Advice and Thoughts on 1989 Kawasaki

[Phoneman1981]

Hello Everyone: I ran across a local owner that cannot ride any longer due to a shoulder injury. He has his full dressed 1989 Kawasaki ZG120 tan in color for sale. 42K original miles. Asking price $1400. I have only seen pictures so far but it looks very nice in the pictures. I may go look at it later today or tomorrow depending on the owners availability. I am not in the market for myself, but have a friend in mind that would like to get a bike. the price seemed reasonable. Any thoughts on the Kawasaki brand or the asking price would be appreciated.

[Peder_y2k]

Excellent touring bike is well designed, just not as good looking as VR gen1. In line 4cyl is quick to make good power. Parts availability is kinda like VRgen1....... parts are where you find them because they are discontinued.

If it starts easy, idles smoothly, drives well without making any unusual noises, and doesn't piddle on the ground... go for it. If it doesn't start, lower your buy price to $800 and take the chance.

 

 

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[bongobobny]

They were a pretty durable bike as well...

[ragtop69gs]

Give "JRichard" on the forum here a PM, he rides one of those and could fill you in on them.

[DragonRider]

You could also check with Lowell Pryor, he rode one for several years and I never heard him complain.

 

Give "JRichard" on the forum here a PM, he rides one of those and could fill you in on them.

[cowpuc]

Phoneman

 

I brought a couple of those back to life not to long ago, did an 87 and a 98.. That bike was an outstanding bike - Kaw had some problems with the 1st models (1300/6), a lot of it related to the EFI BUT they went carburation with the Voyager 2 (zg12) and made a winner.. We put about 6 thousand miles on the maroon one (87) below, got SUPER fuel economy (never below 50 and as high as 62mpg out of it!!). They were rated at the same HP as the Venture BUT, while not a slouch, not as quick or as torquey as the Yam.. They came with adjustabe trunk (3 position), decent stereo, good wind protection for rear rider.. GREAT bag/trunk space!

I actually would have kept one of them but they tend to be for a shorter rider, they sit real low in the saddle - PERFECT for a short inseam BUT for us taller people they are lacking in leg room, pretty scrunchy..

Honestly, if it werent for that issue I would have kept the 87 (had 500 bucks in it and it was a beauty) and ridden the socks off it.. Quick tale about how I came about it, a neighbor bought in brand new, put just under 20k on it, was pulling into a trailer and snagged the oil filter cover bolt on the door edge of the trailer, when the filter cap broke off it had a piece of casing attached to it from internal engine.. Thought he ruined it - let it set till 3 years ago when I bought it.. All the parts for repair were still available (Kaw made the zg12 all the way to 2002), I bought all repair parts right from Kawasaki!! Never did have to buy cosmetics but they might be a little harder to find..

Anyway, due to what I experienced, if I would have kept one I DEFINTILY would have made some form of a skid plate for it, seriously!! If you go look at it take a look under the bike, you will notice the the oil filter cap bolt is the lowest part of the bike!!

Also, if the bike you are looking at doesnt carburate well keep in mind that the Kawi carbs are an inline and getting them in and out is a difficult task, once out they are easier to repair/clean than our Ventures BUT I would still rather do 2 Ventures than 1 zg12!!

If you guys go look at it make sure it runs up on all four, idles smoothly and throttles properly..

Also, down by the rear brake on the side of the engine are a couple of shafts tied together with a dogleg.. That device is an adjustment for the balance shaft gears.. If the bike seems a little noisey in that area in may just be out of adjustment (both mine were noisy and both were way out of adjustment - just a heads up..

Also, in the many many miles I have ridden these old Ventures I havent seen a lot of the Kawi's, that said, I did stop at one time to help out a guy with a ZG that had about 85k on it and had rear/gear problems,, bad situation.. Might not be a bad idea to search the web and see if Kawi had issues with the driveline somehow.. I know that the Cavalcade (suzi) had some issues but not sure if the ZG's did, easy to find out!!!

Hope this helps someway!!

Puc

[DragonRider]

When I was looking for my first touring bike, I also checked out the Voyager, but what I really wanted was a Wing. I wanted to get away from the inline engines, so never did find my wing so I went with the Venture, which I had never heard of until I spotted it on Ebay. Did some research which led me here and I havent looked back since. Those bikes of yours were very nice Scott.

 

Phoneman

 

I brought a couple of those back to life not to long ago, did an 87 and a 98.. That bike was an outstanding bike - Kaw had some problems with the 1st models (1300/6), a lot of it related to the EFI BUT they went carburation with the Voyager 2 (zg12) and made a winner.. We put about 6 thousand miles on the maroon one (87) below, got SUPER fuel economy (never below 50 and as high as 62mpg out of it!!). They were rated at the same HP as the Venture BUT, while not a slouch, not as quick or as torquey as the Yam.. They came with adjustabe trunk (3 position), decent stereo, good wind protection for rear rider.. GREAT bag/trunk space!

