After selling my Bumblebee, I spent a long time deciding which motorcycle to take for several seasons and remain satisfied with it. I wanted comfort in the city, fun on country roads, and a quiet long-distance ride with luggage. Of course, there is no such ideal combination. And I was already thinking about shifting my choice towards enduro touring and taking Africa, when the Kawasaki Versys caught my attention.
Versys stands for versatile system - a universal system. The motorcycle was based on the frame, engine and chassis from the Kawasaki ER-6 road series, but unlike it, the Versys was equipped with longer-travel suspensions. An adjustable inverted front fork was also added (on the ER-6 - a regular, non-adjustable one), another subframe, a front semi-fairing, and other engine settings were made (reducing maximum power by improving traction at low and medium speeds).
Technical specifications Kawasaki Versys 650
| Parameter | Unit change . | Index |
| Length | mm | 2165 |
| Width | mm | 840 |
| Height | mm | 1450 |
| Seat height | mm | 840 |
| Wheelbase | mm | 1415 |
| Ground clearance | mm | 170 |
| Curb weight | kg | 214 |
| Engine | type | 2-cylinder 4 stroke |
| Cooling system | type | liquid |
| Starting system | type | electric starter |
| Supply system | type | injection |
| Working volume | cube cm. | 649 |
| Power | hp | 64 |
| Max. torque | Nm | 61 |
| Number of gears | — | 6 |
| Drive unit | type | chain |
| Volume of the tank | l | 19 |
| Fuel consumption (average) | l/100 km | 4,5 |
Kawasaki Versys 650 – personal experience
At the moment, one season has been ridden, about 10,000 km, of which one long distance is 7,000 km.
Fuel consumption is just a song. The minimum record is 4.5 liters. On the highway the tank is enough for 300 km. For long-distance trips and motorcycle trips, of course, I would like a more spacious tank, but this is a different class of motorcycle.
Thanks to the high suspension and its long travel, it easily copes with uneven asphalt, stones and speed bumps on the road. If you put on normal 50/50 tires, then driving on gravel roads and country roads turns into a pleasure.
The fit is comfortable with some padding. If you are tall (I'm 183), you will need to raise the steering wheel using a special gasket (schmied.ru makes it for Versis). Then the landing will become almost even and your back will not become numb. The high seating position with a straight back makes me happy every time I sit on it. To sit comfortably, you need to move your pelvis all the way back to the passenger’s seat and tightly clasp the tank with your knees.
Maneuverable in the city, the motorcycle steers well with its body weight. If you put a short steering wheel, it becomes very nimble between the rows. The high seating position allows the handles to fly over the mirrors of most cars, with the exception of gazelles and jeeps.
Traction motor! 64 horses is a good supply of power. In the mountains on a dirt road, when fully loaded, the engine pulled out a couple of times. The engine is tuned for confident traction from low and medium speeds and produces maximum performance at 7000-8500 rpm. Comfortable speed on the highway is 130-150, there is a reserve, although not large.
Some people say that the box is too hard, but you get used to it and after a while you even like how it works. It’s like an AK-47, it works smoothly and flawlessly. Oil pouring is better 10/50 for my taste.
As for the assembly, there are positive emotions - nothing hangs out anywhere, nothing rings, all the cables and cables are properly packaged in coils and are accessible.
Of the minuses: after 150 km/h the engine power resource is almost exhausted, it is better not to overtake for long distances. Cotton brakes, improved by installing reinforced cables. The stock mirrors are complete slag, need to be replaced immediately. Very clumsy in the mud.
My tuning Kawasaki Versys 650
01. Engine crankcase protection 02. Step extension 03. Additional light 04. Radiator protection 05. Crazy Iron engine protection 06. Manual chain lubricator, Chinese 07. Lubricant nozzles 08. Enlarged windshield 09. Air deflector 10. Handles heated Oxford 11. Hand protection from KTM 12. Bag for photos and videos on the tank from Kappa 13. Mudguard for the rear wheel 14. Rear case Kappa KGR46 Garda Monokey 46 l 15. Side cases Kappa 16. Charging in the dashboard with moisture protection 17 Enduro tires Mitas E-07+ 150/70-17 69T TL M/C
Manual chain lubricator, Chinese
This is a simple mechanical chain lubricator, bought on Ali for around 2000 tr. I love this red bottle and no need to crawl under the seat to fill the oil. If I take Cosmoler in the future, I will leave the bottle.
Colors
Candy Burnt Orange:
Ebony:
Atomic Silver:
The above technical characteristics were obtained by testing product samples under normal conditions. This information is published in order to provide objective information about the parameters of the vehicle. However, the information provided may not be relevant for some product samples. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. reserves the right to change product specifications without prior notice. Parts and assemblies shown in the illustrations, as well as their characteristics, may also differ depending on the region of delivery. Colors also vary by market.
Kappa side cases
This is where I missed the mark. Perhaps plastic will be appropriate for driving on the highway, but for off-road driving it is a bad option. Any tipping and the plastic will crack. I have already soldered mine, fortunately it solders well. And they open to the side, which is not very convenient. Much better for traveling are metal (inexpensive) with a lid on top or rag ones. Although the latter reduce the speed on the highway.
Estimated cost
The 2015 Kawasaki 650 Versys model was only recently presented, and it won’t be available for sale until spring , so its price has not yet been disclosed.
But some dealers still have versions produced in 2010-2014.
They don’t have many differences from the new product, so you won’t lose much by purchasing such a bike.
The price for the Kawasaki Versus 650, now an old model, starts at 415 thousand rubles.
Those who do not have the opportunity to buy a new Kawasaki Versus 650 can look at these bikes on the secondary market . There are both models from the first years of motorcycle production and later ones.
Motorcycles of the first years are sold at a price of 240-300 thousand. rub.
For motorcycles produced in 2010-2014, you will have to pay from 350 to 500 thousand rubles.
Well, the Kawasaki Versys 650 cannot be called particularly cheap , and although this bike has not been in production for long, it has won recognition because it is an excellent option for lovers of long trips on all kinds of roads.
Japanese motorcycles are famous for their comfort, unpretentiousness and thoughtfulness; the manufacturers of the Honda Shad 750 also managed to take into account these wishes of customers.
Of the entire Shadow family, the Japanese singled out this motorcycle separately. Stylistically, it’s a pure chopper, but with a slight hint of a dragster.
Enduro tires Mitas E-07+ 150/70-17 69T TL M/C (rear)
To fully unlock the potential of the device and drive on rough terrain, Dunlop stock tires must be changed immediately. There are very few normal enduro tires for this radius. I settled on Mitas E-07 - ideal price/quality ratio. It behaves great both on the track and in the dirt.
The main plans are to install a central stand and a central mount for the navigator.
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Photo gallery
One of the unsung heroes of the motorcycle industry, the Kawasaki Versus 650 is an incredibly versatile bike at an affordable price. In the 2015 model year, the model was thoroughly updated, and first of all, the appearance of the motorcycle was improved.
We invite you to look at our photo selection and admire the updated bike.
