man, this review is like no others: so humble, so thorough and so to the point that 99% of other review videos done by... "professionals" shall call you for some lessons HOW TO DO IT PROPERLY ;-)
Thanks Andy, great review...very honest about the negatives too. Just to add to the discussion, i have the 2020 my. Things i love are...big display screen, the electronic suspension, the smooth engine and forgiving in any gear like you said , the light clutch and easy raise onto the stand. Also, plenty of servicing information available including the great videos you shared on that. My only dislike really is just how difficult the balance point of the bike makes it to raise the front end for maintenance. I had a couple of scary moments recently...if you jack it under the sump, the bike lifts straight up rather than rocking back and is really unstable. Jacking from the exhaust is better but still a bit scary. Its obviously from the weight centre of the bike being towards the front, but i guess the payback is the easy stand use....still...i had brown trousers a couple of times in my recent maintenance work 😂. Great work Andy, you're a great point of reference and ambassador for the Versys 👍
Hi Andy. Thank you for your video; you almost made me want to change my old 2015 Versys for the new one. But like you, I love this bike; it suits me perfectly. Since I'm only 1.88m tall, it's just the right size for me. I've noticed all the qualities and flaws you mentioned. I never really paid attention to the fact that the cable throttle made it brutal... but that's probably because I ride chill. But now I'm unhappy... you've really made me want to change my old horse. Thank you for your videos, and safe travels.
Thanks and your very welcome. The best way to change your mind is to go to your dealer for a test ride, there is only twoo ways, you like it or not. Good luck and take care
My Versys does not have the quick shifter issues you have. I simply hit the lever and it shifts gear instantly. A QS is for the rapid accelerations and must be operated with determination. Maybe yours need adjustment?
of course, the more luggage, the greater the weight and you have to use a little more force, besides, a lot also depends on how the weight is distributed, but despite this, the central stand is placed in such a strategic place that when you press it with your foot, it causes the motorcycle to tilt backwards and a light pull on the handlebars is enough and the Versys jumps on the stand itself
@MotoAndy it sounds great, I have a Vstrom XT, and one of my biggest problems with is is the side stand. Even without luggage it's a struggle to get it on the centre stand. Even worse is getting it off the stand, it comes down really quickly, so you risk dropping the bike. 😐
The best way is to go to a Kawasaki dealer and have them show you, once you try it yourself you will know that it is what you are looking for. The Versys is a heavy bike but its balance is excellent and it makes it very easy to ride.
Thanks Andy, My Gen 2 is ten years old soon and still haven't found a bike worth the cost to change... maybe a facelifted 1100 will be here in 2026?. Really enjoyed your Pan Am comparison review. More of thiose in 2025 please!
Great review, as I'm considering the Versys 1k as well. I see the Ninja 1000s make great power with an exhaust and a tune. (Almost 140bhp at the rear tire.) I'm sure the 1100 engine will be even more capable. Were you considering these modifications for more power?
Hi. Versys is not a sports bike and I rarely reach such speeds, although it happened to me and I always ride with the top box and I have never felt a speed wobble, so in my opinion, no.
i have this bike since 3 years , its not best , but reliable. Quckshifter is not qood , brakes are good but abs system is terrible , seat is hard, oem bridgestone tires are average. Engine is very smooth , front screen have good wind protection , engine sound is the best thing of this bike. average consumption is about 6-6,5 lt. overall is not good as 1250gs or multistrada v4 but better then most bikes of 900 cc league
Hi, thanks for your comment. I don't know what your riding style is but the fuel consumption you are reporting is very high, I have never exceeded 6 l/100km even with very sporty riding. The fuel consumption in my Versys fluctuates between 5.3 and 5.6 liters. Take care.
Hi Andy. My 2012 Versys first generation is still running with 143000 kms. I'm still happy to ride it and I'm not going to change it. Even it's not a perfect bike (what bike is perfect?) I have always the same good feelings with it. Abour quick shifter, I still don't understand why have one on a touring bike, we are not on a track for race. I made a long trip with a Yamaha Niken that's equipped with. I noticed that below 4000 rpm it's impossible to use it ; as your one it's hard to move and the reverse use is impossible. So I cannot understand its usefullness. My Versys is enough pretty for me and if I had to change it it will be difficult to make a choice. Thanks for your videos that are always nice and objective.
