Talk me out of a Versys

[CosmicCowboy]

Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the V-Strom, just the appeal of a different bike. The Versys seems like it would fit the bill. Great for primarily riding on pavement and hitting the twisties, but should handle the rougher roads around here quite well.

Pros:

Ground clearance seems similar to the Strom
Seat height about the same.
Something like 80 pounds lighter
Shorter wheelbase
No goofy sized front tire.

Cons:

Well, hard time coming up with something here. That's where you guys come in. Biggest deal is I would need to make this an even trade, as my wife would bust my knees if I spent money on a new bike.

[Papa Lazarou]

Finish is shite. Get a Triumph Tiger Cub.

[Fourstring]

I got nothin'.  That 650 parallel twin is a gem of an engine.

Maybe one negative- you'll be losing some off-road performance and suspension travel?

[CosmicCowboy]

Maybe one negative- you'll be losing some off-road performance and suspension travel?

Well, that's the trick. I don't do any heavy off-roading. Unpaved roads, yes, and maybe a well kept two track, but I can't think of a reason the Versys wouldn't handle that.

[stealth1]

Go for it.
Life is too short to keep buying the same bike over and over.

[rfulcher]

I have a Vstrom 650 and have tried a Versys, I came very close to selling my Wee to get a Versys. I am 6ft and 215 lbs. The Versys ergos are smaller and felt cramped. It did not feel as comfortable or capable on the interstate. The fairing and shield on the Wee, with mods, provides ok protection, the Versys is much more of a naked bike and I could not find a fix for wind buffetting other than put the shield all the way down. You can add a center stand to the Wee but not the Versys. I suspect the Versys vibrates a bit more than the Wee. The Wee probably holds resale value better.

The Versys feels like it handles quicker and has more power. It will lift the front wheel easily in 1st gear. I think the Versys is more fun for around town and probably on twisty roads. However when the 2 bikes are compared in the magazines they come about the same in terms of power and handling.  

I decided to keep the Wee because it was better for long trips and fit me better. For me the Wee is fun in the mountains.

[CosmicCowboy]

I have a Vstrom 650 and have tried a Versys, I came very close to selling my Wee to get a Versys. I am 6ft and 215 lbs. The Versys ergos are smaller and felt cramped. It did not feel as comfortable or capable on the interstate.

Not good. I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam. Not worried about interstate, as I rarely hit it, but I definitely need to find a Versys to test ride.

[falconati]

It feels heavier than the spec sheet suggests, since the weight is carried higher.

[Fourstring]

No direct experience, but I've done slab time on a Ninja 650.  The engine is pretty smooth- I made it 20 miles before I realized I was in 4th.  That engine will do 80-85 all day with no complaints.

[Rincewind]

I would wait till at least June 11 when I expect we'll get more info on the new 2012 V-Strom.

The only cons about the Versys for me: no centerstand and it seems a bit cramped.  

[camaroz1985]

There is a guy making center stands for the Versys now.  I am 5'10", and am very comfortable.  I have done 4-5 hour trips without stopping and felt great.  With a peg lowering kit, or maybe a higher seat, you can easily change the riding position.

[maddjack]

I love my Versys, I am 6' 1" and don't feel cramped (34" inseam)
I have little negitive to say, the bike just plain works, the only negitive is the brakes are meh, braided lines fixes that ( OEM Rubber) Ride one, you won't be dissapointed if it is what you really want. I use mine as my Long distance mount  

[Cablebandit]

You say you want something different from a Vstrom and throw out the Versys?  That makes no sense to me.  There are subtle differences but they are both essentially UJM's.  Jacks of all trades...master of none.  

My suggestion would be if you want a Versys find a well used one so you don't eat too much when you plan on selling it in a year because it's basically the same as a Vstrom.  Well a Weestrom at least.

[CosmicCowboy]

You say you want something different from a Vstrom and throw out the Versys?  That makes no sense to me.  There are subtle differences but they are both essentially UJM's.  Jacks of all trades...master of none.  

Let me clarify. The V-Strom is nigh perfect. What I'd want is something that clears up the minor annoyances with the Strom. Hence looking at the Versys, which has the thought of the cramped position going more against it than anything else.

[wibornz]

As a versys owner at 6'4" 350 pounds, I can say fun and comfy.  Ok so to make the Versys awesome, this is what we did.  Added Buel foot pegs.  That dropped the pegs down about 1".  Had a local guy remake the seat.  Seat was made two inches wider on each side, moved the seat area back 2 inches and added 2 inches of foam.  Cost for the seat 200.  The bike is now all day comfy.  I also added rubber to the buel foot pegs.  

While the versys is not the only bike we own, I would not have a problem with it being my ownly bike.  Great for wheelies, handles sweet, and the moter is torquey fun.  

[Davy F.]

You don't say if it is the Gen1 or Gen2 Versys you are interested in. So here's a couple of vids to check out.

Gen1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dreoYlnlVQw

Gen2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy16XkzFXdY

Kawasaki's advert for the Gen2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaRU79do4ak

I've ridden both (and now own a Gen2) and although some complain about the vibes of the Gen1, they're not excessive nor will they shake your fillings out.  It was the ride on the Gen1's fault that I ended up buying my Versys as they are such a fun bike to ride. In six weeks, I've done 1500 miles on mine which considering the summer is just beginning here, isn't bad going. But it's best if you can get a ride on one, I know I'd never buy a bike these days without a good demo ride.

Mine.  

[Paul Barnard]

If you want ABS, you are out of luck with the Versys.

[Giaka]

I've ridden both (and now own a Gen2) and although some complain about the vibes of the Gen1, they're not excessive nor will they shake your fillings out.  

