Great review guys, here in the UK motorcycle review channels like MCN could learn a thing or to through your style of reviewing i.e. Thoroughly reviewing all the important parts of the bike, plus having great audio and video footage.
I am the proud owner of a 2023 Versus 650 LT ABS and I feel Kawasaki has achieved the ultimate Light Touring bike with an excellent price. I have also owned a Honda1200 Aspencade with the bells and whistles. They are two completely different bikes with some shared comfort.
Holy smokes you guys are the absolute worst! Stop berating the guy. He did a perfectly acceptable job and as someone who is looking to buy this bike, I appreciate what he had to say. I wish they disabled the comments because reading all of your negative comments is just ridiculous. I read the entire article online and wanted to see the bike in action. That's exactly what I saw. He gave the bike his blessing and I know for a fact he has oodles more experience than I do. Why don't you smack talkers buy your own Versys and then you can make your own video so everyone can crap all over it. Shame on all of you that can't say anything constructive but sit there complaining about the guy. Jeez...
+OperationFoxley19441 My friend had to make similar choice, although he didn't consider CB 500x. Between Versys and V-strom... I would advice going for Versys. Suzuki would be better off-road, but that's pretty much it. Versys is much more... well, versitile. ;] You can take a look at some of our videos, you can see yellow 2015 Versys 650 that my friend decided to buy. :)
I'm in the same boat. The CB500x is a really nice bike for urban riding. However, for longer trips I think the Versys and V Strom are much better. The Versys is a more sporty bike, whereas the V Strom is more a relaxed cruise bike. Both are not really suited for off-road other than some dirt roads. The V Strom does have the advantage of a 19" front wheel in the dirt, but since I ride 98% on roads I'd much rather have a more road oriented bike like the Versys. The V Strom is still a very cool bike though.
There is not one single decent review of this bike on youtube. With all of these "professional" youtube channels, you would think one of them would put together a decent 5min video worth watching.
I used to have the 500X It was great but the seat angled too much towards the tank. I didn’t think to do a seat tilt mod. I believe dork in the road is the video. I have the option of buying the x back but liking the Versys. Ugh!
Hmm interesting how this guy displays his professional opinions regarding the suspension right after he has proven his lack of knowledge of the topic by stating the wrong purpose of rearshock preload adjustment.
some people cant count 1-6 and back and they don't ride too often. In real life they just drive automatic cars, so for some its good to have all their concentration for where they wana go and not to stall at the traffic lights ;)
@jay pth You do realize that you can be in second at 8000 rpm and in 6th at 8000 rpm as well... I Think you meant to say the Speedometer and not the Tachometer However you DO Know when to shift by the Tachometer and even then for experienced riders will shift depending on the sound of the Engine and road conditions etc etc but obvious answer is obvious hah
Meanderthal17 sometimes you get stuck in 2nd even if u push down all the way. If you dont recognize it and if you're a noob you stall when everybody gets going...
Nephel Tea I think what he meant was (assuming you already know your speed) that anybody who's been riding for more than a month should be able to tell what gear you're in by looking at your rpm. i.e. You're going 50 mph and at 6,000 rpm you know that you're in 4th, if you rpm is at 10,000 at the same speed then you're in 3rd, etc..
I just came from another Versys 650 review, as I couldn't watch it, due to the ridculous and pointless music playing all the way through. Oh, the irony......
Poor review in my view. I want to hear what the bike goes like, its comfort and handling before the list of niggles that this review presents us with. By all mean tell us these, but surely not a couple of minutes worth up front?
blackprophesy I saw one that had just come into my local bike shop last week, in Australia we're only getting the black version, hopefully later in the year they'll start bringing in the white one.
they just went with the fashion of adventure / 'longer road trip' motorcycles - nobody wants "fun bikes" anymore but its still a more compact bke than the V-Strom and it looks more grown up imho
3 years on and the only change Kawasaki has done, apart from different paint jobs is, wait for it, a gear indicator in the LCD. From 2007, the bike has has ABS as an option, but it's STILL the same engine, the same snatchy throttle, no traction control, no ride-by-wire, too little power on the freeway or when loaded. Really Kawasaki, you guys are cheap and lazy.
they`ve all copied the triumph tiger 1050. versys is looking better. but i prefer the older version which had it`s on style. now it just looks like ll the rest. nothing outstanding.
Bought the 2016 Versys ABS Model yesterday...It's a black metal flake and satin burnt orange color. It's a really great looking bike and fun to ride.
just what I want to hear,bought exactly the same pick it up next week! Can't wait.
Congrats Nimitiz! I'm getting 60 to 64 MPG too! I think the Orange and Black is the best looking color scheme too!
BUTCH BROWN
How it rides in the hway,torquey?
Great review guys, here in the UK motorcycle review channels like MCN could learn a thing or to through your style of reviewing i.e. Thoroughly reviewing all the important parts of the bike, plus having great audio and video footage.
