@@okolokolokolokolokolo941 I want to cry. I own one 2012 and it cost 10.000 USD, used with a lot of miles in my country (Argentina) for a new one I have to pay 19.000 USD! For a bmw1250 42.000 USD! Insane!
The Versys 650 took me on many beautiful trips... 6000 km and more. It never broke down, it just got there. Even up to Stella Alpina. :-) Drove it 7 years with only the engine protection and short levers as extras, otherwise the stock bike is already great. And yes once loaded a bit the suspension works great.
If you want to soften the ride of your rear shock on a 1st Generation Versys 650, there is a small black dial located at the bottom of the rear shock spring. Turn it with your thumb and index finger to adjust the rear shock stiffness.
I've always said and believed "Adventure is not about which bike you own, but what you do with it" Seen many who pose with Tigers and GSs' but sweat on the idea of taking it off the highway or proper offroading, and then there are folks with 90ccs, 100ccs going up the Volcanoes with puny bikes, puny wheels.
@@TheGeoShocker Until you cross 16,000 feet altitude or need to do a 800 miles/day highway run, everything is easy with a smaller bike. Been there, done that.
Got a crf1000L at the moment . Ussually doing on road stuff like highway en b-roads . But going more and more off road in the weekends . The off-road roads that I take can be done with even a nc750x for the most of it , but with a bit more struggle too . As long as you don't have supersport type or a low custom bike , you can pretty much take every bike off-road . Nakeds in general are high enough for most country roads and pretty fun too ride . It's when you get more into the woods and narly terrains that a more off-road oriented bike will be more capable off handling the surface where the shocks can do most of the work instead of you're body . Depense on what you like and do with the bike in general . As long as you have fun on 2/3 wheels , no worries ;-)
@@missk1942 I didn’t do much off roading with it. Only some rocky and dirt roads. It’s was fine. But for hardcore off-roading you’d want something else, like a KLR-650.
2016 Versys 650 rider here - it's a do-it-all and have fun while doing it . Truly a Versatile System that can only be beaten if youre willing to pay significantly more.
The Versys was my first non-cruiser motorcycle and it has been fun to use for off-pavement exploration and back-road touring. Like you said, if you understand where it can and can’t easily go it can be a fun alternative to more expensive or conventional adventure touring bikes. Added bonus, the Versys is an absolute BLAST on winding canyon tarmac and is an extremely nimble commuter.
Hello Matthew, Can you tell me a bit more about that? Where did you source the wheel, who makes it and what tire choice is the result of that modification? Also, how is on-road behavior after that mod? As it stands, the stock versys is a hooligan machine to my mind in that it behaves like a Ninja on stilts when on well-paved road. I wonder if you notice a significant change in that.
i too would also really appreciate a quick tidbit on how you updraged it to a 19 front wheel. did it effect the abs? did you have to modify the front forks at all?????
I have the Africa Twin n the Versys n I feel the Versys is little more comfortable on highways or good roads, whereas the story is entirely different on off roads.
you can adventure on every bike just do some preparations. I wend from Germany to China on a Honda NC750X including the Pamir Highway between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and back without any issues :) and I had a lot of offloading on my trip. (Videos are coming)
Nicely Done ! My Versys is far better off road, than it ever gets credit for. I’m very pleased with it. I ride it more slowly & cautiously, than I would a GS but, I make time on the tar & soak up the scenery, while off road, so slow is good.
I just bought a new 2019 Versys 650 LT. Its the right bike for "My Adventure". about 80% fighting the concrete jungle followed by 20% of fire trail and camping. Its the perfect bike as sometimes my camping is 1500 miles down the freeway. That 17" front wheel handles it like a champ!
I, like many other riders, found the rear shock absorber quite stiff. So, I did a small test. Filled two plastic bags each with 15 kgs of sand and put them into my Dirtsack saddle bags. Then, 5 kgs of sand into a smaller bag and that into the Rynox tail bag. Finally, 4 kgs of sand into another bag and that into the track bag. Turned the preload knob by 14 clicks and then took the bike off roading on diet roads and terrible tarmac. The change was magical. Where earlier, it was trying to throw me off, now, it was like a consummate and real off road bike. The only limiting factors were the stock Dunlops D222 tyres that are superb on smooth blacktop roads but really scary on anything less than that. Change to TIMSUNs and this bike will be perfect.
And yes, Brett, I applied your feet positioning techniques during this test ride. They are just perfect to get the max from the bike. Thanks for that detailed video.
I have an '09 versys and I absolutely love it. I need to throw on some skid plates and crash bars to really get off the beaten path but even unmodified, it's a blast to ride on unpaved roads.
Good point mate - I believe people think that in order to go “Off-road” ( usually meaning a dirt or metal road ) one requires something that is “Purpose built” - otherwise, how can a bike off-road? I rode many NASTY....heavily metaled ( Kiwi’s call gravel metal...) roads in NZ, mainly in Forestry areas where golf ball sized stone is the norm ( due to the large trucks ) - on an old Katana 650 shaftie. Initially it wasn’t by choice - having taken a wrong turn into what I thought were nicely graveled roads - Yeah, nah. I soon found though, if one gives the bike it’s “head” and let it kinda wander through the gravel as opposed to fighting it, the ol road bike became quite happy. This became quite the norm back in the day, as I sought out nasty roads to fine tune my metal road skills. Up a trail? Obviously no...but it kinda high-lights that if I’d have had a Versy back then, I’d have been over the moon. Plusher, more travel blah blah. The smaller front hoop as you rightly mention, becomes a factor when you want to roll over / through things, same principle as a Mountain Bike 29’er vs a 27. May not seem much, but from 27-29 is HUGE as far as rolling over obstacles etc. But, the 27 is doable and many many riders prefer them. Same thing with this Kwaka...it just means changing ones finesse when using the smaller front hoop. Go slower, pick ones lines and be more mindful of where things are. Your Beemer must have cost a packet - Yet bikes like the little Himalayan or CB500X - can go all the places a $20-30K bike can. People get too tied up in - Bigger and heavier and higher is required. It’s such a crock to be honest. After belting around the same NZ roads and single track on a DR650 - I realized its how you use the tool that you have. Sure, the DR was great going quicker over nasty things, but I can take any of the 3 lower end bikes above, over the same ground - just a tad slower. Yes, the Versys will never be an Africa Twin - but as many people both male and female have proven over the years, one doesn’t NEED...an Africa Twin / KTM or mega-buck Beemer to go to the same places the so called “Purpose” built bikes can. At least you do point out - A person can accomplish the same thing, just more experience and wisdom is required. Nice Video series by the way. Cheers.
