BEYOND THE HYPE

The bits that actually make a difference

Baffling trim levels offer good value

Both the Versys 1000 S and SE come in either stock, Tourer or Grand Tourer versions. Tourer adds 56l panniers, inner bags and a tank pad for an extra £800 while the Grand Tourer ups this further with a 47l topbox and inner bag, fog lights, GPS bracket and frame sliders for £1700 over the stock bike’s £12,999. Both kits represent a saving compared to buying the parts individually from Kawasaki.

Dash useful, not flash

The S gains Kawasaki’s TFT dash for 2021, replacing the old LCD display. It comes with Bluetooth connectivity inbuilt, allowing you to link a phone to it via Kawasaki’s Rideology app. Once paired you can check machine information and also receive alerts of incoming phone calls on the dash.

Cornering lights are a bit of a gimmick

The S gains the SE’S cornering lights. Consisting of three LED lights per side set at fixed directions, they illuminate in order as the bike leans over to improve your vision into a corner. They work well but are more a helpful assistant than a must-have accessory or safety aid. solo or two up, the S’s conventional shock lacks that support you get from the semi-active units varying their damping levels and it is a bit of a disappointment.

It’s not terrible, it just could be better. There again, for the £1900 difference between the SE and S, you could easily buy a quality aftermarket shock, which is really all the Versys S needs.

Don’t think of the Versys S as a downgraded SE; think of it more as a 2020 model with a few extra additions that make it a better tourer and deliver a more refined overall ride. The shock isn’t great and the dash underwhelming, but if you are talking value for money, the Versys S still hits the mark.