Home
Bike Reviews
Test Ride Review of the Kawasaki Versys - By Ren Withnell
I've had an eye on this interesting bike for a few years now. The Versys, and the Suzuki DL 650 VStrom, are the 2 bikes I'd like to own right now. Both bikes seem very similar on paper, 650cc's, twin piston, big trailie styling and riding position and both have a "touring" option. Both bikes seem to have been designed to be ridden not raced and to offer comfort and usability not hyper performance. Smashing, sound's perfect for me.I got to ride the DL 650 VStrom recently. I liked it, though it was not as perfect as I'd hoped. Then the other day I was poking around a bike shop when the salesman approached me. I expressed an interest in the Versys, preferably a second hand low mileage machine. At this particular shop they had none but other shops in their group had a couple, but would I be interested in purchasing a new one? I ummmmed and aaaahed but to cut a long story short I ended up booking a test ride.
I hoped for a lot from the Versys. The bike looks cool with it's side-mounted shock, upside-down forks, trendy styling and clean looks. I've owned an SLR 650 trailie in the past and I enjoyed the high riding position and lightweight easy ride. I hoped the bike would be punchy, comfortable, able to carry a lot of luggage and to crunch miles with ease. I arrived at the shop with some excitement and butterflies in my stomach.
The first thing is the height of the bike. It's tall, it feels taller than the VStrom and the XJ6 Diversion. I'm an average 5 feet 9 inches and although I could get my feet on the floor I couldn't get both feet flat on the floor. I wasn't scared, but just like the VStrom I wondered how hard it would be to maneuver the machine if I was down a tight dead end road or trying to reverse up a slope, for example coming out of a parking space. The SLR 650 was tall but narrow and light, making those awkward manual bike-shuffling movements manageable, both the VStrom and the Versys did not give me sure-footed confidence. Looking at the specifications the Versys has a seat height of 845mm against the VStrom's 820mm, but the Vstrom weighs 217kg at the kerb while the Versys is 206kg (depending on the models). To be honest the VStrom felt a tad easier to move.
Listening to the parallel twin motor rumbling beneath me felt nice. I love the raw power of the 4 cylinder Fazer I own at present but there's something magical about a twin burbling away. Setting off the power pulses can be felt though the whole bike but not in a nasty way, just gobs of torque pulling you up to speed with ease. It only takes a moment for the digital speedo to reach 30mph and the grunt is evident with each happy twist of the throttle. It feels sharper and snappier than the VStrom, but this Versys only has 36 miles on the clock, the Vstrom had several thousand, it may not be a fair comparison. Wiki rates the Versys at 60bhp and visordown.com lists the VStrom as 72bhp so in theory the VStrom has the edge, but the Versys felt quicker.
Around town the Versys is easy peasy lemon squeezy to ride. There's a "clunk" as the bike selects first gear but the rest of the gearbox is really smooth and easy to use. The clutch is light and easy, but I would have liked to adjust this particular machine's cable to my liking. The high riding position makes it easy to see and be seen and the bike turns neutrally and confidently around the bends and the roundabouts. The only issue for the novice rider is reaching the floor if like me you stopped over a ridge on the road. There was no panic or wobble, but the ground was further away than expected and that already extended reach was pushed to my limit. The motor pulls from 2 thousand revs cleanly and I never felt I had to work the bike to get going.
The next part of my route was the motorway. Motorway comfort is important to me as this bike would be used for touring and on any tour there's always a lot of motorway involved. The VStrom had provided protection but the screen caused turbulence, easily fixed apparently with an aftermarket screen. I hoped the Versys would cocoon me in a bubble of still air, warm and dry and safe from the cold and wet world out there. The tiny plastic screen mounted over the clocks on the fairing did not promise this, and sure enough it did not deliver either. It felt just like being on the SLR 650, stuck out in the wind and sat bolt upright, my body and my jacket working just like a large sail. I'm not averse to an unfaired wind blast, but if I'm to be spending several thousand pounds on a bike then I'll be choosy. I can only hope, like the VStrom, that sooner or later an aftermarket screen will be created that fixes this issue. My Fazer had a small half fairing and that works a treat at motorway speeds.
Shaken, windswept and blown I left the motorway. Back on the A roads and back roads the lack of screen is not an issue. Whether crawling behind traffic or opening the taps through a bend the bike remains easy and confident. The handling feels very good and having 17 inch wheels front and rear means there'll be plenty of tyres to choose from, unlike the VStrom with it's 19 inch front wheel. This also implies something else about the bike. The VStrom looks like a big trailie and the 19 inch front wheel is part of this look. The Versys is more like a super motard. This is what separates these otherwise similar machines. The Vstrom, at least the 2007 model I rode, feels grown up, mature, solid, dependable and established. The Versys is more trendy and new, designer and trick.
I liked the bike, but certainly not enough to part with £6000. That wind blast was a disappointment and the seat height is just that little too much. There is however more to look at. At another dealer nearby there's a Versys which has been "professionally lowered" . What this means I am not sure, but I am planning to go and have a look. It's also second hand which means I'd save over £1800, although of course I don't get a new bike. Other than that, it still looks like the VStrom with an aftermarket fairing is the way to go for me. Don't let me put you off the Versys though, take one for a ride, especially if you're a tall novice rider, you won't be let down.
Reader's Comments
Mark F said :-
Hi Ren, read ur review with interest. You must have ridden the standard version with the small fairing. This model is set up for back road blasting. I have the touring model with the panniers and a very effectiv screen. You really must try this version of the Versys before you decide to buy the Vstrom.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Mark
I'll not be buying anything just yet until I get my shed sorted out! There's no point buying a shiny new bike and leaving it in the rain to be stolen.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Name
Comment
Add a RELEVANT link (not required)
Upload an image (not required) -
Uploading...
Home
Bike Reviews