Kawasaki Voyager 1700, aka Kawasaki Vulcan 1700, is an incredible motorcycle. The motorcycle has a 1700cc engine, advanced ABS braking, and electronic cruise control. All these features make the Voyager 1700 a big player in the cruiser motorbike segment.
However, the motorcycle isn’t free of a few significant problems. Yes, Kawasaki Voyager 1700 problems include short wiring for the ignition, low stock strength, and bogging down of the engine. These issues occur due to restricted ECU, clogged air filters, and electrical issues.
As the three problems occur for different causes, you must inspect your Kawasaki Voyager and sort out the reason first. Then, you can start fixing the problem. We will guide you through the fixing of all these Voyager 1700 problems.
Kawasaki Voyager 1700 Problems And Solutions Explained
The Vulcan series from Kawasaki has been a major cruiser bike segment player for over 80 years. Following it, the manufacturer introduced the Voyager 1700 under the Vulcan series. It gets the name for the advanced K-Act II (Advanced Coactive-breaking Technology) ABS.
Over the years, the motorcycle has seen three significant problems. Once we discuss these issues briefly, we will enter to see their solutions.
|
Problem |
Reasons |
Solution |
|
Short ignition wiring |
The electrical issue may happen for multiple reasons. |
Check and fix the ignition wiring and battery connections |
|
Limited engine stock power |
Kawasaki limits the engine power through the ECU |
You can try flashing the ECU to increase the limit |
|
Engine bogging or not getting enough air |
Air filters and fuel injector becomes clogged |
Cleaning or fixing the injector, spark plug, and air filter will solve it. |
As you see, Voyager 1700 has three significant problems. So, let’s take the discussion deep to find their solutions in detail.
Problem 1: Ignition Wiring Shortening
In many cases, the ignition wire of Voyager 1700 causes a short circuit. This short circuit happens as the ignition wire starts rubbing with the fuel tank. The reasons include multiple electrical wiring due to inappropriate design.
As the problem elevated, Kawasaki recalled all Voyager 1700 from 2009 to 2015. Kawasaki USA had to recall 11836 units of Voyager 1700. It was one of the significant callings up histories of Kawasaki, and the company was engaged in many heated debates.
In an official statement, Kawasaki declared that Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 has multiple electrical issues. It led to short circuits and stalling. So, they recalled the sold units.
Usually, the wiring of the ignition switch touches the fuel tank and gets damaged, causing a short circuit. So, you may need to fix the wiring or replace it.
Tips On Fixing Ignition Wire Short Circuits:
When you see short circuits in the ignition wire and battery wiring, you can call the dealer to fix it. In most cases, Kawasaki will call your motorcycle up and give you a replacement for it. However, it is possible to fix the short circuit problem at home.
- Place the motorcycle on a plain surface. Now, use a wrench to disconnect the battery terminal and the battery’s negative cable.
- Pry off the left side panel with a Phillips head screwdriver by removing the screws. Also, remove the seat with an adjustable wrench and access the ignition wire underneath it.
- You must disconnect the black ignition coil from the green ignition coil connector.
- Locate the 10mm bolts. These bolts secure the ignition switch. Use a socket wrench to pry off the bolts and detach the white ignition switch connector. Finally, remove the old switch to install the new one with the 10mm bolts.
- Finally, connect the ignition switch connector to the switch. Then, it would help if you connected the ignition coil and connector. Finish off the job by securing the seat, battery negative cable, and the left side panel.
This should solve the short circuit problem. If the problem persists, you should inspect the engine and battery wiring. It is always better to take help from a motorcycle mechanic to find the wire with a short circuit to fix it ASAP.
Problem 2: Limited Power For The Engine
Kawasaki Voyager 1700 equips with a V-Twin 1700cc engine. It has a digital fuel-injection facility making it one of the most potent and consistent engines for cruisers. Yet, many people complain that they have received dissatisfactory power from the engine.
Well, the limited stock power of the engine isn’t any design or construction problem. Kawasaki has purposefully limited the engine power with its ECU (Engine Control Unit). The manufacturer says they have done it for Voyager 1700 cruiser motorcycle safety purposes.
It is disappointing for many riders as they can’t utilize the total capacity of this powerful V-twin engine. We all know that this liquid-cooled engine is packed with 107.6 lb-ft torque capacity. Its bore and stroke are 102mm and 104, respectively. The engine further equips the latest DFI (Ducted Fuel Injection) for fuel that helps it generate beast performance.
Yet, you can flash off its ECU to increase the power even more.
Tips On Delimiting The ECU To Increase Stock Engine Power:
The easiest way to maximize the power utilization of the Kawasaki Voyager 1700 ABS is to flash its ECU system. This process of flashing the ECU system is known as resetting the ECU for motorcycles. It is popular among bikers to upgrade the stock engine power.
You may consider modifying the engine and motorcycle if you want more power. The expected power boost will depend on the mod level and ECU flashing.
