The 2024 Versys 650 is powered by the same 649cc parallel-twin engine.

Kawasaki has launched the 2024 iteration of the Versys 650 in India. The adventure tourer is priced at Rs 7.77 lakh (ex-showroom).

The 2024 Kawasaki Versys 650 is available in two colour schemes: Metallic Flat Spark Black and Metallic Matte Dark Gray. The same fairing design has been carried over, featuring dual LED headlamps and a tall visor.

The 2024 Versys 650 is powered by the same 649cc parallel-twin engine, producing 65.7 BHP and 61 Nm. It is paired with a 6-speed gearbox via a slipper clutch. The bike is equipped with an adjustable upside-down front fork and a mono-shock at the rear. The brake setup consists of dual 300 mm discs at the front and a single 250 mm disc at the rear.

In terms of features, the Versys 650 comes with a digital instrument console with smartphone connectivity, a USB charging port, ABS and switchable traction control.

I’m keen on the KTM 390 Adventure X, Honda CB350 series, Suzuki V-Strom SX and the upcoming Yamaha MT-03.

BHPian ramki.grandhi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello fellow bikers, I’ve started looking for a motorcycle but I’m not as young as most of the members here. Could you please suggest me a motorcycle based on the below requirements?

A little bit about me

• Have a decent budget, up to 5-6 lacs
• I'm 40 years old, a full-time dad, uncle etc.
• Not well-built, but recently joined a gym and making slow progress.
• Targeting to be fit by year-end and reward myself with a bike.
• I generally drive extremely carefully and I've never broken a road law/rule. I have an official certification about this from my wife
• I already have Activa and XUV700

My requirements

• Want to keep the bike for a very long and pass it to my children in a decent condition
• I had experience with 150cc bikes during my college days and till 30years of age
• Bike has to be free from rusting issues and must have good service support.
• Not interested in crazy electronics and features.
• There is no definitive use case for the bike, but it should be suitable for poor Bangalore roads and occasional short highway drives.
• Should be easy to drive and not keen on aggressive driving posture.
• Not interested in bikes that aren’t successful and may get discontinued. As I’m looking for long term.
• "You don't need a new bike, blah... blah... blah..." This is not an acceptable suggestion. Because I already have family, friends and colleagues for this.

So far I’m keen on the upcoming MT03, 390 Adventure X, Honda CB350 series, 250 V-Strom. Thank you very much, everyone. Based on the suggestions I will start test drives soon.

Here's what BHPian Proxima had to say about the matter:

If your primary purpose is highway rides, you can't go wrong with a pre-owned Versys 650. You should be able to get a good example at the higher end of your budget. It's comfy, has more than enough power and is very reliable. Service isn't too expensive at good independent garages.

If your purpose is mixed between city and highway, I'd recommend the Classic 350 (or wait for the upcoming Bullet 350). They will be well within your budget.

The Himalayan 450 looks promising as well and should be able to do well both in the city and on highways.

The KTM Adventure 390 is good but the engine feels very vibey/rough.

Here's what BHPian ajay0612 had to say about the matter:

Among existing bikes, it has to be the Honda CB350 (decent volumes, timeless design, Hondas last for decades, have low maintenance).

However, I would suggest you wait upto 3rd July (for the launch of Bajaj-Triumph motorcycle launch on 27th June and Hero-Harley motorcycle launch on 3rd July) before committing, just to avoid buyer's remorse.

Here's what BHPian aston_martyr had to say about the matter:

I am exactly in the same boat as you. -5 on the age.

All your conditions apply to me as well and I am looking at the following options:

• CB350s - have heard good things and the ride does seem comfortable for Bangalore roads based on the short test ride I have taken.
• CB300R - waiting for the BS6 phase 2 launch, the reason I am looking at this is because of its super lightweight and predominantly my usage will be within the city and the bike can manage occasional highway runs without any issue. Japanese bikes are built to last and I have no worries about passing either one of these on to one of my family members down the line. Maintenance is also light on the pocket, however, spare availability is a question mark for CB300R is what I hear.
• Suzuki Vstrom 250 - Have not test driven this but have been a pillion on a highway drive, it was okay but runs out of breath with 2 of us is what I felt.
• Hunter 350 - Very good driver ergonomics, perfect for city drives as per my older sibling who has booked one recently. Yet to take a test drive on this one myself.
• MT-03 - Waiting for it like everyone else.

