my 2009 Kawasaki The Versys 650 is one of the most handy two-wheelers I’ve owned, but since I always put miles on test bikes I almost never ride it. When I realized I would only add 500 miles to the odometer in five years, a deep sense of shame drove me to sell it. After listing it on Facebook Marketplace, it was gone in a flash. Since the price of used motorcycles is so high these days, I make a small profit – about a dollar for every mile I book it.
A few more months and I’m browsing through San Diego County’s curvy interior on a 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650. It’s a $9,999 LT version with hard saddlebags and protectors, available only in Metallic Spark Black / Metallic Flat Spark Black This Year. The base model comes in the same color for $8,899 or Candy Lime Green / Metallic Flat Spark Black / Metallic Spark Black for $9,099.
Payment procedures RiderGuide to buying motorbikes in 2022
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Not surprisingly, Upgrade in 2022 is a much better motorcycle than the one I just sold in 2009, but they still have a lot in common despite 13 years apart. Seating position, performance, and the overall nature of the motorcycle remain largely unchanged, but several key aspects improve the performance of the motorcycle in the long run.
New for the ’22 is a full-color 4.3-inch TFT display, which is a huge improvement over the previous panel and goes beyond the screen on my ’09 model by many light years. The information layout is clean and modern, combining everything – gear position indicator, fuel gauge, tach, speed, clock, trichometer, etc – into one lying format. in the center. The driver can choose between a black or white background, and the screen brightness automatically adjusts to ambient light levels.
Take off:
Helmet: Sena Promote
Coat: Spidi H2Out
Gloves: Spidi TX-2
Trousers: Rev’It Campo
Boots: Alpinestars CHEAP SMX-1
Simultaneous pressing of two on-screen analog buttons allows a Bluetooth connection to be established between Versys and Kawasaki’s Rideology smartphone app. The app has a useful and handy maintenance log, general bike information and the ability to record rides and share them with others.
During driving, when the bike and the app are talking to each other, the TFT display will notify the rider when a new call or email is received. The portion of my ride recorded using the Rideology app showed that I covered 79 miles in 1.34 hours from Orange counties to San Diego at an average speed of 54 mph. However, the map shows a straight line from point A to point B, not an accurate GPS map of the bends.
My old Versys windshield was only adjustable if I was willing to remove the four pins needed to position it differently, which rarely, if ever, happens. The inefficiency of the process means one rider has found a lovely spot for the windshield and that’s where it stays. The new Versys features an easily adjustable windscreen that can be raised and lowered to four different settings within 3 inches. It’s a two-handed affair with one hand pressing the lock button while the other moves the windshield, but it’s worth the small effort. The upper position deflects the wind quite well while the low position brings the driver into more airflow.
The new windshield is a cherry-shaped top, a redesigned upper crank has a family touch to its liter bike counterpart, the Versys 1000. The sides of the new windshield are made for mobility. shifts the air around the driver while the dual headlights are now bright, low. – Power LEDs. The rear of the Versys matches the front with a strongly pointed style and new LED taillights.
Anti-lock brakes are now standard on all Versys 650 models, as is traction control. The 649cc liquid-cooled Twin-Twin that powers the Versys isn’t a tire shredder – when we shut it down tested a Versys 650 2020, it sent 63 hp and 43 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels – but it could certainly break traction if there was enough throttle when leaning. The TC has two settings, with the first being less intrusive and the second providing a more protective safety net that will prove beneficial to newer riders or those with experience getting caught. in low traction conditions. If desired, traction control can be turned off completely via a switch located on the left switch foot.
Stand up straight and head south on Interstate 5 toward San Diego, Versys feels like a comfortable, familiar old shoe. Breaking off the floor and venturing into my twenties, it became clear that the Showa suspension stock setting wasn’t to my taste. After stopping, a few hard clicks on preload above the left fork foot, a couple of tension recovery clicks above the right fork foot, and a few hard twists of the remote top preload adjuster. rear shock absorbers have made everything related to tackle the road ahead.
The 28-liter saddlebag is large enough to hold a full-face helmet, although there isn’t much room for spare parts. There’s also a helmet lock if you need to secure your cap when the saddlebag is full of other troubles. The electric key unlocks the saddlebags and allows them to be removed from the motorcycle. For those who need more storage, Kawasaki offers a matching 47-liter top case along with other accessories, such as a heated handle and GPS mount.
The bike’s compact mid-range pushes its claimed 503-lb limited weight forward in enthusiastically manageable style. Dual-piston calipers grip 300mm petal-shaped discs to slow down the party with equal effect. When leaning, Versys effectively holds its contours and shifts back and forth with confidence.
The 5.5-gallon fuel tank combined with efficient fuel consumption allows for extended mileage between fuel stops. (In our 2020 testing, we averaged 46 mpg for 253 miles of range.) That’s great news for commuters or anyone looking to incorporate longer trips into ownership. Their Versys. Complementing the Versys fuel range is an ergonomically neutral driving position which is one of my favorite things about the old and new Versys.
Like my old Versys bikes, the new one is as modern, sturdy, mid-weight and as durable as a motorcycle can be. It earnestly answers what is asked of it, whether it’s traveling around the city, commuting to work or taking off for long weekends or longer travels. In my entire time with the Versys, there has never been a time when it failed to start up or ran poorly at boot, although it did spend most of its time languishing in my garage.
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My old Versyss don’t have ABS, traction control, remote preload-adjustable shock absorbers, TFT screens, slide/assist clutches, LED lights or an easily adjustable windshield and it doesn’t look like it. as beautiful as Versys ’22 . In 2009, the base Versys MSRP was $7,099, which is just over $9,700 in today’s dollars. The new bike offers so much more for less, and the touring-ready LT is a great bargain.
2022 Kawasaki Versys 650
Basic price: $8,899
Price as checked: $9,999 (LT model)
Website: Kawasaki.com
Engine type: Liquid-cooled, parallel-twin, DOHC with 4 valves per cyl.
Transposition: 649cc
Diameter x stroke of piston: 83 x 60mm
Horse power: 63 hp @ 8,700 rpm (rear wheel dyno, 2020 model)
Torque: 43 lb-ft @ 7,300 rpm (rear wheel dyno, 2020 model)
Transmission process: 6-speed, sliding clutch / cable-operated power steering
Last drive: Chain
The standard long: 55.7 inches.
Rake / Trail: 25 degrees / 4.3 inches.
Seat height: 33.3 inches.
Wet weight: 503 lb (as tested)
Fuel quantity: 5.5 gals.
Fuel consumption: 46 mpg
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