I always say that every motorcycle has to find its rider, yours has definitely found its, and with over 140k km on the clock, congratulations. Quickshifters were originally created for racing motorcycles so changing gears works best at high revs, so theoretically they are not needed on a touring motorcycle, but I think they make life easier, provided they work well. cheers
Could you share with us your comments about confort issues on rough roads.( Pothole , hump , etc ...)( I am not talking about off road ) and did you make any adjustment at KECS values ( compression and rebound) for like these roads
Hi, It all depends on the quality of the bumps and the speed at which you ride, I recently rode the Transfagarasan in Romania which looks like Swiss cheese and it was not a pleasant ride but I did not complain about any back or other butt pain. So in my opinion the Versys absorbs bumps quite well.
Unpretentious and honest review, thank you. What do you think about the comparison with the Tracer 9gt? Is it worth replacing the Yamaha for a Kawasaki?
I had a Tracer 9 GT + 6 months ago and I have a Versys 1000 SE . Absolutely difference is so much.Versys really is better than Tracer 9 GT especially comfort issues
Thanks and your welcome. In 2017 I bought a Tracer 900 and 8 months later I traded it for a Versys. I think that's probably the best explanation of which bike is better. Versys is 300% more comfortable to travel.
Hi. Yes you are right, I completely forgot to mention cruise control, and it is a wonderful invention, very useful, I use it on every long trip and so far it has worked reliably.
@ thank you for the video - great work. I love my 2016, and plan one day to replace it - CC is something I'm looking forward to and glad to hear it works well.
Cześć, Naprawdę fajne moto. Sam kupiłem taki w tym roku 1000SE i jeździ się wyśmienicie. Zrobiłem 13k km. Mi na razie mocy nie brakuje. Planujesz wymianę na 1100? A może inna marka? Pozdrawiam i wszystkiego dobrego!
Cześć, no cóż powoli zaczynam myśleć nad nowym moto, spróbuję przetestować kilka motocykli w przyszłym roku, oczywiście nowy Versys 1100 jest na liście, aczkolwiek wymiana nastąpi dopiero w 2026 więc na razie nie wiem co to będzie. Jeśli nie znajdę nic ciekawszego co lepiej mi pasuje to wtedy raczej na pewno będzie to V1100, ma trochę ulepszeń no i znam ten motocykl więc poważny kandydat . Wszystkiego dobrego na święta.
Thanks for your review. But I find it hard to understand your comments about the GT package. You say the side cases are “not practical”, without giving any reason. I’ve done several longish trips with mine and have no complaints. Totally waterproof, and big enough for a full-face helmet. Replacing them with SHAD cases, like you have done, presumably loses the very practical use of one key for ignition, luggage and seat removal. Likewise the top case, It is simply GIVI with a Kawasaki name badge. What reason would GIVI have to supply a major customer like Kawasaki with an inferior product? It makes no sense. After 16,000 miles, including many long days, I have never had any discomfort from the seat. Finally, I do wonder if your QS is functioning properly. It is not designed for use at low rpm or low speeds, given that it is race technology and meant to aid quick up and down shifts during hard acceleration and braking. Using it at low rpm and/or around town could well damage it, particularly during the early “running-in” period.
Hi, thanks for the comment. The question why I changed the side cases from original to SHAD can be found in my other video th-cam.com/video/zPnhUuzWu2A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=fWW6b4uw8arDCknv. Topcase, I don't know why the top case is of lower quality, you'd have to ask GIVI about that, I had original Givi cases and those from Kawasaki of course and believe me there is a difference, and it's not just my opinion, many of my subscribers also complained about the quality of the top case. As for the seat, I never said it was bad, most V1 owners are happy with it, however everyone has different body types, different postures and everyone sits on their butt differently, so one person will ride all day and nothing and another will be groaning in pain after 4 hours. So again, the seat in the Versys is one of the better motorcycle seats, but that doesn't mean it's perfect for everyone. As for the quickshifter, I know how it should work, I know it's not a low-speed toy, despite that I don't think it works as it should, maybe there's something wrong with QS in my versys, I don't know, I haven't checked. In any case, despite its flaws I still use it, at most I curse under my breath from time to time. Take care, cheers.
You can find a comparison of the Versys 1000 and Versys 1100 here th-cam.com/video/MMT6vSJetvo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rITidm0DMyNCFYJL
man, this review is like no others: so humble, so thorough and so to the point that 99% of other review videos done by... "professionals" shall call you for some lessons HOW TO DO IT PROPERLY ;-)
Thanks man, I really appreciated, glad you like it, take care cheers.