True, I've never met an owner of an Africa Twin that actually rode hard enough to benefit from the offroad suspension, bigger rims, etc. Throwing a few panniers on and cruising slow can be done just as easily on a bike half the price.
My thoughts egzactly! In my opinion, these days bikes are almost over specialized! That's why I bought Triumph Street Scrambler and went on my first off road adventure and it took anything I threw at it with ease! And when I'm about to be stuck (because of my lack of offroad experience) I just put both of my feet firmly on the ground and stand holding a bike like a bicycle! And when I get back in town, such a great commuter!
Nicely said. A purpose built bike will always be better, but my first motorcycle at 19 was a Honda GL500 and to be fair, it did great in my summers riding in dirt and gravel in Northwest Montana, because I didn’t know any better. When I did go down, much of it was metal so I just bend back into place. I love my modern ADV, but if you accept the limitations and slow down, any bike will do for light off-roading.
I watched this one a long time ago, and just today circled around to it again. I picked up a 2009 Versys 650 a while back for a song and gave it some TLC. I was going to flip it, but the market softened so I kept it longer than planned. Then I got the off-road bug and thought, "why not?" I up-sized the front tire (Shinko 705 120-90-17), easier than a 19" wheel upgrade, but same diameter increase. Slower turn in on the road, but made an incredible improvement off road. I started hitting local trails in CO with my 'ADV trainer' Versys, but I was always chomping at the bit to get a "real" adventure bike. Just in the last couple days decided to keep going with the V for a while longer, and do some of the things it needs (skid plate, bar risers (thanks for your stuff on that too) heated grips and some soft luggage). Then just today I found this vid again, and I wanted to say thank you. Your content is gold, and so encouraging. One day I'll get the "real" ADV bike, but for now I'll keep learning, and let the less-than-ideal bike push me to be a better rider. To that end, I hope to show up in a class soon--maybe on my big-footed V. :)
Right-on , Steve! I bought my V from Paulson Motorsports in Olympia. Gave the bike to my son a few months ago. I'm on a 790 ADV now and it's a world of difference off-road. The Versys is a better bike in the twisties though. But if you can master the Versys off-road you'll be able to ride anything :) - Tim
Can Confirm. Took mine up to Deadhorse AK with a couple of KLRs and it went everywhere those 2 were able to fit. just a nice set of dual sport tires and you are set. It has plenty of power too, and if you take out the OEM exhaust, you can gain about 2-3 inches of clearance in the back. I just wish i had attached a self oiling system.
I ride a 1gen with 80/20 tires and it's a good bike. One thing to keep in mind is with the twin disk brakes up front it is very easy to lock up the brakes on any loose surface. When I ride gravel I brake with the rear a bit more which is sometimes hard to remember especially when panicked braking or in tight slow stuff.
Alternatives, yes Bret, It's about time casting light on alternative ADV bikes such as the Versys 650. I should add that I am a proud owner of a 2015 650 Versys and that my comments could be biased lol Now, sadly my ADV clubs-bikers in my area and so was I; thinking that a 17" cast wheels are only for the street. Well, it turned out I am able to ride on fire trails not on rocky single tracks, but the ADV members ask me to switch my Versey to a valid ADV -funny to funny. Well, now that I'm not an ADV club member anymore, only because I didn't switch my ride (dooo), this vid comes just in time to educated and broadened some of the ADV community narrow perceptions thank you, Bret! Question; - went through a lot of different moto tire profiles; what tire and psi are you using? - better skilled and trained, indeed it's top-heavy; what kind of drills should I do besides signing up? Signing up, wishful thinking, I'm in MN and its a haul to your camps uuuhh. Good to have you and your willingness to share and give - forward.
The kenda 705's are popular but there are so many factors in getting the tire that fits your needs. I almost always run full street pressures. adventuremotorcycle.com/bikes/bikes-project-2008-kawasaki-adversys-new/all-pages
@@BretTkacs Those are Shinko 705s, of course...great cheap tires on the pavement... I think Bret's a fan of running street PSI, but if you're on dirt long enough to justify time taken to air back up, 20 psi will transform my bikes with tube type tires; 25ish PSI on tubeless tires also very helpful in softening the ride.
Nice drumming on intro. Thanks for showing your cooking gear and for the pitch at eating well in motorcycle travel. Interesting proof in the pudding that Versys 650 works in adventure role. Thank you
I remember when a 400 Can Am felt like riding a tank compared to my 350 Can Am which handled like a dream anywhere you wanted to go off-road. While I can't imagine riding any 650, 800 or 1250 for that matter in any serious off road conditions, I admit that the newer bikes in that category are getting better and better every year - but still quite heavy IMHO.
Every weekend I'm more and more impressed by my Versys-X 300. I went from trails to street to trails to street in the Ouachita and Ozark National Forest. It has no problem at all keeping up with a couple BMW GS1200s
@mototrek pro tip: add the egg then put the tortilla on the raw egg. When it cooks it cooks to the tortilla. Flip and add cheese. Fold and flip. No mess super easy breakfast quesadilla.
