My Kawasaki Versys 1000: Initial impressions

The Kawasaki Z900 is like a track car that’s been adapted for the road. The Versys, on the other hand, is like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class - smooth and fuss-free.

BHPian krishsreedharan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Preamble

It was one of those evenings in September 2019, when I first showed my better half the picture of the Z900 and told her that I would like to pick up a bike after 34 years. That went way better than I expected and is completely documented in this thread.

A lot has happened since Bumblebee came home - most importantly, me acknowledging to myself that I did love my bikes that wee bit more than I did the cars. And as of writing this, the bike has crossed 16,000 km and has been a flawless performer through and through.

But then, like with all good things, there were a few flies in this ointment. For one, the pillion seat of the Z900 is meant for people without glutes... so one of the peeves of my better half was that I could never take her on a proper ride. To add to that, on the last few rides on non-lockdown days that I did with my son, he started complaining of a butt ache - and if he, who is so passionate about bikes, starts complaining, that to me, called for some serious introspection. The other major push to the decision was the fact that, in my mind, adding a top box and panniers to the Z900 would take away from the otherwise rakish looks that I had come to love. So these two issues put together, kick-started this process.

Arriving at the Decision

I turned 50 on the 1st of January, 2021. A few days before that event, my wife expressed her desire to get me something that I really wanted for this milestone and to humour her, I just mentioned in passing that I would love to have the Versys 1000 in my garage at some point in time. While she was ready to dip into her savings to get me this bike, due to certain other financial priorities, the idea was parked as "doable when able".

However, similar to the story of my Z900, what triggered off this was another fitness goal that I had to achieve. Let me take a few steps back. About a month ago, a very close friend of mine, picked up a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Subsequent to him taking delivery, in one of our visits to his house, I got thrown the gauntlet - drop down another 10 kg and you can buy the Versys. So, there you have it - you have your target, now to figure out how to achieve it.

Why the Versys

Even before I picked up the Z900, there was this discussion amongst my close group of friends who are petrol-heads, after having gone and test ridden quite a few different motorcycles. One of them had, after that event, described the Versys as a sofa on two wheels. Somehow, that description got embedded deeply in my brain and it kind of started shaping my thought process. I had,  over a period of time, spent a fair bit of my free time going up and down the various reviews and riding impressions of the Versys 1000 on YouTube and slowly, I was getting clearer and clearer in my mind that this was the bike for me. I wanted it to be the bike that I could just load up with luggage - and my better half - and travel the length and breadth of the country. Rock climbing and trail riding were the farthest from my mind. The more I saw the reviews and videos, the more my decision was made.

The booking process

You might call it a case of Deja-vu, but the next day, I found myself at the local Kawasaki dealer. And on display, at the very same spot that I first laid my eyes on Bumblebee, my Z900, stood a spanking new Versys 1000. The fact that it was there, gave me a very good feeling and I walked in to take a look. Here are some pictures that I took on that visit.

However, I had to keep in mind the caveat - which was that I lose 10 more kg. But at the same time, I did not want this bike to go to anybody else, so I just took the plunge and paid the booking amount - with strict instructions to the folks at the showroom that until I gave them the all-clear, the fact that I had booked the bike should not be let out. Happy to say that they were true to their word.

In parallel, I started the ball rolling with my bank to get the funding organised. Over the next few weeks, slowly but surely, I started my plan to get to the target - which was to shift my IF into high gear. I must say I did make some progress. One day, all of a sudden, the Home Minister catches me off guard with the statement "I can see you really want that bike and you are pushing hard. Go ahead and get it, but promise me you will continue towards the target weight". What more could a guy ask for.

So finally things started moving and the bike was to be registered on the 23rd of July. It did make the trip to the RTO but due to some back-end system glitch, the process was not completed. However, the day being an auspicious one, we took delivery that evening - with a second visit due to the RTO on Monday. My resident junior monkey was over the moon.

So, finally, Roadrunner came home.

Standing taller than the resident monkey.

And more than 1/2 the length of the Superb.

The Pooja happened the next morning with my parents in attendance.