I actually would have kept one of them but they tend to be for a shorter rider, they sit real low in the saddle - PERFECT for a short inseam BUT for us taller people they are lacking in leg room, pretty scrunchy..

Honestly, if it werent for that issue I would have kept the 87 (had 500 bucks in it and it was a beauty) and ridden the socks off it.. Quick tale about how I came about it, a neighbor bought in brand new, put just under 20k on it, was pulling into a trailer and snagged the oil filter cover bolt on the door edge of the trailer, when the filter cap broke off it had a piece of casing attached to it from internal engine.. Thought he ruined it - let it set till 3 years ago when I bought it.. All the parts for repair were still available (Kaw made the zg12 all the way to 2002), I bought all repair parts right from Kawasaki!! Never did have to buy cosmetics but they might be a little harder to find..

Anyway, due to what I experienced, if I would have kept one I DEFINTILY would have made some form of a skid plate for it, seriously!! If you go look at it take a look under the bike, you will notice the the oil filter cap bolt is the lowest part of the bike!!

Also, if the bike you are looking at doesnt carburate well keep in mind that the Kawi carbs are an inline and getting them in and out is a difficult task, once out they are easier to repair/clean than our Ventures BUT I would still rather do 2 Ventures than 1 zg12!!

If you guys go look at it make sure it runs up on all four, idles smoothly and throttles properly..

Also, down by the rear brake on the side of the engine are a couple of shafts tied together with a dogleg.. That device is an adjustment for the balance shaft gears.. If the bike seems a little noisey in that area in may just be out of adjustment (both mine were noisy and both were way out of adjustment - just a heads up..

Also, in the many many miles I have ridden these old Ventures I havent seen a lot of the Kawi's, that said, I did stop at one time to help out a guy with a ZG that had about 85k on it and had rear/gear problems,, bad situation.. Might not be a bad idea to search the web and see if Kawi had issues with the driveline somehow.. I know that the Cavalcade (suzi) had some issues but not sure if the ZG's did, easy to find out!!!

Hope this helps someway!!

Puc

[Phoneman1981]

Thanks everyone: Just the info I needed. I threw a leg over the bike yesterday. Bike started ok, but I thought the idle was a bit rough. Good cosmetic condition, with the exception of a torn rear seat. Needs a new battery. If it were warmer I would have taken it for a test ride. Work in progress.

[cowpuc]

When I was looking for my first touring bike, I also checked out the Voyager, but what I really wanted was a Wing. I wanted to get away from the inline engines, so never did find my wing so I went with the Venture, which I had never heard of until I spotted it on Ebay. Did some research which led me here and I havent looked back since. Those bikes of yours were very nice Scott.

 

Thanks Dragon for the compliment.

Interesting thing about the maroon 87, that bike sat for over 20 years in the neighbors garage. He owns a trucking business (great guy), thru the years the bike got covered with soot from his diesel equipment. I mean it was solid soot when I got it!! When he first offered it to me he took me over, while showing it to me he was embarresed by how bad all the chrome and everything had gotten. I smiled, took my fingernail and scraped some of the soot off it, I told him he actually couldnt have protected it better if he had dipped the whole thing in cosmoline, if it dont say sunkist on it you dont know whats inside .. Few weeks later, after it was back together mechanically and cleaned up he couldnt believe it was the same bike.. He had already boughten a Harley Ultra or he said he would have bought his fixed bike back from me.. About 5 months later, after Tippy and I had some fun on it, an elderly couple came to look at one of my 1500 dollar Ventures, saw it sitting in the front yard, guy was about 5' 7" inches in height, took one look at the Kawi, asked me how much, him and his wife climbed on it - gone for about 1/2 hour - fell in love with it, peeled off 3800 bucks, loaded her up and headed to Florida with it.. Heard back from them - they are still down there somewhere riding the socks off the old girl!!

I was always amazed with the MPG these things got.. After I discovered how frugel the 87 was I talked to the PO about it, I was concerned that I may have not gotten the carbs cleaned completely (they were nasty from setting so long), Puc dont like runnin em lean.. He said my findings were right on target with what he experienced since day one!! I have redone a number of 1200 Wings, as well as lots of Ventures.. Never did get 1200 Wing to get near the mileage my 1st Gennys got but this Kawi out did both.. Pretty neat bikes all in all, however, I totally get your "not looking back" comment about our Venny's, owned/ridden lots of touring bikes (all old stuff though) and there is just nothing that compares to the entire package of the yam for what I do, how I roll...

 

Puc