Electra Glide Vs. Kawi Voyager
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 875
Likes: 1
From: Rochester, NY
You get what you pay for...
"Often imitated... never equaled."
I know a lot of friends that started with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, cruisers and they spoke of the Superior Fit, Function, and Reliability. Everyone of them ended up selling their bikes for a huge loss and are now riding a Harley or several. No a knock on the others but I knew I didn't want to settle when I always knew I would end upo with a Harley. I'm OK with that.
I know a lot of friends that started with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, cruisers and they spoke of the Superior Fit, Function, and Reliability. Everyone of them ended up selling their bikes for a huge loss and are now riding a Harley or several. No a knock on the others but I knew I didn't want to settle when I always knew I would end upo with a Harley. I'm OK with that.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 75
From: Goldsboro, NC
One thing that I like about the Kaw that HD does not have is LED's that light up indicating what gear you are in. HD does not do that on their bikes other than the "6th" gear which lites up, but that's all. That would be a nice functional feature to have.
ARE YOU LISTENING HD?
ARE YOU LISTENING HD?
I have had a few KAWS, and all were great bikes. I put 30k miles on my Concours... it's not a direct competitor to HD in any way that I know of. It was a "Sport Tourer" more of a BMW K1 competitor. Really I don't think that the above Kaw looks THAT much like an Ultra,,,, a little maybe,, not that much to me.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: The Great Southwest Desert
The blue one above is the last "REAL" Voyager. The one we were talking about is the new one pictured below.
Retired Admin
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21,865
Likes: 9,047
From: Wisconsin
My riding buddy bought a new Vulcan this summer and fitted it out with a trailer hitch. He pulled a pop-up motorcycle trailer all the way out to Sturgis and back with no problems. I'd rather have my HD, but his Kaw seems like a pretty nice bike.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: Cibolo,Texas
Lets face it. There's nothing like the fit and finish of a Harley. I own a Honda VTX1800F. It's an amazing bike, but sitting sxs in my garage is my 09 FLHX. No comparison as far as looks go........
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I got a friend who went against the grain and got a voyager last year. I think it is an outstanding machine the best of the Harley like tourers. The gauges are sweet and the liquid cooled engine simply runs cool all the time on long hot rides. No doubt this is the best thing Kawi has made. You can't compare it to the Gold Wing which is in a class of it's own.
The only thing I really don't like about it? It does not have the heavy metal soul of a Harley. No external pushrods, a radiator?
The engine is actually not that bad to look at though. All in all, I have to say the voyager is pretty to look at and as far as I know from observation the bike is comfortable and capable.
The only thing I really don't like about it? It does not have the heavy metal soul of a Harley. No external pushrods, a radiator?
The engine is actually not that bad to look at though. All in all, I have to say the voyager is pretty to look at and as far as I know from observation the bike is comfortable and capable.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 284
Likes: 9
From: Louisville, Ky.
from the comparison review....
Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasaki’s 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when you’re stuck at idle.....
Hmmmmmmmmm guess water cooled is no magic exilcir to combat heat
Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasaki’s 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when you’re stuck at idle.....
Hmmmmmmmmm guess water cooled is no magic exilcir to combat heat
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 75
From: Goldsboro, NC
Ok,,, that's the one I am talking about, The Voyager above looks like a Honda Interstate. I guess I don't have the "Imagination" to see an ULTRA in there. I mean, it doesn't look much different than any other Ricer bagger wannabe to me. I see where they want it to look like an HD,, but not really where they succeeded that well.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 4
from the comparison review....
Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasakis 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when youre stuck at idle.....
Hmmmmmmmmm guess water cooled is no magic exilcir to combat heat
Despite it being liquid-cooled, the heat coming off the Kawasakis 52-degree V-Twin on a 100-plus degree day in stop-and-go traffic roasted my right calf. The mill emits serious heat. The Electra Glide was much more tolerable. Last year, H-D rerouted the exhaust under the frame away from the rider instead of its prior arrangement under the seat. It also has a rider-activated cylinder deactivation system that curtails heat when youre stuck at idle.....
Hmmmmmmmmm guess water cooled is no magic exilcir to combat heat