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Kawasaki brings its versatile Versys to the U.S.

By Denny Thrush, photos by Adam Campbell

It has suspension action borrowed from the off-road world, but it's no dual-sport. It has an inverted fork and 17-inch tires, but it's no sport bike. It's comfortable for all-day rides, but it's not a touring bike.

And it has a name that requires some explanation.

Its Kawasaki's Versys, a model that's been available in Canada and Europe but is now coming to the United States (except for California) as a 2008 model.

What's a Versys? The name comes from "versatility" plus "system," Kawasaki explains. Smash those words together and you get Versys. Kind of like the way Kawasaki has combined various elements of different motorcycles to create an extremely competent streetbike.

The Versys starts with the same liquid-cooled, 649cc vertical-twin engine found in the Ninja 650R, but retuned to provide more low-end torque and roll-on power than in its full-fairing cousin, the better for handling city traffic.

The steel trellis frame positions the rear shock in the same lay-down position as on the 650R, but the resemblance ends there. Most noticeable is the additional bracing on the sides of the engine (similar to Kawasaki's even more radically styled Z1000).

Kawasaki fitted the Versys with a Showa rear shock that it says combines the initial softness of dual-sport suspension with the firmer compression damping of sportbike suspension as the shock moves through its range. The shock is adjustable for preload and rebound damping.

In the front, the Versys carries a 41mm inverted fork with adjustable preload and rebound damping.

Other details, both visual and hidden, show that Kawasaki put some time and effort and R&D funds into the Versys. Let your eye follow the line of the lay-down shock on the right side of the motorcycle, and you naturally keep going to appreciate the attractive gull-wing swingarm. The underslung muffler looks up-to-the-minute stylish. The fairing is distinctive, which means some will love it and some will hate it, but the adjustable (with a wrench) windscreen raises the odds that more riders will find a level of wind protection that suits them. The gauges include an analog tachometer and a digital display that includes a fuel gauge and dual tripmeters.

Features that are less obvious but very welcome include the engine balancer to keep vibes under control and the cassette-style six-speed transmission.

Overall, the styling struck me as a sort of cross between a standard motorcycle and a supermoto. Fit and finish is far better than I expected for a motorcycle at the low end of the new-bike price spectrum.

Kawasaki introduced the Versys to the U.S. press in San Diego. The "passion red" paint slathered all over the bikes made it clear this was not a motorcycle intended to blend into the scenery. The color gives the Versys an aggressive look. But could a relatively small and inexpensive motorcycle live up to that image?

The answer, I'm happy to say, is "Yes."

The linear power and torque of the retuned 649cc twin makes slicing through San Diego traffic a breeze, and remains fun once we're out in the canyons. Vertical twins of the old days weren't known for being smooth, but this balanced twin of today is. Shifting the six-speed, cassette-style transmission was equally smooth.

Enjoying the curvy backroads on the way to Julian, I'm learning to love the suspension. The initial softness is welcome when we hit the rippled pavement on some of the old country roads, but is still firm enough for fast riding in the tight, curvy sections.

After lunch, my mind shifts from the Versys' performance to its comfort. Approaching the bike for the afternoon ride, I'm still amazed at how compact it is. Fortunately, that doesn't mean it's uncomfortable.

The two-part seat and the upright riding position remain comfortable throughout the day's ride. The windshield does a great job of channeling the wind around you while the neat under-engine exhaust keeps heat and noise down low and away from the rider. It all adds up to a motorcycle comfortable enough to do some serious traveling. My daily commute to work is nearly 75 miles one way, and the Versys struck me as a good way to soak up that level of daily mileage.

Kawasaki already has a line of accessories designed specifically for the Versys, including hard saddlebags and top case, an optional seat that lowers the height, alternative windshields and more.

Now put this package all together and you get the Versys. A motorcycle that doesn't cost a lot but also doesn't look cheap. And most important of all, it's still fun to ride.

Motorcycles like the Versys have long been popular in Europe, but in the U.S. markets, anything other than the extremes of the sport, cruiser and touring markets tend to get overlooked and remaindered in the showroom. Kawasaki is taking a chance by bringing the Versys to the United States, but one reason the company took that chance is because of the number of phone calls and e-mails from U.S. riders who saw this motorcycle on sale in Europe and Canada and wanted in on the fun themselves.

Now it's up to those buyers to come through and buy the Versys they asked Kawasaki to bring into the country. If they don't, and the Versys suffers the same neglect that previous do-it-all motorcycles have met in recent years, it won't be Kawasaki's fault. The Versys may cost under $7,000, but the fun is included at no extra charge.

2008 Kawasaki Versys
Engine	Liquid-cooled parallel twin, four valves per cylinder
Displacement	649cc
Bore x stroke	83.0mm x 60.0mm
Carburetion	Digital fuel injection, two 38mm Keihin throttle bodies
Compression ratio	10.6:1
Transmission	Six-speed
Final drive	Chain
Tires	120/70-17 front; 160/60-17 rear
Front brake	Dual 300mm petal discs with two-piston calipers
Rear brake	Single 220mm petal disc with single-piston caliper
Rake /Trail	25 degrees/4.3 inches
Front suspension	41mm inverted fork, adjustable preload and rebound damping; 5.9 inches of travel
Rear suspension	Single offset shock, adjustable preload and rebound damping; 5.7 inches of travel
Seat height	33.1 inches
Wheelbase	55.7 inches
Fuel capacity	5.0 gallons
Dry weight	399 pounds
MSRP	$6,899