ı am riding Versys 650. Yes ı know It is not an adventure bike but i really want to climb the Great mountains of Turkey with it. I need to improve my skills. I always ride on pave till now.
I love riding my 08 , sometimes mistaken to be a bmw , year round in Scandinavia and central Europe ( no car ) . Sometimes we take a spin on harsher roads/tracks , currently knubby tyres. Just kinda miss a bigger front wheel though cuz I love getting off-road skills .Has been used for local and long distance commuting ( 500km - 2000 km ) autumn and winter . A shame the accessory market ain't bigger for it. I know a safety night guard , covering multiple buildings that uses newer model for duty. And whatever they say it's not ugly it's in between styles looking and riding badass anyway.
excllant tips espiecally puttin turnbuckles on the pannier rack to reinforce it but now im hungry en jonesen for a motorcycle ride 😅 good vid thanx !! long live the kik stik motorcycles feel much mor independent with that kick starter manufactures leave it along its on there for a reason
Good choice on those Shinko 705 tires. I've ridden those things through hell and back on 3 different bikes. Hands down the best touring tire if you plan to do some gravel/light dirt, even if you don't factor in the price.
I had a Versys that I had for ten years and I agree with most of what you say, I think the bash plate is overkill but the thing I disagree with is the foot pegs, they are not pot metal and in ten years of standing up on them I found them comfortable and sturdy, mind you I never wore plastic boots either, if you have them cleated pegs are a must
Exhaust pipe had... a little bulge to the ground in the center. Not sure if it was a stock thing or from my custom pipe. Most of the time the terrain was firstly too hard for the front wheel long before the "Clanking".
And that's right. No matter what Bike you ride, there will always be a better one. But i know, if you do the right modifications and if you are aware of what your bike is able to do to a sertain point, then you will be able have lots of fun with it. What really helps for the beginning: Good tires. So i totally agree with you. And btw the breakfastszene made me wonder, i really thought i clickt on the wrong video.
This guy walks like a cowboy from the wild wild west. He just upgraded his one horse to 69 horsepower motorcycle. Love the video. I'm trying to sell my Honda Shadow and put in some extras to get a Kawasaki Versys 650! Video liked!
Hello, how are you ? you could make a video talking and testing the versys x 300, I just bought one and would like to see how it behaves in the hands of someone more experienced in ADV, Well I'm going to start traveling now. Today I watched almost all of your videos, Congratulations on the production !!
Bret, thanks for making this video! I bought a Versys 650, and after owning it for 6 months and solely using it on-road, I was beginning to doubt it's adventure and off-road capabilities. I was actually surfing some videos once about the V650 off road and found a video that you commented on commending the guy who was riding it. So to see a video by you going in depth about this bike is great! I want to do a 19" front tire mod and convert it to spoked tires, what do you think of that? Is that a wise decision? Didn't want to do 21" because I do use it vastly more on a highway/road basis.
Here is your dream versys... i ridde this one on the east coast a bit. adventuremotorcycle.com/bikes/bikes-project-2008-kawasaki-adversys-new/all-pages
I switched to a v strom 650, after a year of trail riding off road and gravel, the versys just can't cut, it's probably the worst in its class, hence why I switched to the strom Wich is loads better for my needs
*One important note* Buy a 2010-2014 versys as shown for ADV'ing. The other models have the indicators lights placed lower, thus prone to breaking when dropped.
The Versys 650 has "fully adjustable" front and rear suspension. The rear spring has adjustable ride height and an adjustment dial for the ride stiffness. Even the 1st Generation Versys has fully adjustable front and rear suspension. Idk why the ride is too stiff for Tim. 🤷♂️
Damn, now I'm hungry. Team Green needs to get on the ADV train and build a more off-road capable bike with that motor. I havent looked, but does Rally Raid make parts/conversions for this as they do the CB500X? Really appreciate the production values Brent!
Good outline on how to make this bike trail ready, zero mention of the most important component...you guessed it, the tires!!!! What are you recommending??
I have always put Shinko 705's on the Versys, Greg. They're a good balanced tire for mostly road riding with some dirt and gravel too. No good in mud or deep sand.
After riding all 3, (Versys, Vstrom, BMW) the BMW F650GS I believe is superior in every way (if you change the stock seat). Plus it is actually 800cc but labeled as a 650. Better on the highway and off-road, and it's big brother, the R1200GS is a legend.
It is easy to take a cheap Ninja 650 or Versys and build a great adventure bike for very little money. Doing so was developing into something of a cottage industry in the ADV Rider circles.
V-Strom 650 will get you just that much further for the same reasons the Versys is a likeable machine. 19" is a decent compromise, tire sizes 150/70 rear and 110/80 front are as ubiquitous as can be, knobby tire selection abundant. V-twin engine is much more soul-stirring and has a lot more grunt for the size.
You should do a video about how to deal with encountering wildlife while on an adventure ride. Whenever I'm out in the wilderness I can't help but think about what if a bear is standing in the middle of the trail around the next corner. Or a moose!
I think it's worth mentioning that removing the water from a food(dehydration) does not make it less good for you..or even less tasty.. it simply means you're not carrying around extra water weight.
Yes, Shawn, but the Honda has greater suspension travel and a larger front wheel, both helpful for off-road travel. Much more $$ than the Versys though.
Highly recommend the Rally Raid Engine Guard for the CB500X. Beat the shinola out of my guard on an 11,000 mile trip round the US recently, including the TAT. Guard saved the engine, multiple times. The CB is another "not an Adventure Bike", that actually is, and does a great job of it too.