Still riding a 2008 Versys 650. 30,000 miles and still rollin'
Versys 2007 73000km perfecto
@@tgap8817Congrats. I have Over 40,000 miles now. Only replaced a stator, 2 hatteries, chain, sprockets, tires, and oil so far.
I am the proud owner of a 2023 Versus 650 LT ABS and I feel Kawasaki has achieved the ultimate Light Touring bike with an excellent price. I have also owned a Honda1200 Aspencade with the bells and whistles. They are two completely different bikes with some shared comfort.
Holy smokes you guys are the absolute worst! Stop berating the guy. He did a perfectly acceptable job and as someone who is looking to buy this bike, I appreciate what he had to say. I wish they disabled the comments because reading all of your negative comments is just ridiculous. I read the entire article online and wanted to see the bike in action. That's exactly what I saw. He gave the bike his blessing and I know for a fact he has oodles more experience than I do. Why don't you smack talkers buy your own Versys and then you can make your own video so everyone can crap all over it. Shame on all of you that can't say anything constructive but sit there complaining about the guy. Jeez...
Thank you Kawasaki for making the 650 look good. NOW I want one. Thank you Motorcycle.com for a great review.
had a 2010 versys now have a 2015 GREAT BIKE
I'm stuck between this bike, the Honda CB 500x and the V-Strom 650 XT................... Can anyone help?
+OperationFoxley19441 My friend had to make similar choice, although he didn't consider CB 500x.
Between Versys and V-strom... I would advice going for Versys. Suzuki would be better off-road, but that's pretty much it. Versys is much more... well, versitile. ;]
You can take a look at some of our videos, you can see yellow 2015 Versys 650 that my friend decided to buy. :)
I'm in the same boat. The CB500x is a really nice bike for urban riding. However, for longer trips I think the Versys and V Strom are much better. The Versys is a more sporty bike, whereas the V Strom is more a relaxed cruise bike. Both are not really suited for off-road other than some dirt roads. The V Strom does have the advantage of a 19" front wheel in the dirt, but since I ride 98% on roads I'd much rather have a more road oriented bike like the Versys. The V Strom is still a very cool bike though.
The music is distracting crap!
cynic150 Right!
No centre stand though on the 650, which for a sports tourer is an essential IMHO.
does anyone understand why the exhaust pipes that come out of the engine have so many curves and why not a straight out , down and under the bike?
Damn that music!
There is not one single decent review of this bike on youtube. With all of these "professional" youtube channels, you would think one of them would put together a decent 5min video worth watching.
Agreed. The one by Zack corts was even worse than this one.
Avid Enduro check out PowerDrift review!
Check out the Power Drift review from India hope this review is of help..
year by year versys lost his special face
2006-2009 best one
Totally subjective. I'm looking to buy a Versys second hand but I absolutely despise the old headlights.
can a guy with a height of 5'7" - 5'9" with a 30"-32" inseam can tippy toe it a quite comfortably?
Not comfortably, but you'd be able to tiptoe it if you're between 5'7" and 5'9". I'm 6' and I can barely be flatfooted on the ground when I sit on it.
Test ride them. The v strom is better IMO, honda 500x is good mpg but underpowered and vague, the nc750x would be better.
looks like a really cool bike
How does the GPS mount on your test bike?
How tall is the guy who rides Verys on this video?
No mention of the engine or the handling? What kind of review is this?
Can that cruise in speed of 75-80 mph for few hours?
Yes.
Velocidad máxima 200km/H
How tall are you? Thanks
Does the new Versys vibrate once you rev up the engine?
Yd Koll In my Swedish test i red it was improved by a third rubber-connection of the Engine.
Wow. Wonderful
Can you tell me name of the lights on up side down?
Sorry, my english not good.
spelling of Kawasaki is wrong in video title
I don't think a 650 is quiet bigger enough for on the road rideing i thought about buying one but i don't no if it would hold up rideing on road a lot
Yeah but how does it ride?
looks like auxiliary (led?) lights, Pity the headlights are not led a missed opportunity.
what the heck is that music in the background?
whats with the headlight that looks burntout
Have you never ridden a bike before? Dual headlights means they can put riding lights that is always on one side and highbeams of the other.
it looks way out of place.
Highbeams are usually turned off.
im debating on this or a honda cb500 x anyone ride both?
I used to have the 500X
It was great but the seat angled too much towards the tank. I didn’t think to do a seat tilt mod. I believe dork in the road is the video. I have the option of buying the x back but liking the Versys. Ugh!
dose the bike have different drive modes
no
I just bought mine 3 verys, white black and orange
I'll be trading my KLR in for the 1000 end of next year.
my dream bike
Wheelies on motorcycle.com review?
Music is annoying
Both headlights should be lit when on dipped and high beam.
Great review thanks. I want one :-)
Good review. The music though is bit, meh.
