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Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 2:55 pm
by willian
My own two year old MK3 Versys 650 was in for its service yesterday and took the Versys 1000 out on an extended test run.

The MK3 650 is my first big bike and I've done 8700 miles in my two years since passing my test.

The Versys 1000 has an Impressive engine, up to and just over 100mph without any effort.
Easy to lift the front wheel without trying oops!
I just found it handling wise to be a bit dull, perhaps the smaller Versys spoils me in how it likes to turn into corners.
I was surprised how the 1000 ran out of legs at 110 in 3rd, 125 in 4th and 135 mph in 5th, just the top end gearing for touring I guess. Ran out of space for 6th gear (all done on a private road).

The big Versys for me is a very nice bike, but I'm not sure it's worth the money they ask for a new one +/- £10,500
It's certainly not jumping out at me to buy, it is perfectly sized, slightly bigger than the 650 but the increased weight detracts from its handling in a big way, this reflects in the feedback from other Versys owners that have tried the 1000.

The slight finish issues I have seen on my 2 year old 650 such as the black finish fading / flaking on the fork end and radiator surround and other black finish areas would make me wary of shelling out even more money on another similar bike from the same manufacturer :roll

I must have done about +/- 150 miles in my day with it, dual carriageway, in town in traffic, filtering, back roads, single track farm tracks, were all done with no issue.


In summary - the 650 is so much more agile, better dashboard (IMO)
If only the 1st and 2nd gear were smoother and it had a better sounding exhaust.
I love getting back on it and all the other bikes I've tried, I've enjoyed getting back on the Versys 650 .

I guess a 800 Triumph triple in the 650 chassis might be the ideal bike for me :log

I want to try the H0nda Africa Twin and 1000 V-Strom to see what the 1000 twin engine is like. :confused

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:40 pm
by al
Having owned a 650 Versys and a 650 V-Strom back to back I much prefer the V-Strom v-twin to the Versys parallel twin. Much smoother low down and easier to pull away without worrying about it stalling. Then new V-Strom has the low RPM assist to help with that (although I've not tried the latest one yet).

The finish on the V-Strom has been better than the Versys but you have to remember that they are "budget" bikes.

As you found with the Versys, reports say that that between the new V-Strom 650 and 1000, the smaller bike is more nimble. Unless you really need the extra torque of the bigger machine or really have to have the cornering ABS (standard on the V-Strom 1000) then I would still go for the smaller bike but that's just me.

I personally like to get on a bike and take it for a ride rather than it taking me for a ride if that makes any sense. Why pay for performance you're never going to use (unless you enjoy playing top trumps with your mates). I rarely go over 80mph so I personally don't need a bike that can do over twice the national speed limit. I like the fact that bikes that exist but they are not for me.

That's why I have never really got on with higher performace bikes. I have to be honest in the fact that I can't ride them anywhere near the point where they start to make sense and am not interested in doing so anyway.

Just my own opinion.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:41 pm
by al
P.S. How do you do "-150 miles"?? :log

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 6:25 pm
by Dave
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:41 pm P.S. How do you do "-150 miles"?? :log
Sounds like it has a reverse rear :biggrin2

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:55 am
by willian
:roll

The pendants of the world unite......

:log

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:58 am
by willian
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:40 pm ........
I personally like to get on a bike and take it for a ride rather than it taking me for a ride if that makes any sense. Why pay for performance you're never going to use (unless you enjoy playing top trumps with your mates). I rarely go over 80mph so I personally don't need a bike that can do over twice the national speed limit. I like the fact that bikes that exist but they are not for me.

That's why I have never really got on with higher performace bikes. I have to be honest in the fact that I can't ride them anywhere near the point where they start to make sense and am not interested in doing so anyway.

..............
That's pretty much how I've seen it to date.

I have test rides of the Tiger Sport and Africa Twin on Saturday morning, will see how they stack up.

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:40 am
by al
willian wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:58 am That's pretty much how I've seen it to date.

I have test rides of the Tiger Sport and Africa Twin on Saturday morning, will see how they stack up.
Those are very different bikes.

The equivilent to the Tiger Sport would be the Yamaha Tracer 900.

The Tiger 800 would be the one to compare with the Africa Twin.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:44 am
by willian
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:40 am
willian wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2017 10:58 am That's pretty much how I've seen it to date.

I have test rides of the Tiger Sport and Africa Twin on Saturday morning, will see how they stack up.
Those are very different bikes.

The equivilent to the Tiger Sport would be the Yamaha Tracer 900.

The Tiger 800 would be the one to compare with the Africa Twin.

Big Kneed Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).
Yeah, looking forward to trying them both. The Tracer 900 is too wide on the bars for town IMO

I've been on the Tiger 800 and has a nice engine & throttle, and a good size ..... but had a sh!tey gearbox and choppy ride, not a bike to spent a lot of time in the saddle on (IMO)

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:20 am
by willian
Africa Twin was superb - loved it :freebird

Just need to figure out how to pay for it......

Only downsides for me is that it's a Honda :log , poor choices of tyres for road available and doesn't have a fuel tank range indicator.

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 5:52 pm
by Zzzz
willian wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:20 am Africa Twin was superb - loved it :freebird

Just need to figure out how to pay for it......
I see that Honda are offering 0% finance on the Africa Twin at the moment - certainly made me think about it.

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 9:31 am
by Dave
Why by used when you can but new for the same cost or less over a few months.

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 2:48 pm
by willian
Zzzz wrote: Sat Aug 12, 2017 5:52 pm
willian wrote: Fri Aug 11, 2017 9:20 am Africa Twin was superb - loved it :freebird

Just need to figure out how to pay for it......
I see that Honda are offering 0% finance on the Africa Twin at the moment - certainly made me think about it.
Excellent.......but that's not helping the situation , my wife wants us to book for a family members wedding in Zimbabwe next year and I don't want to spend the money on it :log :log

I think she's going to Zim and I'm buying a motorbike I can't believe it's not butter!

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:21 am
by Dave
I have also known for a partner to head abroad for a month or two, leaving the males of the household to fend for themselves. .. in piece and quiet, eating what they want, doing what they want...

The biggest drawback...she came home :biggrin2

Re: Kawasaki Versys 1000

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:17 pm
by Gazza
Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian) wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2017 4:40 pm I personally like to get on a bike and take it for a ride rather than it taking me for a ride if that makes any sense. Why pay for performance you're never going to use (unless you enjoy playing top trumps with your mates). I rarely go over 80mph so I personally don't need a bike that can do over twice the national speed limit. I like the fact that bikes that exist but they are not for me.

That's why I have never really got on with higher performace bikes. I have to be honest in the fact that I can't ride them anywhere near the point where they start to make sense and am not interested in doing so anyway.
#
Me too. :2up

The fastest bike I ever owned was my 998s Ducati. Having said that it wasn't the quickest. As well as more comfortable, I find a sit up and beg style of bike much quicker on typical Scottish roads than I do a fully focused, arse up in the air sports bike. If the front end washes a bit on an arse up bike, it's all over. Yet I've saved the sit up and beg type no end of times with a quick dab of the foot.

Trying to ride the Ducati to it's limits was totally scary. Trying to enjoy my ride was usually illegal. I find my current steed (KTM 690 Duke), absolutely perfect for the style of riding I enjoy. I doubt there's many bikes that would beat it around your typical damp and dusty Scottish roads. Just over 70 HP and 135 kg is plenty.