KAWASAKI VERSYS 650 (2010 - 2014) Review

Version: Grand Tourer

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £170

Would certainly recommend - reliable and easy to ride. A great purchase back in the day.

Buying experience: Bought the 2011 version in 2012 - brand new with great discount from main dealer.

Version: A2 límited

Year: 2018

Great A2 option for taller riders

Buying experience: Bought 2018 model in 2019 from a dealer in Valencia Spain for about 8k€ out the door including the Givi trunk and A2 limitation. (They wouldn't discount price but did throw in some extras instead). My first ever brand new bike after 25-30 used bikes in the USA (30+years riding).

Version: GT

Year: 2016

Annual servicing cost: £150

Great fun - I have owned this bike for 9 months. The bike had done 350 miles as it was their demonstrator and now has 3300. I wanted a mid size tourer adventure bike, and it has ticked all the boxes. Great fun to ride, corners as on rails. Fantastic noise as you accelerate, and is a smile a mile. I have taken it off road a couple of time, and it handles pot holes, and allows me to stand on the pegs giving good stabilty. Being relatively light, it is easy to manvover, especially when you want to rurn round in a narrow country rail. I love the LED spot lights, which at night make a big difference in improving lighting and during the day give the bike more presence to the other road users. Luggage is fantatstic. Most of the time, I keep the top box on, but the colour co-ordinated paniers are eary to take on and off, so fantastic for holidays.

Buying experience: I bought the bike form Morotcycle Centre Orell near Wigan. I part exd my Honda Deavulle. I saved abotu £1000 on the list price of the same speck of bike.

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £500

My daily commute bike in Manchester, around 5000 miles done on a 2010 model and the only reason I might not buy another one after mine was stolen yesterday would be to try and broaden my riding and ownership history. I didn't like the old garaged tyres with my second-hand bike, and the rear suspension can bounce for someone who isn't prepared to fiddle with it (me). But with Michelin Pilot 4s recently put in, I cannot find fault. I like the seating position, the comfortable twin at low speeds but never needed more than 8 on the 13 rev counter.. it is Versys, it is bloody versatile. I learned riding on 100ccs on the streets of Bangalore, and this bike will still balance with the best of them in traffic and still open up nicely to clear gaps. I've had issues with the clutch cable, had to buy a paddock stand to clean the chain properly as it has no central stand.. and there may be better looking bikes out there. But I am surprised the Versys doesn't have more fans for it's value and what it does.

Buying experience: Rochdale Honda. No worries.

Version: LT

Year: 2016

It's just a great all round bike with character, comfort and fun. It might not be the fastest bike out there but that is not why you buy a Versys, it's no slouch mind you either but I don't think I have enjoyed riding a bike so much since I was 16. If you are considering buying this bike you won't be disappointed - you will probably wish you bought one years ago !

Buying experience: Dealer bought brand new. Got the LT package free. Excellent service as always from GT Superbikes

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £70

If you're looking for a genuine off-road adventurer, there are probably better bikes. If you're looking for a stylish commuter, there are probably better.. etc. But this does everything and I really enjoy riding mine to work everyday. My only complaints are with the rear suspension, which wallows noticeably at speed in tightening corners but seems a combo of old tyres and set-up on mine, and the brakes seeming slightly mis-matched for bite front and back. But what you get is an all-rounder of the sort that is hard to beat. Motorway 70(ish, give or take)mph and there is superb wind protection in a comfortable stance. Everyday commute and she bends on a pin, for a tall bike. Putter along in traffic, but also rip open mid-range for over-taking. I really enjoy this bike, take a test ride and you'll understand why. I almost went for a more-famous Africa Twin at twice the mileage and more cash...

Buying experience: Bought from Rochdale Honda, my second second-hand bought from them, never an issue with service or stuff on offer. I must say re: booking, once a mechanic went missing so had to re-schedule while at work, but they are bike guys and cannot fault their knowledge and friendliness. I go from South Manchester especially avoiding Hunts on Stockport Way.

Year: 2010

Annual servicing cost: £100

Nimble, comfortable and cheap to run. Doesn't look too bad either in black/silver. Would I buy another, yes I probably would.

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £1,000

Extremely well-balanced bike that doesn't do anything poorly, and does a lot very well for the price.

Year: 2014

Annual servicing cost: £250

With just over 11,000 miles in 6 mths I couldn't have chosen a better bike. 95% done on the motorway at a cruising speed that has allowed me to get 200+ miles from a FULL tank. It just eats up the miles and loves the long rides.

Buying experience: Bought from Blades of Swindon. Shop soiled, last years model, old stock. £5,000 on the day.

Version: Versys 650 Grand Tourer.

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £250

Fantastic all rounder, comfortable, brisk and corners well. The bike is fitted with Dunlop tyres, brilliant grip in the wet but oh, goodness, hard riding and soft tyres; don't expect a high mileage. Fit Maxxis; took my big Suzuki around the I of M with Maxxis tyres, brilliant. Ditch the Dunlop's.

Buying experience: Bought from D&K Newcastle under Lyme; superb. I have bought bikes from them previously. Great after care when needed. Staff helpful and all bikers. Nothing too much trouble as far as I am concerned.

