2019 Kawasaki Versys 650 | Test Ride and Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 вер 2023
- Continuing our look at midsize bikes that might be good for older riders as well as new riders, I take a test ride and then review of The 2019 Kawasaki Versys 650.
VISIT MY WEBSITE AT: www.livingofftheslab.com
Learn about my online courses, eBooks and self-guided tours. Sign up for my email list and get notified about new videos, courses and tours plans. To say thanks, you will get a free digital download of "5 Tips for Creating an Epic Road Trip."
LIVING OFF THE SLAB MEMBERSHIPS:
Want to hang out with other riders who love to travel? Want to learn and share your experiences? Then consider becoming a Living Off the Slab Member. We no have four memberships starting at just $2 per month.
Not only will you help support the channel, but each membership level offers additional benefits such as access to ad free videos, Living Off the Slab stickers, additional content, tools to help you create the tour of your dreams, as well as access to on the road updates and behind the scenes footage.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MEMBERSHIPS AT:
www.livingofftheslab.com
MUSIC CURTOSEY OF:
www.epidemicsound.com/
Thank you for watching and ride safe! --Craig Ripley
Hello! I've had a Versys 650 since 2011 with almost 140,000 km on it. Apart from wearing parts such as bearings or alternator (98,000 km) and fork seals (118,000), no problems with it. The 2011 may not be the prettiest due to the front headlight, but it is an incredibly reliable and extremely handy motorcycle. Since last year I have a new Moto Guzzi V85TT, which is a fantastic touring motorcycle. Nevertheless, I'm always happy to go on day trips with my old Versys. Kind regards from Bavaria 😉😉
Hey Craig. Got in late last night from a 5 day ride missing the monthly meeting. I owned a Second Gen Versys 2012 650 before moving to a 2013 Versys 1000. I do like the additional weight of the 1000 for stability, not as vibey as the 650 (Parallel twin vs. an Inline 4) and of course the extra power. Was thinking of moving to a BMW 1200 RT in 2019 until Kawasaki released the Special Edition Versys 1000 that included features like semi active electronic showa suspension, cruise control, quick shifter etc. Lacks shaft drive that I also wanted but I live quite well with a sealed chain. All three of the Versys I've owned have been 100% bullet proof, all day comfortable bikes and the 1000 is as comfortable as the 1200 RT in my opinion. I've accessorized with both OEM and after market accessories tailoring the bike to my needs for touring.
PS. Your new Insta 360 camera is adding another layer to your videos. Well done. I knew you were going to get one as commented earlier this year lol.
As someone that owns both a 2014 Gen2 Versey and a 2019 V Strom 1000xt, I would say to try to get a ride on a V Strom 650. Power will be very similar to the Versey 650, but the longer wheelbase and 19" inch front wheel make for a real nice ride.
The V Strom is also surprisingly good on dirt and gravel roads.
Safe travels and Happy Adventures!
Thank you for another great review
I have only just discovered your channel.and I love your approach!
You straight forward manner and real ride experience reviews are what we need.
Thanks again.
I’m 6’ 1’’ and 230 lbs. 650 may be too small. I ride a road king and also a versys 1000. The Kawasaki is my all weather bike. Rode it this morning in the pouring rain from Queens to Brooklyn for my daily commute. Great all weather bike. No complaints. Thinking of trading it in for a Pan American. I don’t know. We will see. Great videos Craig. Always enjoy them. Ride safe and often
Nice review. I bought a 2019 Versys 650 LT new in Feb 2020 and have ~19,000 miles on it after 3 seasons. I have the same OEM LED foglights and engine guard as the one in your video, both of which are upgrade add-ons. I consider the foglights a key feature for being seen by others, though they really help light up the road at night. The stock windscreen in your video is adjustable. There are two large finger screws on the front and it slides up and down on a track. However, the design means that adjustment really should be done when the bike is stopped and is easier standing in front of it. There are pros and cons with the windscreen size. I added a Puig Touring Windscreen to mine but found I got top of the helmet buffeting at ~60 mph + that I couldn't dial out with the height adjustment. Adding a small Puig Clip-on Windscreen Visor fixed the buffeting completely. The larger screen is great in colder seasons and for long highway riding and it blocks most bugs. That said, it also blocks airflow in the hot summer months so I ended up buying a second set of OEM mount hardware and flip back to the OEM screen over the summer. The large screen is also tough if one rides in the rain at night as the beaded water drops reflect car headlights making it really hard to see the road. That, however, would be an issue with any large windscreen. Everything's a trade-off. The rear shock adjustment knob is great to have if one rides with a passenger regularly, as I do. Both panniers hold a full-face helmet. There are good rear tie-down points for ROC Straps without having to install a topcase mount if one wants to strap down a 60L drybag for trips / camping. The gas mileage is ~50mpg so the 5.5 gallon fuel tank gives you a very comfortable 200+ mile range with a generous reserve. Overall, the Versys is exactly what it advertises to be - "a versatile machine". It targets an affordable price point, while providing a lot of features on a balanced comfortable and practical machine.
I have a 15 650 versys and it's great... I don't offroad but on road its a great reliable bike
A 5.5 gallon tank, that also runs on regular. Which depending on your riding style. You can stretch close to 300 miles per tank! The bike has pep, just not down low. But you will quickly find the sweet spot.
Not really 300 miles.. in town (I commute to work every day on the bike) I average 37.5 mpg. On hwy about 45 mpg.
