Your bike is nicely set up, good review. Recently bought a 2020 versys 650 myself and am enjoying the bike. Pleasantly surprised with the power, still tuning the suspension. Does make a great commuter with the top box. Quite high in the saddle I’m still stock height. Good review you can tell you have spent some time driving it. Wish the newer models would revert back to the Kawasaki green.
Thanks for the comment. I used my Givi topbox daily for work and really enjoyed it. No matter how I tuned suspension it still couldn’t handle Offroad that well. The geometry of a smaller front wheel impacts Offroad capability big time. Take a look at my other videos with the versys. I have absolutely sent this bike down trails at speed lol.
Greets from Germany. Cool bike. I have one of those too. Im also very satisfied. Do really a lot of fun to chase through the curves. Have fun and accident free ride
Nice review. What brand is your pannier side rack setup? I bought the same bike recently (with the exact same racks installed) and I'm trying to find a proper bag setup. I can't find a manufacturer's name on the side racks.
Ok. what would be a little better bike for gravels and some forest/mountain. I still would want it universal, not too heavy but capable of carrying 2 people.
It depends how much you weight. You could do it with smaller displacement bikes like 300cc. There isn’t really a light option for 2 up. Best I could think of is KLR650
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@EastCoastMoto I am 90...100kg, 182cm. On CB500xa I felt good on gravel, but I felt worse than on Versys on asphalt - it vibrates on 6000 at 104kmph... it is not rapid enough for passing 90kmph cars/lorries. Probably I should look at something like Tiger 850+ It also has longer wheelbase.
If you don't mind riding an older motorcycle, the Kawasaki KLE-500 is probably what you'd want. They don't make them, anymore. But they really should. Much more off road oriented, than the KLE-650 (aka Versys 650).
The Versys 650 isn't an ADV Motorcycle. ADV Motorcycles must have a front wheel minimum size 19". (Typically spoked) The Versys 650 has a 17" front wheel. It's a Sport Touring Motorcycle, with some off-road abilities. (It's still the best, overall motorcycle on the road, though). (Best bang for your buck). (Most fun for your money). (Most miles from your machine). (Cool Legs, not blistering shins).
@@andrewroberts6123 my point was a bit of a dig at people who buy ADV bikes... most want a sport-touring but if they find a fire-road or logging road want the option to take it.. but (and this is just personal opinion) 90% of people will never really use an ADV for it's intended purpose.. people just like the flexibility. My feeling on it is "anything is an adv bike if you are brave enough".
@@adam346 I'm not sure about your claim of 90% . (Perhaps you're correct, though). A more prevalent, (and serious) issue is the 99% of motorcyclists who buy Sport-Racing Motorcycles, and never ride them on a Track. Any motorcycle that's your daily rider should have a comfortable seat, and the engine must run cool enough that it won't blister your shins, on long rides. I don't do any serious off-roading on my Versys 650. (I do a little bit of off-roading, though) I ride with cool legs & a comfortable ass. (I bought the perfect motorcycle).
How to you find your semi dirt tires on the road? I’ve only drove down some gravel roads on the stock tires and found the 17” front tire was pretty loose feeling,
They didn’t feel as good as pure road tires. That’s said, they behaved well and I could get fairly leaned over without any concern. Certainly a good tire choice if you intent to see fire or gravel roads
Be sure to buy a Front Fender Extenda. Best $20 mod (saves your radiator from road wash wear) Best installed using 3 layers of brushed on contact adhesive. (Not plastic rivets & Sticky pad tape) ! Take this advice. You will thank me, later.
Hello, it’s plug and play. I’m sure there are some good videos out there on it. The most difficult part was choosing the wire path (which was also quite easy). I know the 2009 is a different generation to this one, but I think it’s similar.
Your bike is nicely set up, good review. Recently bought a 2020 versys 650 myself and am enjoying the bike. Pleasantly surprised with the power, still tuning the suspension. Does make a great commuter with the top box. Quite high in the saddle I’m still stock height. Good review you can tell you have spent some time driving it. Wish the newer models would revert back to the Kawasaki green.
Thanks for the comment. I used my Givi topbox daily for work and really enjoyed it. No matter how I tuned suspension it still couldn’t handle Offroad that well. The geometry of a smaller front wheel impacts Offroad capability big time. Take a look at my other videos with the versys. I have absolutely sent this bike down trails at speed lol.
beautiful bike, congratulations!
Thanks!! It’s a beauty bike
Hi there where did you get your headlights from?
I love my 09 heavily moded versys
Greets from Germany. Cool bike. I have one of those too.
Im also very satisfied. Do really a lot of fun to chase through the curves. Have fun and accident free ride
Thank you!
Did you had to change side stands
Nice review. What brand is your pannier side rack setup?
I bought the same bike recently (with the exact same racks installed) and I'm trying to find a proper bag setup. I can't find a manufacturer's name on the side racks.