Awesome, that’s actually my bike, too! It’s doing well so far. I’m also interested about the tires on the versus in the video. I have the scorpion trail 2 on mine right now, but they could be a little bit more offroady.
You're the best out here, Bret...a true educator. Keep up the great work...you are needed. (From the crazy old guy that lost his mind and bought his 1rst bike at 68. Had to be a GSA R1200!)
I think the best adventure bikes for me come with 17-19" alloy wheels and 7-9" of ground clearance, because I ride 95% pavement and 5% dirt/gravel road. I don't plan on clearing logs or boulders on my Adventure MC. I'll use my dual sport for that.
Great video and agree with the comments on the mini cooking segment! Also, can I ask the name of the drummer doing the background music - love the clean and crisp jazzy sound. Thanks!
I'm not by far an expert but to me 650-900cc is the sweet spot that gives you good gas milage and comfortable highway cruising speed. If yo have a bike that gets 30mpg, you better off getting a car. After all, the whole idea of riding a motorcycle is cheap transportation. At least thats how I see it. Have a good day!
There is, and I really wanted one at first. My previous bike had a center stand I used all the time. After 3 years with the Versys I am comfortable without a center stand. I have a paddock stand at home, and I carry an aluminum pipe I can use on the road to lift up the rear end at the spindles. - Tim
Am am looking through these great MOTOTREK videos to try and find the manufacturer of the foot brake that has two "levels" to it. Seems like a great idea for accommodating both standing and sitting positions. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
And or the KLR650, a GS is iconic....please half the people I know with a GS wont get it in the dirt let alone dirty, and the other half don't ride theirs. GET IT MUDDY!
@@RedNeckBiker109 For folks who haven't tried the DR650...it feels a lot like an actual dirt bike. Even fun on singletrack. Very different than my 1st-gen KLR.
One guy go through south America with old versys. But put 150/70 17 off road tyres, on front and rear wheels....I think is it an excellent idea if you don't have a 19" wheel. And like that need only 1 tire carrying
How is that ram phone holder held above the speedometer/tach? That's exactly where I want to mount my phone, but haven't found anything on the market for mounting it there.
I had an 07 versys 650! I miss it but the brakes and suspension are not even close to the bmw or ktm. i wonder if those could be replaced, leaving you with an amazing and reliable bike.
i ride versys it's an awesome touring bike - you pick it up cheap and spend the rest to see the world. Great value
Exactly!
Ben Walker it's not ugly
absolutely! i took it from Gibraltar to the north cape :)
@@benjirides218 i wish it also costs 2k usd here. It costs $6k used (30k miles)
@@okolokolokolokolokolo941 I want to cry. I own one 2012 and it cost 10.000 USD, used with a lot of miles in my country (Argentina) for a new one I have to pay 19.000 USD! For a bmw1250 42.000 USD! Insane!
For 90 seconds i forget about the versys and lust for that tortilla
The Versys 650 took me on many beautiful trips... 6000 km and more. It never broke down, it just got there. Even up to Stella Alpina. :-)
Drove it 7 years with only the engine protection and short levers as extras, otherwise the stock bike is already great. And yes once loaded a bit the suspension works great.
Thanks for the feedback, Jean!
If you want to soften the ride of your rear shock on a 1st Generation Versys 650, there is a small black dial located at the bottom of the rear shock spring. Turn it with your thumb and index finger to adjust the rear shock stiffness.
I ride a V-Strom and I approve this message.
I've always said and believed "Adventure is not about which bike you own, but what you do with it"
Seen many who pose with Tigers and GSs' but sweat on the idea of taking it off the highway or proper offroading,
and then there are folks with 90ccs, 100ccs going up the Volcanoes with puny bikes, puny wheels.
Those 90-100ccs are actually way easier to handle off-road, so it's not surprising.
@@TheGeoShocker Until you cross 16,000 feet altitude or need to do a 800 miles/day highway run, everything is easy with a smaller bike. Been there, done that.
@@SayanChakraborty58
Exactly, one bruised right shin and one dislocated left ankle got me swearing off the big bikes.
Got a crf1000L at the moment . Ussually doing on road stuff like highway en b-roads . But going more and more off road in the weekends . The off-road roads that I take can be done with even a nc750x for the most of it , but with a bit more struggle too . As long as you don't have supersport type or a low custom bike , you can pretty much take every bike off-road . Nakeds in general are high enough for most country roads and pretty fun too ride . It's when you get more into the woods and narly terrains that a more off-road oriented bike will be more capable off handling the surface where the shocks can do most of the work instead of you're body . Depense on what you like and do with the bike in general . As long as you have fun on 2/3 wheels , no worries ;-)
I agree. Going out on an adventure is never about the bike. its about the experience of it all.
Love the Versys 650. It's what I ride when I'm home in New Zealand.
Excellent!
You should get that in India...Would help you do better in shooting scam videos
Oh Karl fellow kiwi here , would love your opinion to riding this off road please , cheers
@@missk1942 I didn’t do much off roading with it. Only some rocky and dirt roads. It’s was fine. But for hardcore off-roading you’d want something else, like a KLR-650.
2016 Versys 650 rider here - it's a do-it-all and have fun while doing it . Truly a Versatile System that can only be beaten if youre willing to pay significantly more.
Seeing a versys modified like this really cemented my belief that I chose my first bike quite well
Me too!
I’m looking at this. Still of that opinion?
The Versys was my first non-cruiser motorcycle and it has been fun to use for off-pavement exploration and back-road touring. Like you said, if you understand where it can and can’t easily go it can be a fun alternative to more expensive or conventional adventure touring bikes. Added bonus, the Versys is an absolute BLAST on winding canyon tarmac and is an extremely nimble commuter.
Love to hear it!
