Gabe Ets-Hokin: Age: 44, Inseam: 29″, Favorite Superbowl Snack: Fried Chicken Strips
I’m looking at purchasing a brand-new motorcycle in the next year, but I don’t have a lot of money. But even if I did spend the kind of money I need to get the bike my rarefied tastes crave, my lovely wife would demand enough hand-crafted footwear to correct our trade imbalance with Italy. Apparently, there are these things called “professions” that pay enough so folks can buy $16,000 motorcycles, but I think it’s too late for me.
I could swing $8000, so what do I get for that? Not much if I want a motorcycle that’s fast, good-handling, light and comfortable enough for all-day rides. Seriously—if you want 60 horsepower, ABS, adjustable suspension, good tire choice, a fairing with windscreen and a little bit of street cred, for under $8000 you’re looking at…the Versys. Oh, and the Ninja 650, which is kind of the same thing, if maybe a little more tarred as a noob bike. There’s also the Yamaha FZ-09, but the 2014s are all gone and Yamaha will jack up the price of those when it realizes it’s about $2000 underpriced. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.
Anyway, what I’m getting at is the Versys is a stunning bargain compared to everything else sold new for under $8000. It was already a good bike when it was first introduced to the States for 2008, and it got some mild (but good) mods for 2010.
The Versys is proof of how, like a good bowl of soup, simple ingredients, well executed, can yield a memorable product. The frame is steel trellis, with an exotic-looking and burly aluminum swingarm (the Ninja 650’s is steel) connected to the frame by a direct-action lay-down monoshock adjustable for preload and rebound damping. The front end is an inverted 41mm fork (also adjustable for rebound and preload, although the rebound adjuster only affects one leg) with two-piston ABS-equipped brake calipers—new and at no extra charge for 2014—grabbing a pair of 300mm petal-style rotors. We tested a 2013 with standard brakes.
The motor is a 649cc parallel twin. There’s a reason that configuration dominated the sport and racing scenes in the ’60s—it’s a perfect blend of weight, simplicity of manufacture (which keeps the price down) and performance. The Versys’ power delivery is a nice balance of low/mid-range grunt and top-end hit, and thanks to new motor mounts and footpegs, feels smoother (especially at higher rpm) than the ’08-’09. It’s fast enough and geared right so you can slice through traffic and break the law (badly), but it’s also good on gas and very reliable—a good friend just rode hers something like 8,000 miles in six weeks (including a detour high above the Arctic Cicle) with only minor problems.
On twisty roads, the Versys gets the job done, maybe even with a bit of style. The tires are 17-inch radials, with a 160-section rear, confidence-inspiring, flickable favorite sizes. The suspension offers more travel than your average sportbike, and though it can feel cheap and overwhelmed, is a lot better than some budget rides I could name (and is tunable and rebuildable). The wheelbase is short, at 55.7 inches, and with sporty geometry, reasonable 460-pound wet weight and wide bars, makes the Versys easy to dance with. If you’re on a bumpy, twisty road and overworking the Versys’ capabilities, you need a supermoto, or more likely, a few viewings of Red Asphalt I, II or III. Or just switch to decaff, okay?
On the open road, the Versys is a capable tourer. Ours was set up with excellent factory luggage ($335 for the brackets, $630 for the 35-liter bags), which looked like Givi stuff—high quality, easy to use, durable and secure, and yes, Surj, you can get a 30-liter top case ($250 for the bracket). The seat is great for stock—truly all-day comfortable, if a bit spongy, and wind protection, at least with the $200 “Vario” adjustable windscreen on our test unit, was very acceptable, even at very high speeds. I saw about 45 mpg, which means a 200-mile (or more) fuel range from the 5-gallon tank, another thing that’s tough to find on any motorcycle these days, no matter how much you spend. And if it’s a capable tourer, it would work really well as a commuter.
It’s not a perfect bike. It’s funny-looking, slathered with bits of chintzy plastic and for God’s sake, Versys owners, please stop chopping chunks off your bikes to make them look better because it’s not working. The Versys is also pretty high off the ground and heavy for a middleweight Twin, which keeps me from recommending it as a first or even second bike. And compared to $8,000 worth of used sportbike it’s pretty slow (speaking of buying used, the Versys holds its value very nicely, at least around these parts).
