2023 Kawasaki KLR vs. Versys 650 LT - Complete In Depth Comparison!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ส.ค. 2024
- The Kawasaki KLR and the Versys 650 have a lot in common, but have many differences as well. Which bike is better for which type of rider? That's what I try to help answer in this video! Want to see these bikes for yourself? Connect with the amazing team at Jim Gilbert's Wheels and Deals using the following link: powersports.wh...
I just bought a 2023 Versys 650 last week. It's an odd/old marketing thing to call it Adventure. It IS a quintessential Sport Touring Bike, in the most economical form available. During my break in, I've done a couple rides where I've been on the bike for a continuous 4.5+ hours, completely stock. The tachometer flashes when to shift and you end up in 6th gear at ~42mph, which has given me 60+ MPG that facilitates these long rides. I have done some freeway miles and with the windscreen at the highest position, I don't feel any wind on my helmet(5'11"). I only feel mild wind on my shoulders and upper arms, my hands are completely guarded as I've been wearing perforated summer gloves in 40* temperature. It's the perfect bike if you're doing a lot of paved road miles and don't want to spend the price of a new car and only get 2 wheels. The bikes you should be comparing a Versys 650 to, start at +$7k more MSRP, it shouldn't be the KLR. The Ninja 650 is a tiny bike in comparison, comfort wise. The Versys 650 should be the gold standard of street bikes.
I think you and I are far more on the same page than you think. When I refer to the Versys 650 in comparison with the KLR and the Ninja, those are logical comparisons within the show room. The Ninja is sporty and uses the same engine, the KLR is large, with a similarly sized engine, similar riding position, and can be equipped with factory luggage. So there are absolutely people comparing them even if you're not. But where we FULLY agree is in the fact that the Versys 650 is a Sport Touring bike with an adventure riding position. I used to own the Versys 650, and I always used to describe it as the perfect 1-person touring bike. In a world where most touring bikes are very large, and very heavy, the Versys 650 can do it all with more nimble and fun handling. The only reason that I call it a 1-person touring bike is because, it's great at taking two passengers for a nice weekend ride, but I'm not sure it's the best 2-person touring bike. When you talk about the Versys should be the gold standard of street bikes, I think many would agree. Although to be fair, there are people who find it to be quite tall, and its centre of gravity with a full tank of fuel is a little higher than on other bikes in the lineup. Some people really like lighter weight smaller bikes when they take about "sport" but my argument is that the Versys is more Sport than most riders skills can handle. So we're largely on the same page. Feel free to subscribe! I've got a lot more content coming!
Have owned the Versys 650 and done 12000km with no issues ,just a warning ….make sure you use OEM genuine levers , and not cheap imitations .
My front brake lever was replaced at a dealer with an aftermarket front brake lever , the front disc seized up and vehicle stopped on road , and couldn’t be pushed an inch until brake lever was removed .
Had this happened on a low speed roundabout It could have seen me and the bike run over .
The lever appeared ok …worked for 30 minutes then the bike stopped at low speed on a road .
@@orionswitnessthat’s the brake master cylinder. That’s not the lever.
@@Giixxersquid are you sure ?
The lever has been replaced with a stock one .. I did it myself as I couldn’t trust the dealer anymore … no issues since … how would the original mechanic who replaced my lever with aftermarket one have stuffed up the master cylinder ?
I am genuinely curious as dealer can’t be bothered to.
@@PeterLoweOne Great summary of the Versys … it is tall .. after doing two test rides on a Honda Transalp and a Honda NT 1100 , they definitely felt more balanced bikes.
But after 12000kms on my Versys … I feel I ride more precise in regards to stopping correctly on Versys … as when I first bought it the forks dived when applying too much sudden front brake .. you could get away with it on stiffer suspension lower bikes .
Now I brake much more progressively and use both brakes , the stops at lights are now super smooth with minimal fork dive.
For back roads this bike is perfect , motorways good , dirt roads ok , off road dicey .
Got a Versys since 2014 and I love it. Especially on small twisty roads. I would like to call it a 90/10 bike. You can go some offroad like gravel roads. I have seen them in the djungle on different forums! But personally I would pick another bike for that.
A Versys is a supermotard with long distance capabilities.
I pick up my new Gen 3 klr in 3 days time. Riding it around Australia. Some people see the 5 speed transmission as a disadvantage. I don't. The gearing is well spaced and quite tall matched to a torque engine. The bike never feels stressed at highway speeds.
I've owned a KLR and loved the tall seat height, not sure why many people want to lower every bike they buy.
The KLR is great at seeing long distance ahead of you to spot drivers who don't always use the STOP signs.