Thanks Andy, great review...very honest about the negatives too. Just to add to the discussion, i have the 2020 my. Things i love are...big display screen, the electronic suspension, the smooth engine and forgiving in any gear like you said , the light clutch and easy raise onto the stand. Also, plenty of servicing information available including the great videos you shared on that. My only dislike really is just how difficult the balance point of the bike makes it to raise the front end for maintenance. I had a couple of scary moments recently...if you jack it under the sump, the bike lifts straight up rather than rocking back and is really unstable. Jacking from the exhaust is better but still a bit scary. Its obviously from the weight centre of the bike being towards the front, but i guess the payback is the easy stand use....still...i had brown trousers a couple of times in my recent maintenance work 😂. Great work Andy, you're a great point of reference and ambassador for the Versys 👍
Hi Andy. Thank you for your video; you almost made me want to change my old 2015 Versys for the new one. But like you, I love this bike; it suits me perfectly. Since I'm only 1.88m tall, it's just the right size for me. I've noticed all the qualities and flaws you mentioned. I never really paid attention to the fact that the cable throttle made it brutal... but that's probably because I ride chill. But now I'm unhappy... you've really made me want to change my old horse. Thank you for your videos, and safe travels.
Thanks and your very welcome. The best way to change your mind is to go to your dealer for a test ride, there is only twoo ways, you like it or not. Good luck and take care
Brilliant review Andy- so I’ve subscribed 😉
thanks, appreciated 😁
Lagere stepjes voor de passagier en je hebt de ideale duo-motor. Daarnaast Givi Alaska voor voldoende bagageruimte, ideaal.
Está na altura de trocar pela versys 1100❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks so much for these videos ,I learn a lot of information about Versys 1000 Se 🎉
Your very welcome
My Versys does not have the quick shifter issues you have. I simply hit the lever and it shifts gear instantly. A QS is for the rapid accelerations and must be operated with determination. Maybe yours need adjustment?
Hi, It's possible my QS needs some adjustment, or maybe I'm just weird ;-), take care.
It seems really easy with the center stand, but how easy is it, if you have the bile fully loaded/overloaded with luggage?
of course, the more luggage, the greater the weight and you have to use a little more force, besides, a lot also depends on how the weight is distributed, but despite this, the central stand is placed in such a strategic place that when you press it with your foot, it causes the motorcycle to tilt backwards and a light pull on the handlebars is enough and the Versys jumps on the stand itself
@MotoAndy it sounds great, I have a Vstrom XT, and one of my biggest problems with is is the side stand.
Even without luggage it's a struggle to get it on the centre stand.
Even worse is getting it off the stand, it comes down really quickly, so you risk dropping the bike. 😐
The best way is to go to a Kawasaki dealer and have them show you, once you try it yourself you will know that it is what you are looking for. The Versys is a heavy bike but its balance is excellent and it makes it very easy to ride.
Thanks Andy, My Gen 2 is ten years old soon and still haven't found a bike worth the cost to change... maybe a facelifted 1100 will be here in 2026?. Really enjoyed your Pan Am comparison review. More of thiose in 2025 please!
Thanks, glad you liked the video, I`ll try my best for more , cheers.
Does the Versys have dual brakes? If I use the front brake, will the rear brake also connect? Thank you.
Great review, as I'm considering the Versys 1k as well. I see the Ninja 1000s make great power with an exhaust and a tune. (Almost 140bhp at the rear tire.) I'm sure the 1100 engine will be even more capable. Were you considering these modifications for more power?
Does it wobble on highspeed >170 with that topbox?
Hi. Versys is not a sports bike and I rarely reach such speeds, although it happened to me and I always ride with the top box and I have never felt a speed wobble, so in my opinion, no.
i have this bike since 3 years , its not best , but reliable. Quckshifter is not qood , brakes are good but abs system is terrible , seat is hard, oem bridgestone tires are average. Engine is very smooth , front screen have good wind protection , engine sound is the best thing of this bike. average consumption is about 6-6,5 lt. overall is not good as 1250gs or multistrada v4 but better then most bikes of 900 cc league
Hi, thanks for your comment. I don't know what your riding style is but the fuel consumption you are reporting is very high, I have never exceeded 6 l/100km even with very sporty riding. The fuel consumption in my Versys fluctuates between 5.3 and 5.6 liters. Take care.
Hi Andy. My 2012 Versys first generation is still running with 143000 kms. I'm still happy to ride it and I'm not going to change it. Even it's not a perfect bike (what bike is perfect?) I have always the same good feelings with it. Abour quick shifter, I still don't understand why have one on a touring bike, we are not on a track for race. I made a long trip with a Yamaha Niken that's equipped with. I noticed that below 4000 rpm it's impossible to use it ; as your one it's hard to move and the reverse use is impossible. So I cannot understand its usefullness.