But let’s get real—this is one of the cheaper full-sized motorcycles on the market, and you get a lot. Kudos to Kawasaki for keeping the price the same and adding ABS. Let’s face it, you can do everything on most any motorcycle—but you’ll have more fun doing it on a Versys.
Surj Gish: Age, 40, Inseam: 30, Favorite Superbowl Snack: Shrimp Nachos and Coffee
I have a soft spot for utilitarian bikes, motorcycles that are awesome for everyday riding, from getting groceries to rainy-day commuting. Horsepower numbers and beautiful bodywork excite me just like anyone who gets their kicks by twisting a throttle, but when I get on and go, I want a bike that is comfortable, efficient and useful. Oh, and it has to be fun, too—your classic all-rounder.
Kawasaki’s Versys is one of those bikes that always seemed like it’d be a pretty sweet solution for my equation: sensible riding position, 5 gallon fuel tank, and enough power to get into (and hopefully out of) trouble. Looks are funky—some say ugly—in a unique way that I like more than not.
I picked up the Versys on a Sunday. Vera (that’s the name I gave her) was white, which made me say, “What happened to Team Green, Kawasaki?” The Pearl Stardust White paintjob also somehow reminded me of Ducati’s white Panigale, which added a bit of sass to Vera’s strut. (For 2014, you can only get the Versys in Candy Lime Green—ed.)
On the ride back to my garage, I was pleasantly surprised—the “little” 650 motor (remember when a 650 wasn’t small?) revs quickly and feels faster than I expected it would. Check one in the “fun” column for the Versys.
I spent a few minutes looking her over the following morning. Accessory-wise, the bike had matching white sidecases and a short windshield extension bolted on. The boxes are high quality and capacious, if a bit wide. “Hey, do these sidecases make my butt look fat?”
Since I’d be splitting lanes into San Francisco, I pulled the boxes off (and wished for a sensibly nerdy topcase-only setup) before hitting the road. Working my way through typically tortuous Monday-morning traffic, I was very impressed with the bike’s agility. It certainly didn’t feel like 460 pounds of tall-ish motorcycle, but rather was surprisingly nimble and easy to maneuver at low speeds, without feeling tippy or clumsy.
I spent the day dreaming of taking Vera out for an early evening spin and eventually managed to sneak out in the late afternoon. Just in time! I headed for one of my favorite goat trails to get some non-commute, “real” riding in.
This is where my relationship with Vera got a little rocky—her suspension is fine for commuting and sedate to semi-speedy paces on smooth streets. The stock setup feels like it might be awesome if I was a skinny jean-wearing supermodel of 90 pounds, but I’m a regular sized, leaning-towards-XL dude. Pushing the Versys on some rough, tight twisties got me a whole lot of sketchy in short order. The rear brake also didn’t offer a whole lot of feel, except a sinking “uh oh” feeling I got when I’d bottom out the pedal trying to squeeze a little bit of slowdown out of it. Fortunately the front brake was pretty solid.
I dialed it back a bit to make sure I made it home without kicking Vera to the curb, and spent the rest of my nice mellow ride thinking of how I’d set up a Versys if it was my bike. Definitely need to address the rear brake—maybe steel braided lines front and back are in order. Suspension needs to be sorted, for sure. What next? Hand guards ($187 with brackets), heated grips and a topcase. Beyond that, I couldn’t come up with much else required to make Vera a kickass daily companion.
That’s the thing—as much as I could cry about the suspension not working for me, the Versys is actually a pretty good solution for my desire for a smart, fun all-rounder. It’s also cheap enough (the 2013 is $7,999 with ABS!) that I could afford to throw some money at suspension to make it just right. That’s an all-round awesome deal.
Dirck’s Counterpoint re Suspension
With all due respect to Surj, I put a lot of miles on the Versys myself and found the suspension surprisingly good. After dialing in a bit more rebound damping, it was much firmer and had much less stiction than the competition (i.e., V-Strom 650). It seemed like a good combination of plush, but firm enough to have fun in the twisties. This is a “If I could only own one motorcycle …” motorcycle, combining loads of fun and practicality. Good job Kawasaki.
