FIRST RIDE: KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000 S
A new, high spec version of Kawasaki’s versatile Versys.
‘There always seems to be at least one loaded up Versys with a happy rider and passenger on every Eurotunnel journey we make’
Kawasaki’s four-cylinder tall-rounder is underrated and overlooked. With no dirt-digging pretensions and 17-inch wheels the Versys 1000 is an upright sports tourer rather than proper adventure bike like BMW’S R1250GS, and it excels in that role. As a bike for covering big distances, maybe with a pillion, it’s a justifiably popular choice and there always seems to be at least one loaded up Versys with a happy rider and passenger in the bike carriage on every Eurotunnel journey we make.
But Kawasaki have taken a gamble with the new 1000 S model. Previously the Versys has presented as a value option, but this year the S becomes the base version, replacing the Versys 1000 in the two bike range. The S is effectively an SE with conventional suspension instead of semi-active units, but with all the other gizmos as standard. So while its specification list expands, so does the price; last year the Versys 1000 was £11,300, and this year the S is £12,999. The gamble is, will this bother traditional Versys buyers?
Maybe not. According to Kawasaki’s numbersthat-matter department, the vast majority of Versys are sold in Grand Tourer guise (as tested here).
For another £1700 you get panniers and a top box (with inner bags), fog lights, a GPS mount and crash protection. All of which suggests Versys-ists aren’t that put off by spending a few extra quid if it looks like they’re getting a savvy deal.
Even without the GT addenda you still enjoy heated grips, cornering lights, an up/down quickshifter, four integrated rider modes that link to the traction control and ABS system (it only had two non-linked power modes before) and a TFT dash with connectivity. And that’s on top of the cruise control, cornering ABS and traction control the bike already came with.
That’s a decent spec list but, in our connected world, the first thing you notice about the Versys S is the dash which, frankly, is a let-down. Fair to say it is easy to read, but there’s no ‘oh that’s nice’ about it. A small point but with that price increase it’s details such as this that start to matter, especially when you park next to a BMW.
If you want to smash out the miles the seat of the Versys is an extremely comfortable place to do it from. The adjustable screen is good and so are the heated grips, though annoyingly they don’t display their heat setting on the dash. It’s easy to settle down into the seat and knock off a comfy 150 miles of A-roads between fill-ups, though the 21 litre tank will go further. However, it’s on the back roads where limitations start to… limit.
Saving £1900 by opting for the S over the SE means you get conventional suspension. While the forks are OK, they can’t match the levels of support delivered by the semi-active SE version, but the shock lacks control when pushed, or when riding two up. At least there is a remote preload adjuster so it can be tweaked manually.
While the four rider modes (Road, Rain, Sport and a user-defined one) are all very well and good, the reality is that the fabulous 1043cc inline four is such a beautifully smooth motor you never feel the need to mute the Versys’ power. Consequently, Road is all you will ever need. The up/down quickshifter is a touch clunky at low revs but slick as they increase and the cornering lights are nice to have but not essential.
It’s hard to argue with a bike that offers so much, and the proven comfort, reliability and practicality of the Versys continue to make it an attractive proposition for high mileage riders but is that enough? The new Versys is an improvement over the old model, not a leap forward. Anyone looking for a real bargain should seek out the 2020 bikes that are still in dealers’ showrooms.