Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer | First Ride
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- čas přidán 4. 12. 2022
- Today we have the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE out for its first ride and review.
Let us know your thoughts on this Green Machine.
Hey! We are Matt and Zoe - a couple who love riding motorcycles and make content of us doing so.
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Thank you to Holeshot Motorcycles in Yeovil. Their website is www.holeshotmotocross.co.uk/y... - Auta a dopravní prostředky
20:27 center stand used as a repair aid to tyres or brake or forks if on side of road in middle of nowhere and can replace tyre there and then
Each to their own. I don’t carry any form of puncture repair kit nor do I really know how to use one properly. That’s what break down cover is for 😁
@@DSR1YT Oh, no... Trust me... People who buy ADV touring, SP touring and GT bikes, such as this Versys here and actually ride them, will sooner or later MOST DEFINITELY need a center stand (and a small tool kit/bike repair kit.) As someone who owns a 2016 1200 GS and goes on 10-18 hour trips all over the country (and also on 2-3 day trips all over Europe) almost every other weekend - EVERYONE needs a center stand AND any kind of small bag tool kit, even if you have best insurance cover in the world and especially so if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere and/or somewhere where there is no cell service... Last year alone I saved myself (and probably my life too, a couple times) by having a center stand and having a tool kit in my bag around 4-5 times and I saved other riders (and drivers) that I met on the sides of roads AT LEAST 20 times (probably over 30...) and that's just last year alone. Literally two weeks ago I helped a couple of German riders in the middle of a mountainside road in Croatia change one of their buddies back tire, because one of them forgot to bring a tool kit. It's a 2 hour ride from the main road to get there and then another 3 hours of gravel and tight squeeze rocky paths just to get to where they were at. If it wasn't for me, they would have waited for 6+ hours for someone (probably mountain rescue, they have big trucks and adv bikes) to bring the guy a spare tire and a $900 bill for their service... Anyways, long story short, people who buy these bikes WILL, sooner or later, need to use a center stand and a tool kit, it's not a matter of IF it will happen, it's a matter of WHEN it will happen.
I love the 4 cylinder kawi engine.
It’s a really solid engine and lovely smooth quick shifter. Great combo 😁
I'm thinking of getting this one after having sold my Z900. Need something more comfortable, touring ready and wind free. I guess it comes with age :)
It sure does my friend, nothing to be ashamed of, there will always be haters out there :)
I have a 17 plate and great 2 up have taken back rest of back pushed wife to far forward and had it lowered 25 mm kit and a 40 kit 40 you don't need to alter side stand which I have and had seat shave down cheaper than kawasaki lower seat now around 760 high great back box takes our 2 helmets gone touring to France 2up no problem good around bike advance rider.
Sounds like you've made some decent changes to suit your needs. Nice to see you've got out around France two up as well.
Hopefully me and Zoe can get away this year as well.
I have had a few bikes but I ended up buying a pre owned 2019 SE GT version at onlyb£11,500 with a less miles than I have had on any other bike I have owned. , it is great for two up loaded luggage, reliable and predictable. I have a second bike i us for commuting and it's a triple , so fun for myself .
I can certainly see why you'd pick one of these up for some 2 us touring, comfortable ride for both rider and pillion. Who doesn't love the whine of a triple engine when you start rolling it on. :)
Thanks for your consistently informative reviews. Does the Kawasaki 1000SX have the character that this 1000 Versys lacks?
In a nut shell I’d say yes. The sx was the 3rd best bike I tested in 22. For reference aprilia tuono no1. Africa twin no2. Then the SX. Thanks for watching the videos and I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Hey mate, aweeesome review. Can what you said actually be the reason they did not put hill assist? With all that load , hill assist might not let you move and drop you sideways? And that why they put on lighter and shorter bikes, cause harder to drop sideways?
Thanks for the comment Michalis, Glad you liked the video.
Nice review. This might be my next bike. R1200RT is my current ride.
I took out the RT just the other day, i enjoyed the ride but wasn’t blown away and didn’t think ‘ this could be my next bike’. However, end of last year when i sent my broken KTM GT back the SX was on the short list of top 3 bikes for me to buy, think that says enough :)
@@DSR1YTSX?
Kawasaki 1000SX SE 🤙
Have they changed the bhp I thought it was 125 bhp on the Versys 140+ on the sx / Ninja ,
My mistake and you are correct, sometimes my little brain struggles to ride and remember all the stats :), please forgive
Which one would you choose for traveling - Honda NT 1100 or Versys 1000 - in terms of comfort, suspension, cornering?
If those 2 are the only options I would go for the Versys, NT1100 had an annoying wind buffeting when the screen was at the highest point, and vibrations through the pegs. (I have a first ride video on the NT1100 if you are interested). If you haven't thought of the 1000SX it is definitely a bike to consider. Versys v SX two very different positions but I really enjoyed the SX. also got a first ride video on that for you to compare against.
@@DSR1YT Than You for answer. I will watch Your other videos too. The 1000SX Is a great bike, but to too low for me, and the position on the motorcycle too sporty. I prefer a more upright figure.
And is the comfort of sitting on the NT1100 and Versys 1000 comparable?
@@jerzygroclinek5066 I get you. As said they are two very different styles of riding. NT and versys are similar comfort yes. I’d go for the versys for sure.
I understand the NT1100 panniers, unlike the Versys, won’t take a full face helmet. That’s a deal breaker for me
Agree with you there. I had the KTM GT with panniers and they weren’t big enough for a full face helmet. It wasn’t far off but still wasn’t big enough. Why don’t the designers make them big enough for a full face? We aren’t asking for much from something designed to tour are we ?