The range of bikes one can buy used for 8K is gigantic, or 7K with one left over for tires and whatever. Get lost in Cycle Trader for days. Admittedly easier here in Michigan. It’s a kid in a candy store situation. If you want new,ride huge miles per year, and want a Versys then do it if only for the sake of the industry.
Let’s see, a do it all twin
http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2007-BMW-F-800-ST-110817434
I bought a new 2008 Versys. I had to modify the seat myself, lower the front suspension,I changed the front sprocket from a 15 to a 16 tooth. Also lowered the foot pegs, changed the stock tires, set the rear suspension to the lowest preload and rebound,and it was still much too harsh a ride. The engine was great, fuel capacity good, but in a sidewind had to slow down to keep under control. With a Givi windshield the buffeting was still too much. After two years and 7,500 miles I gave up. With no centerstand and none on the way, I decided it was a great bike for around town but moved on to better things.
The changes in 2010 addressed some of these things.
As far as I am concerned bikes are not like cars. A car you buy it and forget about it. Most bikes need to be dialed in for the rider and how they want to ride. Smaller size bikes more so than larger ones. If any of us want to buy a stock bike that is built for the masses and decided not to clean up the ride. Then he or she is not getting the most bang for thier buck.
“If I could only have one bike”……that’s me, and I like what you say about it. I really like 17” wheels on both ends instead of the 19 on DL650s, but,(there is always a but) the Powerlet website says 40 watts unused output.That won’t handle my heated gear and I ride as deep into cold weather as I can. My “only one bike” can’t be summer only.
Someone mentioned he/she filled Versys handlebars with clear silicon sealant to damp vibration…
Another material likely damps more than silicone. It’s called “Isodamp,” it’s blue, it’s a bit pricey, and damps those ultra-loud magnets in MRI machines. I’d use 1/4″ Isodamp sheet, length equal to the grip, width about 2mm > bar hole ID, stuffed into the bar end, and possibly held stationary with the aforementioned silicone sealant.
I also tend to believe that rider mass damps motor vibration, e.g. the lighter the rider the greater is motor vibration, and vice-versa (no pun intended).
I have an ’08 Versys I bought used in December 2008. The PO debadged it (nothing says Kawasaki or Versys). When people who don’t know ask me what it is, I ask them to guess. Since 2008, every person who has guessed (dozens at this point) has guessed either Ducati, Moto Guzzi or Aprilia. Every one. Perhaps the brilliant red paint makes people think Italian? In any event, it’s a fun bike for exploring back roads, I’ve done 800 mile days on slab to get home, it’s got a huge aftermarket for bolt-on farkles, it’s more than 200 pounds lighter than my ST, it’s not so much as sneezed in 5 years, and it’s long since paid for. Works for me.
The V is the most fun bike I’ve owned. the $ I saved buying this bike I spent on suspension and motor upgrades, and I couldn’t be happier. I can just watch the new bikes come out and say, “That’s nice” instead of “I gotta get one of those!”
I have a daily commute of 100 mile round trip and alternate between the Versys and a KLR 650. The Versys is a bit on the ugly side and as a KLR owner I know something about ugly but other than that it is a great all around bike. I find the buzzing between 5-6 to be a minor issue but my reference point is the KLR. If they got ride of the headlight for a conventional set up it would go from ugly to kind of good looking.
A local Yamaha shop here in southern IL has a pair of FZ09s on the floor. I think a price below MSRP would take them given the hard winter here this year…I doubt they’ve moved much metal at all. By the way: Shame on Yamaha for building a bike with such cut-rate suspension.
Re: “Shame on Yamaha for building a bike with such cut-rate suspension.”
It’s an awesome bike with a great engine, a stylish frame and some electronics for under $8k. Something had to give. Is there a bike that represents as good a value with decently sophisticated suspension anywhere in the market?
This supports my point about the naysayers who are panning the VFR for not having USD forks. That configuration is no guarantee of suspension quality.
Yes, shame on Yamaha for making an absolute bargain of a bike.
The point is Jeremy it’s not such a bargain if you have to spend 20 % of the purchase price to make it rideable.
How stunning would the bike be with spot on fueling, good suspension and brakes and ABS from the factory for say $9999. Still thousands less than the competition. Then I might consider it motorcycle of the decade. As it is it’s just an excellent motor and frame unsupported by the rest of the motorcycle with quality control problems and/ or inadequate testing before being released to an unsuspecting public.
