2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Love your bike or working on a project, post up a thread here and share with the forum
Post Reply
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

New bike, new thread.

I should be picking it up on Wednesday, all being well.

No plans as yet to change what's on there, I'm sure I'll think of stuff when I start using it.

Paint protection at the front to deal with stone chips, maybe a rad guard is it's exposed more than on the SX and a front mudguard extender.

It will need some corrosion protection coating done to it. There's a lot of exposed metalwork on the bike.

Possibly a satnav. I've got a satnav cradle for the SX I never fitted. I'll see if it fits the Versys. There's a 12v socket which could be useful for the sat nav or heated clothing.

The silver levers need to go.

Possibly an end can.

So yeah, nothing much for now...
User avatar
C00kiemonster
Posts: 8425
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Location: Not Froggie Land
Has thanked: 4296 times
Been thanked: 1737 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by C00kiemonster »

Sat Nav?

You've changed (wasntme) :P :*

I get lost a mile away from home so I think it's a good move (blush) Great touring bike this one i reckon!
User avatar
TonyB
Posts: 1220
Joined: 20 Apr 2015, 11:48
Your Bike: Tiger 800XC, Honda CB500
Has thanked: 541 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by TonyB »

I'm selling a Tomtom Rider 410 if you're interested? 12 months old, excellent condition. Reason why in a soon to be started thread...
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15493
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4170 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by duke63 »

You going to get a tank bag?

Phone, wallet and keys where you can see them all the time. And you don't even notice it's there.
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

Tony, not sure yet.

Duke, I've got a Kriega 10 . I do have a tank bag but it's a large Oxford one.
User avatar
TonyB
Posts: 1220
Joined: 20 Apr 2015, 11:48
Your Bike: Tiger 800XC, Honda CB500
Has thanked: 541 times
Been thanked: 417 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by TonyB »

Get a bumbag for those bits. Handy and bang on trend...
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

Got the bike. I've only ridden it home in rush hour so I was well aware that it's brand new, with new tyres and new brake pads and discs. Plus I'm running it in.
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12923
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4283 times
Been thanked: 1129 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by D41 »

Congrats.

There's nowt like rhat new-bike feeling.
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15493
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4170 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by duke63 »

We need photos tomorrow. New bike days have to be remembered in photos. :D
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

It's not complete yet. They'll finish it off next week. There's a load of accessories you get with the GT version.
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15493
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4170 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by duke63 »

Run in before France? What tyres does it come with?

Need to make my mind up about tyres this week. Best value are the Z8s
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

No idea on the tyres. I've not looked.

Run in and serviced by the end of next week.
User avatar
rocket
Posts: 2453
Joined: 21 May 2014, 20:12
Your Bike: zx10rrrrrrr
Has thanked: 639 times
Been thanked: 751 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by rocket »

Happy new bike day (party) (party) (party) (party)
"80mph" sorry officer I possibly could not have done that I'm no Valentino Rossi.
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

Easy commute into work. I need to get used to the change in dimensions but filtering seemed to be ok. Filled up and tank range was 228miles but I'm not paying too much attention to that while I'm running the bike in.
User avatar
C00kiemonster
Posts: 8425
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Location: Not Froggie Land
Has thanked: 4296 times
Been thanked: 1737 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by C00kiemonster »

Have you taken the side panniers off? How neat is it underneath.
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

The panniers came off as soon as I got home. They're a decent size and come with some really nice Kawasaki bags.

The panniers slot into the pillion grab handles, so it's all neat and tidy

Image
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

Dunlop D222 come as standard. They're fine so far, warming up nicely
User avatar
Rossgo
Posts: 10407
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 02:01
Your Bike:
Location: Berkshire
Has thanked: 5280 times
Been thanked: 1326 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Rossgo »

Superb Kwacky. Always love your live in reviews

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38538
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4314 times
Been thanked: 8352 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by Kwacky »

The delivery of power from the 650 parallel twin is different to my usual engine choice. It's pretty smooth but I need to get used to the fact I don't have to wind it on an wait for the bike to respond, which means I do at time get a little bit pogo.

It's very comfortable. I must be getting old.

The front is a bit light. No wheelies yet but it I doubt it'll be difficult if I wanted to hoist the front.
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15493
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4170 times
Been thanked: 4124 times

Re: 2017 Versys 650 Grand Tourer - ongoing review

Post by duke63 »

I spent a bit of time making my Multi sit on its nose a little bit. Worth trying to add a little rear preload if the bike squats under acceleration.

By nature these bikes tend to sit more flat.
Post Reply