2016 Kawasaki Versys 1000 | first round
It is no secret that we love Kawasaki Versys We gave Motorcycle of the Year in 2008 praised him again after the light restyling in 2010, and we continue to find reasons to have in our fleet it gets better 2015, review complete Kawasaki Versys has improved an already very good, very capable machine.
Specifically, it is now not only able, but looking Did we just call the old ugly As someone who has owned one, I can step in and say yes to what I have always loved her efficiency, the way he carved up the tight canyon roads, and how he could visit, but I only came to love his front headlight stacked.
Looking for a less polarizing aspect, Kawasaki designers raised some licks from the famous Ninja line, especially the Ninja 300, the flagship peer out of the 650 new, heavily wrinkled face with the recovery, the fairing becomes larger and larger, and mounts a windshield that is not only twice as large as the old, but it can be adjusted vertically by 2 to 4 inches handy buttons you can t just makes changes to the saddle, but rapid adjustments are easy when you are stopped more importantly the results of the new combination fairing and windshield have no annoying turbulence of the old; true for me at 5 feet 9 inches and true for other journalists at the launch in Catania, Sicily, scaling up to 6 feet 5 I preferred the screen in the lowest position, but not suffering from turbulence for the additional coverage provided in the win setting the highest win.
Under the new body, which includes a larger 5 fuel tank 5 gallons per half gallon and a new tail section adapted to carry Kawasaki quick release brand hard luggage, is a substantially update motorcycle to increase the power the 649cc in parallel twin engine has updated the ECU programming to work with a new, one-piece exhaust Kawasaki says that the peak power is up 5 hp, which should give him 63 or to the rear wheel, or like a V-Strom 650.
A new exhaust system and the revised ECU settings increase the power of 5 hp while claimed an additional rubber mounting suppresses engine vibrations before it to the pilot.
After putting more than 10,000 miles on a Versys 2012 650, I can say with certainty that the engine seems a little more robust, although some of this thrust is consumed by the weight of the bike enlarge LT wet weighs 476 pounds, about 20 more of an ABS base version last Versys we had on the balance weighed 457 pounds with a full tank of fuel half a gallon less ability as before, the engine is torquey and flexible, and relatively door little push upmarket in fact, the red line is reduced to 500 revolutions per minute this year, in part because the owner comments said Kawasaki few Versys riders never rung his neck If anything, the 2015 engine feels more free and moves better, although Kawasaki does not indicate internal changes 2,500 rpm to about 8,500, the little engine roars and pulls blissfully before Versys a way totalem ent credible, he won t dislocate your shoulder, ever, but you rarely feel like you're sitting around waiting for to happen.
An array of fresh edge decorates the Versys this year, and it includes two trip meters, fuel computer gauge, fuel block type and a clock that is always in sight Yes, the current owners Versys, Redline is 500 rpm lower.
This year, the little sister is smoother too Actually, it is not but you feel like it is with new rubber engine mounts Before, only the rear engine was SUPERIOR rubber, and the front attachment was rigid this support includes both ears on the frame and two on the engine with a long bolt through; technically, they could be separated media, it is now assumed before the fasteners have rubber rings, making for a total of four in the new configuration; two that you can see under the radiator shrouds and two behind the engine that you can t where the old reservoir Versys would shimmer with vibration almost all the time, the new smooth death You do not feel the same amount of tingling in the footrests or through the seat, either, and certainly not through the new handlebar mounted rubber as part of his presentation, Kawasaki Versys admitted that had moved a little away from the end of suburb bottom of the suction level and more towards sports tourism, so most, soft power is a necessity.
Showa offers a new shock preload distance function and a separate front end for Fork 15 650 Versys compliance and control are good, but the spring rate of the fork is slightly low.
chassis changes follow the idea of general updates that won t break the bank Nova suspension Showa includes a shock with hydraulic preload adjustment of the distance, a higher rate spring, and new settings depreciation to go with it Kawasaki recognized the LT standard saddlebags, and the option to run a top box, would tax the old suspension to better handle the extra weight, the rear subframe is reinforced .
Back to the suspension fork is a separate functional design of Showa, with a single spring of the left leg and a preload adjusting device; on the right side is the damping system cartridge with adjustable rebound via a screw in the upper part As before, compression damping is not adjustable Furthermore, the shock has lost its controlled relaxation.
The new Nissin calipers replace two old pot Tokicos Good riddance, we also say Hello really decent brakes to ABS is standard.
The final piece of the puzzle comes by Nissin, finally, finally Kawasaki withdrew old Tokico piston calipers and given the Versys pretty modern brakes The compact, two-piston, sliding axle calipers Nissin profit of different pad compounds that Tokicos used, plus another master cylinder, the two brakes are a huge improvement, with initial bite much better and more progressive lever feel petal-type rotors up front are 300mm but the back is a more important element, 250mm effective if conservatively programmed ABS is standard.
With all these changes behind it, the Versys 650 is still the Versys we learned to love Yes, absolutely In fact, it's better than ever, keeping a sense of balance and lightness despite being does the light that gives you confidence unfamiliar roads and Blacktop inaccurate to say that management is telepathic probably exaggerating, but not by much Pull a little on the comfort of steel bar and law 650 on heels, remain completely neutral for angles of inclination fairly prodigious RESET on the brakes no problem Keep a line in the corner at full power exits Yes, of course there are some bikes that give you a clear sense of what the wheels are doing and that the machine will make is comfortable, predictable, acceptable to flog, still happy to churn along at 80 mph on the highway.
suspension changes suggest different ways, but it's not quite so forward, the fork is sprung slowly, which is only exacerbated by the stiffer rear spring preload as I drove two laps in the first fork opportunity and wish to try another tour we had time with saddlebags mounted but not carry anything, the setting of the original rear preload was good overall suspension action is good for this price , focusing on comfort on sports aspirations.
For the last thing, let's talk price for 15, the Versys base is the ABS model, which sells for the same 7999 the bike last year, but we'll also get the LT version, which comes with color- and matched 28 key -liter saddlebags and clever metal handguards and plastic for Versys 8699 All 650s come with the base mounting hardware for the saddlebags, but they're more expensive to add than just buy the LT version starting competitors NC700X Honda begins in 7799, but that's without ABS for ABS, you also need the automatic trans TCD to 8799 BMW single cylinder G650GS short 7895 with ABS and V-Strom 650 is 8549 with ABS and 10049 in Adventure trim that includes hard luggage and lots of accessories so in addition to the Versys 650 being quietly this magnificent machine that does a lot and very precious little wrong, it is also good business Smokin.
2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS LT first output motorcyclist, 2015, Kawasaki, Versys.