting this market pass them by.

I love my Midnight but just like to try different things.

[Freebird]

Eddie,

I agree that it looks pretty good but I'm just not hearing great reports from people who have ridden and bought them. I would have to find the post but we actually have a member here who bought one and then couldn't wait to get rid of it.

[Eddie]

Well we all know how that goes, the next guy from a Kaw site could say it's the best bike he's ever had.

The sound system alone is enough for me. Since I do 99% of my riding alone the music is my company.

[ctraylor]

Great looking bike but was told by an owner that the engine heat is almost unbearable in hot weather.

[Freebird]

I agree....opinions will vary about any make and model. There is no way that I could pass judgment unless I could do some seat time on one. Go ahead and buy one Eddie...then drop it off here at the house and leave it for a couple of months and then I'll get back to you on it. BUT...please wait until at LEAST May.

[Eddie]

I will differently do my research before pulling the trigger, I have a few months. Plus its hard to ride when its 3 outside.

[Eddie]

I agree....opinions will vary about any make and model. There is no way that I could pass judgment unless I could do some seat time on one. Go ahead and buy one Eddie...then drop it off here at the house and leave it for a couple of months and then I'll get back to you on it. BUT...please wait until at LEAST May.

 

Deal, but I don't know about the couple month thing. How about a couple hours. Hope we thaw by May.

[Freebird]

OK OK OK...couple months...couple hours...whatever works for you. Heck...it will be good just to see you again.

[Kirby]

I thought I wanted one too before I rode the Venture. They never would bring it on out so I guess that's what kept me from buying one. After I bought the RSV I saw one in the store and started comparing it to the Venture. It looks real good, has a low seat height, and low center of gravity, and the styling was great I thought at the time. But, even though it's a 1700 engine, it has less hp than the Venture. The dealer wanted to argue with me on this so I told him since he had both on the showroom floor to go and look it up. He came back and conceded. I didn't like the way the saddle bags hung so far away from the bike. I guess you have to do this to get the traditional 2 shock styling. Also , I didn't like the way the rear trunk opened up. Pure HD, only flimsier. That would get broken too easy!

On the other hand I understand it has some very hitech stuff on it. Fuel injection, electronic throttle control, etc. The kind of stuff you have to pay someone else to fix!!!

With all it's modern updates, IMHO, I bought the best bike. Even if it is 10-11 year old technology. And got a cassette player to boot.

[Hummingbird]

On the other hand I understand it has some very hitech stuff on it. Fuel injection, electronic throttle control, etc. The kind of stuff you have to pay someone else to fix!!!

With all it's modern updates, IMHO, I bought the best bike. Even if it is 10-11 year old technology. And got a cassette player to boot.

 

 

And got a cassette player to boot

 

 

:clap2::clap2:

[KeithR]

Eddie

 

There is a article on the Voyager in the Motorcycle Mojo magazine that I posted a link to yesterday

 

Keith

 

http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/promo/freepreview.html

[Freebird]

According to that article...it puts the price at $21,699. Maybe it was Canadian but if US hen that puts it right in line with the price of a new Ultra Classic. Far more than the RSV. One other thing I noticed was that it requires premium gas. I know that some of our members here run premium in the RSV but I've never done so.

[midnite]

We looked at one at our local dealership, they had both so was easier to compare.Fi was nice, more updated,but looked too much like a Harley, and had to but and install the wiring harness for the intercoms. That was not a cheap harness, also less storage space in saddle bags and trunk. Read many articles on both bikes, the Sept issue of Rider mag. did a head to head against Victory Vision, Harley Ultra, Kawasaki Voyager, and RSV. The Kaw finished dead last. "This brand-new model had years to take aim at Yamaha Venture and Harley, and should have done better. Though all bikes wieghed within 10 # of each other the Voyager felt significatly heavier, it suffered from engine and driveline noise and lack of cornering clearance, though it was the least expensive." That and other articles and our own comparison lead us to choose the RSV. As stated just our opinion on this, but do as you want, research,research,research.Nothing like being an informed buyer. MP3 players aren't that expensive, :mo money:4GB=2000 songs, take alot of riding to listen to that much music.

[fardnarger]

The one I rode seem to be top heavy, didn't handle the curves as well as the Venture, I will stay with the Venture. Just my 1 1/2 cents worth.

[Eddie]

The Venture showed a price tag just under 20,000 at the show. The base on the Kaw was just under 18000. About 2ooo worth of audio acc and your neck and neck.

[midnightventure]

I'll keep my Venture another 75000 miles.

[Eck]

Eddie,

During one of your test rides, pay attention to the "shifting".. I have heard from several owners that they shift very hard and "clunk" real loud, and as already mentioned the heat from the engine is unbearable on really hot days..dont know why this is.

 

I could get used to the clunking in the shifting I guess if everything else was up to par.

[Eddie]

Eddie,

During one of your test rides, pay attention to the "shifting".. I have heard from several owners that they shift very hard and "clunk" real loud, and as already mentioned the heat from the engine is unbearable on really hot days..dont know why this is.

 

I could get used to the clunking in the shifting I guess if everything else was up to par.

