VOL. 52 ISSUE 28 JULY 14, 2015 P57
dergeared and revving too high
at sixth gear cruising speeds,
but that means there's plenty
of bottom- to mid-range punch,
even if the fuelling from a closed
throttle can be a little abrupt. It's
not snatchy by any means, but
from totally closed you definitely
get a bit of a jolt when you first
crack the gas. Once underway
however, Kawasaki's delight-
fully linear fuelling found on the
Z1000 comes to the fore with
the Versys, making the ride
almost vacuum cleaner-like
smooth.
There's two power modes at
your disposal, the lower of the
two offering 75 percent of full
power, and if you do opt for that
mode it'll feel like the Versys
has been castrated, so I didn't
bother much with it.
You can strap along at a
decent clip on a Versys, how-
ever, push the suspension too
far and you soon find its outer
reaches. This is a bike designed
for comfortable miles, not hard
scratching, and if you ride too
hard the Versys will wallow and
protest and become altogether
a pain to live with. You can't
climb all over a Versys like a
nakedbike in corners; it's too
(Top) Remote preload adjuster is
a handy add-on for quick changes
when two-up touring. (Middle)
Traction and engine maps are
changed by the little grey switch.
Looks very clinical, but it works.
(Bottom) Everything you need and
nothing you don't. The Versys'
head office is easy to navigate, if
a little bland.
It's a big ol' thing,
so you'll never find
yourself cramped
and 10-hour days
in the saddle are a
breeze.
