Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126903
(Above) Bikes travel down the assembly line on hangers. gathering parts as they go. What starts as a bare frame gradually becomes a complete motorcycle. The Voyager XII assembly line was stopped during a press tour on February 28; here. Kawasaki Public Relations Manager Mel Moore plays the part of a worker as Motorcyclist magazine Editor Art Friedman looks on. Kawasaki Voyager XII Engine type ... __ .. Water-cooled DOHC inline four Bore x stroke 78x62.6mm Displacement 11 96cc Compression ratio. . . . . . . .. 10: 1 Carburetion .... (4) 30mm Keihin CV Horsepower 95.7 bhp @ 7000 rpm Torque ........•.• 79.6 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm Valves per cylinder 4 Intake valve size _ .30mm Exhaust valve size ..•..... 26mm Intake lift _ 7.6mm Exhaust lift 7.6mm Included valve angle 44.8° Intake valve timing 20-48° Exhaust valve timing 54-14° (measuring pt.) Omm Starting system _..•..... Electric Battery rating. . . . . . . . 1 2V 20AH Ignition Transistorized electronic Lubrication .. , .•...... Wet sump Redline 7500 rpm 2800 rpm rpm @ 60 mph Primary drive straight-cut gear Final drive , Shaft Gear ratios Primary 99/58; 1.706:1 Final 15/22x32/9; 2.424: 1 5th ..•........ 26/31; 0.838:1 4th 29/28; 1.035:1 3rd _ 32/24; 1.333:1 2nd 36/20; 1.800:1 1st •.......•.. 41/15; 2.733:1 Theoretical speed in gears at redline 5th __ _ 159 mph 4th 129 mph 3rd 100 mph 2nd 74mph 1st 49 mph Frame Tubular steel 30° Rake Trail _. __ 4.8 in. Front suspension type Telescopic forks Fork tube diameter ....•.. 41 mm Front wheel travel _5.5 in. Rear suspension typa . __ Dualshock swingarm Rear wheel travel 3.9 in. Front brakes (2) 9.7-in. discs 10. 1-in. disc Rear brakes Front wheel 2.50x16-in. cast aluminum Rear wheel _ 3.50x15-in. cast aluminum Front tire .. _ 130/90-16 Dunlop Rear tire .... 150/90-15 Dunlop Claimed dry weight 699 Ibs. Certified wet weight 770 Ibs. Overall length 110.8 in. Overall width 38 in. Overall height 58.5 in. Wheelbase _ 63.8 in. 6.1 gal. Fuel capacity Ground clearance 5.5 in. Seat height 29.7 in. GVWR 1210 Ibs. _. 440 Ibs. Load capacity Colors Two-tone red Retail price .. _ $7399 Widder Enterprises underneath my Hondaline toUTing suit, down-filled expedition pants, down parka and wool sweater, and was able to stay reasonably warm. The only thing I couldn't figure out on that first day was why my shoulders had to be smoldering before I felt any heat on my legs. The mystery was olved the next morning when I realized that I had the chaps on inside out, with quilted insulation between the electries and my jeans. ••••• The Voyager engine is an inlinefour, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, water-cooled, with bore and stroke of 78x62.6mm for a displacement of I I 96cc; compression ratio is 10:1. The carburetors are relatively small (30mm) Keihin CVs with semi-flat slides. It's tuned for touring, with a redline of 7500 rpm and peak torque of 79.6 lb.-ft. at 5000 rpm. Peak horsepower is 95.8 bhp at 7000 rpm. The valves are opened by short rockers pivoting on hydraulic lash adj usters; each rocker is operated by its own cam lobe. The cams are chain driven off the center of the crankshaft. The engine is rubber mounted at six points and has two gear-driven, counter-rotating balance shafts. There's a five-speed transmission with a tall fifth that Kawasaki calls ov' . . .- a green "aD" lights up in the instrument console. The gas tank is underneath the seat, with the battery and electrics and air cleaner underneath a cover where most bikes have gas tanks. The front forks have 4lmm stanchion tubes and are air assisted; the rear swingarm has dual, air-assisted shocks. But what's most notable about the Voyager is that it's got stuff. All the usual full dresser stuff; usual, as defined by the dominant tourer in the market, the Honda Gold Wing. It's obviou~,lookingatthe Voyager, that the destgn team had heard of, seen, ridden a Gold Wing. A good first impression-of the Voyager XII is that it's a Gold Wing with an iilline engine instead of Honda's opposedfour. Stuff. Full fairing and saddlebags and a large travel trunk big enough to hold a full-size briefcase. Compartments, one each locking and nonlocking, in the fairing and built into the saddlebag lids. An interior light that comes on when the travel trunk lid is lifted. A folding mirror inside the travel trunk. Chrome'bars in front of thesaddJebags and at the bottom of the fairing. Passenger floorboards. A standard AM/FM/Cassette audio system, with remote controls located on the left handlebar (the handlebars be-