How to cook in the woods...
adds some nice flavour to the whole video. Great.
I love these videos. There's content about gear, content about skills, then content about the ethos of adventure riding.
Want to see more of Tim and his Versys off road.
I love my versys 650. It's adventurized with a 19" front wheel and cogent Dynamics rear shock. Michaux dual sport was so much fun with that bike.
Hello Matthew,
Can you tell me a bit more about that? Where did you source the wheel, who makes it and what tire choice is the result of that modification? Also, how is on-road behavior after that mod? As it stands, the stock versys is a hooligan machine to my mind in that it behaves like a Ninja on stilts when on well-paved road. I wonder if you notice a significant change in that.
i too would also really appreciate a quick tidbit on how you updraged it to a 19 front wheel. did it effect the abs? did you have to modify the front forks at all?????
I have the Africa Twin n the Versys n I feel the Versys is little more comfortable on highways or good roads, whereas the story is entirely different on off roads.
Yahan bhi......tumse na ho payega, ek baar phir india ghoom aaoo...lmao
@@bhairo1985 Kya ni ho payega jo tumse ho gya?
@@bhairo1985 kuch bhi!!
Versys ; ✅
Africa Twin ; ✅
All systems go. Ready for take off.
you can adventure on every bike just do some preparations. I wend from Germany to China on a Honda NC750X including the Pamir Highway between Afghanistan and Tajikistan and back without any issues :) and I had a lot of offloading on my trip. (Videos are coming)
alex_the_travelmonkey What tires did you use? I have a 2012 700x and I’m considering converting it to a light trail bike.
Justin Wiley I used Michelin Pilot Road 5 for the paved roads and Heidenau K60 for the Pamir Highway :)
Honda needs to make an "adv" version of the NC. Go 19" front wheel and a few other minor mods.
Lifted_Above I agree :) also a nc1000x would be nice
@@exothermal.sprocket They did , It's called CB500x :D Updated for 2019 is 19" front , among other mods...
do a vstrom next
I rode baja on a strom... it's been awhile but it handled it better that i expected
Nicely Done !
My Versys is far better off road, than it ever gets credit for. I’m very pleased with it.
I ride it more slowly & cautiously, than I would a GS but, I make time on the tar & soak up the scenery, while off road, so slow is good.
I just bought a new 2019 Versys 650 LT. Its the right bike for "My Adventure". about 80% fighting the concrete jungle followed by 20% of fire trail and camping. Its the perfect bike as sometimes my camping is 1500 miles down the freeway. That 17" front wheel handles it like a champ!
I, like many other riders, found the rear shock absorber quite stiff.
So, I did a small test. Filled two plastic bags each with 15 kgs of sand and put them into my Dirtsack saddle bags. Then, 5 kgs of sand into a smaller bag and that into the Rynox tail bag. Finally, 4 kgs of sand into another bag and that into the track bag.
Turned the preload knob by 14 clicks and then took the bike off roading on diet roads and terrible tarmac.
The change was magical. Where earlier, it was trying to throw me off, now, it was like a consummate and real off road bike. The only limiting factors were the stock Dunlops D222 tyres that are superb on smooth blacktop roads but really scary on anything less than that. Change to TIMSUNs and this bike will be perfect.
And yes, Brett, I applied your feet positioning techniques during this test ride. They are just perfect to get the max from the bike. Thanks for that detailed video.
I have an '09 versys and I absolutely love it. I need to throw on some skid plates and crash bars to really get off the beaten path but even unmodified, it's a blast to ride on unpaved roads.
Agreed, Daniel.
Skid plate is not needed. It's not NC750X. There is much bigger ground clearance on Versys.
Good point mate - I believe people think that in order to go “Off-road” ( usually meaning a dirt or metal road ) one requires something that is “Purpose built” - otherwise, how can a bike off-road?
I rode many NASTY....heavily metaled ( Kiwi’s call gravel metal...) roads in NZ, mainly in Forestry areas where golf ball sized stone is the norm ( due to the large trucks ) - on an old Katana 650 shaftie. Initially it wasn’t by choice - having taken a wrong turn into what I thought were nicely graveled roads - Yeah, nah.
I soon found though, if one gives the bike it’s “head” and let it kinda wander through the gravel as opposed to fighting it, the ol road bike became quite happy. This became quite the norm back in the day, as I sought out nasty roads to fine tune my metal road skills. Up a trail? Obviously no...but it kinda high-lights that if I’d have had a Versy back then, I’d have been over the moon. Plusher, more travel blah blah.
The smaller front hoop as you rightly mention, becomes a factor when you want to roll over / through things, same principle as a Mountain Bike 29’er vs a 27. May not seem much, but from 27-29 is HUGE as far as rolling over obstacles etc. But, the 27 is doable and many many riders prefer them. Same thing with this Kwaka...it just means changing ones finesse when using the smaller front hoop.
Go slower, pick ones lines and be more mindful of where things are.
Your Beemer must have cost a packet - Yet bikes like the little Himalayan or CB500X - can go all the places a $20-30K bike can. People get too tied up in - Bigger and heavier and higher is required. It’s such a crock to be honest. After belting around the same NZ roads and single track on a DR650 - I realized its how you use the tool that you have. Sure, the DR was great going quicker over nasty things, but I can take any of the 3 lower end bikes above, over the same ground - just a tad slower.
Yes, the Versys will never be an Africa Twin - but as many people both male and female have proven over the years, one doesn’t NEED...an Africa Twin / KTM or mega-buck Beemer to go
to the same places the so called “Purpose” built bikes can. At least you do point out - A person can accomplish the same thing, just more experience and wisdom is required.
Nice Video series by the way.
Cheers.
True, I've never met an owner of an Africa Twin that actually rode hard enough to benefit from the offroad suspension, bigger rims, etc. Throwing a few panniers on and cruising slow can be done just as easily on a bike half the price.
