Faults:

Engine vibrations are not significant but are noticeable at high speeds.

Electrical system failures, especially in the stator, prevent the battery from charging properly.

Valve wear, this caused breakages due to excessive heat.

The seat is somewhat uncomfortable for long journeys; in my case, this required modifications.

General Comments:

The Versys is undoubtedly a very versatile motorcycle. It's not a high-tech German beast, nor an Italian beauty. It's Japanese practicality at its finest.

The Versys's design incorporates elements from different categories. I'd say it's a blend of a sport-touring and an adventure bike. Its long-travel suspension offers greater comfort when venturing off-road.

I always dedicate a paragraph to discussing ergonomics and riding posture because I'm particularly sensitive to these aspects. My chronic back and neck pain is to blame.

The 650 offers a similar, more upright riding position, although the footpegs are slightly higher and further back. This results in a sportier and more dynamic riding position. All the controls are right where you expect them to be. If you know Kawasaki, you'll feel right at home.

The Versys's twin-cylinder engine is a high-revving parallel twin. It can reach 10,000 rpm if desired. Maximum power is achieved at 8,500 rpm and maximum torque at 7,000 rpm, so there's no point in revving it beyond 8,000 rpm.

The 650 feels more comfortable in the mid-range. It's also in this range where the engine sounds best. I enjoy the engine most between 3,500 and 6,000 rpm. Fuel consumption is quite good. The average is around 5 liters per 100 km, so a full tank (21 liters) goes a long way.

The front fork is a fully adjustable 41mm Showa SFF-BP (Separate Function Fork – Big Piston). The rear features a monoshock with adjustable preload. This setup provides a very smooth and comfortable ride in most situations.

The 650's brakes are up to the task. Up front, it features two 300mm discs with Nissin twin-piston calipers, while at the rear, it boasts a robust 250mm disc with a Nissin single-piston caliper. Despite their modest specifications, this system delivers impressive stopping power.

The gearbox deserves its own paragraph; it's the bike's biggest drawback.

It has to be the clunkiest gearbox I've ever seen. Especially when it was new, shifting gears required so much effort that I thought it was defective. Finding neutral also required a bit of magic; if you didn't press hard enough, it would stay in second, but if you pressed too hard, it would jump straight to first… but finding neutral was impossible. Luckily, it improved after the break-in period, but it's still the clunkiest and most imprecise gearbox I've ever used.

Except for that last point, the bike is super economical and fun to ride. Being one of Kawasaki's most basic and cheapest bikes, it's a reliable motorcycle that gives few problems.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I got this to replace a Buell Ulysses 2008 model, which I sold because the offer was too good to pass up!!

I was very disappointed in the handling and braking on the Versys; the brakes just felt wooden (no feel) and the suspension was not very adjustable; it has adjustments front and rear, but the front forks are only adjustable on one leg; a strange setup.

The motor was tuned more towards the low end, and did not seem to have much on the top end. I thought with the four valves per cylinder head, it would have more.

Maybe it was not as bad as I think, but after riding the Buell, the Versys just did not come close to the handling or the brakes I was used to.

Faults:

KLE650AF Versys

No defects thus far. The chain lube applied at the 600 and 4000 mile service spattered on the rear wheel rim and chain guard. Messy, but no other issues.

General Comments:

Great handling on the grooved pavement in San Diego. The 2009 DR650SE it replaced was superb on asphalt and fire roads, but would shake terribly on the grooved pavement. I put 70 miles per day on the bike... mostly freeway. The Versys is a very competent freeway bike.