As an afterthought, I might consider a used CB500X/Versys 650 if the above-mentioned options do not work out for me.

Here's what BHPian //R had to say about the matter:

First of all, kudos to your decision of getting back on a motorcycle after years. Not many would understand the feeling of freedom and escapism that a simple bike ride is capable of rendering. Good thing is the market is flooded with different types of motorcycles nowadays and we, as customers, are getting spoilt for choices. For your use case, I'd highly recommend either an Adventure bike for a lot of favourable reasons. Comfortable ergonomics, good suspensions to tackle the worst of Indian roads, very good rider's triangle for an upright seating position, the versatility of riding in the city or on highways and they tend to age well too.

Since you mentioned you're planning to get it by the end of this year as a reward for your fitness journey, I'd advise you to keep an eye out for a handful of ADV bikes coming out this year:

KTM is already pushing out a diverse set of variants for its Adventure series (both 250 and 390) and we might see an 890 as well.

The Bajaj-Triumph bike is almost ready. We'll have a good bunch of reviews and feedback within months of its launch.

The Himalayan 450 is just around the corner too. I own a 2020 BS6 and an upgraded engine & suspension setup is sure to fix most of its shortcomings.

However, if you aren't too convinced about the ADVs as yet, may I suggest you go take a look at the RE 650s as well especially the new Meteor 650. It's a very comfortable and punchy tourer IMO. A few people from my riding group have bought it and it seems to tackle rough patches on the road pretty well.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Versys 650 competes with models like the Honda CB500X, Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT and the Triumph Tiger Sport 660.

Kawasaki has launched the 2022 Versys 650 in India with a price tag of Rs 7.36 lakh (ex-showroom).

The 2022 Versys 650 comes with redesigned twin headlamps inspired by the Versys 1000. The bike gets a coloured-TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity and a 4-way adjustable windscreen.

The Versys 650 is powered by the same 649cc, parallel-twin engine as before. It puts out 66 BHP and 61 Nm. The new model comes with traction control offering two riding modes.

The bike rides on upside-down telescopic fork suspension and an offset rear mono-shock. Braking hardware has also been carried over from the outgoing model. It includes twin discs up front and a single petal-type disc at the rear.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 will take on the Triumph Trident Sport 660 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 in the Indian market.

According to a media report, Kawasaki is likely to launch the 2022 Versys 650 later this month.

The updated Versys 650 comes with new fairing, similar to its litre-class sibling, the Versys 1000. It also gets a new 4-way adjustable windscreen and TFT instrument console. The Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) system is also a welcome addition on the 2022 model.

Powering the Versys 650 is the same 649cc parallel-twin engine that is offered in the outgoing model. It produces 65 BHP and 61 Nm. The suspension and brakes have also been carried over unchanged.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 will take on the Triumph Trident Sport 660 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 in the Indian market.

Source: Autocar India

The Versys 650 is now priced at Rs. 6.45 lakh (ex-showroom).

Kawasaki has announced a massive discount of Rs 70,000 on the Versys 650. The bike is now priced at Rs. 6.45 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Versys 650 is Kawasaki's middle-weight touring model. The semi-faired bike features twin headlamps and an adjustable windshield. It comes equipped with a digital instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity.

The Versys 650 is powered by a 649cc, twin-cylinder engine which produces 65 BHP @ 8,500 rpm and 61 Nm @ 7,000 rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

The bike rides on a 41 mm USD front fork and mono-shock suspension at the rear. Braking duties are handled by twin 300 mm petal-type discs at the front and a 250 disc at the rear.

I feel, a 650cc, tall seating bike is the most suited to our roads, especially if you want to stick to the highways and some off-beat roads.

BHPian iamahunter recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

MY 2021 Versys 650

As there are tons and tons of reviews on the Versys 650, this will not be a review, but it will be my perspective about

• Why did I choose the Versys to start?
• What would my experience with this bike would be like.
• My adventures on this ADV.
• Modification, Accessories, Maintenance, so basically up keeping the bike and running it.

Likes

• Comfortable seat and upright sitting posture.
• Adjustable suspension.
• Adjustable Windscreen for height.
• Powerful and Reliable 650cc parallel twin cylinder engine.
• Negligible vibration.
• Virtually unlimited modifications and after market accessories available.
• A super strong and helpful Versys community.
• Bare minimum electronics.

