Kawasaki ZG1200 Voyager XII Reviews

Flooded battery failed, replaced with an AGM (only type I will use from now on...).

Replaced the fork springs, and oil-filled, air shocks on rear, with Progressive springs, and 412-Series shocks -- worth every penny.

Water pump leaked coolant, replaced seal.

Water temperature sending unit's wire came off (known issue, can be difficult to re-attach due to cramped space -- use a 10", hemostat).

Mirror mounts come loose: pry off plastic rim, tighten nut inside, behind glass mirror, re-attach plastic rim/trim using RTV silicone sealant.

This is the best touring bike for the money, bar none! They can be had, with 50k miles, for typically around $3,000, and the engines will last for 200,000+ miles! The engines are amazingly reliable, dependable, and require minimum maintenance.

The passenger seat slides back/forth, to adjust for the comfort of the driver; the rear trunk slides forward/back to allow room for the passenger. An after-market trunk-extender can be purchased, which really helps by moving the trunk back around 3", which makes a huge difference for both the passenger, and the driver.

The radio is there, but with modern intercoms having radios built-in, and MP3 player compatibility, the radio is irrelevant to me. An aftermarket backrest, for the driver, is a must! A vented windshield helps, too. Saddlebag liners, if not included with the bike, can be bought from JC Whitney -- they come standard equipment, from the factory; they make loading/unloading the bike a snap.

My wife and I both drive, taking turns sitting in back, on long tours. We both love the easy handling, and tremendous, smooth power this bike offers. The cruise control is something we will never be without again.

Incredible bike. Would recommend it to anyone interested in a touring machine. It will take you, two up, wherever you want to go, as long as there is smooth paving ahead. Cheers!

Reupholstered the seat. Otherwise, with good maintenance, no problems.

Very solid machine. I have ridden in NYC and the open road. Handles well in both environments. Put a new battery in after 2 years of storage.

Alternator at 38,000 miles.

Rear shocks at 46,000 (my fault for the shocks).

This bike is very agile and quick, with a very low center of gravity.

Fuse box, fuses, carb rebuild when I let it sit too long with old gasoline; nothing other than that.

I bought it after reading numerous reviews and determined it was the cheapest way to get into a touring bike (I wanted all of the amenities), and after reading the club message boards. Everyone liked them! I couldn't beat it for the money paid, and I still feel the same today.

It's a bit cramped for me though (6'2") and wish it was a bit more roomy. Clearly Kawa didn't update virtually anything in its 16 year run, so the competition ran away from it with their newer models. But, the cost to own it dropped all the more over time, and I still like it to this day. Sure, its dated design is evident, but everything works great. No problems with the CB, cassette radio, intercom system, speakers, trunk light, cruise control or anything like that. After adding great tires, fork brace, and progressive shocks, most all of the criticisms that I read about were cured. There's plenty of power and mileage ranges from 37-51!!!

Gripes: saddlebag lids need a connecting wire to the bags themselves, and better locks on them as well. Too little legroom for people 6' or more.