Poor fueling alone can kill a bikes rep…look at MV, beautiful bike, all the right suspension parts, great motor. Poor fueling and electronics, and they always get slammed when in comparison tests.
Mickey, in all due respect, the assertion that the FZ-09 requires these upgrades to be “rideable” is utter nonsense. The FZ requires those upgrades to be competitive with bikes that cost 60% more, not to be rideable. I know two people here that have recently bought one, and I have actually ridden one of the bikes for about 90 miles. I didn’t push the limits as it wasn’t mine, but the suspension and fueling are going to be just fine for the vast majority of riders.
Neither owner has any intention of throwing money at the suspension or fueling and are happy with the bikes, and I suspect most owners fall into that category. I agree a factory “R” version would do well, but frankly, the $2K would still buy you better suspension and fueling in the aftermarket than from Yamaha.
Thanks Jeremy,I know no one that has one and have not had the chance to ride one myself here in snow packed Ohio, and therefore must rely on magazine reports like from Motorcyclists and Cycle World, both who have seemed to have issues with the bike. when spring hits here, my local dealer will allow me a test ride and I will be able to judge for myself.
I remember Yamahas issue with fueling on the 06 FZ-1 which was nearly un-rideable on a twisty road and it took Yamaha about 3 years to get that sorted out.
Great points. History has shown that high value bikes that go on to be darlings in the aftermarket outsell perfect (& top of the price scale) bikes by a factor of 10. Would anybody else like to see another sporting motorcycle become as popular as the Honda CBR 600 f2 & f3 were?
The four cylinder is too wide. The twin is narrow but requires a counterbalancer. A triple is narrow and does not require a balancer device. V engines are going to go away in a few years due to emissions controls. Variable cam timing is needed to get the efficiency. This means duplication of a complicated cam drive. Already automobiles are going to four cylinder engines from v 6. Of course you know who continues to throw money at the idiotic v 4.
Re: “Variable cam timing is needed to get the efficiency. ”
Only if the consumer base continues to clamor for horsepower figures that are far higher than necessary.
What does a V configuration have to do with emissions?
nothing
I know, but I can’t wait to here this explanation.
HEAR this explanation. Hate it when I do that.
Does Harley have a substitute engine waiting in the wings?
Lol sounds like they’d better hope so or a one hundred and something year run will be over..same for Victory, Indian, Ducati…
What’s with all the ugly comments? My Versys is a thing of beauty. Anyway beauty is subjective and there for irrelevant to a bike test. The suspension is a bit budget but put a set of good tyres on the Versys and it will equal most sport bikes in the mountains. The front brakes are quite good (less said about the rear the better) and it is an all round fun bike.
After my 7000 km trip in May I’ll know how good a touring bike it is.
I thought for a budget bike the suspension was above average, and I thought the brakes were mediocre, even after I added braided lines. Funny how people can perceive things so differently. It probably goes back to what kind of attributes our previous bikes had, and how we used those as reference points in relation to the Versys.
i sat on one of these bikes once, the seat sloped forward crushing my meat and two veg. i then bought a 03 vstrom, ugly as sin but the best all around bike i’ve ever owned. and it doesn’t squash the man sausage either…
The few I’ve seen and sat on appeared to have pretty flat seats……
i think the one i sat on was an 09…meh
I never noticed too much slope with the seat, but the factory seat was terribly uncomfortable after about 50 or 100 miles. I had to replace that.
“Versys is a stunning bargain compared to everything else sold new for under $8000”.
“Bargain” maybe but not “stunning”…For example a BMW F650gs MSRP for 7,850.00 and for 1,900.00 more you can get a F700gs. More, you can even get a one or two years old F800gs for less than 8,000.00.
Well, the not-all-too-competitive, sub-45HP (as a street bike, anyway) 1-cylinder “G”650GS starts at the price you specify. The Versys is a stunning bargain compared to that bike.
Oh, and for “only” $1950 (almost 25% more!) you can get the F700GS twin that can actually kinda compete with the Versys.
And then comparing used bikes? Please. Why do people do this? So can we also compare a new-old-stock 2012 or 2013 Versys to those, as well, then? $6000 (or less!) will ride you a brand new V right out of the dealership.
