2023 Kawasaki Voyager or 2022 Kawasaki Voyager!? Which one should you buy??

I discuss whether or not you should buy the 2023 Kawasaki Voyager or the 2022 Kawasaki Voyager.

[@bobfallis]

The white/teal colorway was the only reason I didn't pull the trigger on this bike. The gray/ebony colorway on the other will more than likely make me pick one of these up this year. The additional price is worth it to me.

[@elitepatrol3256]

Good! You're gonna love it!

[@metricOIL]

Not many changes since 2009... both bikes are the same, except the color... 😆

[@dragonslayer1294]

I bought a used one last year 2009 voyager I paid 6000 so far I love the bike

[@elitepatrol3256]

Awesome!! That's a dang good price

[@SweetLou0523]

And aside from kams which can be added, and kact, your 2009 is identical to the 2023. Kawasaki has given us absolutely no reason to buy new. They are even too incompetent to add basic bluetooth to the frigging radio. It's a damn shame that kawasaki has completely abandoned their cruiser motorcycles.

[@leftturnaudio5678]

Got my 2022 for $15,500 brand new.

[@elitepatrol3256]

Heck of a deal!

[@paulmccloskey7287]

Was that $15,500 out the door?

[@YeeHaawYoung]

I just can't do the paint scheme on the 2022. Worth 1k for the hrey/black IMO. To each his own though.

[@davidmoyer7546]

I have the 2022 Voyager as you do…and love it! I suspected what you have shown in this video; except I wasn’t aware of the price difference. Also I have adjusted my rear shocks similar to what you did and am looking forward to trying it. Thanks for all of your videos on the new Voyagers

[@elitepatrol3256]

You definitely bought the best model year Kawasaki has ever produced! The paint color alone adds at least 20 HP. In all seriousness, the ride will be much different! You may have to play with your psi and damper settings to get it dialed in for your preferences, I tried several different psi and found I liked 30 best!

[@user-qo1el3qg2z]

I have to agree with you on the buy ,I have the 2022 Kawasaki Voyager and love it. I paid 17699 new out of the crate. I looked at the bike on Thursday while it was being put together. went back on friday and made the deal and drove it home on Saturday. I have already been to Kentucky and Niagara Falls New York.

[@elitepatrol3256]

Congrats on the bike! You're getting some good miles in! Any complaints really?

[@frankwebster8365]

Great bike, was caught in my first rain storm on Sunday, no problems, no shorting, radio played everything was perfect, but I got soaked. Great video. Take Care and Be Safe.

[@elitepatrol3256]

Glad to hear you made it through safe! Rain is AWFUL. But I can't say I'm surprised the bike did perfectly

[@davisjuarez2184]

2022 color si rare but special, and over time special motorcycle have more value...saludos from panamá🇵🇦, and sorry for My inglish😁

[@user-xn9js6mc5i]

I bought a 2023 in March, color and value, I love mine

[@elitepatrol3256]

Awesome! You won't be disappointed

[@Nervedraz]

I really like the 2023 color. How is the performance? I keep hearing that the factory settings choke this bike’s performance and that many go with Ivan’s tune for the ECU. Curious what you have experienced.

[@user-xn9js6mc5i]

@Nervedraz it does perform pretty good, but I will doing ivan tune, everything I have read it wakes the bike it doesn't make it a super bike it just makes it super

[@dxhamshack7905]

Enjoyed this video. I just moved to Mexico and looking for something bigger, with some power for my daily driver. I love the color on the 2022, as well as those full white. 2024 is not even released yet. Dont know why, neither Kawasaki, HD, Triumph, Indian have released their 2024 models and we are beyond mid March. Not even the Can-Am Ryker 2024 is out yet although they are even manufactured here. Anyway, enjoyed. Liked and subscribed.

