2009 Kawasaki Versys™ Motorcycles

At 53 I've ridden many bikes and owned several, I've been riding for decades. These two are both very nice indeed. I bought an 09 Versys in the spring and owned an 07 V-Strom for two years. I had the pleasure to own them simultaneously for about 5 months and thus the opportunity to compare them several times. Both are six speeds and fuel injected, similar in displacement, power and sitting position, yet quite different. The V-Strom is smoother, it has outstanding headlights, a larger tank and lower fuel consumption, thus more range. Better wind protection, very good suspension, and is more comfortable. The Versys is a bit buzzy, the mirrors are cheap and fuzzy, I had to change them for V-Strom mirrors. The V-Strom comes with a rack and Suzuki sells a center stand and excellent hand guards for it. The Versys has none of that, the headlight is just average, and the seat pushes you forward into the tank. I'll have to get an aftermarket one. The Versys is also a thirsty bike. Thus, the V-Strom is a better bike, but I like the Versys better. Why? Well, simply because it's more fun to ride, yes, that's right the V-Strom lacks in fun factor. The Versys pulls more and is lighter. I sit higher making it easier to see above traffic, and the smaller front wheel allows for sharper turns. Thus for getting around town and thru traffic it's way better. The V-Strom is bulky and heavier, better for the highway, and I sold it in the fall. My favorite bike though is my DR650 because I like riding on dirt roads.

Upgrades/Accessories

There are several windscreens available; the Givi, the Vario by MRA, and a larger MRA from Germany. The Givi is the cheapest but causes turbulance and the buffeting on the helmet is a nusiance, the Vario is good and looks racy and sharp, the larger MRA offers the best protection without turbulance but is more expensive. There is a skid plate by Happy Trails, and there are handguards by Zeta and you can make the V-Storm handguards fit as well. There are also various brands of hard bags, I chose a soft trunk with bungee cords that I can easily remove. If you plan to dual sport your Versys I suggest Pirelli MT60 tires, the skid plate from Happy Trails, the Vario windscreen and the Zeta handguards. Fortunatly I don't have to because I own a DR650. I don't think that the Versys would make a good dual sport, it would just be marginal.

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