A friend of mine just picked up an “new old stock” Versys at a ri-fricking-diculous price savings!!! So, I agree Selecter, his brand new price would beat out most used bike pricing on anything upscale and 3 or 4 years old. The Versys is not everything, but it’s a lot!!! And a great value. VALUE VALUE VALUE.
I stand by my words–stunning, though I didn’t consider the G650GS. But it’s still no contest.And try finding a base-model BMW in any dealer.
A G650GS isn’t in the same ball park as the Versys. At all. The F700GS is a good comparison, but it is a lot more expensive percentage-wise.
So does this mean the FZ-07 is NOT coming to the states then?
That wuld be sad as yesterdays MCN was raving about the MT0& ofter the launch day. I think its foing to be wildly popular here.
Motorcycles come and go – but a Vanson Leather is forever!
This Kwacker is just too odd of a duck…even more odd looking than the new Suzuk DL1000
I had a Versys for several years. It took me on a 4,500 mile trip, and a couple of 3,000 mile plus trips, and a number of shorter trips, and was a great travel bike. I now have a BMW K 1600 GTL and, frankly, the Versys had a more comfortable riding position with significantly more leg room. Obviously, the BMW is more capable in other ways, but I really enjoyed my time with the Versys, and it was a great all around bike. It even wheelies well, if you’re into that sort of thing. Honestly, I wish I still had it, as a second bike, for riding around town and out in the limited twisties we have in this part of the country.
If you’re on a budget, and looking for a great all around bike, this one is tough to beat. The Wee-Strom is really the only other bike to compare to it. I’ve ridden both. Personally, I like the Versys better for street riding, but it isn’t quite as well suited to back roads and trails as the Suzuki. Still, I rode the Versys on some pretty nasty, rutted, rocky and dusty roads, especially around Yellowstone, and it was perfectly capable of that kind of riding. It has a great riding position allowing you to stand up on the pegs in those situations. The suspension is more firm than the Suzuki, making it more suited to the twisties.
Good choice, Gabe!
For versatility, practicality, and Fun, you still can’t beat a Versys. No doubt the FZ9 moves the game forward in terms of power and weight for the money, but practicality got left off the list. It’s a Grom on steroids. But maybe not in terms of popularity- my local dealer has all 3 colors in stock.
My dealer had 5 FZ9s on the floor. Finally sold his first one this week.
I think the worst part on this bike is the dumb looking headlight assy. and the side plastic to it. I really don’t like that, the rest is good though.
I agree. They could have sold many more with a little front end restyling.
Punch it out to 750cc, add a balance shaft that works, trim about 30 lbs, fix the brakes and suspension and it might compete with the FZ-09. Or, just settle for a declining share of the market. I tried one before I bought a used F800-GS. Sure it cost more but I almost got everything I wanted. The old saw, “build a better mouse trap”.
Can we believe the FZ-09 is “real” before it’s been on the market for 3 years at that price? It’s interesting that no other make has rolled out a competitor at that price point.
Besides, this bike doesn’t compare directly to the FZ-09, which is a much less versatile sport bike. How much more $$ would you pay for the things you mentioned on the Versys?
Like ABS?
…or import the Versys 1000 to the USA. Much better ergos for tall folks, 1000cc I-4, similar bodywork to the 650.
A worthy competitor to the DL650. If you want pretty buy an old W650.
I have been riding the Versys for the past three years.
Hand numbing vibration is indeed an issue especially between 5000-6000 rpm.
To curtail it, I had injected the handle bar tube with silicone, from end to end. Let it cure for two days before installing it back to bike. The injected bar weigh 1.2kg, almost double its initial weight.
It does still vibrates, but the numbing vibe is significantly reduced, so much so, on short rides, it’s almost gone.
I bought a used 2008 with a lowering kit, fender extender, and Givi rack and windshield. I added steel braided lines, a power outlet, heated grips, mirror extenders, Seat Concepts seat, and a rear hugger. The Versys is a great, fun bike that does everything.
I have a buddy that has had all kinds of bikes from FZ-1s to FJR to Suzuki Vstom 1000 to Harley fatboys and he keeps coming back to the Versys
(I think he is on his 3rd one) as the best all around bike he has ever owned. He likes the green ones lol. It is a lot of bike for the money.