@@LoiczzrDo you ride fairly aggressively? 45 seems low for a 650. My K1200LT gets better than that if I stay below 70 MPH. I just came back from a 900 mile round trip from PA to Richmond, VA and back, mostly on two lane roads, and I averaged nearly 50 MPG riding two-up with fully loaded bags and top case.
@@Loiczzr i respect that’s your experience. But I logged over 7k miles on my V650 in my year of ownership. An I actually never ran it to empty. But I have received 270 miles before i filled it up. Which was just over 5 gallons. So experiences may vary. This was in Arizona, but most of my riding took me up to the high country and back.
@LTVoyager yes I do, when I had my zzr 1200 I averaged 30 to 32 mpg...lol
I'm planing a saddle sore rode, I'm sure it will be a lot better riding hwy at constant 75 mph.
@@stylesbitchly9931 mileage will vary. I do ride aggressively a little bit...😆
Great review. Love the middle weight segment.
I think I prefer the Bathroom 650, especially the XT with off-road "light" capability
Bought my 2020 used with very very low miles 2 years ago. Flashed the ecu to make it more smooth, makes.a big difference. Added center stand (i do all my maintenace including changing my tires) a Puig clip on on top of the shield work great (and when you sell the bike you take it with you for the next one) planning an saddle sore ride for the first week of october, seat is good but pushing you forward a bit, ill be using my sheepskin for the iron butt.
Overall its a good bike
Deer hide is also a good seat cover, it doesn't heat up in the sun. That seat cover on an old XS Eleven started many conversations with others.
I rented a 2012 Versys about 6 or 7 years ago and really liked it. We rode about 1600km in 4 days and was totally comfortable. I hate chain maintenance but other than it it was a great little bike and got really good mileage too.
I hate chain maintenance also and had owned only shaft drive bikes from 1984 to 2017 when I added a KLR650 to my stable. My last chain drive bike was before the advent of o-ring chains. With my KLR, I have yet to oil the chain. I clean it occasionally, mainly after riding in the rain, with WD40, but I don’t lube it at all. I let the WD40 drive and then just ride it. This keeps the rear of the bike clean and the dry chain doesn’t pick up dust and dirt. There is one KLR owner who stopped lubing his KLR chain as an experiment and found his chain lasted much longer when run dry as compared to lube. He got something like 38,000 miles on his chain using WD40 as a cleaner with no lube added. I have only a little over 4,000 miles on my KLR, but I have yet to make my first chain adjustment so I am thinking there may be some merit to running the chain dry rather than lubing it so that it can attract dirt and form a “grinding compound” on the chain. And it certainly makes chain maintenance a breeze as that virtually is none.
@LTVoyager but do you have to adjust the rear wheel for 'stretch'?
@@mikemills5144 No, that is why I wrote “I have yet to make my first chain adjustment.”
Chain maintenance haters of the world unite! Good to know I'm not alone with that sentiment.
@@mattdonna9677 Sealed chains greatly reduce the level of hate required. 😂
Nice bike, quite an upgrade for those of us old enough to remember a dinosaur called the Kawasaki KZ 650..
KZ was nice tho.
@@kalnwi2023For its period in time, yes it was.
I just found a 2014 with 4950 miles at a Harley Dealer for $4495 😊❤😊
The windshield IS adjustable on the 2015 Versys.
Can't you see the 2 big knobs??
Craig, it is a shame that this motorcycle gets such a bad rap from a lot of Vlogger's. People that have them love them and they are definitely reliable and economical. One day a young man passed me while I was driving my semi through Sioux City, IA on I-29. He seemed so happy and exited the highway so effortlessly. I really envied him. To me it seems a good, road biased ADV. I would love to test ride one.
I guess it is not "exciting" and of course it is road biased motorcycle. Which is of course how most people ride, but not the fad. Love your description of the rider!
I was toying with a Versys 1000 LT as a replacement for my K1200LT, but I suspect it is too small and I haven’t been able to secure a test ride as you apparently have to find a Kawasaki sponsored test ride event in order to find one.
Lack of cruise is a deal breaker for me. I suspect this is true for most older riders who ride more than 100 miles at a time. I just don’t understand this omission given that even the cheapest cars today come with cruise standard.
Thanks very much for the mid-size reviews Craig. I used to tour for 3 - 5 weeks per year on my BMW R1200RT, but health and money issues have reduced that dramatically. I have Loved the bikes features and handling on the road, but now it's upkeep is something hard to justify with much less riding being done, plus it hurts my arthritic hips now. It may be downsize time. 🏍
Who's going to buy a 2019 mc with 5,500 hundred miles on it ps the mc sold brand new for 7500.00 2019 in mi . Bad deal on a used 650 v lol
Supply and demand. The KBB value for a 2019 without all the add ons is $7365.
@@JohnBrown-bu8ji I just have to shake my old head when I read a skillfully crafted comment such as yours Mr. Brown. Good luck with your future endeavors, on two wheels and otherwise.
Screen is adjustable.
When Americans and Canadians use the term "A Technical Road", are you saying it take a certain level of skill to ride that road or the nature of the road requires a great deal of technical riding proficiency to get from point A to B? I have heard a guy out bush walking in Colorado say the the terrain is technical with out a qualifier so I had guess at what he meant. I just presumed the terrain was demanding a level of fitness or required a certain level of technical proficiency to accomplish what he set out to do, climbing rocks etc.
You haven it right. It is a synonym for tight, narrow, curvy, requires a degree of technical skill. In this case the road is very narrow with blind corners. You need to watch for cars coming the other way.
Is that the same single cylinder engine as in the KLR 650?
An inline twin.
Nissin not Nissan
I bought one and traded it for a BMW one month later, most boring bike I've ever rode.