Road testing the 2016 Kawasaki 650 Versys ABS LT

2016 Kawasaki 650 Versys ABS LT

Several of the guys I ride with have Suzuki V-Strom 650s or are previous “Wee Strom” owners. The Suzuki 650 is a popular motorcycle that I am sure is tough to sell against. With the 2016 Versys 650 ABS LT, Kawasaki have built a bike that is a serious challenger in the class.

Why 650cc

First of all, why 650cc? Many insurance companies have a 700cc cut off for their price structure. A 650cc bike avoids the jump in price of the 700cc-1000cc class. For many riders the increased cost of insuring bikes like the Triumph 800, BMW F800, Honda NC750X, Yamaha FJ900, put them out of consideration. If you can buy a bike like the Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS LT that costs less to buy as well as less to insure and it still has the features of the 800cc-900cc…that is a huge incentive to own one.

Kawasaki have built a number of different bikes around the 650cc twin engine. In the Versys 650 ABS LT, the pedigree of the 650 engine is impeccable. Kawasaki 650 engines “own” the Lightweight Twins road racing classes at the Isle Of Man TT races throughout Britain and Ireland. In North America, Kawasaki 650 twin based dirt trackers regularly win Flat Track racing against the ‘mighty’ Harley XR750s and everybody else who comes out to play in AMA Flat Track and Flat Track Canada.

An impressive standard package

The 2016 Versys 650 ABS LT I tested was a nicely broken in version in the semi-gloss dark orange colour. The Versys was re-styled last year and the bike is pretty attractive. While the older version was a bit ‘odd’ looking, we got a lot of positive comments on its looks while I had it.

The Versys 650 ABS LT is a pretty impressive package on the road. Riding solo or two up, the bike was powerful enough to keep up with the 105 HP bike we rode with. No it isn’t a sport bike but it made good power without annoying vibration up to 7500 rpm. The vibration above 7500 rpm wasn’t annoying. Two up cruising at 120 KPH…no problem.

My test riding took place over four hot and humid days riding two up covering everything from loose gravel roads, twisty two lane back roads and four lane highways. My test Versys 650 had the optional tail trunk, night lights and accessory 12V outlet. The full range of accessories also includes; heated grips, gear indicator on the dash, frame sliders, a tank bag and a lower height seat.

The standard features of the Versys 650 ABS LT really make the bike a “deal” for buyers. The Kawasaki has standard hard saddle/side bags that are among the best I have ever used. Better than the ones on my BMW (who likely invented hard bags). The bags are easy to use, easy to remove and will take a full face helmet. Two gold stars to Kawasaki for bags that both perform and look good! The Versys 650 ABS LT also comes with a height adjustable wind screen. Easy to adjust without tools too! I tried it at different heights. Buffeting behind the screen once adjusted was minimal. The bike also comes with hand guards. Not much benefit when riding in hot weather but a bonus in the cold or wet.

Suspension adjustability

One of the standard features that deserves special mention is the suspension. At this price point, you don’t expect suspension adjustability. The Versys has a nice big easy to use rear shock preload adjuster. It also has an adjustable 41mm USD or ‘inverted’ front fork. Mr. Kawasaki did not cheap out on the suspension. Set it up for solo blitzing a back road or two up riding on the 4 lane highway. The stock setting worked well too. Add in a well-padded seat that allowed me to ride all day without getting an aching butt.

A great clutch

I should also mention the great clutch the bike has. It is progressive, smooth and is a nice easy pull on the lever (try a Ducati clutch and see the difference). None of the dreaded ‘snatch’ that makes a smooth pull away difficult for new riders.

Sporty tires and stopping power

The Versys 650 ABS LT comes with 17” wheels front and back. This means that it can be fitted with sporty street tires as well as available semi-off road tires. Your choice is dependent on what kind of riding you do. The Suzuki V–Strom arrives with a skinny 19” front wheel that really limits your tire choice if most of your riding is really on paved roads. The 2016 Versys 650 ABS LT also comes with twin front disc brakes and ABS. I didn’t need to do a panic stop but the bike stops nicely enough. Hint here from my local dealer: upgrade to a set of EBC or SBS brake pads to improve stopping power even more.

Centralized exhaust system

Like many of the newest motorcycles in the market, the Versys 650 ABS LT has a centralized exhaust system tucked under the engine. My passenger was happy to be able to enjoy the day long rides without the loud roar of exhaust noise. However, it means no center stand.

A few options

My demo came equipped with a few options. It had the optional rear parcel rack and tail trunk. The trunk worked as it was supposed to without costing the $1800.00+ BMW seems to demand for their accessory trunks. The tail trunk worked well enough with one button to open and the other to remove it. Easy enough.

The bike also came with night time running lights. Kawasaki call them LED Fog lamps. I was not a huge fan of aftermarket running lights. The optional lights on the Versys really lit up the front of the bike for ongoing cars at night. This alone makes this option a big plus for your safety. Hard for the car drivers to say “I didn’t see you” when you have these lights on.

Adventure touring advantages

The Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS LT is a bike that fits in that genre of Adventure Touring or pseudo Adventure touring. Adventure touring styled bikes have a few things that make them attractive to buyers. The longer travel suspension soaks up road imperfections better. Sitting up higher than the little econo-boxes on the road allows you to see further ahead is a plus.

Most Adventure styled bikes have saddle bags and tail trunks available either direct from the manufacturer or from the aftermarket. They generally have a more ‘relaxed’ riding position that allows you to ride longer. As the Versys 650 ABS LT is more of an Adventure styled bike, it has many of the features of the adventure bikes without the disadvantages of it being too high, too top heavy, too ‘skittish’ on paved roads and too limited tire choices.

It's worth noting that the Versys 650 ABS LT seat height was still a stretch for me with a 31” inseam (79 CM) to climb onto from the ground. My less than glamorous “splits” getting onto the bike were a source of amusement for my wife and the other couple who rode with us. Sure I could flat foot it at stops, but climbing on and off would have been better if my inseam was closer to 33”. The optional lower seat would likely have solved this mounting ‘dance’.

Versys 650 vs. V-Strom

I visited a multi-line dealer and had an opportunity to talk to the guys who sell both the Suzuki V-Strom and the Versys 650 ABS LT. While neither bike are the best seller in the shop, both are considered to be pretty good bikes. The Versys 650 sells at about $10,000 or about a grand cheaper than the V-Strom.

While the V-Strom buyer may be more focused on doing a fair amount of off-road riding compared to the Versys buyer, both bikes have about the same horsepower (around 69 HP) and Torque (64 MN) and weight 470 lbs.

Adventure seeking delight

My recent riding has been on my 800cc BMW, a 1000cc sport bike & a 900cc café racer. I was impressed with the Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS LT and found it every bit as much fun to ride as the bigger bikes. With respectable power and a super standard package, this bike is a great deal for Adventure seeking riders.

P.S. The passenger report on the Versys 650 ABS LT is coming!