Had my versys 650 for a year now and I still love it its still my dream bike I couldn't imagine wanting something else.
My thoughts egzactly! In my opinion, these days bikes are almost over specialized! That's why I bought Triumph Street Scrambler and went on my first off road adventure and it took anything I threw at it with ease! And when I'm about to be stuck (because of my lack of offroad experience) I just put both of my feet firmly on the ground and stand holding a bike like a bicycle! And when I get back in town, such a great commuter!
Fellow K rider?
@@MOTOTREK Yap, '87. 100 ☺
@@MOTOTREK Btw, loving your channel and learning so much from your brief and well explained tips!
91 K75 here.
@@MOTOTREK Don't think that will ever be better combination of engine, transmission and drive shaft than at those bikes.
love the video! awesome job as always. Gonna try the recipe
Shoutout to the DIY radiator guard.
The best opening scene yet!
Glad you like it, Joel.
Nicely said. A purpose built bike will always be better, but my first motorcycle at 19 was a Honda GL500 and to be fair, it did great in my summers riding in dirt and gravel in Northwest Montana, because I didn’t know any better. When I did go down, much of it was metal so I just bend back into place. I love my modern ADV, but if you accept the limitations and slow down, any bike will do for light off-roading.
I watched this one a long time ago, and just today circled around to it again. I picked up a 2009 Versys 650 a while back for a song and gave it some TLC. I was going to flip it, but the market softened so I kept it longer than planned. Then I got the off-road bug and thought, "why not?" I up-sized the front tire (Shinko 705 120-90-17), easier than a 19" wheel upgrade, but same diameter increase. Slower turn in on the road, but made an incredible improvement off road. I started hitting local trails in CO with my 'ADV trainer' Versys, but I was always chomping at the bit to get a "real" adventure bike. Just in the last couple days decided to keep going with the V for a while longer, and do some of the things it needs (skid plate, bar risers (thanks for your stuff on that too) heated grips and some soft luggage). Then just today I found this vid again, and I wanted to say thank you. Your content is gold, and so encouraging. One day I'll get the "real" ADV bike, but for now I'll keep learning, and let the less-than-ideal bike push me to be a better rider. To that end, I hope to show up in a class soon--maybe on my big-footed V. :)
Right-on , Steve! I bought my V from Paulson Motorsports in Olympia. Gave the bike to my son a few months ago. I'm on a 790 ADV now and it's a world of difference off-road. The Versys is a better bike in the twisties though. But if you can master the Versys off-road you'll be able to ride anything :)
- Tim
Can Confirm. Took mine up to Deadhorse AK with a couple of KLRs and it went everywhere those 2 were able to fit. just a nice set of dual sport tires and you are set. It has plenty of power too, and if you take out the OEM exhaust, you can gain about 2-3 inches of clearance in the back. I just wish i had attached a self oiling system.
Thumbs up for the cooking lesson!
Thanks, Anton!
I ride a 1gen with 80/20 tires and it's a good bike. One thing to keep in mind is with the twin disk brakes up front it is very easy to lock up the brakes on any loose surface. When I ride gravel I brake with the rear a bit more which is sometimes hard to remember especially when panicked braking or in tight slow stuff.
That's good advice, Bob. Feathering the front brakes is a good skill to work on.
Alternatives, yes Bret,
It's about time casting light on alternative ADV bikes such as the Versys 650. I should add that I am a proud owner of a 2015 650 Versys and that my comments could be biased lol
Now, sadly my ADV clubs-bikers in my area and so was I; thinking that a 17" cast wheels are only for the street. Well, it turned out I am able to ride on fire trails not on rocky single tracks, but the ADV members ask me to switch my Versey to a valid ADV -funny to funny.
Well, now that I'm not an ADV club member anymore, only because I didn't switch my ride (dooo), this vid comes just in time to educated and broadened some of the ADV community narrow perceptions thank you, Bret!
Question;
- went through a lot of different moto tire profiles; what tire and psi are you using?
- better skilled and trained, indeed it's top-heavy; what kind of drills should I do besides signing up?
Signing up, wishful thinking, I'm in MN and its a haul to your camps uuuhh.
Good to have you and your willingness to share and give - forward.
The kenda 705's are popular but there are so many factors in getting the tire that fits your needs. I almost always run full street pressures.
adventuremotorcycle.com/bikes/bikes-project-2008-kawasaki-adversys-new/all-pages
@@BretTkacs Those are Shinko 705s, of course...great cheap tires on the pavement... I think Bret's a fan of running street PSI, but if you're on dirt long enough to justify time taken to air back up, 20 psi will transform my bikes with tube type tires; 25ish PSI on tubeless tires also very helpful in softening the ride.
I thought I was watching a biker scran clip for a minute! Nice clip. More like this with these types of bikes would be very interesting.
So there is hope for me to take my Versys up the Dalton with a few mods. Great video. Saving to favorites.
Nice drumming on intro. Thanks for showing your cooking gear and for the pitch at eating well in motorcycle travel. Interesting proof in the pudding that Versys 650 works in adventure role. Thank you
I remember when a 400 Can Am felt like riding a tank compared to my 350 Can Am which handled like a dream anywhere you wanted to go off-road. While I can't imagine riding any 650, 800 or 1250 for that matter in any serious off road conditions, I admit that the newer bikes in that category are getting better and better every year - but still quite heavy IMHO.
Every weekend I'm more and more impressed by my Versys-X 300. I went from trails to street to trails to street in the Ouachita and Ozark National Forest. It has no problem at all keeping up with a couple BMW GS1200s
I'm interested. I'll need to see more.
I'm using versys 650 for 4 years already, very good bike to cross countries..
