Report on Voyager

[Godlover]

I have had my 2010 Voyager for two weeks and I absolutely love the ride. Every day I have ridden it has been very windy and it rides like a dream.

 

The stock seat wasn't for me so I bought a gel seat that sits me higher which is better. The Mustang seat a guy let me try pushed me too far forward.

 

It has 6 speeds with the 6th being overdrive. I don't get into overdrive on the back roads. According to the computer I am getting 50 mpg which I doubt. Mine has a power commander and has plenty of get up and go. Some people complain that the stock set up is a bit doggy.

 

There is heat off the exhaust pipes as stated in the forums. Not worse than my Harley's and I talked to a guy who wrapped his with exhaust tape and got rid of the heat. You can't see the tape as it hides under the heat shield. I will wrap mine if need be.

 

The vents on the lowers is nice. I like the fuel injection but it does take premium gas...but If I am really getting 50 mpg who cares! The radio is awesome and I love the speakers. There are great deals on the Voyagers and they are nice bikes.

[Wade 2000]

Thanks for the update!! I do have a question on the heat issue. Does the Voyager have a catalytic converter?? I have heard on some newer bikes that have them, if you eliminate it with an aftermarket system the heat goes down significantly. Also I would like to see some mpg numbers based on math not the computer. I find vehicle computers are very inaccurate and always on the generous side.

Glad you are enjoying the new wheels and it is a great looking machine!!

[SilvrT]

Thanks for the update!! I do have a question on the heat issue. Does the Voyager have a catalytic converter?? I have heard on some newer bikes that have them, if you eliminate it with an aftermarket system the heat goes down significantly.

 

Guys on the Victory forums are simply gutting or removing the cats ... and apparently it reduces the heat quite a bit.

[djh3]

Harley guys too. There is a video on you tube of a guy gutting a cat on like 2010-2011 street glide. EPA or HD one of them figured out putting the cat in the muffler wasnt working as guys almost allways change out the mufflers. Then bike has no cat. So now the cat on the HD's is in pipes forward of mufflers. This guy jams a rod and pounds with a hammer to knock it all loose. But it had like just a couple hundred miles on it and the pipes were blue as all get out. Must be getting hot

[SilvrT]

the pipes were blue as all get out. Must be getting hot

 

ya, I've noticed a lot of blueing on my pipes too, especially where the crossover is and that's right where the cats are.

 

I can feel the heat on my right leg when we're stopped at a light but it's not so hot that it bothers me.

 

Good thing there is chrome shields that help keep it looking nice LOL

[djh3]

Yea the guy that did the video I guess didnt realize how hot the pipes had been getting. He was throwing out explicatives left and right once the heat shield came off. I dunno maybe on them it kill performance but I think the manufactures have pretty much figured out how to make engines work decent now with FI and cats and crap timing.

[SilvrT]

Yea the guy that did the video I guess didnt realize how hot the pipes had been getting. He was throwing out explicatives left and right once the heat shield came off. I dunno maybe on them it kill performance but I think the manufactures have pretty much figured out how to make engines work decent now with FI and cats and crap timing.

 

Having the cats is only to keep it legal and meet EPA regs. Sure, the mfg tunes them appropriately but I figure it's a compromise and without the cats, one can get better tuning, better performance, cooler engine, and smoother overall. (IMHO based on what others are saying).

 

Once I get past end of warranty I plan to do some "performance" mods which will include removing the cats. Now, not that I really NEED more power but hey, I gotta experiment with chit during winter downtime yanno ..

[djh3]

Bring up some of those vids and watch some evening. It almost looks like it will be easier to replace pipes all the way from the head back. Long arbor hole saw may be your friend otherwise.

[Godlover]

From what I read it is quite a job to gut the cats on the newer Voyagers. I am happy with the performance and if heat gets to be a problem I will try to wrap the pipes.

[Barrycuda]

God lover thanks for giving us a real time update and info on the voyager. I don't see many in my neck of the woods and test rode one last year and it handles just fine. I did feel my R leg was on broil. I do not remember about how flimsy or solid the saddlebags and trunk and fairing were in comparison to RSV and HD. That said, it handled great and I rode that bad boy with confidence. There see,a to be quite a few out there and I am curious as to the real reasons behind it. Any one wanna take a stab? The price, the market, the construction, the heat, any combo?? Maybe it's just too darn hot in Florida although I have seen one at Leesburg in April.

[abusive throttle cranker]

As I understand it a catalytic converter does its job by creating omg temperatures in order to consume (burn off) impurities. Thus the baking of anything in the immediate area.

[djh3]

Higher exhaust temps is definatly part of how it works. Also a chemical reaction to the catalyst, but thats way over my head. If it works for you dude rock on. If they would have swung me a deal I'd be riding a ABS model now. But I also belive in the "all things happen for a reason" thing, and its beyond me to figure it out. Ride safe and be happy.

[Godlover]

God lover thanks for giving us a real time update and info on the voyager. I don't see many in my neck of the woods and test rode one last year and it handles just fine. I did feel my R leg was on broil. I do not remember about how flimsy or solid the saddlebags and trunk and fairing were in comparison to RSV and HD. That said, it handled great and I rode that bad boy with confidence. There see,a to be quite a few out there and I am curious as to the real reasons behind it. Any one wanna take a stab? The price, the market, the construction, the heat, any combo?? Maybe it's just too darn hot in Florida although I have seen one at Leesburg in April.

 

I think the reason you don't see many is this is only the 4th year and Kawasaki quit making touring bikes for 6 years. The current RSV has been the same for 14 years thus three times as many seen on the road. In the same way Yamaha did a poor job advertising the Royal Stars, Kawasaki has done a poor job doing the same with the Voyager. I can see how the exhaust may be a problem in Florida but the guy I talked to who solved the heat problem by wrapping his pipes lived in the south. I find the faring and trunk are solid but I struggle a bit getting the saddle bags latched. It may be something I need get used to latching them. The bags and trunk seem to have more space than either the RSV or the HD.