My Versys is enough pretty for me and if I had to change it it will be difficult to make a choice. Thanks for your videos that are always nice and objective.
I always say that every motorcycle has to find its rider, yours has definitely found its, and with over 140k km on the clock, congratulations. Quickshifters were originally created for racing motorcycles so changing gears works best at high revs, so theoretically they are not needed on a touring motorcycle, but I think they make life easier, provided they work well. cheers
Could you share with us your comments about confort issues on rough roads.( Pothole , hump , etc ...)( I am not talking about off road ) and did you make any adjustment at KECS values ( compression and rebound) for like these roads
Hi, It all depends on the quality of the bumps and the speed at which you ride, I recently rode the Transfagarasan in Romania which looks like Swiss cheese and it was not a pleasant ride but I did not complain about any back or other butt pain. So in my opinion the Versys absorbs bumps quite well.
Unpretentious and honest review, thank you. What do you think about the comparison with the Tracer 9gt? Is it worth replacing the Yamaha for a Kawasaki?
I had a Tracer 9 GT + 6 months ago and I have a Versys 1000 SE . Absolutely difference is so much.Versys really is better than Tracer 9 GT especially comfort issues
Thanks and your welcome. In 2017 I bought a Tracer 900 and 8 months later I traded it for a Versys. I think that's probably the best explanation of which bike is better. Versys is 300% more comfortable to travel.
Story of my life, after 8 months of Tracer ownership, Versys has arrived in the stable
Cruise control?
Hi. Yes you are right, I completely forgot to mention cruise control, and it is a wonderful invention, very useful, I use it on every long trip and so far it has worked reliably.
@ thank you for the video - great work. I love my 2016, and plan one day to replace it - CC is something I'm looking forward to and glad to hear it works well.
Cześć,
Naprawdę fajne moto. Sam kupiłem taki w tym roku 1000SE i jeździ się wyśmienicie. Zrobiłem 13k km. Mi na razie mocy nie brakuje.
Planujesz wymianę na 1100? A może inna marka?
Pozdrawiam i wszystkiego dobrego!
Cześć, no cóż powoli zaczynam myśleć nad nowym moto, spróbuję przetestować kilka motocykli w przyszłym roku, oczywiście nowy Versys 1100 jest na liście, aczkolwiek wymiana nastąpi dopiero w 2026 więc na razie nie wiem co to będzie. Jeśli nie znajdę nic ciekawszego co lepiej mi pasuje to wtedy raczej na pewno będzie to V1100, ma trochę ulepszeń no i znam ten motocykl więc poważny kandydat . Wszystkiego dobrego na święta.
Thanks for your review. But I find it hard to understand your comments about the GT package. You say the side cases are “not practical”, without giving any reason. I’ve done several longish trips with mine and have no complaints. Totally waterproof, and big enough for a full-face helmet. Replacing them with SHAD cases, like you have done, presumably loses the very practical use of one key for ignition, luggage and seat removal.
Likewise the top case, It is simply GIVI with a Kawasaki name badge. What reason would GIVI have to supply a major customer like Kawasaki with an inferior product? It makes no sense.
After 16,000 miles, including many long days, I have never had any discomfort from the seat.
Finally, I do wonder if your QS is functioning properly. It is not designed for use at low rpm or low speeds, given that it is race technology and meant to aid quick up and down shifts during hard acceleration and braking. Using it at low rpm and/or around town could well damage it, particularly during the early “running-in” period.
Hi, thanks for the comment.
The question why I changed the side cases from original to SHAD can be found in my other video th-cam.com/video/zPnhUuzWu2A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=fWW6b4uw8arDCknv.
Topcase, I don't know why the top case is of lower quality, you'd have to ask GIVI about that, I had original Givi cases and those from Kawasaki of course and believe me there is a difference, and it's not just my opinion, many of my subscribers also complained about the quality of the top case.
As for the seat, I never said it was bad, most V1 owners are happy with it, however everyone has different body types, different postures and everyone sits on their butt differently, so one person will ride all day and nothing and another will be groaning in pain after 4 hours. So again, the seat in the Versys is one of the better motorcycle seats, but that doesn't mean it's perfect for everyone.
As for the quickshifter, I know how it should work, I know it's not a low-speed toy, despite that I don't think it works as it should, maybe there's something wrong with QS in my versys, I don't know, I haven't checked. In any case, despite its flaws I still use it, at most I curse under my breath from time to time.
Take care, cheers.
Tenho a versys 1000 2019 e a gsa 1250 bmw a versys e muito melhor em tudo 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