2 minutes in an I'm already subscribed. Good stuff
@mototrek pro tip: add the egg then put the tortilla on the raw egg. When it cooks it cooks to the tortilla. Flip and add cheese. Fold and flip. No mess super easy breakfast quesadilla.
ı am riding Versys 650. Yes ı know It is not an adventure bike but i really want to climb the Great mountains of Turkey with it. I need to improve my skills. I always ride on pave till now.
Everytime I watch these clips I learn something new, thank you! appreciate the content! 🏆
I just love the breakfast intro! :)
Great. We'll do more of those.
This is a good choice of evaluation-BUT when will you be doing the vstrom650?
We would if we had a VStrom.
"Hello!"
Love my 08 Versys
I love riding my 08 , sometimes mistaken to be a bmw , year round in Scandinavia and central Europe ( no car ) . Sometimes we take a spin on harsher roads/tracks , currently knubby tyres. Just kinda miss a bigger front wheel though cuz I love getting off-road skills .Has been used for local and long distance commuting ( 500km - 2000 km ) autumn and winter . A shame the accessory market ain't bigger for it. I know a safety night guard , covering multiple buildings that uses newer model for duty. And whatever they say it's not ugly it's in between styles looking and riding badass anyway.
excllant tips espiecally puttin turnbuckles on the pannier rack to reinforce it but now im hungry en jonesen for a motorcycle ride 😅 good vid thanx !! long live the kik stik motorcycles feel much mor independent with that kick starter manufactures leave it along its on there for a reason
Good choice on those Shinko 705 tires.
I've ridden those things through hell and back on 3 different bikes. Hands down the best touring tire if you plan to do some gravel/light dirt, even if you don't factor in the price.
I love em.
I had a Versys that I had for ten years and I agree with most of what you say, I think the bash plate is overkill but the thing I disagree with is the foot pegs, they are not pot metal and in ten years of standing up on them I found them comfortable and sturdy, mind you I never wore plastic boots either, if you have them cleated pegs are a must
Vim, I heard a few BIG rocks hit the bash plate when I was filming the b-roll / riding shots for this video. CLANK! Glad it was there.
Exhaust pipe had... a little bulge to the ground in the center. Not sure if it was a stock thing or from my custom pipe. Most of the time the terrain was firstly too hard for the front wheel long before the "Clanking".
And that's right. No matter what Bike you ride, there will always be a better one. But i know, if you do the right modifications and if you are aware of what your bike is able to do to a sertain point, then you will be able have lots of fun with it. What really helps for the beginning: Good tires. So i totally agree with you. And btw the breakfastszene made me wonder, i really thought i clickt on the wrong video.
Bret says beaded seats aren't just for cabbies?! My world has changed. Oooo and a loud horn, bikes aren't what they use to be. They're much greater!
This guy walks like a cowboy from the wild wild west. He just upgraded his one horse to 69 horsepower motorcycle. Love the video. I'm trying to sell my Honda Shadow and put in some extras to get a Kawasaki Versys 650! Video liked!
Thanks 👍
Great Job!!!!
Thanks!
Hello, how are you ?
you could make a video talking and testing the versys x 300, I just bought one and would like to see how it behaves in the hands of someone more experienced in ADV, Well I'm going to start traveling now. Today I watched almost all of your videos, Congratulations on the production !!
I don't understand the X300. It has shorter travel suspension.
Bret, thanks for making this video! I bought a Versys 650, and after owning it for 6 months and solely using it on-road, I was beginning to doubt it's adventure and off-road capabilities. I was actually surfing some videos once about the V650 off road and found a video that you commented on commending the guy who was riding it. So to see a video by you going in depth about this bike is great! I want to do a 19" front tire mod and convert it to spoked tires, what do you think of that? Is that a wise decision? Didn't want to do 21" because I do use it vastly more on a highway/road basis.
Here is your dream versys... i ridde this one on the east coast a bit. adventuremotorcycle.com/bikes/bikes-project-2008-kawasaki-adversys-new/all-pages
V-Strom 650 addresses all those issues. But that's a big decision changing bikes.
I switched to a v strom 650, after a year of trail riding off road and gravel, the versys just can't cut, it's probably the worst in its class, hence why I switched to the strom Wich is loads better for my needs
Great content!!! Great breakfast!
Thanks, Brandon!
*One important note*
Buy a 2010-2014 versys as shown for ADV'ing. The other models have the indicators lights placed lower, thus prone to breaking when dropped.
Good
Came for the v650, stayed for breakfast ;D
The Versys 650 has "fully adjustable" front and rear suspension. The rear spring has adjustable ride height and an adjustment dial for the ride stiffness.
Even the 1st Generation Versys has fully adjustable front and rear suspension.
Idk why the ride is too stiff for Tim. 🤷♂️
Watching this with a cup of coffee in hand - made me hungry!
Damn, now I'm hungry. Team Green needs to get on the ADV train and build a more off-road capable bike with that motor. I havent looked, but does Rally Raid make parts/conversions for this as they do the CB500X? Really appreciate the production values Brent!
Yes - The same bike with a slightly modified suspension and a larger front wheel would get them 90% of the way there.
I envy your surroundings
Would love to hear what you think of the klr! You make good quality videos. I really enjoy the instructional ones.
Thanks, Michael.
i ride versys x 300 and i approve this video.
Good outline on how to make this bike trail ready, zero mention of the most important component...you guessed it, the tires!!!! What are you recommending??
I have always put Shinko 705's on the Versys, Greg. They're a good balanced tire for mostly road riding with some dirt and gravel too. No good in mud or deep sand.
After riding all 3, (Versys, Vstrom, BMW) the BMW F650GS I believe is superior in every way (if you change the stock seat). Plus it is actually 800cc but labeled as a 650. Better on the highway and off-road, and it's big brother, the R1200GS is a legend.
