My 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650 was probably the greatest utilitarian two-wheelers I’ve owned, however since I’m all the time placing miles on check bikes, I hardly rode it. When I noticed I’d added solely 500 miles to the odometer in 5 years, a deep sense of disgrace prompted me to promote it. After itemizing it on Facebook Marketplace, it was gone in a flash. Due to the excessive costs for used bikes proper now, I earned a small income – a couple of greenbacks for each mile I placed on it.
Flash ahead just a few months and I’m wending my method via the twisty inside of San Diego County aboard a 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650. It’s the $ 9,999 LT model with exhausting saddlebags and handguards, which solely is available in Metallic Spark Black / Metallic Flat Spark Black this year. The base mannequin is obtainable in the identical coloration for $ 8,899, or in Candy Lime Green / Metallic Flat Spark Black / Metallic Spark Black for $ 9,099.
Check out Rider‘s 2022 Motorcycle Buyers Guide
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Not surprisingly, the 2022 improve is a significantly better bike than my just-sold 2009 mannequin, however they nonetheless have loads in widespread regardless of 13 years of separation. The seating place, efficiency, and general essence of the bike stay just about unchanged, however just a few key points go a great distance towards enhancing the bike’s desirability.
New for ’22 is a full-color 4.3-inch TFT show that may be a main enchancment over the earlier instrument panel, and light-years past the one on my ’09 mannequin. The format of data is trendy and clear, mixing every part – the gear place indicator, gasoline gauge, tach, speedo, clock, tripmeter, and so forth. – right into a centrally situated format. A rider can select between a black or white background, and the display brightness robotically adjusts to ambient gentle ranges.
Gear Up:
Helmet: Sena Impulse
Jacket: Spidi H2Out
Gloves: Spidi TX-2
Pants: Rev’It Field
Boots: Alpinestars SMX-1 R
Simultaneously miserable two analog buttons on the show permits a Bluetooth connection to be established between the Versys and Kawasaki’s Rideology smartphone app. The app contains a helpful and helpful upkeep log, common bike data, and the flexibility to document rides in addition to share them with others.
During the trip, when the bike and app are speaking to 1 one other, the TFT show will notify the rider when a brand new name or e-mail has been obtained. The part of my trip recorded with the Rideology app confirmed that I traveled 79 miles for 1.34 hours from Orange to San Diego counties at a median pace of 54 mph. The map, nevertheless, displayed a straight line from level A to level B, not a correct GPS mapping of the twists and turns.
My previous Versys’ windscreen was adjustable provided that I have been prepared to take away the 4 bolts essential to place it in another way, which not often, if ever, occurred. The inefficiency of the method meant a rider discovered a likable place for the windscreen and that’s the place it stayed. The new Versys options an simply adjustable windscreen that may be raised and lowered to 4 completely different settings over a 3-inch vary. It’s a two-handed affair with one hand miserable the lock button whereas the opposite strikes the windscreen, but it’s surely definitely worth the small effort. The higher place deflects wind fairly properly whereas the low place places the extra rider within the wind stream.
The new windscreen is the cherry atop a redesigned higher fairing that shares a household resemblance with its liter-bike counterpart, the Versys 1000. The sides of the brand new cowling are ducted to maneuver air across the rider whereas the twin headlights are actually shiny, low-wattage LEDs. The rear of the Versys matches the entrance with aggressively pointy type and a brand new LED taillight.
Anti-lock brakes now come commonplace on all Versys 650 fashions, as does traction management. The 649cc liquid-cooled parallel-Twin powering the Versys isn’t a tire shredder – once we dyno examined a 2020 Versys 650, it despatched 63 hp and 43 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheel – however it will probably definitely break traction given sufficient throttle when leaned over. TC has two settings, with the primary being much less intrusive and the second offering an extra conservative security web that ought to show helpful to newer riders or skilled ones caught in low-traction circumstances. If desired, traction management may be switched off totally by way of a change situated on the left switchpod.
Kickstand up and touring south on Interstate 5 towards San Diego, the Versys felt like a cushty and acquainted previous shoe. Exiting the slab and venturing into the twisties, it quickly turns into obvious the Showa suspension’s inventory settings have been a tad tender for my style. Once stopped, just a few stiffening clicks of preload on prime of the left fork leg, just a few clicks of tensioning rebound on prime of the proper fork leg, and some stiffening twists of the distant preload adjuster on the rear shock dialed issues in for tackling the street forward.
The 28-liter saddlebags are massive enough to accommodate a full-face helmet, although with out a lot of room to spare. There can be a helmet lock if you should secure your lid when the saddlebags are stuffed with different incidentals. The ignition key unlocks the saddlebags and allows them to be faraway from the bike. For these requiring extra storage, Kawasaki presents an identical 47-liter prime case together with different equipment, reminiscent of heated grips and a GPS mount.
The bike’s peppy midrange thrusts its 503-lb claimed curb weight ahead into enthusiastically manageable vogue. Dual 2-piston calipers grip 300mm petal discs to gradual the celebration down with equal effectivity. When leaned over, the Versys holds its line successfully and transitions from side to side confidently.
The 5.5-gallon gasoline tank mixed with environment friendly gasoline consumption permits for prolonged mileage between gasoline stops. (During our 2020 check, we averaged 46 mpg for 253 miles of vary.) That’s nice information for commuters or anybody wanting to include longer journeys into their Versys possession. Complementing the Versys’ gasoline vary is an ergonomically impartial using place that is without a doubt one of the issues I liked most about my previous Versys in addition to the brand new one.
Like my previous Versys, the brand new model is a contemporary, strong, middleweight jack-of-all-trades that’s as steadfast as a motorbike may be. It responds dutifully to what’s requested of it, whether or not that be cruising across the metropolis, commuting to work, or taking off on lengthy weekends or longer excursions. During my Versys possession by no means as soon as did it fail to start out, or run badly as soon as began, regardless of that it spent most of its time languishing in my storage.
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My previous Versys didn’t have ABS, traction management, a remote preload adjusting shock, TFT show, a slip / help clutch, LED lights, or an simply adjustable windscreen, and it didn’t look practically pretty much as good because the ‘ 22 Versys. In 2009, the MSRP of a base model Versys was $ 7,099, which is simply over $ 9,700 in as we speak’s {dollars}. The new bike presents far more for much less cash, and the touring-ready LT is an incredible cut price.
2022 Kawasaki Versys 650
Base Price: $ 8,899
Price as Tested: $ 9,999 (LT model)
Website: Kawasaki.com
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w / 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 649cc
Bore x Stroke: 83 x 60mm
Horsepower: 63 hp @ 8,700 rpm (rear-wheel dyno, 2020 mannequin)
Torque: 43 lb-ft @ 7,300 rpm (rear-wheel dyno, 2020 mannequin)
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip / help moist clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Wheelbase: 55.7 in.
Rake / Trail: 25 levels / 4.3 in.
Seat Height: 33.3 in.
Wet Weight: 503 lb (as examined)
Fuel Capacity: 5.5 gals.
Fuel Consumption: 46 mpg
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