Dislikes

• Seat Height for an average Indian.
• Top heavy nature of the bike
• Kawasaki's expensive service and spares cost.
• Poor stock lights.
• Only one color available.

I feel, a 650cc, tall seating bike is the most suited to our roads, especially if you want to stick to the highways and some off-beat roads. The speed and comfort which a 650cc motorbike can achieve is more manageable. Also, the fuel compatibility of a robust 650cc engine is better than few liter class motorbikes with high octane requirements.

The Alternatives Considered

1. Honda CB500X

Honda BigWing's Testride CB500X

Likes

• Honda's buttery smooth engine. (Slight buzz at minimum triple digits)
• Comfortable seating posture
• Light weight
• Brilliant heat management.
• Honda's reliable and less expensive service cost.

Dislikes

• COST
• Literally no such Honda community.
• Limited aftermarket accessories.

This was the first bike I considered and apart from the cost, I was actually willing to sacrifice and settle for the lower power and the simplicity of the bike.

2. KTM Duke 390 ADV

Bhpian Kailash's 390 ADV

Likes

• Light weight, lightest of them all.
• Comfortable sitting posture.
• Loads of Electronic aids.
• Sazzy Colour scheme.
• 19" front wheel.

Dislikes

• Single cylinder vibrations.
• End of day - it’s a jacked up Duke 390.
• I felt, this bike is more of a gadget than a bike (may be age is catching up). And I fear so much electronics.

3. Suzuki V-Strom

Mohan's Suzuki V-Strom

Likes

• Wonderful smooth V-twin
• Comfortable seating posture.
• Seat can be lowered by simple "jugad"
• Long service intervals.
• Service and spare costs are way less than the Kawasaki.

Dislikes

• Initial purchase cost.
• Looks - Personally I don’t mind much, but it’s far from a looker.
• The sales team's dis-interest in selling the bike.
• Not a deal breaker, but the accessories are sparse and expensive in India.
• What a bike this is! Totally impressed by the motorcycle, but really let down by the super slow and non-interested sales team.

Alternative not considered

RE Himalayan - Same power as my CBR, and not a fan of the RE vibes.

Benelli TRK 500 - Been there, done that - No Benelli for me anymore.

Test ride and pre-booking experience

Thane showroom's testdrive Versys 650.

I think with the big bikes a test-ride is one of the most important parts. Having a good long test-ride of a bike helps one understand many positives and short-comings of the said motorcycle. At times, you might even want to change the type of motorcycle you want, sports bike, superbike, an adventure tourer or a cruiser may be. Ride each type of the bike and understand what suits your requirement best!

The KTM 390 Adv and Vstorm were kindly lended to me by fellow bhpians for a ride. Neither of the 2 showrooms were eager or had the bike for a test-ride. Where as Honda Bigwing Andheri had the bike and did offer a great test-ride experience. More on it here (Honda CB500X launched at Rs. 6.87 lakh).

So there are 3 Kawasaki showrooms in and around Mumbai.

Anzen Kawasaki - Andheri (nearest)

Motosaki Kawasaki - Thane

Motosaki Kawasaki - Navi Mumbai.

Actual Test ride and showroom experiences.

1. Kawasaki, Andheri.

Their the test-ride was available only inside the compound. Assuming that the bike was not registered and would not be legal to take it out on the road (which also means, that they might sell the test-ride bike to an un-suspecting customer). However, I wanted to "experience" the bike and a short ride inside the compound does not give that opportunity at-all. In-fact, their neighboring Triumph sales team was much more warm and welcoming, someday Triumph!

2. Motosaki, Thane

Next I called up the Thane showroom, and clearly mentioned that I need a thorough test-ride before I proceed with the booking. Also, mentioned that I looking at the competitive bikes as well. Surprisingly their sales team agreed to my demand of a long test-ride with the versys without any clauses. I did a longish test-ride with the bike and that actually helped me understand the bike a lot - Clarified so many doubts and assumptions and tilted my decision in the favor of the Versys. When I was back from the test-ride, the sales was not pushy towards the booking, only enquired if I liked the bike and took the feedback positively.

3. Kawasaki Navi-Mumbai

I did not bother to contact the Navi-Mumbai showroom as it’s owned by the Thane dealer itself.

Booking Experience with the Dealership.

With the MY22 model coming in around March, there was a 40k upfront discount on the MY21 models of the Versys.

