2009–2024 · Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Big Torque, Iron Reliability
Kawasaki's full-dress tourer is built around a 1700 cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-twin making 108 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm and 73 hp at 5,000 rpm. Those numbers tell you the plan: pull hard from just off idle, sit in sixth, and let the belt drive do its quiet work. The frame-mounted fairing, the locking luggage, and cruise control are all standard, so the bike arrives ready for a week away rather than needing a catalog order first. At 895 lb wet on a 65.6 in wheelbase, it plants itself on the interstate and stays planted.
Long term this is a machine that ages well. The engine is built for high mileage, the finish holds up to weather and loaded miles, and the mechanical layout is simple enough that nothing exotic strands you. It suits the rider who counts days on the road instead of corners per mile: highway hauls, two-up weekends, bags packed to the lids. The honest caveat is that the equipment list stops early. ABS is an option here, not standard, and there is no traction control, no ride modes, no heated grips, no center stand. The fork carries no adjustment at all; only the rear shock takes preload.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) @ 5,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 108 lb-ft (146 Nm) @ 2,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 1700 cc |
| Engine | 52° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 170/70-16 |
| Wheelbase | 65.6 in (1667 mm) |
| Seat height | 28.7 in (730 mm) |
| Wet weight | 895 lb (406 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 gal (20 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Safety
This section isn't my test ride. It's what I've heard from Voyager owners over the years: paddock talk at rallies, conversations at club nights, and the messages and emails riders send me directly. The pattern on this bike is unusually consistent. Praise for the way it pulls and the way it carries you, with a smaller, steady set of grumbles that all point back at the same place.
The torque comes up first in almost every conversation. Riders describe a V-twin that is already working just off idle, which makes highway cruising effortless and roll-on strong without a downshift. Comfort runs a close second: a plush seat, relaxed ergonomics, and weather protection that owners rate as genuinely long-haul. Many also mention how manageable it feels for a big tourer, with light steering and stable, predictable behavior even at parking-lot speeds. The styling gets its own share of the praise, bold lines and two-tone paint that riders say sets it apart in the segment.
Nearly all of it lands on the engine. Owners report real heat off the rear cylinder when they're moving slowly on a hot day. Some also find the throttle abrupt at walking pace and say it takes a light hand to maneuver smoothly. A smaller group points to lean fueling from the factory, describing hesitation and adding that they often go to aftermarket tuning to sort it.
Ignition switch wire chafing leading to stall
A wiring harness under the fuel tank can chafe and short, causing the engine to stall. Kawasaki recalled 2009-2015 models to add shielding.
ECU-induced stalling during deceleration
Some 2009-2010 models stall when the clutch is pulled at speed due to improper ECU settings. A recall reflashed the ECU.
Transmission output shaft failures
Some owners have reported catastrophic output shaft bearing or shaft failures requiring engine disassembly; however, the frequency and root cause remain disputed in forums.
Excessive engine heat in slow traffic
Owners report uncomfortable heat from the rear cylinder, especially in hot weather or stop-and-go conditions. Not a design defect but a characteristic.
Where this Kawasaki VN 1700 Voyager pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the VN 1700 Voyager is actually built for.
For rally season this works: the sound, the weather protection, locked luggage, and enough low-rpm torque to sit at the front of a group all week. If the badge on the tank is the point of the trip, that is a separate question.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
Comfort and shelter for 200 to 400 mile days, absolutely. But this is a heavy full-dress cruiser, so the Blue Ridge becomes a cruise rather than the light, quick tool you may have in mind.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