Longer suspension and a bit more powerfull for much higher price. Not a clear winner.
im liking the cooking tips...start a outdoor cooking channel?
In my country prize you can get 3 versys 650 for 1 bmw gs 1200.
It is easy to take a cheap Ninja 650 or Versys and build a great adventure bike for very little money. Doing so was developing into something of a cottage industry in the ADV Rider circles.
V-Strom 650 will get you just that much further for the same reasons the Versys is a likeable machine. 19" is a decent compromise, tire sizes 150/70 rear and 110/80 front are as ubiquitous as can be, knobby tire selection abundant. V-twin engine is much more soul-stirring and has a lot more grunt for the size.
You should do a video about how to deal with encountering wildlife while on an adventure ride. Whenever I'm out in the wilderness I can't help but think about what if a bear is standing in the middle of the trail around the next corner. Or a moose!
Done both of those but no video to share...
Tim might want to get a front Extenda Fenda.
I think it's worth mentioning that removing the water from a food(dehydration) does not make it less good for you..or even less tasty.. it simply means you're not carrying around extra water weight.
Ya me to! More cooking please. Vera will never be an Africa twin? Sure but it at half the cost and if you just want to ride it is ok
Yes, Shawn, but the Honda has greater suspension travel and a larger front wheel, both helpful for off-road travel. Much more $$ than the Versys though.
Very good info. Would you recommend Cb500x as an adventure bike as well? Very similar to versys.
Certainly, Felipe. Get some off-road protection for it like on our Versys.
Highly recommend the Rally Raid Engine Guard for the CB500X. Beat the shinola out of my guard on an 11,000 mile trip round the US recently, including the TAT. Guard saved the engine, multiple times.
The CB is another "not an Adventure Bike", that actually is, and does a great job of it too.
Thank you guys
Rally Raid is the way to go with the 500X, from what I've seen. Without it, it's just an "adv sport" for the street.
Good man.
I wonder if one could put KLR650 wheels on this 🤔
That would make it a real winner
Awesome, that’s actually my bike, too! It’s doing well so far. I’m also interested about the tires on the versus in the video. I have the scorpion trail 2 on mine right now, but they could be a little bit more offroady.
Our Versys has been happy with these Shinko 705's for a while!
MOTOTREK thanks a lot!!
Tenere 660 2016 , please 👍
been thinking of having vesys650 or the trk502x, would you do some review on trk502x? love your works, keep it up!
Nice
I LOVE FOOD!
You're the best out here, Bret...a true educator. Keep up the great work...you are needed. (From the crazy old guy that lost his mind and bought his 1rst bike at 68. Had to be a GSA R1200!)
So I looked at at Versys 650. The biggest deficiency I found was the small payload and for me ergonomics so I went 1000.
I think the best adventure bikes for me come with 17-19" alloy wheels and 7-9" of ground clearance, because I ride 95% pavement and 5% dirt/gravel road. I don't plan on clearing logs or boulders on my Adventure MC. I'll use my dual sport for that.
Luv my Vstrom 650 🤘
Yes, Another great bike.
Does it have a spoked wheel? What size.
Yes
19 inch front
@@viskyvlogs3648 V-Strom XT has spoked wheels.
650 cast
650XT spoked (tubeless)
What do you do for the muffler? It hangs so low that I don't have any confidence crossing logs or rocks
Great video and agree with the comments on the mini cooking segment! Also, can I ask the name of the drummer doing the background music - love the clean and crisp jazzy sound. Thanks!
Thanks, Paul. Matt Jorgensen creates MOTOTREK's music. mattjorgensen.com/
I'm not by far an expert but to me 650-900cc is the sweet spot that gives you good gas milage and comfortable highway cruising speed. If yo have a bike that gets 30mpg, you better off getting a car. After all, the whole idea of riding a motorcycle is cheap transportation. At least thats how I see it. Have a good day!
is there any aftermarket center stand for versys? i think every advenrure bike should have a center stand..
There is, and I really wanted one at first. My previous bike had a center stand I used all the time. After 3 years with the Versys I am comfortable without a center stand. I have a paddock stand at home, and I carry an aluminum pipe I can use on the road to lift up the rear end at the spindles.
- Tim
I Love you channel do much ❤️
Gonna buy an old Versey , i need to go camping , so all good?
Those looks like happy trail panniers, am I correct?
Correct, Johannes.
Nice bike.
video starts at 1:31
Am am looking through these great MOTOTREK videos to try and find the manufacturer of the foot brake that has two "levels" to it. Seems like a great idea for accommodating both standing and sitting positions. Can anybody point me in the right direction?
Nice bike... But still too heavy for my liking off road... Love Live the DR650 :)
And or the KLR650, a GS is iconic....please half the people I know with a GS wont get it in the dirt let alone dirty, and the other half don't ride theirs. GET IT MUDDY!
@@RedNeckBiker109 For folks who haven't tried the DR650...it feels a lot like an actual dirt bike. Even fun on singletrack. Very different than my 1st-gen KLR.
One guy go through south America with old versys. But put 150/70 17 off road tyres, on front and rear wheels....I think is it an excellent idea if you don't have a 19" wheel. And like that need only 1 tire carrying
Will a 70R17 fit the rear fork? The original rear tyre is 60R17
How is that ram phone holder held above the speedometer/tach? That's exactly where I want to mount my phone, but haven't found anything on the market for mounting it there.
I screwed a ram ball mount into the top of the dash, Roger.
MOTOTREK oh wow, and that's proven to be stable?
I had an 07 versys 650! I miss it but the brakes and suspension are not even close to the bmw or ktm. i wonder if those could be replaced, leaving you with an amazing and reliable bike.