The newest V-Twin touring motorcycle on the block, the 2009 Kawasaki Voyager, takes on the king of V-Twin tourers, the 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide, in a battle between metric and American V-Twin tourers. Find out who came out on top in our 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide vs. Kawasaki Voyager Comparison.
Kawasaki brought back the Voyager after a six-year absence. Big Green's new touring motorcycle features a 52-degree V-Twin engine, an electronic throttle valve system, and Kawasaki’s Advanced Coactive Braking Technology.
My wife has been a passenger on numerous bikes and offered her point of view from the pillion for our test.
The saddlebags on the '09 Kawasaki Voyager hold plenty and are easy to access, with a 13.2-gallon volume trunk and 10-gallon side cases.
The Voyager has Kawasaki's Advanced Coactive-Braking Technology and ABS that intrude with a quicker brake modulation.
The 2009 Kawasaki Voyager features model-wide changes to the Vulcan line like a bigger, 1700cc engine, revised ergos, and belt drive.
A peek inside the Kawasaki Voyager's cockpit reveals an analog speedo and tach teamed with a central multi-function LCD that displays gear position indicator, fuel gauge, clock, odometer, dual trip meters, remaining range and average fuel consumption.
The 1700cc engine on the Voyager delivers the goods, out-pacing the Electra Glide, especially in the mid- to upper rpm range.
We 'Rode the Mountain' to Big Bear, CA, to test the merits of the Kawasaki Voyager's handling and fuel delivery at 7,000 feet elevation.
The muscle-car inspired styling of the 2009 Kawasaki Voyager drew plenty of attention from curious onlookers wherever we rode.
Harley-Davidson's Ultra Classic Electra Glide has been the golden standard in classic luxury touring for the last 20 years.
The Electra Glide has a 0.7-gallon larger tank (6 gallons to 5.3)and averaged about three more miles per gallon in comparison to the Voyager.
The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide has been at the apex of the V-Twin touring realm for the past 20 years. The upstart Kawasaki Voyager made its debut with a V-Twin instead of the previous inline-four this year.
2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide vs. 2009 Kawasaki Voyager dyno results.
The 2009 Ultra Classic Electra Glide features a one-piece, two-up classic seat and injection-molded GTX saddlebags and King Tour Pak.
The 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager
The cockpit of the 2009 Voyager is a combination of dial speedo and tach gauges with a digital display for the odometer,mpg, gear indicator, and standard clock.
The 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide
The front end on the Electra Glide features a 17 in. front tire wrapped around a new, black 28-spoke cast aluminum wheel.
The Electra Glide's dial gauges might have old school appeal, but the 80-watt Harman/Kardon audio system with 4-speakers and AM/FM/CD/MP3 are 21st century techno goodies.
The Kawasaki Voyager has the most compact riding triangle of any luxury touring motorcycle I've ridden.
The vibes you feel at idle disappear when you get rolling on the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, thanks in part to its four-point engine isolation system.
Both the Electra Glide and Kawasaki Voyager are built to take riders on the long haul in comfort and style.
Motorcycle USA presents its 2009 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide vs. the 2009 Kawasaki Voyager comparison.
Sitting on a mountain top overlooking Lake Elsinore, our man Adam Waheed contemplates taking up a new hobby - hang gliding.
The fit & finish on the Ultra Classic Electra Glide is top-notch and nostalgic.
The four-stroke, liquid-cooled SOHC engine is one of the Voyager's best features, but on hot days the heat coming off the engine will roast your right calf.
The Electra Glide has a 0.7-gallon larger tank (6 gallons to 5.3)and averaged about three more miles per gallon in comparison to the Voyager.
The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide wins points for being the better handling of the two and having more ground clearance while turning. Kudos to its suspension as well for soaking up the bumps with greater aplomb.
The 2009 Ultra Classic Electra Glide's handling benefits greatly from its new cast single-spar, rigid-backbone frame and a new wider, longer, stiffer swingarm.
An air-cooled pushrod-operated engine with overhead valves provides 1584cc of power to the Electra Glide.
The Voyager's liquid-cooled, single overhead cam engine with four-valve heads brought plenty of torque on around 2400 rpm.
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