I think the KLR is just a little intimidating for some people. That KLR S really appeals to me, and I'm plenty tall enough for a KLR.
If you don’t understand why a shorter rider wants to lower a 210 kg KLR with a seat height of 870 mm …you must never have gone off road in challenging conditions .
The most expert riders in challenging terrain use their feet to get out of a stall or tip over .
Imagine not being able to reach the ground when in the same situation .
Great review
@@orionswitness You must be a new and inexperienced rider.
@@heretohear8662 Quite the contrary …just stating the obvious.
Real off road riding , involves coming to an unplanned stop on uneven surfaces , go watch a few hard enduro videos .
These are the two bikes I was looking at when I decided to sell my year old Pan America. Wound up buying the KLR. Why would I go from a high performance ADV bike to the KLR? Simplicity, reliability, and value. You can buy 3 KLRs to one PA. I can do all the maintenance on the KLR, whereas the PA is basically a computer with pistons. My KLR desnorkeled, with an aftermarket pipe, and a tuner, easily will do 100mph, but I don't need to. The riding position of the KLR is one of the most comfortable of all the bikes I've owned. I love it.....but I still want a Versys too! May have to make some extra room in the garage. Nice video comparison!
Thanks so much for your comment! I love hearing from owners! And thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe! Hopefully I can create some more content that you'll appreciate!
The KLR is not really great for highway riding, in my opinion. I owned a 2017 KLR and it's a big bike with lots of vibration when you try to go over 110km/h. If you plan to do more road than off-road, I say stick with the Versys. I like the price point of the KLR and being tall, it was a good fit for my size. Not sure about the versys. I've only sat on them in the showroom. Right now, I only have a 2005 Honda Silverwing scooter. Trying to figure out whether I want an adventure bike or a dual sport. Again, will mostly ride highway miles with occasional offroad. If the KLR had a 6th gear, I'd buy it again!
Thanks for sharing your experiences! One thing that I will point out is that the KLR has been tweaked to reduce vibration, among other improvements in the redesigned model. But to be fair, you're right, there are other bikes in the lineup that can do highway driving better. (I did another KLR video where I talked about the KLR doing everything well, but nothing great) There are individual bikes in the lineup that do things better (Versys is a better highway bike) but no bike does everything that the KLR does as well as it does. I'm a big fan of the new KLR, but again, I do recognize that it's not going to do some things as well as other bikes.
Living and riding in a rural area, my requirements for a bike include transitioning to dirt/gravel roads as well as light trails and rarely used sandy dirt roads. I'm very pleased with my 22 KLR Traveler that I recently purchased.
Sounds like it's the perfect bike for you! Thanks for sharing!
@@PeterLoweOneThanks for the reply Peter. The KLR also made me realize that in general, I prefer a higher and more neutral seating position on the road. (I've been riding cruisers and nothing else for a long time...(after growing up on dual-sports) The Versys really appeals to me, and was thinking it would be the perfect bike for me, but the more I encounter areas of fluffy sand on local dirt roads, the more I think it wouldn't be a good choice.
***To own 1 bike, the KLR fits for me, if I were to have 2, I believe something like a KLX300L and a Versys650 might be perfect.
***one thing interesting to note is how even the idea of the meaning of "dirt road" changes in different geographical locations. The closer one gets to the coast the more sand encountered as opposed to hard packed dirt and clay. (Even 100 miles from the coast, "shark's teeth" are found in the farmer's fields from the area being the ocean floor millions of years ago)
Eric in NC
The windscreen is adjustable without tools on the versys. There is al little "button" just below the dash. They changed that in 2022. Im a bit over six foot but most of my length comes from my upper body. I needed to change to a bigger wind screen with a spoiler on it to eliminate al the terrible turbulent air around my helmet on the highest (stock) wind screen setting when the stock screen was on the lowest setting the buffeting was alright but my head was in full wind and my upper body wasn't. that was something what i found pretty uncomfortable. Besides that i love the machine. I bought a complete stock model (non lt i guess? in europe we don't have any lt models). Luckily i found a pair of used and lightly scratched panniers for 60 euros i only needed new locks for it and the fitting kit. If you are looking for panniers id suggest to look for used ones. Almost 1k for plastic panniers is a big nono for me. Also the stock handguards look kinda weird. SW motech offers a way better looking set.
I missed that adjustable windscreen. I apologize for that. It's pretty simple and seems to work well. I'll have to post a correction. Thanks for sharing your experiences! I love the Versys! Feel free to subscribe!
The problem with both bikes when going off road alone …they are bloody heavy to pick up if you tip over or crash in mud or sand , or tight up hill sections or river crossings .