The MY22 model will be coming with LED headlights and the wonderful LCD console. I particularly am not a fan of the stock LED's as they are not easy to upgrade and the change in case of failure is very expensive. I have experienced it in the CBR where I had no option but to install powerful aux light for night riding.

Secondly I am a firm believer and follower that the fancy displays are quite a distraction while riding. Also, the initial excitement dials down after a few days.

So, I decided to take the opportunity and go ahead with the booking of the MY21 model. On the booking day, I had just convinced wife to go and have a look at the bike. Somehow, I took along the cheque book and needed documents. Reaching there on a relaxed afternoon, we took our time to look at the bike, took a small ride around, also rode the Versys 1000(just for an experience) and after approval of my better half, we decided to take the plunge. We sat for the next step of negotiations and final quotation.

I was offered a deal with discount + accessories or some more discount. I checked out the accessories that were installed on the test-ride bike and was not very convinced if I would like to have that quality of on my bike. So, I took opportunity to get some more discounts. Once the negotiations were done, the booking process was simple and straight forward. And I booked the Versys 650 with Kawasaki Thane.

As the dealer had earlier said that the bike is available and can be delivered with a week, I was more than excited. But this was all brought down by some more issues at dealer side which led to a delay. The bike arrived at the showroom almost a week later than what was promised. So basically the dealer has to order a consignment of minimum 7 bikes, only then the bikes will be shipped to the showroom. This I felt was some excuse given by the dealer, to save some shipping cost. A container could fit a total of 7 bikes only and shipping them at different times would cost more to the dealer. I was slightly disappointed at this, but its so small that it can be ignored.

So, the bike landed to the dealer on 1st of Feb and was unloaded in front of me. Now a days Kawasaki doesn't send bikes in boxes, but a steel base frame to which the bike is tied up, and covered with some styrofoam type of material. At the first look itself I was awwed at that beautiful green and black shade, it was so beautiful!

Delivery Experience

The delivery date was fixed, before that the dealer would inspect the bike and do a complete PDI with Insurance formalities. During this time, I procured the desired number from the RTO office. On the D-day, I was ready with my number plates so I could get the bike home without any issues.

Curtains are out!

Post reaching the showroom, the RTO formalities were completed and the sales executive explained the bike's features on the test-ride bike itself. Post that a unveiling was done in presence of friends and family.

Handing over the key

The first start was done by my daughter and the young one shed a tear of happiness that moment! My kiddo was handed over a couple of gifts by the showroom, a very kind gesture.

A small Pooja and the bike was ready to roll out on the road! The showroom provided some fuel which was only enough to reach the nearest fuel pump.

Continue reading BHPian iamahunter's ownership review of his Kawasaki Versys 650 for more insights and information.

The CB500X is a big small bike, while the Versys will be a small big bike.

BHPian KarthikK recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Versys 650 is a bigger, heavier and more powerful bike so I wouldn't want to directly compare the CB500X against the Versys 650. But for the sake of this question,

• The Versys is more top heavy and needs more careful, respectful riding especially on broken patches and tight traffic gaps. The Honda feels more commuter-ish light and flickable even in traffic

• The Versys runs hotter than the CB500X and the heat is perceptible in the city traffic. The CB500X feels like an air cooled commuter bike and there is no perceptible heat even in the worst of traffic jams. Doesn't feel any different from your regular Pulsar or Hornet for eg.

• No prizes for guessing which one has more road presence and gets attention - Versys wins hands down. The CB500X is more of a sleeper and can pass off as any other commuter bike if it doesn't have too many visible accessories sticking out. A friend who also got this bike jokingly refers to it as a Honda Unicorn on steroids .

• Versys 650 low end power delivery is a bit jumpy and not the smoothest transition in the city. However on open roads it compensates with a never-ending pull at highway speeds, those extra 21 horses show up nicely at the slightest twist of the throttle. The CB500X is more tractable and pulls cleanly even at lower speeds and higher gears without feeling like it is lugging, no jumpy power delivery. Acceleration in the zones beyond 3 digits is obviously a bit lesser than the V650, but both can comfortably do 110-120 all day long and still have some juice left for quick overtakes, the Versys even more effortlessly so.

• The posture is a bit more upright on the Versys and the legs feel less rear-set than on the CB, seat height is also a tad bit higher if I remember correctly.