 

The clunk the whine the vibation the bad shock the oil leak the frame crack. They all got them.

 

I did read that there is a clunk between 1 & 2 gear.

[atlm]

Rider magazine did a 4-way bike comparison a few months ago, of the Venture, Voyager, Harley Ultra, and Victory Vision. It's definitely worth a read if you haven't seen it yet. A couple of months before the comparison, they did a short ride on the Voyager (by itself) and had mostly good things to say about it. For the comparison, they rode the bikes all day for 2 days. In the end, the Venture tied the Ultra for first place, surprising everyone in the review group.

 

Here's some of what they found with the Voyager, when side by side with the others:

 

"Now climb aboard the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager and, by contrast, it feels heavy, ungainly, and though I am 6 feet tall, I could not see over the windscreen. It and the fairing reflect a lot of engine noise and gear whine, and the six-speed gearbox clunks when shifted. There's a significant amount of shudder and shake in the engine..."

 

"The windscreen blocks the wind well for the passenger, but he or she will feel heavy vibrations through the backrest at low rpm."

 

Also, the Voyager has the lowest carrying capacity of all the bikes, at 379lb. "If you saddle up a 220-pound guy and his 150-pound wife you're already nearly at the bike's recommended limits with no luggage yet aboard."

 

"This brand-new model had years to take aim at the Yamaha Venture and Harley, and should have done better."

 

We all know that bike magazine reviews don't always align with our own, but this was 4 different guys all reviewing these 4 bikes. You might end up loving the Voyager, but I'd recommend a nice long test ride before buying, and be aware of it's potential shortcomings.

 

[Mikepp]

I have been looking at both bikes for sale and googled in both. Amazingly I found many more Voyagers for sale rather than the Venture. Since the Voyager is new, it made me wonder if perhaps buyers didn't like what they had bought. Definitely food for thought anyway.

[saddlebum]

I know a lot of people here Have said over and over how Venture does not seem to want to introduce more high tech into their Venture, but I for one do not mind. First I like a bike that I can repair myself. A lot of the high tech ignition and fuel systems require computer software in order to diagnose it, and having been a Mechanic for almost 40 years I have seen the changes, and believe me high tech is not without its headaches and frustration. I see truck drivers spending more time in the shop then ever, most of it due to high tech electrical issues, try tracing a wiring problem in the data link wires, while a driver impaitantly paces the floor because he is loosing time and money. I also like the cassette player ( don't all boo me at once ), but then I also prefer to listen to whats around me rather then have music blaring in my ears when I ride. If a cd player is that important you can always install one designed for boats. They have a weather proof cover and are designed for a rough ride.

Just some food for thought:think:

[ken]

I just don't like the looks of the Kaw.:confused24:

[BuddyRich]

I'm just stuck on these V4's now for some reason. The RSV isn't up to date but its still a great bike.But like its been said. Its a matter of personal preferences just get what you like then ride,ride,ride....

[Al Bates]

I also spent some time around this bike, I checked out about everything that I could possibly check out, everything but starting and riding the bike. There's a lot I like about the bike, for one it's not so top heavy, I put a good lean on this bike and could pull it back up with no problem. I like the rotating vents at the bottom. I like the stereo system it would definitely blow away the venture and HD's systems, not sure if it had 5" or 6" speakers. I like how the front fearing is smaller and also all that weight is off the bars. It's the first fearing I have seen that's fixed and looks good. I like the dash look and the mechanical gages / speedometer and also the electronic display read-out. I like the way the bike sits. I like the fuel injection. I like the six speeds. I like were the intercom hooks up. I like how all that stuff is built in the dash the m3p player, Sirius radio, normal radio, CB, and so on.

 

I'm not promoting this bike just saying what I found

[qdude]

I would hate giving up my cassette?!@#.

I could have bought what I wanted, I did a 2000 mile trip on a borrowed Wing, rode a Ultra..... which I really liked, tried the Voyager....it gets very hot in high temps, and had already owned a older Venture.

Wing wins in the radio stereo system and overall quality. Harley is the best finish and trim. Venture is the most comfortable and has the best stock seat. Kawa is not any of these.

Undoubtedly the Venture can be bought used for less and is the best bang for the buck. Although Harleys are gettin pretty reasonable as we speak.

The Wing is flawless but not as comfortable as the Venture, Harley is smaller but very much like the Yam. in feel, but not in engine. The Venture engine is decidedly superior to a 88 and similar,"in performance" to a 96 ci.

I had a $15,000 Etrade account run up mad money to spend.

I dropped Kaw from my buy list first, then Honda, looked for a Harley but found a 2004 Midnight Venture repo low miles for $7000, game over.

Except for no FI, I like everything about Venture......although I think I have more 8 tracks than cassettes. Packed up with my checkered disco shirts.

The older Kawa Voyager, while much uglier, but was probably a better motor choice and had less heat issues.

I never understood the need to build bikes around a 45 Degree v twin other than looks and low end torque.

I'm fine with superior engine designs. Try a Valkyrie or a Wing for a smooth motor. Never really had the Harley state of mind, even when I owned them.

Edited January 3, 2010 by qdude