The Kawasaki Versys has gone through its first service and the touring world is finally Bertieโs lobster. Here’s part two of the bike’s long-term review and road test.
So Iโm currently (as I write this) sat in the Kawasaki Motors UK reception area after riding the Versys 1000 SE GT down for its first service. Itโs a tad over the 500 miles.
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Modern tech (my smart phone) means this job never stops. So while Iโd rather be quaffing the free coffee and biscuits, because Iโve just got off the bike I figured while itโs fresh in my notoriously unreliable memory, I may as well tap some words into my โsmartโ phone while using my โdumbโ brain.
Firstly, the overriding feeling about the Versys SE GT is just overwhelmingly positive after a few weeks into โownershipโ: I love just going for a ride on the thing. And thatโs why we do it, right? Whether Iโm going to the shops for more wine (naturally) or out for a dayโs ride, I just love swinging my short leg over the thing.
Of course, I have the bike connected to this very smart phone I have in my hands now, via Kawasakiโs Rideology app. Now, this system I will go into in a future article, but it allows you to access the bikeโs info, (fuel economy, fuel level, electronic rider/suspension settings etc.) and even change them from the comfort of your armchair at home. Then it will ask you to confirm any updates when you switch on and/or youโre in Bluetooth range. You can also log trips, which has been hard to do for me from the off as (for some reason) the Versys and the phone would โsayโ they were linked but you couldnโt actually log a ride. I will be exploring the app in more detail soon, but I can now say the trip feature works!
Tick-tock clocks
I know I said Iโd been reading the manual last month about that complicated dash but I lied and I didnโt. Iโm trying to play it by ear, we all do that, right? The manual for the bike itself resembles War andย Peace, and why would I choose to โreadโ the Versys when I can โrideโ it? One hidden thing seems to be โfuel range to emptyโ: a function I use on other machines.
I can see range on the Rideology app, but not on the current screen layout on the dash, perhaps itโs on the other screen? I know you lot may be laughing at me, but I know Iโll have mastered all of these bells, whistles and buttons eventually. One thing I know: Iโve seen around 180 miles before reserve and as little as 160 โ so thatโs ruddy good in my book.
The simple thingsโฆ
If the clocks are tech-laden, the screen isnโt. I had the 1400GTR back in 2016 and loved the electric screen which you could adjust on the moveโฆ but in comparison I donโt feel short-changed with the simple, manual change of the Versys.
OK, some may bemoan the fact that you have to pull over, reach to the furled knobs either side of the screenโs bracket, loosen them and move the thing up and down, but this is old-school and takes seconds! I donโt muck about with any mid-settings as I find that for short, B-road hops the low setting is perfect and when hitting A-roads and motorways I pull over and raise it on up full. At this level I have to say Iโm safely away from most of the wind-blast.
With the bike serviced and ready for the next 6000 miles or so, the world of distance touring is now my lobster, Rodneyโฆ Cushty! And I can even get more in those panniers and top-box than I could in my old Reliant Robin three-wheeler van: New York, Paris, Peckham โ here I come!
Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer: this month
- Rider: Bertie Simmonds
- Cost new: ยฃ14,399
- Engine: 1043cc liquid-cooled inline-four
- Spec: 120bhp/55lb-ft
- Kerb weight: 245kg
- Tank: 20.8 litres
- Seat: 820/840mm
- Miles this month: 370
- Miles on clock: 690
- Average mpg: 46.3
- Current tyres: Bridgestone T31
- Modifications: None