Nice review. Do you think a 5'11 woman, with reasonable strength can handle this large and heavy bike? I love 4 cylinders, and prefer adventure style seating positions, that's why I'm considering the Versys 1000. Besides, i still have my Kawi rider jacket.😊
Hi Julie, I don’t see why you wouldn’t fit on this bike nicely. Kawi jacket aside, you might enjoy the Honda Africa twin. As I know with the lower seat height it’s very manageable even for shorter riders, I appreciate you aren’t a short rider, but it might be a decent option for you if the versys doesn’t suit you.
I’ve also reviewed the Africa Twin if you wanted to check that out 😁🤙. Ride safe.
@@DSR1YT Thank you for the advice. Aren't there two versions of the Africa twin, in terms of seat height and off road capabilities? I see myself as 90% on road.
@juliemcgillivray3394 you can go for the standard or the sports option. Better suspension on the sports version. And then you can go for a low seat height which drops it to 825mm. The good thing with the Africa Twin is it has a narrow seat leading into the tank area. So it isn’t spreading your legs /hips outwards, I find sometimes this section can make a big difference on how tall a bike ‘feels’ versus how big it actually is. 😁🤙
How do you remember on the go, all these things? Jesus😂 i sub m8
Thanks for the Sub Michalis, I do all my research prior to collecting the bike so it's fresh in my mind. I am human and sometimes I will get a fact or number wrong, people like to point them out and tell me how wrong I was, there are some lovely people on the internet :). Ride Safe.
New 2023 Tracer GT plus £2500 cheaper, same power, much lighter, more fun plus radar they’ve even redesigned the clocks!
Just waiting for Branson to get theirs in so I can go test ride this. I enjoyed last years Tracer GT apart from some weird vibrations on my bum. im a sensitive sole :)
I looked at the Tracer when I bought my Versys 1000 SE GT in 2020. Tracer is nice, but being lighter was blown about on the motorway. Also Yamaha did not offer a top box, and advised against fitting one because of payload and stability issues. So it was the bigger, more comfortable and more stable Versys for me. Did you know it has a bigger payload than a K1600 BMW?
Tracer is a naked sport bike with high handlebar; Versys is a Touring bike from start to finish. Different bikes.
How about versys 1000 vs BMW GS 1200?
Might as well do a versys 1000 vs gs1300 now mate 😁
Is this bike good for tall and heavy beginner? :)
I’m not short nor skinny, so yes I would say it is. It has a smooth engine which won’t catch you out as a new rider.
Yes! I tink it would be one if not the most suited liter bike for a beginner....put the power setting on low and traction control on 3 and your good to go!
The on ly downside would be the height and weight combination...take your time practicing slow speed maneuver!
Also i would buy used since its your first bike and you are assuming its the type of bike you need....people often dont keep their first bike too long.that way you wont suufer from to much depreciation if you end up selling it in a short lapse of time....enjoy and be safe!
Heavy is not for beginners but if you have experience handling heavy bikes then it's not a problem.
Care the acceleration on 120ps, in town. I got startled on a test drive, after driving a triumph 800 for 18 months and 30k km. Its more than beginner level imho
Its too near the gs 1250
Close, but still a £3000 gap between the two base models. Depends where you are at financially with these bikes.
@@DSR1YT i have had 2 2005 r1200rt then i went back to z1000sx each time i went back to the jap i missed the high quality of the beema. I have a gsa now what a machine all other makers bikes i find myself modding them for comfort not so much on the beema. Also the beema gets 3 years warranty and breakdown so imo you get what you payfor
Great warranty, and I’m sure you can attest to the dealership experience, you get the feeling that BMW will get the issues sorted or work with you for a good outcome. KTM have just left me stranded with my **** in my hand.
The one comment in this review about dialing in suspension and having it provide similar to electronic performance is simply false. First you have to pay somone to help set it up and that erodes quite a bit of price gap. Second an electronic suspension can be adjusted for desired riding conditions including 2-up. The electronic suspensiin does things a traditional suspension simply cannot duplicate. It adjusts damping on the fly based measusured speed of the damper as speed and road conditions change. No traditional suspension will ever come close because it is a compromise. You can make it stiff for handling but will be harsh and handling will be compromised on lessor quality roads. Similarly this system firms up front forks during heavy braking minimizing front fork dive. By far best suspension Iever experienced on any motorcycle.
I always would recommend someone paying a professional to set up the suspension for them. I’d never touch it myself. I wouldn’t know where to start.
What I’m trying to get at is people don’t always need to pay the extra cash for electronic suspension but look at getting theirs set up properly. I’m way over the weight perimeter for stock suspension as they are usually set for around 70-80kg. 😁🤦🏻
@@DSR1YT It is absolutely impossible for conventional suspension to ever match modern semi-active suspension under a variety of road and rider operating conditions. This is the reason MotoGP bans electronic suspension because it would broaden the field of competitors simply because it is just too good. I ride 2023 Versys 1000 SE at a weight of 95 kg and can't say that I have ever bottomed electronic suspension including during two up riding. The idea you buy new bike and then pay someone high labor and material cost to modify suspension to function with compromises is absolute nonsense. Do you want firm, intermediate, or soft? Choose one and you are stuck with it. If it is only a track bike then the compromise doesn't matter.
Pure mechanical systems have limitations. I would never trade electronic ignition for old school points and condenser even if it cost less. Would you? That is backward thinking I would never trade modern fuel injection for carburetor on modern motorcycle. The electronic systems are just simply better overall and reliabilty is currently no worse than the old school ones when done correctly. Electronics with sensors can compensate for wear, temperature, and other factors. Meanwhile, mechanical systems steadily degrade from their original state without any compensation or correction.
Which did you prefer to ride the ninja 1000 or the versys?
Honestly i would probably choose the SX over the Versys, i would just need to sort out the Wind deflection problem on the SX
@@DSR1YT thank you 😊