It’s soft bag panniers. Givi or kappa made them I think. You can use any soft luggage setup with it. I used Oxford soft bags.
Was considering a power commander too
Ok. what would be a little better bike for gravels and some forest/mountain. I still would want it universal, not too heavy but capable of carrying 2 people.
It depends how much you weight. You could do it with smaller displacement bikes like 300cc. There isn’t really a light option for 2 up. Best I could think of is KLR650
@EastCoastMoto I am 90...100kg, 182cm. On CB500xa I felt good on gravel, but I felt worse than on Versys on asphalt - it vibrates on 6000 at 104kmph... it is not rapid enough for passing 90kmph cars/lorries. Probably I should look at something like Tiger 850+ It also has longer wheelbase.
Yes tiger or Africa twin. Again it gets heavier, but really that shouldn’t be the focus if that’s the only off road you’re doing
If you don't mind riding an older motorcycle, the Kawasaki KLE-500 is probably what you'd want. They don't make them, anymore. But they really should. Much more off road oriented, than the KLE-650 (aka Versys 650).
I am 1.64 m tall and 72 cm of inseam.
The Kawasaki Versys 650 is too high for me. How much is possible to get lower the bike?
You can get a lowering link that will drop it 40mm. That should be enough for you to touch both sides (or get close to it).
@@MikeThompsonn Thank you for the advice. Good health and safe rides.
15" wheel mod ? 🤷🏼♂️ ( Lol )
Hello from Sweden. I have the same bike but it’s black. What’s the make of the crash bar/engine protector bars that you have?
Touratech is the brand. Not sure if they still make them or not. It was hard to find a couple years ago
SW-MOTECH makes good crash bars for the Versys 650, too.
This is the sickest camera view I've ever seen. How do you do that? LOL
What is the brand of your engine & light guard?
& where to buy it?
Touratech. I can’t remember where from
But it was online
I rode 850 miles in 2 days, on my Versys 650.
(No numbness / No fatigue)
I feel like Kawasaki looked at all the ADV riders and said *this* is what you want... and most of us are like "yeah..."
The Versys 650 isn't an ADV Motorcycle. ADV Motorcycles must have a front wheel minimum size 19". (Typically spoked) The Versys 650 has a 17" front wheel. It's a Sport Touring Motorcycle, with some off-road abilities. (It's still the best, overall motorcycle on the road, though).
(Best bang for your buck).
(Most fun for your money).
(Most miles from your machine).
(Cool Legs, not blistering shins).
@@andrewroberts6123 my point was a bit of a dig at people who buy ADV bikes... most want a sport-touring but if they find a fire-road or logging road want the option to take it.. but (and this is just personal opinion) 90% of people will never really use an ADV for it's intended purpose.. people just like the flexibility. My feeling on it is "anything is an adv bike if you are brave enough".
@@adam346 I'm not sure about your claim of 90% . (Perhaps you're correct, though).
A more prevalent, (and serious) issue is the 99% of motorcyclists who buy Sport-Racing Motorcycles, and never ride them on a Track. Any motorcycle that's your daily rider should have a comfortable seat, and the engine must run cool enough that it won't blister your shins, on long rides. I don't do any serious off-roading on my Versys 650.
(I do a little bit of off-roading, though)
I ride with cool legs & a comfortable ass.
(I bought the perfect motorcycle).
Hi, what tires do you have?
How to you find your semi dirt tires on the road? I’ve only drove down some gravel roads on the stock tires and found the 17” front tire was pretty loose feeling,
They didn’t feel as good as pure road tires. That’s said, they behaved well and I could get fairly leaned over without any concern. Certainly a good tire choice if you intent to see fire or gravel roads
We have the same bike you’ve definitely just inspired me to do some mods
Well worth the mods imo
Be sure to buy a Front Fender Extenda.
Best $20 mod (saves your radiator from road wash wear)
Best installed using 3 layers of brushed on contact adhesive. (Not plastic rivets & Sticky pad tape) !
Take this advice. You will thank me, later.
I'm putting shinko 700s or 244s on my 09
Nicely put together video.
Thanks man. I enjoy making these videos. Bit of a new hobby. Plus my kids like to watch them lol
@@MikeThompsonn Certainly better than when my dad sat us down with the slide projector for an hours long torture session made of 20 rolls of film.
@@cyrex686 lol no doubt man. My daughter will often flip over to my dirt bike videos. She wants to see me fall off haha
What lowering link did you get?
@@markhollingsworth7715 lustracing
Hi want to ho to installing gear indicator for my kawasaki versys 650 2009
Hello, it’s plug and play. I’m sure there are some good videos out there on it. The most difficult part was choosing the wire path (which was also quite easy). I know the 2009 is a different generation to this one, but I think it’s similar.
I can tell you're a Canadian LOL
lol shrimp !
Turd 💩
@@MikeThompsonn Just joshing in fun .
@@joecamel6835TURD ! ☝🏾💩(lol)