Kawasaki has just released its own mini-ADV bike at the EICMA show, with proper off-road wheels. It will be sold in two versions: The Versys Urban-X, and the Versys X-Adventure.
Based around the Z300 naked bike, the Versys-X 300 shares that machine’s 296 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin, with slipper clutch. That engine will be retuned for this application, for more low-end torque. Fuel consumption is said to be very miserly; the 17-litre tanks is said to extend range to 400 km.
Much of the rest of the bike is new — adventure bodywork, long-travel suspension (with basic adjustability), and gauges that show twin tripmeters, tach, speedometer, fuel consumption, and distance to empty. Kawasaki included wide handlebars for improved offroad control, and a low seat makes the bike accessible to shorter riders.
The wheels are offroad-friendly spoked rims, a 19-incher up front and a a17-incher in rear. The tires are intended for offroad usage, but given the look of the tread pattern, we wouldn’t advise pushing them very hard off the pavement.
When rumours of this bike first came out, it was expected to share a chassis with the Z300, but Kawasaki says the bike has an all-new frame, designed to handle offroad usage.
About the two versions of this bike: Some European media are reporting the Urban-X version will have a 30-litre topcase, handguards, centrestand, and gas tank crash bars, while the X-Adventure will have 17-litre hard panniers and engine crash bars. However, Kawasaki’s UK site (the bike hasn’t appeared on the Canadian site yet) says nothing about these distinctions. We haven’t seen a weight listed for the bike yet in any configuration.
GALLERY
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Jacking of on rally. But think that versys is better for traveling
I don’t do a lot of dirt riding – would the slipper clutch be a pro or a con in this application?
Love it. Perfect size
I like it! Just depends on the final price tag.
Very nice! Prefer the look over the CRF Rally. Glad there is a grey option, rather than being forced into Kawi green. Pricing and weight will be revealing.
Rob Pelc this might be my next bike
Ditch the 300 and slap in the KLR 650 and upgrade the the suspension to that from a KX 450 and you got yourself a deal.
I think it will be a hit. Seems they did everything right.
Worth a look!
Mike Dalgleish Hayley Bee
Quite interesting if not too road oriented.
Oh my! It seems the industry is finally catching on to trends, I just hope it’s not a short lived fade
Dallas Willms-Dueck
Keep those cc’s creeping up 🙂 wr400r next?
I think I’d take that over the CFR250Rally
I like the look of the CRF better, but I’m pretty sure I’d prefer this on a (short) stint on the big highways. Heck, you could probably reasonably ride this some distance on a major highway – as a twin presumably vibration should be better controller, and we already know the Kawi 300 twin engine out-powers the Honda 300 single handily.
Interesting!!