On the Versys I don’t go on anything rougher than gravel roads or smooth firetrails.
I dropped it in my driveway and couldn’t pick it up , off the concrete ….218 kg wet .
I am 59 and thought I could have done it easily , imagine trying to pick the bike up in mud when you are slipping all over the place …this stopped me buying a KLR .
The KLR I have ridden off road …it is very capable …but it’s almost as heavy as the Versys .
If you ride off road with others …not such an issue , but lots of people ride off road alone , as that is the attraction for some people .
@@orionswitness depends, people take their tenere offroad all the time. It’s definitely not fun to pick up in the mud as you stated. But it is doable, but with those bikes you wont do any hard enduro. Especially with the versys. They advertise it in Europe with the slogan any road any time, that perfectly sums it up for me. Not off road any time. As long as you stay off the trails it’s fine.
I have narrowed my search to these two bikes. I plan to do an iron butt challenge (1,000 miles in under 24 hours) in the next few months. I also would like to take some more dirt roads and have some fun off pavement.
So, if you plan on taking some dirt roads, the KLR is really your best choice. The Versys has an adventure style to it, but all the components from the suspension to the wheels and tires, are all street spec stuff. It's an on road bike.
Very good review!
Thanks for watching!
@@PeterLoweOne ok I just got back from the shop. The KLR and the versys are to big for me. I’m a new rider. The klx230 is way better for me
Great review, I'm considering one of these two!
Awesome! I've owned the Versys 650, and love the KLR 650. You can't go wrong with either, but they are different in some key ways, so if you know what you're looking for in a bike, I think you'll easily make the best decision for you.
Thanks for the review. I was pretty set on the KLR until now. Is there an aftermarket TFT display replacement available for the KLR? If so I think I would go KLR - if not, maybe not!
I'm not aware of aftermarket dash systems for he KLR, but it does have a large aftermarket accessory following. You might want to check with the various online KLR forums or Facebook pages.
Sub’d! Great bike reviews
Looking for a bike that can tour great but handles seasonal roads good. I’m. It trying to be the ultimate trail kind of person but I got the Adirondack mountains as my motorcycle backyard travels. Not worried about “power” as much as I am about enjoying the ride. I’ve been up in the air about these 2 bikes and the v-strom I got a gsxr 600 for speed. Which bike would you pick v-strom versys or klr?
Versys isn't the off road bike that you seem to be hinting at. If you like the Versys but want off road capability, that's the V-Strom. The KLR is a retro bike that isn't going to have the performance of the twin cylinder bikes you mention, but it will save some cash for great accessories and better trips.
Would it be accurate to say the KRL is an offroad bike that is highway capable, whereas the Versys is a highway bike that can go offroad *if you get the right accessories?
Yes, for the KLR. I have a very hard time recommending the Versys for off road, even with accessories. My main concerns are the soft suspension, location of the oil filter, wheels and tires. By the time someone changes all those on the Versys, it would have been way cheaper to buy a Suzuki V-Strom which is essentially a Versys with a bit of off road capability.
A few things Kawasaki need to do with the klr they need to
Add heated grips as standard
Add a rev counter
Keep the 650cc single but get more hp out off it
Releases it in the UK market
I'm not sure that I agree. And I hope you're reading my tone as I intend. I'm just curious about your thoughts on this.
Why do things have to be standard when you can take delivery of the bike with that accessory installed? If you want this with heated grips standard, they'd just raise the price, and make them standard. What's the difference between that and having the dealer add it before you take the bike home?
Don't get me wrong, the next bike I buy will have heated grips, but not everyone needs them, and if you'll never use them, why be forced to pay for them?
I agree about the tach though. No road going bike should come without one these days, if you ask me.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@PeterLoweOne all bikes should be fitted with a rev clock and as the UK it a lot colder than America heated grips come as standard on most bikes here these days and for the hp if Ktm and Chinese brands can get more hp out of the single cylinder I think Kawasaki should follow the same boat
Just rode my 2007 KLR 650 from Dallas to Key West. My ass wants a smoother ride.
Haha! That's a big trip!
What is the range per tank of gas on them, and liters per 100Km. Do not like the small bags on the KLR650 can you fit GIVI trekker 33- 64 liter bags on it. It looks like the lights on the crash bar stick out father than the bar, can not tell by this video. I did have the first gen K>R 650 and my sun is still riding it. But he beet the shit out of it going off road, at speeds only experts would do. I took it form Barrie Ontario to Epworth Newfoundland, hitting Newfoundland in the worst rain storm they have ever had, I had the road all to my self at night, not even the moos were out. How available is the lower version, and what is the seat high on them. Gen one was tall but the suspension was soft so no problem flat footing at 5'9" with a 33 inseam. One great thing about the KLR and the DR650 is the soft suspension great for going over very rough roads. Can you get it with every thing but the bags, or do the bags come with the package.