The Accessories

Once the bike was booked, I started looking at accessories. My experience with the Z900 had taught me a few things and I was determined to put my newfound knowledge to use. After a lot of research, I settled on the following:

• Hepco-Becker Crash Guards
• Hepco-Becker Pannier Racks
• Hepco-Becker Panniers & Topbox (bought off a fellow biker)
• Barkbusters Handguards
• Baja Designs Squadron Pro Aux Lights
• Radiator Guard (Fabricated locally)
• SW Mototech Bash Plate (bought off a fellow biker)
• GiVi Windscreen (taller than stock - bought off a fellow biker)
• Viofo M1 Motorcycle Dashcam

The accessories in the above list which were bought off fellow bikers because they were either not utilising them fully, or were letting go of their rides, are very well maintained. Not to mention the fact that it allowed a lower budget to go for a bit longer.

First impressions

Where do I start - when I first started up the bike to take it home after taking delivery, it started off to a buttery smooth purr - it was like there was a load of sound and vibration deadening insulation all around the engine. The gearbox - well it was a dream from another planet quite unlike the direct-shift clunk that I get in the Z900. Took a few minutes to get used to the heft, but after that enjoyed my ride back home.

Having had the Z900 in my garage and covered more than 16,000 km on it so far, this is the first point of comparison that I have. The Versys 1000 is quite a different beast when you compare it to the Z. It’s super smooth. Potholes and speed breakers on the road don’t seem to exist. It’s slightly top-heavy but that feeling goes away within less than a kilometer of it being ridden. Its 255 kg heft is felt only when it is standing still. Once in motion, the weight disappears.

The default windscreen is pretty good with a smooth adjustment between its lowest and highest position. It requires both hands for adjustment - which is best done while the bike is standing still. In both positions, it offers adequate protection from wind buffeting. I will be replacing this with a GiVi aftermarket screen which will cover my face in the most upright position, giving me more protection from wind chill and buffeting.

Both the Mrs and my 8-year-old son gave full marks to the pillion seat. One of the complaints that my son had with the Z900, was that the pillion seat was very hard and small, and that he always ended up with a butt ache after a 40 km ride with me. Besides, the suspension on the Z900 was also set up a little stiff to deal with the high speeds that we normally do on the highway and hence transmitted more road irregularities to the pillion’s butt.

To sum up - while I am aware that I would be likened to comparing apples and oranges - the Z is like a track car that’s been adapted for the road. The Versys, on the other hand, is like an S Class Mercedes - smooth and fuss-free.

Coming to the engine, it's supremely flexible, producing usable torque all across the rev band. The bike is comfortable in 6th gear at 50 kmph, the same way that it is, doing 100 kmph in the same gear. To describe it in one word, it's a gem.

What I like:

• Butter-smooth engine and gearbox
• Extremely comfortable seating - both rider and pillion
• Upright seating position with minimal wind buffeting

What I did not like so much:

• Default headlight alignment - I was able to see the treetops but not the road on high beam

There was nothing much to not like - seriously.

Technical Statistics

Below are some technical details of the Versys 1000.

• Engine - in-line 4-cylinder displacing 1043cc
• Gearbox - 6 Speed (1 down + 5 up shift pattern)
• Vital Statistics - Wheelbase - 1520 mm, Ground Clearance - 150 mm, Kerb Weight - 255 kgs, Seat Height - 840 mm
• Fuel Capacity - 21 Liters
• Tyres - Front 120/70ZR17; Rear 180/55ZR17 - Bridgestone Battlax T21 Sport Touring
• Brakes - Front Dual Semi-floating 310mm Petal Discs with dual radial-mount 4 pot callipers; Rear single 250mm Petal Disc with single-piston calipers
• Power Numbers - 118 Bhp@9000 rpm and 102 Nm of Torque @ 7500 rpm

Back to the story

On the following Monday, post the RTO formalities being completed, I did a short 50 km ride with my son, with a dear friend (who in a way, was responsible for accelerating the acquisition) as my wingman on his Tiger 900 Rally Pro to a place called Palamalai, near Coimbatore. Here are the pics.

I am currently in the process of installing all the accessories that I have and I will add on to this thread once that is done and I do some pictures of them. Looking forward to posting more pictures and travelogues as I start using Roadrunner more and more.

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