You might want to give a new 2012 V Strom 1000 a thought or two. My local dealer offered me one brand new with zero miles and full warranty for $7499. About the same weight, 30 more HP from a great sounding engine,tons of after market,reliablity,etc, and while no show queen, to me is better looking than this or the 2014 ‘Strom.
On paper, this bike shoul be great. But the engine give a lot of vibrations. I test ride a 2010 model and a 2013 ER6N.Same thing vibration wise for both. Performance wise, it’s a lot of fun. But with this kind of shaking, the twin 650 is down on my list.
sorry,but the FZ-09 makes the versys look like a bad deal all around.Still some available or just buy one used.The FZ is the bike of the decade.
Bike of the decade? Lots of reports of fueling issues and really budget suspension. Even over on the FZ09 forum the owners admit to these probs and that the suspension is from 1989.
Ari Henning in Motorcyclist mag this month said ” The FZ’s engine begs to be flogged, but with abrupt throttle response and the squishy suspension, it’s frightening to try to ride the bike quickly”
All of the issues with the FZ09 can be fixed for about $3-400.
I’ve ridden all 3 of the Kawasaki 650 twins. They are good solid bikes. Nothing really wrong with them and all of them way down on performance and up on weight compared to the FZ09.
I have to agree. The bones of the FZ-09 are good, just upgrade the front suspension and a Power Commander and brakes. I’d figure on close to a grand.
Maybe they’ll make an FZ-09R with those option and great brakes…a’la the Triumph…
Or the Much Ballyhoo’d (by me) FJR9 with some decent fairings and factory bags (one key solution). That would get me down there with checkbook in hand.
Im guessing Henning will have close to twice that much fixing his. First up he says is trying to get someone to reflash the ECU, then front springs, oil, revalve or new fork internals and then he will need to upgrade the rear suspension. Im betting closer to 2 grand before he’s done. We shall see. Cycle world already spent $849 for some Bazazz thingy trying to fix the fueling on theirs.
Blackcayman, as a current FJR1300 owner…..+1 on the FJR9.
Bob L – you are a Gentleman & very wise…
to agree with me.
Cheers
$100 for a Stoltec reflash of ECU to cure fueling issues, $650-$975 for a Penske shock, a few hundred for Racetech front springs and revalve and you’re done. Bike of the decade doesn’t sound too outlandish to me…
So Yoyodine, you are saying $1500 on the outside ..or approx 20% of the cost of the mew bike ( don’t forget to fix the front brakes while you are at it) to fix the factory problems for the bike of the decade?
I suppose ZRX4ME and Yoyodine actually bought FZ-09s?
Even with the extra money in it, I still think the 9 is one hell of a deal. There are not ANY bikes under the 10K price tag that I wouldn’t put money into the suspension (save for the Street Triple R). And there are very few bikes at any price that wouldn’t get some attention paid to the fuel injection.
That isn’t to take anything away from the Versys, which in complete disagreement with the original post I have to say is a great deal for what it is just as the FZ is a great deal for what it is.
Gabe,
You’re buying a NEW bike? Are you insane? Kidding…Congratulations! New does smell great, don’t it?
Wow, white looks great on the Versys. Seems like a super ride, affordable, and great value. Pretty close to perfect.
Wonder if a 19″ or 21″ front wheel/tire would be an improvement. (In place of the 17″, not in addition to it…in case that wasn’t obvious.)
If I get an FZ-09, there will be no used ones around, I don’t think.
I’ve gotten as much enjoyment our of my Versys as any other motorcycle I’ve ever owned. I’ve taken multiple 2000+ mile trips on it, and in spite of the negative issues raised about its handling, I’ve never had a problem in that area. It’s certainly quick enough, and the mid range, for a bike of its size, makes it easy to pass other vehicles on the highway, without having to downshift. I also like the idea that I don’t have to spend much time cleaning and polishing it after a long ride. Let’s face it, a bike this ugly doesn’t need that kind of attention; just hose it down, and dry it off. Which makes it very beautiful to me indeed. Lastly, it doesn’t take much self control to get the gas mileage up over 50 mpg.
A damn good all around bike at a very reasonable price.