Year: 2015

It's a almost perfect poor man's do it all bike and perfect for Thailand (I live there). I fell very comfortable on it and the screen gives good wind/rain protection at higher speeds. You have to push it if you really wants to move fast but it's fun to ride a bike where you can use all the power (on the road) and fun doing it. Very cheap to maintain since it's made here, so parts are very cheap and service as well. On-board fuel calculated km/l is very optimistic, on my bike it sometimes says +22 but are more at app18/l in the "real" world.

Year: 2015

I am in love, i am saving money for a new versys 650 but just one detail, here in Texas they cannot sale it..... I could not find even one used for sale 2010 or 2011!

Well, I turned up at Kawasaki Bristol at 3pm in the afternoon for my allotted ride with my girlfriend and the new versys. My route took me from the dealership down the M32, M4 and M5, turning off the Clevedon junction to head out towards cheddar gorge. The route back involved a couple back lanes and the versys coped admirably with all I could throw at it. A first impression when sat on the bike is this is going to be a comfortable ride, and it is. The seat is extremely plush and whilst I had no immediate discomfort, it seemed to be all day comfy. I would consider a gel seat as my bum did get a bit numb just from being sat on it for ages... Wind protection is astounding. I often wondered how people could wizz past me down the motorway at 80mph constant when I could only do 70 maximum. Wind would try to rip my face off constantly. With the versys there is no drama; 80mph cruising could be covered all day. Her ladyship was also impressed. Its the first time she has let go of me completely, placing her hands on her lap. Compared with the SV she was holding on for dear life. She found the seat comfortable and much more so than the SV, and the riding position much roomier. This bike has furthered her confidence in riding as a pillion. With regards to the ergonomics, the sizing of the bike is adequate for my lardy self, and the bars are not a stretch or awkwardly placed. The foot position is perfectly acceptable and its easy to get onto and be comfortable. Everything seems to fall into place naturally. As for the engine, all I can say is wow. It suits my riding style perfectly. I am lazy with the throttle and the torque just kicks in when I need it, powering out of corners. Setting off from the show room saw me surprised by the instant pick-up and acceleration. I had opened the throttle as if on the SV, it certainly woke me up! Two up the torque is plentiful, carrying myself and the lady with no fuss at all. There’s enough poke from the engine for overtakes I wouldn’t have even attempted on the SV. Though the bike is down on power on paper compared to the SV, it certainly doesn’t feel it. Still in-keeping with the engine subject, the vibrations have been mentioned by many a review and I will agree they are noticeable. I became used to them over the course of the test ride. However when cruising at 70mph the vibes were certainly noticeable, to the point I tried to prod for another gear. There were two options, power through it up to 75mph or down to 65mph. Emma also commented on vibes compared to the SV, but on the whole conceded that the comfort much outweighed it as an issue. The vibes seemed to be most noticeable to me at 5k rpm, but sit above or below, or power through and its perfectly fine. Moving onto all round ability, as aforementioned I took the bike down the motorway and through country roads and back lanes. The bike coped admirably in all situations. I had attempted roads on the versys I would never have attempted on the SV. The suspension was lovely and plush, wafting over road imperfections with notable state of comfort. Hitting a pot hole however, would see the suspension react harshly, feeding it back through the bike to rider and passenger. On the whole whilst riding I noticed suspension producing a see-saw effect. Under braking, the front began to dive a lot more than on the SV. This could be a trait of tall bikes, because I have never ridden one – which means I would need to get used to it. The handling is neutral and I managed to throw the bike into some corners comfortably, with the bike remaining composed for a range of bends. From only riding a cruiser, naked and semi sports bike the handling on the versys is confidence inspiring. It has a weird sensation of ‘falling’ into corners; however feedback is adequate for the speeds undertaken. One instant observation when leaving the dealership is the back brake is pants, whilst the front brakes offer plenty of initial bite. I can make a direct comparison with these brakes as I have exactly the same system on the SV. The brakes on the SV seem more balanced, with the front providing enough power when braking hard, but no initial bite. The rear on the SV is strong in comparison with the versys, making back brake maneuvering on the SV easier. The versys provided a few head bumping moments when braking due to the bite present on the front end. The rear could do with the same sort of power, if not a little less. Perhaps changing pads and over to braided hoses would help somewhat… On the whole this bike is an impressive bit of kit, whilst it might not be much of a looker (though it is growing on me), its ability far outweighs its visual aesthetics. It’s a similar story to some BMW’s, many also look ugly and squinty with an asymmetrical design, but function far outweighs its looks. I was so impressed with the bike I didn’t want to go back to the showroom with it. Fortunately there were no other test riders after me, so I was able to stay out longer – and I relished the chance. I was supposed to be out for an hour, I returned two and a half hours later.

Just got a 2010 Versys ABS model. MCN said it's a "Jack of all trades, master of none" I agree with jack of all trades but disagree with the master of none, on twisty country roads it's superb and has real punch out of the corners which see it leave the high reving 600 sports bikes even if it's only for a short while. If the roads not straight you'll struggle to keep up. I found this out for my self last year riding a TL1000 when some bloke on a Versys left me for dead on the twisties and it looked completely composed at the same time. in a nut shell it's a porky supermoto that can handle motorways and carry two people.