• Versys 650 instrumentation does miss a few critical items like gear indicator, temperature gauge and FE stats, etc while the CB cluster has tons of information. I am told the current Versys added a few things later but the console is still dated (I rode CrAzY_dRiVeR's V650 which is a 2016 model).

• The Versys is more road-biased than the CB500X, the tyre setup also says and does the same thing (19" front vs 17" front).

I won't get into the service or spares battle because both are bulletproof Japs with the Versys body panels and parts costing more than those on the CB. That said, while both products feel well built, the Versys panels feel more solidly built like a tank through and through. Needless to say, this will translate to costlier spares if there is some unfortunate incident.

All in all, get the Versys if you want a big bike feel and more power thrills for the open stretches and you don't care much about offroad stretches. There is hardly anything wrong with the Versys except that it is outdated and long overdue for a generation change.

Get the CB500X if you are aware of (or have been part of) the pitfalls of the big bike world and want an economical (easy to maintain and run) all-rounder in a wonderful A2 package which ticks many boxes and is way more usable in a wider range of scenarios (from shopping for groceries in your neighbourhood to office commutes to weekend rides to heading out to Spiti). The compromise will be the reduced power output compared to Versys.

As bhpian neil.jericho put it rightly, the CB500X is a big small bike while the Versys will be a small big bike.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Overall, the service costs for five years has been decent. May be not exceptionally cheap like a Honda, but not heart-breaking like some of the Euros either.

BHPian CrAzY dRiVeR recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Happy Birthday!

My Versys 650 completes 5 years with us today.

Five years is a good enough time to start the next fresh innings, so as these things go - thought to reviving some good old memories.

Top 5 things I like:

• Brilliant mile muncher - SUV-like seating position, upright and comfortable, excellent suspension, good fuel range. Can cover journeys like Bangalore-Trivandrum with only 1 major break and almost zero fatigue.
• Excellent suspension manners. Comfortable and yet - confidence inspiring. Fun into corners unlike what the stance suggests.
• Torquey engine performance! Well suited for the Indian conditions, be it calm cruising on two lane highways or blasting on six lane expressways. Excellent heat management too.
• Good local support for service, spares and accessories. Reasonable to maintain in comparison to this segment standards. Good ownership groups and many long term owners around to support with their knowledge too.
• Looks. Five years down the line - still is a desirable motorcycle (subjective!) and IMHO - better than the new iterations (including the upcoming 2022 facelift!).

Top 5 things I don't:

• You never get to forget the weight at parking speeds! It is one of the heaviest (in terms of feel!) motorcycles out there - with even many more expensive ADVs feeling lighter when you are on the saddle.
• Gearshift is a bit clunky. Also has a slight nervousness at low rpms that urges you to get a move on, or shift. Clutch is average - neither light for city traffic, nor bothersome.
• Not a hardcore adventure machine! Period. This one is a brilliant tourer - for the road - which can take on a bit of the broken stuff. Think Harrier, not Thar!
• Feature list is outdated by modern standards - Halogen headlamps, old school instrument console and dials, no traction control, etc - Its a wonder how they still managed to sell it with sticker changes till end-2021.
• Still wish it had a triple or an inline4, just for that extra doze of engine character! Reason to upgrade someday would be to pick up an i3/i4 before the world goes electric silent.

Some of my favourite moments with the Versys:

Spreading cheer:

Of the bike:

With the bike:

Versatile System - Come slush, rain, waterlogging, smooth roads, winding corners or no tarmac:

Rides with fellow bikers and BHPians:

Usage:

The Versys was used only for weekend rides, with only city commutes for service, etc. Things were going really smooth with around 8k -9k kms of usage per year till Covid struck, and the bike has not been used much afterwards, but that situation should change for the better in 2022. Two reasons why I'm expecting it to:

• Fitness:

All the lockdowns and sitting lazily at home had really played spoilsport with my fitness! At the peak of my laziness - I weighed closed to 101.4kgs, and could barely manage to fit in my riding gear (PS: I had to remove the back protector from the jacket and the knee guard from the riding pants to actually fit in the gear, but let that remain a secret from my better-half!). Riding the Versys from Bangalore to Trivandrum back in Jan 2021 felt like a cumbersome affair and I was not looking forward to managing the Versys in the narrow lanes and highways of South Kerala.

Come April - Covid got me in a bad way and I spent a week in the hospital. Recovery was slow and it felt like a pointless exercise to even think of taking the bike out for the next couple of months.

