Indian bikers have been having a lot of attention lately. The latest to join the wagon is the Kawasaki Versys.
Indian bikers have been having a lot of attention lately. Bike manufacturers are now opening up their global product range to them and the number of imported bikes available these days is unbelievable. It gets to the point of confusion but people who have their mind set to something will rejoice the available options.
The latest to join the wagon is the Kawasaki Versys. This is Kawasaki’s way to enter the touring bike segment. And what a warrior they have sent. It comes fully loaded with a 1000cc 4 cylinder engine producing 120hp along with a 102nm of torque; all this mated to a six-speed transmission makes the ride very spirited.
Design
The Versys follows the Kawasaki design philosophy of twin headlights in the front with an integrated air dam look. This bike comes with height adjustable visor which, is a real boon in the rain. This is a tall bike. There is no question about that. Short riders will have a very difficult time riding this bike. But tall riders will enjoy the benefit of literally looking cars in front to plan their overtaking manoeuvres. It carries the conventional instrument cluster with the tachometer in analog and the rest of the read outs in digital.
The seats are super comfortable and very supportive for long distance riding. The pillion seat is the widest I have ever seen on any motorcycle of this class. The rear grab rail has integrated recesses for saddle cases to be locked on. From the rear the bike does not look very attractive but the LED tail lights add a touch of finesse to the overall look of the bike.
The Ride
The bike is very easy from the moment go. Once in motion the weight of the bike is completely camouflaged and you don’t feel riding something this heavy and big. The bike comes with standard ABS and Kawasaki’s proprietary traction control system which has three settings which allow you to control the amount of interference you would like to have while riding.
The throttle is also electronic and there is an option of limiting the amount of power derived from the engine. All of the above together makes sure you have an enjoyable and controlled ride under any condition.
Verdict
This has to be one of the nicest rides I have had in a long time. The long suspension travel and the ability to adjust the rear damper give you the ultimate control over your riding comfort. Fortunately or unfortunately we got to test this bike in torrential rains and it was a breeze to ride.
None of the twitchiness you would find from either a sports bike or the laid back approach one gets from the cruisers. This is a very nimble to ride in the traffic but it feels completely at home on the highways. The engine is super refined and almost none of the vibrations seep through to the handle bars. All I can say is Kawasaki has really upped the game when it comes to tourers with the Versys 1000.
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