I kind of have a thing for six cylinders. I have posted on the Valkyrie and CBX residing in the stable, but sometime back a craigslist ad caught my eye. 1983 Kawasaki voyager with 28,000 miles dirt cheap. Many of you may have heard of the KZ1300 6 cylinder which was Kawasaki’s answer to the CBX. Much heavier, arguably more refined, definitely less popular.
They took the same KZ six-cylinder power plant that employed three carburetors for the six cylinders and for the Voyager fuel injected it. It was done for economy, but a small side benefit was an extra 15 hp bringing it up to 135. It needed it as the Voyager also weighed as much as a small bus - 903 pounds wet! I don’t know what it weighs now, but it’s still a pig. Probably 650 or better.
If I put my 78 Goldwing on a diet, I put this thing on a starvation diet. I was astounded that after everything was stripped off of it and the harness “trimmed back” that it fired up! I rode it a bit but the “computer“ has developed an intermittency and spontaneously shuts down - sometimes at the most inopportune times.
Zyphyr 750 tank, Shadow rear fender, shaved factory front fender and side covers, Dyna soft tail seat. I never really finished it, and could use a computer if anyone has one laying around. Considered megasquirt, but anything I do on this thing will be a big project. I have other priorities. It can wait.
But it will eventually be a barrel of fun!