However, from that situation came determination - to work on fitness and to get better. Long story short - I'm 84.xx kgs now, down from 101.xx kgs, regular at the gym, riding gear has room to breathe and the whole riding experience on the Versys has become so much more enjoyable. Surprisingly so in fact - I used to tell friends I am sure I wont enjoy riding the Versys in Kerala, but the last weekend ride was absolutely lovely! Looking forward to more of it now.

PS: Another reason the bike felt difficult to manage would be the cone-set issue. Mentioned later in service updates.

Back in Jan when I came to pick up the bike from KarthikK. Was ~101+ kgs and barely managed to squeeze myself into the riding gear! This picture was actually taken in response to question from friends if I could actually manage to fit in it (though I cheated by removing the spine armour and knee guards).

Last weekend with KarthikK during our Coonoor ride. Currently 84.xx kgs and in a much, much better state of health:

• Job Change:

I had invested a lot of time over the past few months to make a directional shift in my career and that finally paid off! Although I expect the new company to start draining the blood out of me for the next couple of months - at least I'm done with all the studies and certifications and interviews for a while. Hoping for the better, with fingers crossed!

Anyways, below is the usage graph for the past five years, as shown by Drivvo, currently averaging 5850kms per year.

Glossary of all the rides so far:

• Break-in ride with the N650 around north Bangalore.
• Versys Bangalore Riders meet and breakfast ride.
• Breakfast ride with Versys Bangalore Riders to Maddur.
• Photoshoot ride with BHP'ian KarthikK and his beemer to Markonahalli Dam.
• Morning ride with the N650 to Dandiganahalli Dam.
• Team Bhp Breakfast Meet @ Chikballapur Kamat Upachar.
• Bangalore - Trivandrum - Bangalore An unofficial saddlesore - 1623 kms.
• Davangere breakfast ride - 550 kms.
• Chikmagalur - 530 kms.
• VBR ride to Gauribidanur - 200 kms.
• Krishnagiri Dam - 220 kms.
• Vani Vilas Sagar Dam - 400 kms.
• Bangalore - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Bisle and back to Bangalore - 550kms.
• Bangalore - Preeti Canteen, Birur (breakfast) - Bhadra Dam, Koppalli (Kavyasala) - Balehonnur - Chikmagalur - Bangalore - 750 kms.
• Yelagiri - 320 kms.
• VBR ride to Dandiganahalli Dam.
• Team Bhp Ride to Kodachadri - 920 kms.
• Anchetty loop bikers circuit - 250 kms.
• Shettihalli Church - 420 kms.
• Shoolagiri Breakfast Ride (Team Bhp group).
• Shettihalli Church (VBR anniversary ride) - 420 kms.
• Rameshwaram & Dhanushkodi (The Road - A Petrolhead group ride log - Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi) - 1300 kms. Overnighter.
• Ooty - 620 kms.
• Kudremukh - 662 kms.
• Vani Vilas Sagar Dam - 400 kms.
• Kodaikanal - 1015 kms.
• Breakfast ride with apartment group.
• Breakfast ride with Team BHP bikers.
• Team BHP Bikers meet.
• Iglur Dam - 400 kms.
• Team BHP meet at Radisson Salem.
• Team BHP Bikers meet at Shoolagiri Dam.
• Team BHP breakfast ride to Halli Mane.
• Breakfast ride to Hassan
• Breakfast ride to Salem.
• Team BHP breakfast ride to Mallaghata Kere.
• Bangalore - Sakleshpura - Subramanya - Madikeri - Bangalore - 650 kms.
• Yercaud - 500 kms.
• Bangalore - Trivandrum - Bangalore - 1513 kms.
• Breakfast ride to Salem.
• Mavanuru Malleshwara Temple.
• Coorg - 500kms.
• Bangalore to Trivandrum. ~750kms.
• Trivandrum - Coonoor - Ooty - Trivandrum - 1012 kms.

Few of the most memorable rides:

Bangalore - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Bisle and back to Bangalore with rbp.

From rain to even more rain leading to thick fog, to navigating potholes, broken roads, no roads, cattle, leech bites and what not! Surely was one of the best rides with the Versys till date, with member 'rbp' on his Ninja 650 for company.

Kudremukh ride with KarthikK.

662kms of one of the rain-soaked and beautiful monsoon rides ever done by me.