Must vary from bike to bike. Mine shakes and buzzes so much I dont like riding which is a shame because its a BLAST to ride.

[Thunderbox]

POS, lousy jap crap, junk, good for nothing, hunk of metal.  How am I doin?

[JamesG]

I wish the styling and fit and finish were better (no one should have to resort to plastic trim bits to hide sloppy welding).

[Doug Just Doug]

If you want ABS, you are out of luck with the Versys.

Unless you're in the UK. Once again we Yanks don't get the good stuff. (Yes, I know why).

[Papa Lazarou]

They are very ugly.

[Kraz]

Not sure if it was the bike, but when I rode one at the Kawasaki "ticket to ride" event, the transmission was the worst I'd ever experienced.  Seriously... and by a lot.

[Giaka]

Not sure if it was the bike, but when I rode one at the Kawasaki "ticket to ride" event, the transmission was the worst I'd ever experienced.  Seriously... and by a lot.

8000 miles and mine is just starting to smooth out.

[TonyT1200]

Not a Versys owner but I've liked them since they came out.  I just got a 2003 1150RT and I love it.  Do what you like, as someone said earlier, life is short.  

[CosmicCowboy]

POS, lousy jap crap, junk, good for nothing, hunk of metal.  How am I doin?

Ha. Should update. After finding a Versys to butt test, it was a bit cramped. Not bad for short rides, but I think after 100 or so miles I'd start to be unhappy.

[MKorn]

I personally didnt like the Maroon one, but that yellow is awesome!

[Fourstring]

Ha. Should update. After finding a Versys to butt test, it was a bit cramped. Not bad for short rides, but I think after 100 or so miles I'd start to be unhappy.

I found that too, but they make a tall seat that might help.

[maddjack]

Not sure if it was the bike, but when I rode one at the Kawasaki "ticket to ride" event, the transmission was the worst I'd ever experienced.  Seriously... and by a lot.

No problems with mine, just as smooth as any other I have owned, maybe its you

[camaroz1985]

I found mine to be a bit cramped after a 100 or so miles before, but have installed a peg lowering kit, and now I only stop when I need gas.  The furthest I have tried on a tank is 255.8 miles.  (It took 5.16 gal in a 5.0 gal tank  )

[ConPilot1]

They are very ugly.

Says the guy who loves a Velosolex.  

[CosmicCowboy]

Says the guy who loves a Velosolex.  

Funny thing is, he said it to the guy riding a Strom.

[Giaka]

Funny thing is, he said it to the guy riding a Strom.

   +10

I made mine uglier...



You can put bigger tires on them and get them dirty if you want.

[CosmicCowboy]

Y'all are supposed to talk me out of it, but you post sweet pics and talk about peg lowering kits.  

[wibornz]

buy buel pegs for it.  cost about 40.00 bucks.

[Papa Lazarou]

Funny thing is, he said it to the guy riding a Strom.

Funny thing is, he said it to the guy riding a Strom.

Consistency was never one of my virtues....sorry for this extraordinary display of it this one time...and a VS has a certain chic quality...unlike a Strom or Versys

[LENSMAN]

   BIKE-UGLY!!. Get an SV, KLR, etc.

[Giaka]

   BIKE-UGLY!!. Get an SV, KLR, etc.

KLR = GUTLESS WONDER    

Remember when you were a kid and would ride your bike home and just throw it down on its side when you arrived? Well the Versys is so ugly you can toss it down repetitively and not harm a thing. My wife is getting upset though, she cannot park her car in the garage when I do this.

[Davy F.]

   BIKE-UGLY!!. Get an SV, KLR, etc.

Maybe it all depends on the setting.  

[Nodaclu]

Having owned a 2006 DL650, and having ridden my buddies brand new '09 Versys 170 miles home for him (he'd been off bikes for 20+years and wanted more seat time in a local environment first), I can say that I liked everything about the Versys better with one single (but important) exception.

The motor.

Having been through 9 bikes now in just under 6 years, that Suzuki 650 L-Twin is simply the sweetest motor I've yet to encounter. Buttery smooth, no flat spots, smooth even pull in every gear, plenty of pop. Just heaven.

The Versys felt better in every other way (felt lighter, more flickable, better wind management, etc.), but I could not get past that buzzy tractor motor underneath me, shaking me to my very core. After 80 miles I had to stop because my hands were so vibratingly numb that every road bump I hit felt like an electrical shock going through my hands.

My buddy says this has smoothed out some after break-in, but it definitely gave me pause about putting the Versys on my future shopping list. Amazing, the F650 thumper I just rode 170 miles home (oddly enough, where my buddy lives) vibed far less than his Versys did.

His may have just been an extreme example, but for me it was still a good example of how the wrong motor for the wrong rider can trump everything else good about a bike.

[Davy F.]

One of the major complaints about the Versys was how vibey the motor was. Kawasaki have tried to rectify the problem (on the Gen2) by isolating the rear of the engine with rubber mounts and also rubber mounting the pegs somehow. Having ridden a Gen1 and my own Gen2, I can say that there is a difference between the two versions. However, it wasn't like the Gen1 was trying to rattle my filling out or anything. Yes, if you lug the motor, it doesn't really like it and it does get lumpy. The pics I posted were taken this week on a 300 mile trip and at no time was I uncomfortable with vibrations or have my hands 'electrified'. But each to their own.

[Nodaclu]

Agreed. Every rider is different, and every bike (even the exact same model) can have their idiosyncrasies.  I loved everything else about the Versys, and I've read that the Gen II is much better in that regard. So who knows? It could be the perfect change of pace for the OP.

[CosmicCowboy]

Yeah, I've been keeping an eye out locally. If one comes up, I may try and work a trade.