[@elitepatrol3256]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jodyrides]

I want to buy the 2010 model for sale near me possibly. I’ve had three Venture’s, a BMW K 1200 LT, and a GL1800 gold wing… I might buy this 15 K Mile original owner, 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan voyager. I’m searching for common problems or issues on KZbin before I decide… I will keep my royal star venture, and by the voyager, and I will decide over the winter, which one to keep. I have owned 108 motorcycles so far for the past four decades. I always buy the replacement before I sell the bike I currently own because, there have been a few occasions that I was sorry I sold my old steed for the new one… I can’t do that with new bikes. But there are many many many totally stock one owner not modified older motorcycles out there that can be bought for pennies on the dollar. They were impulse buys, and people just lost interest. I one time bought a Yamaha RZ 350, 1985 model, with only 735 miles on it in 2001. I bought a Honda hawk GT 650, the red one with a single sided swingarm V twin, 1900 miles on it… I bought a Honda GL 1800 Goldwing from the original owner 13 K miles on it when it was 16 years old. They are out there. Ask around, drive around on your motorcycle in the summer when people have their garage open. And drive slowly and look way back in the garage to see if there’s a motorcycle sitting in there, unloved. I found about 10 or 12 bikes like that. When I would go to garage sales with my wife, the first thing I would ask as I walked up to a house that had all their stuff out in the driveway for sale, where is the motorcycle. And a few times, they ended up having one or a family member that had one that was just sitting.. of course, they need all the fluids changed and a battery and tires, but not much else as long as they are totally stock and have not been repainted. A repainted bike is a bike that was crashed, 99% of the time. So I will never buy a motorcycle that has a paint job done to it.. I don’t buy basketcases, I don’t buy modified motorcycles.. just like new orphans.. of the 108 motorcycles I have owned, I have never not paid cash for it. I have never taken a loan out for a motorcycle. I have only lost money on two of the 108 motorcycles I have a note. Those were the two I bought a new.

[@elitepatrol3256]

I can only hope to have owned as many as you! That is impressive 👏

[@jeffmurray7448]

Going to look at one tomorrow. I owned a 1999 Vulcan Drifter, a fun bike that lasted a long time. I currently have a Moto Guzzi Eldorado (2016) but my wife wants to start riding with me and can't do that on the Guzzi. Thanks for the video and your review.

[@elitepatrol3256]

That's awesome!! My wife rode around with me a couple hours in town the other day and said she was completely comfortable! I'm sure your spouse will love it

[@fredtracy3931]

I think it's a no brainer to go with last year's model. You save money, and in the case of my 2014 Honda CB500X, I liked red better than the white 2015 model. As for the Voyager, I like last year's colour.

[@elitepatrol3256]

I agree! It really does all come down to personal preference, either year of these bikes is going to save you a ton of money when comparing to the competition. Also, nice bike you have!

[@kyboren240]

Hello from Ottawa, Canada. You couldn't get a 2022 by the end of the summer up here. I put my order in for my 2023 last October and I got it in March. It was a long cold winter I'll tell you. It's entertaining that the Canadian Kawasaki site still lists the 2022 AND the 2021. I like your videos, but I thought you were kidding with this one...nothing has change on the Voyager since they added KAMS in 2012 and ABS/KACT came standard in 2014. Kawi even discontinued the 30PIN IPod cable last year...30PIN ended in 2014! I'm at 3000 miles on my 2023 and I am enjoying it, but it is not as smooth crusing at 60-80MPH as I would have hoped. 5th and 6th gears can be a little rough, but that would be the joys of a V-Twin.

[@sirdirtydog705]

My new to me ‘14 with 9200 miles had the same flat throttle response at highway speeds. I sent my ECU to Ivan. Night and day difference in all aspects. Very enjoyable to ride. I left everything else stock.

[@kyboren240]

@@sirdirtydog705 Ivan is on my list of things to do...but I want to wait a bit before I do something that has the potentially to void my 3yr warranty.

[@reidmurray4476]

Very cool. For some reason I thought cruise control was new on the 2023. Glad I watched this. When did they add cruise control? I know they were pretty late with it. That was the only deal breaker the Voyager had with me.

[@elitepatrol3256]

I know they've had cruise control from when they came out with the 1700 version in 2009 until current.

