Now and then, a clean-sheet idea that just plain works appears from out of nowhere, and everybody wonders why nobody thought of it before… That’s the Kawasaki Versys®. Following its debut just a couple of years ago, the world’s motorcycle press unanimously embraced the Versys’ unique combination of utility, versatility, affordability and just plain fun — and they haven’t stopped singing its praises. Motorcyclist magazine named it “Motorcycle of the Year,” and the Versys made top 10 lists around the world. Luckily, the brains at Kawasaki who dreamed up the Versys are not afraid to mess with success, so for 2010, there’s even more to love.

Versatile, Distinctive, Affordable and Just Plain Fun

Now and then, a clean-sheet idea that just plain works appears from out of nowhere, and everybody wonders why nobody thought of it before… That’s the Kawasaki Versys®. Following its debut just a couple of years ago, the world’s motorcycle press unanimously embraced the Versys’ unique combination of utility, versatility, affordability and just plain fun — and they haven’t stopped singing its praises. Motorcyclist magazine named it “Motorcycle of the Year,” and the Versys made top 10 lists around the world. Luckily, the brains at Kawasaki who dreamed up the Versys are not afraid to mess with success, so for 2010, there’s even more to love.

Fresh new bodywork showcases the Versys’ athletic-looking steel trellis frame, gull-wing swingarm and compact engine, with a newly sculpted shape that shows off the bike’s dynamic flexibility and strength. A new stacked dual-beam headlight leads the way, with a bigger, three-way adjustable windscreen atop it that gives more options to more riders. Out back there’s a bright new Z1000-type LED tail light, and between the head and tail lights all sorts of pieces have been restyled to reflect the Versys’ quality, including the radiator shrouds, mirrors, turn signals, engine covers and rear fender.

Functionally, the Versys was tough to improve upon, but adding rubber bushings to the rear engine mounts, and topping the footpegs with hollow rubber inserts to better isolate the rider’s feet from engine vibration, resulted in a smoother, more relaxed ride.
 
The Versys’ compact liquid-cooled fuel-injected 649cc parallel-twin engine was the perfect powerplant for this light and nimble do-anything bike right from the start: Lively enough for advanced riders and predictable enough to inspire confidence in rank novices, the torquey twin delivers a deep ribbon of torque in the lower and middle parts of its rev range, making the Versys a perfect commuter and relaxed traveling companion. Its surprising genius becomes readily apparent once the roads turn twisty, because despite its comfort and civility, the fun-to-ride Versys also offers genuine sportbike handling. And excellent fuel economy combined with a big, 5-gallon fuel tank lets you go a long way between gas pumps.

Long-travel high-tech suspension is critical to the Versys’ multi-role mission. A Showa rear shock with two-stage damping firms up progressively as the wheel moves through its stroke, providing an initially plush ride that firms to near-sportbike levels as suspension loads escalate. The bike’s short, compact engine makes it possible to use a longer-than-average gull-wing swingarm for reduction of throttle-induced suspension movement and excellent handling. A dual-sport inspired, adjustable 41mm tapered-tube inverted fork up front soaks up bumps big and small, and like the rear end, firms up nicely as the pace increases.

Absolutely key to the Versys’ success, a comfortable, carefully designed cockpit provides a mostly upright, natural seating position and features stepped seat constructed to provide optimum comfort for both rider and passenger. And the bigger new windscreen and upgraded passenger seating carry the comfort theme forward on the latest Versys. An easy-to-read and informative instrument panel allows riders to quickly scan the gauges and keep their eyes on the road. Possibly the most versatile motorcycle out there, Versys excels at almost any task it’s given, from gridlock traffic jams, to canyon carving, to long-distance touring.

Authentic Kawasaki Accessories are available through Kawasaki dealers.