You missed the "I" on Kawasaki in the title
Hmm interesting how this guy displays his professional opinions regarding the suspension right after he has proven his lack of knowledge of the topic by stating the wrong purpose of rearshock preload adjustment.
Sweet :D Looks great :D
sounds sad but
Could you please focus a bit on the engine the next time you make a review.
What the hell? Why don't they just put a sensor down on the transmission like every other motorcycle on the planet with an indicator?
Still no gear indicator...
Erm, it does
Extra money you paying for it
God that music is so distracting ! I wanna listen to you not some generic guitar rubbish. Nice bike
if you ride long enough, you should know what gear you are in by looking at the RPM:) Gear Indicator is useless, unnecessary!
some people cant count 1-6 and back and they don't ride too often. In real life they just drive automatic cars, so for some its good to have all their concentration for where they wana go and not to stall at the traffic lights ;)
@jay pth
You do realize that you can be in second at 8000 rpm and in 6th at 8000 rpm as well... I Think you meant to say the Speedometer and not the Tachometer
However you DO Know when to shift by the Tachometer and even then for experienced riders will shift depending on the sound of the Engine and road conditions etc etc but obvious answer is obvious hah
kloppskalli At traffic lights you just have to shift down to 1st gear. No counting needed, just push down all the way.
Meanderthal17 sometimes you get stuck in 2nd even if u push down all the way. If you dont recognize it and if you're a noob you stall when everybody gets going...
Nephel Tea I think what he meant was (assuming you already know your speed) that anybody who's been riding for more than a month should be able to tell what gear you're in by looking at your rpm. i.e. You're going 50 mph and at 6,000 rpm you know that you're in 4th, if you rpm is at 10,000 at the same speed then you're in 3rd, etc..
The air quotation marks killed this video
Very nice
Nice machine...
This guys statements sound like questions? Can't listen to him anymore?
lols
I ahree. I can't abide upspeak.
*agree
Upspeakers will be first against the wall.
Why the music? Totally unnecessary and it distracts. I can hardly hear you.
Nice bike
The music is annoying really annoying
Wow!!! Muito bom.
Cant stand that music
why does everyone put stupid music in the background , i want to listen to the bike start up etc
whats with the music soooo crap n distracting otherwise good review
WTF is with you people needing to adjust your windscreen on the fly? Do you need a built in mobile toilet as well?
I just came from another Versys 650 review, as I couldn't watch it, due to the ridculous and pointless music playing all the way through. Oh, the irony......
nice bike but the dash is ugly, previous model was better.
EXCELLENT BIKE)
never heard of kawasak before.. xD
Poor review in my view. I want to hear what the bike goes like, its comfort and handling before the list of niggles that this review presents us with. By all mean tell us these, but surely not a couple of minutes worth up front?
I really like it but seat height is a bit tall for a new shorter rider.
Its sinks down when you sit on it
meow larry I'm going to go try it when it comes in. Shame it doesn't come in the green in UK however.
blackprophesy no green, that is so silly, its there trademark color and there not going to sell it
blackprophesy I saw one that had just come into my local bike shop last week, in Australia we're only getting the black version, hopefully later in the year they'll start bringing in the white one.
meow larry Same for the Kawasaki Vulcan S with no green version in UK. Both by far the best looking (at least from the photos)
I DONT LIKE IT... ALTHOUGH I WOULD LOVE TO TEST DRIVE IT
I came here to listen to the music and this guy keeps distracting me with his talking.
They tried very hard to copy the V-Strom
they just went with the fashion of adventure / 'longer road trip' motorcycles - nobody wants "fun bikes" anymore but its still a more compact bke than the V-Strom and it looks more grown up imho
Are you on crack?
3 years on and the only change Kawasaki has done, apart from different paint jobs is, wait for it, a gear indicator in the LCD. From 2007, the bike has has ABS as an option, but it's STILL the same engine, the same snatchy throttle, no traction control, no ride-by-wire, too little power on the freeway or when loaded. Really Kawasaki, you guys are cheap and lazy.
I agree distracting crap, how he gets the views he gets is beyond me.
The Kawasaki Versys 650 is an excellent bike, but for me is the previous version more "beautiful" (2010-2014).
nope. I'll stick with the vstrom
I wanted to listen to your review but I couldn't thanks to the annoying music.
Let's go to Sicily only 8000$.
Romanian roads
low 50's cold hahaha
My ears are bleeding.
The seat is crap, the rest of bike is majic. I'm thinking Corbin gun slinger
ktm1290
they`ve all copied the triumph tiger 1050. versys is looking better. but i prefer the older version which had it`s on style. now it just looks like ll the rest. nothing outstanding.
the good thing about the new styling probably is that you'll get the older ones for less money soon ...
You're way too big for that bike.
Terrible video. Would you watch a music video if someone was talking all the way through it?
Drop the awful generic rock music.