[@reidmurray4476]

@@elitepatrol3256 That's cool. I wonder where I got that wrong information from.

[@billpewterbaugh2982]

In My opinion the 2023 color is a MUCH nicer color

[@elitepatrol3256]

It is a gorgeous bike!

[@DavidGardner-x6l]

Got a 2022 Voyager instead of a 2024. The 2022 had 1500 miles. And was $7,000.00 less.

[@ohiobackroads1548]

Hello from Ohio. Great video and to the point. I considered the voyager but ruled the bike out because of the massive weight. The voyager is heavy out of the box. And gear for week long trip and your really heavy. Ride safe.

[@elitepatrol3256]

They are heavy bikes, but most touring bikes are. Don't let the weight of a motorcycle stop you from enjoying a touring bike/bagger! I went from a 1989 Yamaha Maxim 650 to this and It was intimidating but now I feel like I know nothing else. You just have to practice slow speed operations with these. I recommend watching this guys channel for building confidence on any motorcycle! Don't let the fear of dropping a heavy bike deter you from enjoying one. youtube.com/@BeTheBossOfYourMotorcycle

[@user-xn9js6mc5i]

About all of the big baggers are in that weight class, once you start rolling, it's like a gyroscope, you don't even notice the weight

[@clay1883]

So buy a scooter or moped. They're lighter.

[@mrmister704]

Increase the price for the same model of year over year

[@SweetLou0523]

Comparing the 2022 to the 2023 was a laugably pointless exercise. The difference is the color, thats it. The difference betaeen the 2011 and the 2023....is color. Kawasaki has totally and completely abandoned these bikes. Kawasaki is so indifferent to the bikes aand their owners that in 15 years they couldnt be bothered to add bluetooth to their already antiquated radio.

[@elitepatrol3256]

I really think they need to at least put a new radio in there. That would be nice

[@TheSirhc1975]

That's just the way Kawi operates, if it ain't broke don't change it mentality. The previous gen with the 4 cylinder was pretty much the same bike for its entire existence of around 20 years.

[@SweetLou0523]

@TheSirhc1975 and I wouldn't really be bothered by that if what they produced was a good complete product. Owners have been vocal for over a decade about the shamefully bad, early 2000s quality head unit and it wouldn't have taken much on kawasakis part to make a mid cycle enhancement. The throttle issue has been known since day one, zero changes in production. Transmission issues, aside from bevel cutting 1st and 2nd starting in what, 2011 or so, zero changes. No design change to the output shaft which cannot be replaced without a full engine split unlike other kawasaki models, and spline failure is a known (albeit uncommon) issue. Hell, just adding a bolt through the pulley and shaft would mitigate the problem but they just don't care. It's not a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" it's a "we don't give a shit if it is broken, we're too lazy to do anything about it so buy it or fuck off."

[@TheSirhc1975]

@SweetLou0523 pretty much. They do it with a lot of their bikes as you probably know. The new gen 3 KLR has some of the same issues that the gen 1 had. Ridiculous. The little trail bikes like the 140 are famous for their carb issues out of the crate. We've complained for years but it's like you said, they don't care.

[@danslater1025]

You are definitely wrong on which color is better. 23 is a modern paint job the 22 looks like a 57 Chevy

[@me-xz2xn]

There the same lol been same for 10 years

[@Retiredatlast65]

2024 is going to be that crappy 2022 teal and white again from what i hear over the grape vine. Kawasaki... please no !!!

[@elitepatrol3256]

Hey! Teal and white is the best! But you are entitled to your wrong opinion! Lol! Seriously, though that seems silly to do it again a couple years after just doing it

[@douglashawkins4402]

No because the color is awful! LOL Seriously anything 2012 and above is all the same.

[@Airtouch67]

You do realize that Kawasaki has changed absolutely NOTHING on this bike from 2012-2024 other than paint color. I don't understand the point of this video?

[@clay1883]

Well, for my money I wouldn't care what year it was as long as it wasn't that ugly two tone paisley blue one.

[@elitepatrol3256]

🤣