2008 Kawasaki Versys - First Ride 
9/4/2007
Harnessing the torque-filled power of the 649cc machine is a wide ratio six-speed transmission. Mis-shifts were non-existent and transmission engagement was a painless affair. Gearing was narrow enough to easily keep the Twin in the meat of its power, but wide enough we weren't constantly rowing the tranny. When it comes time to slip the bike into neutral at a stoplight, the bike features
Kawasaki's "positive neutral finder" feature which works flawlessly.
The clutch was equally as pleasing. Action is particularly light and has progressive engagement as well as good feel, which lends itself well to riders of all skill levels.
In the handling department, the Versys features a beefy 41mm inverted front fork. The fork has 5.9-inches of travel and is adjustable for both spring preload and rebound damping. The link-less Showa rear shock is horizontally mounted and is connected to an aesthetically pleasing gull-shaped aluminum swingarm. The rear shock offers up 5.7-inches of travel and offers the same adjustability as the fork.
The sum of the chassis parts equates to a bike that handles responsively at all speeds. Parking lot turning radius is extremely short and the bike feels this nimble even at highway speeds. The extra leverage provided by the wide handlebars allows the Versys to turn almost telepathically. Once cranked over on its side in a corner it has a surprisingly good amount of road feel from both ends. The Versys is also surprisingly stable. The chassis is well sorted and devoid of any twitchiness that is sometimes common on bikes with long-travel suspension. The one complaint that we had was springy fork action which has a tendency to spring back up rather quickly after heavy front brake use. But, by adding a few clicks of rebound, the fork traveled back up in its stroke in a more controlled fashion. As you would expect with rear suspension sans linkage, the shock spring is fairly beefy, but the ride is not compromised. Rear suspension action remained plush and not overly jarring. Much to our delight, ground clearance issues were non-existent, even mobbing through some extremely tight, bumpy San Diego County back roads.
Another exclusive feature on the Versys is the three-way adjustable windscreen. The screen was originally mounted in the middle position, which was a little on the low side for me. At a water stop, I pulled out the supplied tool kit and went to work moving the windscreen up 20mm to its highest setting. The adjustment was unexpectedly painless and afterwards the Versys did an admirable job of sheltering me from the effects of wind at speed.
Tucked behind its windscreen, the instrument cluster features a large white-faced analog tach as well as digital speedo, clock, dual trip meters and an odometer. A digital fuel gauge keeps tabs on the large five-gallon fuel tank. The instrument panel is uncluttered and easy to see at a glance. The only thing missing from the legible instrument package is the standard issue coolant temperature gauge, which would be a bonus considering that this bike is capable of traversing roadways where services might not be easily accessible.
Stopping power on this 399-lb. bike (claimed dry weight) is provided by two 300mm petal-style semi-floating front discs and dual-piston calipers. A single-piston, 220mm petal-style disc keeps rear-wheel speed in check. The front stoppers have a very minimal amount of initial brake bite, which is excellent for a novice rider. But worry not aggressive riders, just pull back the lever a little further and you will find plenty of power accompanied by a reasonable amount of feel. The rear brake is appropriately matched to the front setup, offering virtually the same amount of initial brake bite and relative power once the lever gets stomped deeper in its stroke.
The quality brakes control a pair of six-spoke, 17-inch wheels that are similar to the ones found on Kawasaki's ZX-6R and ZX-10R sportbikes. Dunlop Sportmax D221 tires in sizes 120/70 front and 160/60 rear shod the aluminum wheels and provide ample amounts of traction on all of the road surfaces we encountered.
After a full day flogging the Versys around all that San Diego had to offer, I was in awe. The Versys ate up everything we could throw at it. In the corners, it had all the asphalt-carving attributes of a supermoto bike. On the straights, it offered the long-haul comfort factor of a sporty tourer. When the going got a little rough, the Versys shined like a modern dual-sport, offering stability and a level of off-road prowess that you won't find on your typical street bike.
A full line of OEM accessories, including a hard top case, hand saddle bags, gel seat, and additional windscreen options allow the Versys to be tailored to any particular rider's needs.
Whether you're looking for another motorcycle to diversify your two-wheeled portfolio, or if you're a beginner just getting into motorcycling, the $6,899 Versys has what it takes to fulfill any type of riding you have in mind. Except, of course, in California.