Nice video, thank you. Where is manufactured the KLR?
The KLR's have been manufactured in Thailand since 2001.
@@PeterLoweOne, thank you.
Middle of the night here - that's cheating!!
Must say I prefer the Kawasaki to be sure...
Thanks again for the reviews Peter.
Long stroke reminds me of the old British BSA. Great for easy cruising as well.
Haha. Believe me! If I’m posting that late, it's not because I want to be! And you said you'd prefer the Kawasaki? They're both Kawasaki's!
@@PeterLoweOne yes, meant the KLR
Late in the evening 😄👌👍 at least here 8:21pm
Nice bikes
Yeah! Had one of those days and I wasn't able to get this uploaded until just now. Should be posting a few during the day tomorrow! Thanks for watching!
I like the KLT Adventure, just not sure how it would be in extended highway use
If that's your main type of riding, this wouldn't be my first choice. It's not that the KLR can't do it, it's just that there are better bikes to do that. This would be great at back country highways with detours onto narrow country roads that aren't well maintained, and short cuts (or scenic routes) through dirt and gravel roads. It's the kind of bike that can handle whatever roads you could possibly come across, but it will never be the absolute best choice for any specific type of riding. Personally, I think that's the appeal of this bike. It's like having the second best bike for any road you could come across, while there would be several different bikes in the various number one spots.
Wow. The new six-fiddy Versys is almost good looking. I test-rode the model a couple of years ago. Comfortable a. f.
To sum it up, I will rather go on the highway with a klr although not so good than go with a versys offroad , bad experience.
Haha! Yup! And choosing the KLR definitely gives up the sporty feel of the Versys 650. If I chose the KLR, that's one thing that I would miss. Like I said, I went into this year not expecting to like the KLR as much as I did. I never would have guessed that it would be in the top 3 or 4 motorcycles in my mind at the end of the year, but sometimes a motorcycle is less about the bike, and more about how you use it, and for me, it would be well used!
Seems really weird to even compare these two bikes. Apples and Oranges ya know.
In many ways, they're very different, but a lot of people have asked for this comparison. If you want an upright riding position, with good wind protection on a 650 motorcycle that allows you to tour, both of these bikes would be on your list.
I can't believe there isn't more protection on the Versys from all the splatter coming off the front wheel on wet roads. And it ought to have some kind of bash plate and crash bars, and a center stand as standard.
I kind of understand it from Kawasaki's point of view. They aren't building this as an off-road vehicle. I think if they saw a number of owner's coming in with major issues because of this, they'd have adapted something in the redesign, but it doesn't seem to be an issue. Having said that, at the 8:19 mark of the video, you can see my old bike. I had a number of SW MoTech accessories on that bike, and there was a solid metal protective shield on my old bike, along with a Centre Stand from them. The centre stand was a little awkward because you had to lower the side stand to put use the centre stand, which I think is why Kawasaki doesn't offer one, but it worked great.
@@PeterLoweOne Kawasaki does offer a center stand, but not crash bars. I don't know the cost of plastics, but I know on BMWs they can be 1000s. You lose balance and break some plastic, and it's $1000+ bill. I am interested in buying one, but it seems to me, the mfr is in the best position to know how to engineer things like crash bars into the structure of the motorcycle, so that the motorcycle itself is not harmed by forces on the crash bars. I think side stands are senseless: they don't allow the fuel tank to fill evenly, they make it difficult to oil and adjust the chain properly, change tires, and they are poor at supporting a bike on unstable ground. I don't know why center stands aren't the only stand if you are only going to have one.
@@chadkline4268 So, in Canada, there is no centre stand available from Kawasaki. I'm with you. I don't think every sport bike buyer wants a centre stand, but I think certain styles of bikes should come with one. As far as the crash bars, one thing that I think people forget is that motorcycle manufacturers are very small companies compared to auto manufacturers. Most manufacturers view the aftermarket as partners. For Kawasaki to offer certain accessories, they not only have to design and engineer them, they also need to manufacture them at a reasonable cost. The aftermarket companies are set up to develop things like crash bars in high volume for multiple brands, and the manufacturers often can't compete. Even if one was available from Kawasaki, if the cost, or style, or design didn't meet or exceed the aftermarket, they wouldn't sell very many. It's the same thing with Jeep. The Jeep brand recognizes that they can offer a number of accessories for the Jeep, but they also recognize that there are aftermarket suppliers who can offer the customer more, so they don't compete in that space.
First