Bangalore - Sakleshpura - Subramanya - Madikeri - Bangalore with KarthikK and ebmrajesh.

Supposed-to-be monsoon ride in one of the hottest and most humid days in the recent past. And some beautiful corners and roads too.

Rameshwaram & Dhanushkodi.

Service Costs and Maintenance:

Battery finally gave up, possibly due to sitting idle - even though I used to top it up almost every other weekend. Due to lockdowns and restrictions - I got the one which seemed to be easily available - the locally made Crank1 in the same spec as OE. Fingers crossed how long this would last.

Another major expense was the coneset. I hadn't realised that the steering manners had degraded over time, and could also be one of the reasons that the bike didn't feel as enjoyable back in Jan. I had visited Motonerdz for a coolant change (originally for catching up with BHPian neil.jericho, but ended up changing coolant as well - from Motul to Engine ICE) and they were prompt to detect the coneset issue after a quick test ride. Got the same replaced after the part arrived in about a month's time.

For the past three years - the Versys has not visited Kawasaki service even once, and hopefully won't need in the future either. Kawasaki does have a decent service reputation (especially in Bangalore now with a new service head), but most of the FNGs do a much better job for the same asking rate. Owners don't need to depend on the authorized center, except maybe in case of accidents.

Overall, the service costs for five years has been decent. May be not exceptionally cheap like a Honda, but not heart-breaking like some of the Euros either. I have not stuck to the service manual per-se, and been a little on the conservative side for repairs - and the major expenses have been engine oil change, tyres, labour costs, GST!!!, chain and battery - most of these parts bearing similar expenses across brands.

Other major expenses - Accessories and Insurance:

Insurance is a major dead expense for such bikes, and not very different for the Versys. Almost 60k INR has been spent on insurance. Can't help it though - as panels can be very expensive in case of an accident and insurance cover is certainly a necessity. That said, I'm into the last year of zero dep cover, I guess.

Accessories cost has been very reasonable for the Versys (as per big bike standards). Many parts were available locally, thanks to the bike doing decent numbers and the bike is functionally and aesthetically good in my eyes without spending 3X-4X this amount (and some owners have!). Wont be surprised if many owners have a single item (Lights, hard luggage, etc) with a bigger amount than the total listed below:

Making friends:

Most importantly - the past five years have given a chance to get many new friends, and have some nice memories with existing ones. The biking community sure is more closely knit that the car guys.

Some have moved on, but will always be remembered.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 comes with a revised design that has been inspired by the bigger Versys 1000.

Kawasaki has revealed the 2022 Versys 650 at the ongoing EICMA 2021. The updated version of the motorcycle features multiple new elements.

The 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 comes with a revised design that has been inspired by the bigger and more powerful Versys 1000. The motorcycle features dual LED headlamps, LED turn indicators, and LED taillight. Apart from that, Kawasaki has also included a 4-way adjustable windshield.

In terms of electronics, the 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 comes equipped with a new fully digital instrument cluster that offers Bluetooth connectivity. The motorcycle also has traction control with 2 levels. It can also be completely switched off.

There is also the Tourer Plus model that comes fitted with LED fog lamps and hard case panniers with a total capacity of 56-litres. It also features knuckle guards, heated grips and a tank pad.

Powering the 2022 Kawasaki Versys 650 is the same 649cc, parallel-twin engine that makes 65 BHP and 61 Nm. It has a DOHC setup and 8 valves. For the transmission, there is a 6-speed gearbox.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 now comes with a BS6-compliant engine. The updated tourer is priced at Rs. 6.79 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Versys 650 BS6 is powered by an updated 649cc, twin-cylinder engine which now produces 65 BHP @ 8,500 rpm and 61 Nm @ 7,000 rpm. The BS6 version of the engine is slightly down on power (3 BHP) and torque (3 Nm) compared to the BS4 version. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Other than the engine, the bike does not feature any major changes. It rides on 41 mm upside down fork suspension with 150 mm travel and a monoshock at the rear with 145 mm of travel. It is equipped with twin 300 mm petal type discs with 2-piston calipers at the front and a 250 mm petal type disc with a single piston caliper at the rear.

The Versys 650 comes with a twin headlamp setup and an adjustable windscreen. It has wide handlebars and a stepped seat. The semi-digital instrument cluster comes with a gear indicator. The bike has a 21 litre fuel tank and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Versys 650 BS6 is available in a single Candy Lime Green colour.