- An average mod of Voyager 1700 can boost its stock engine performance by 10% to 15%.
- If you wish to improve the engine’s power delivery by 20%, you should flash the ECU and choose advanced mods.
Usually, there are level 1, level 2, and level 3 mods options available for Kawasaki motorcycles. Thus, depending on your budget and power output requirement, you can choose the suitable modification. The modification will also improve the overall performance.
A Precaution For Mods:
Be careful when resetting the ECU or upgrading the motorcycle with mods. If anything goes wrong, the bike is associated with a high risk of performance loss. A few drawbacks of the stock engine power increase and mods include:
- It voids the warranty immediately; so you can’t claim it anymore
- If done inappropriately, the engine faces quick wear and tear
- Engine performance will drop considerably
Hence, we suggest you reset the ECU or perform the Voyager 1700 modification under the guidance of a skilled mechanic. For details on Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager mods, see this YouTube video:
Problem 3: Engine Not Getting Enough Air
Motorcycle engines need a regular supply of fresh air to work consistently with greater performance and power. When the engine fails to receive the air it requires, you will see a drop in its performance. The motorcycle may even start malfunctioning. The same problem is seen for Voyager 1700 engines as it gets bogged down without adequate air supply.
When the engine is deprived of enough power, it will run rough. In the worst case, the engine stalls, and your Voyager will reach a standstill. The inadequate air supply to the motorcycle may happen for one of all of the following reasons:
- Clogged air filter
- Blocked fuel injector
- Problematic spark plug
Tips On Fixing A Bogged-Down Voyager 1700 Engine:
As you have read in the previous section, Kawasaki Voyager 1700 engine can get bogged down for three main reasons. So, you need to inspect its air filters, fuel injector, and spark plug to determine precisely which one is causing the problem.
Once you find the right cause, you can opt for one of the following solutions.
Cleaning Air Filter:
Voyager 1700 is a low-maintenance motorcycle. Yet, you should perform several Kawasaki Voyager 1700 maintenances from time to time. One of the critical maintenances for the motorcycle is cleaning its air filters so fresh air can quickly go into the engine.
If you haven’t cleaned the air filters for a while, they may be completely damaged. So, you will need to replace it.
To clean the air filter, look at the left side of the Voyager 1700 engine. There you should locate the air filter cover. Unscrew the bolts of the cover and open the cover. Now, you can take out the air filter and inspect it under daylight. Use compressor air or a brush to remove the dirt from it. Sometimes, the air filter can be too dirty that you can’t clean it.
In this case, you must replace the dirty air filter with a new one. The life of a motorcycle air filter is 15000 to 20000 kilometers roughly. So, after this period, you must replace the filter anyway. The cost of replacing a Voyager 1700 air filter is $20 to $30, which is budget-friendly too.
Fixing The Spark Plug:
At times the spark plug may become dirty. So, it fails to generate the sparks for the engine’s ignition. As a result, the engine gets bogged down and fails to deliver its expected performance. When it happens, you need to clean the spark plug. If it still doesn’t work, change the plug.
- Locate the spark plug at the bottom side of the engine
- Detach the wire from the plug. Then, remove the spar plug with the wrench.
- Observe the residual build-up on the spark plug and clean them with a brush
- If cleaning the plug doesn’t work, get a new plug and install it with the engine.
Mostly, cleaning the spark plug with a wire brush would do the trick. If it fails, you will need to buy a spark plug at around $10 to $20.
Try Replacing The Fuel Injector:
Fuel injectors are meant to last long. The average lifespan of motorcycle fuel injectors is 80000 to 100000 miles. Yet, untimely wear and tear may damage it too bad that it would need replacement. At times, cleaning the fuel injector will work as well.
Replacing and cleaning the fuel injector requires the following steps:
- The injector will be underneath the cover of the Voyager 1700 left side. Access it by removing the seat in front of the battery.
- Disconnect the battery from the fuel injector and pull the injector by removing the two securing nuts of it.
- Observe for residues on it and clean off the debris with a wire brush.
- Sometimes the O-ring seal may be broken or damaged. If it is the case, you can replace it with a new O-ring to seal the fuel injector.
- If the injector is too worn out, get a new one and install it.
Following these three tips, you can ensure proper air supply to the engine. Thus, it won’t get bogged down anymore and will provide you with the necessary power. Cleaning the fuel injector, air filter, and spark plugs is necessary maintenance of the Kawasaki Voyager 1700 motorcycle. So, during monthly and bi-yearly maintenance, do perform these tasks.
Conclusion
Three main Kawasaki Voyager 1700 problems include electric wiring issues and limited stock engine power. In both cases, you must check the source of the problem for Voyager 1700. Then, you may opt for our quick suggestions to solve the problem.
Lastly, to increase the engine power, you can choose to modify the bike. However, we don’t find it essential as its V-twin 1700cc engine already delivers outstanding power output. You will lose the warranty for resetting the ECU or any mods. So, be aware of this before modifying Voyager 17000 from Kawasaki.