2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000 Lt

Ignition

BMW R1200R -> YAMAHA FJ-09 -> KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14

THE RIDE 1RR1.~ HERE

FACE-LIFT: Funky is f me bra few, but most motorcycle buyers want to love the look of their bike. As such, the Versys 1000 LT enters our market I with fresh styling.

2015 KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000 LT

CW FIRST RIDE

Adventure and sport-touring bikes continue to meld

Blake Conner

2010 YEAR BORN: The then-new Z1000 was the first machine to get the 1,043cc inline-four that also powers the Ninja and Versys.

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POUNDS: Weight savings compared to the Concours 14. Making the Versys 1000 LT Kawi’s lightest sport-touring machine.

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HORSEPOWER MEASURED: The last time we had a Ninja 1000 on our dyno. Torque measured 74.4 pound-feet at 7,530 rpm.

We’ve been missing out. Kawasaki’s 1,043CC inline-fourpowered Versys 1000 has been kicking around other markets since 2012 and only now joins its Ninja 1000 and Z1000 stablemates Stateside in 2015. That’s good because we’re fond of the torquey engine powering this trifecta. We’re also big fans of the Versys’ jack-of-all-trades character, even if the previous 650 twin had a face only a mother could love.

Redesigned for 2015, the

Versys 1000 LT has a host of standard features, and its $12,799 price means it significantly undercuts the competition from Europe (BMW, Triumph, KTM) and Japan (Yamaha and Suzuki). Standard fare on the LT is generous, including colormatched 28-liter single-key hard cases, hand guards, a manually adjustable (without tools) windshield, ABS, KTRC traction control (with four settings), two power modes, a slipper clutch (with lever-lightening

assist function), and a fully adjustable KYB fork and shock with provisions for preload and rebound adjustments.

True to the Versys name’s “versatile system” mashup, the bike’s long-travel suspension (5.9 inches at each end), upright riding position, and torque-monster engine allow this Kawasaki to eat up underfunded secondary roads with aplomb, and I can assure you that Sicily—the site of the bike’s international press introduction—must have some of the worst maintained but amazingly fun roads anywhere in the world.

It took only a few minutes of seat time to be reminded that this is a great engine. Despite not utilizing ride by wire, Kawi has packaged this 1,043a: engine with multiple ride modes and TC settings, giving what is already an incredibly smooth powerplant some other tricks to tame the highways.

Our photo location was on the lower slopes of snowcapped Mount Etna, the famous 10,990foot volcano. The road heading up into the national park was wet from morning rains, with hints of roadside snow. In other words, a great opportunity to

play with the TC settings and see if I could get the KTRC light on the dash flashing. In full power mode, while really giving the new Versys 1000 LT some stick, I was able to do so. But I came away impressed with how much effort it took, thanks to the engine’s smooth nature.

Equally smooth was the suspension, which ate up bumps with zero indigestion. Adjustments were wide enough to allow for a good setting, whether you’re blitzing apexes solo or riding two-up with luggage. Excellent front brakes (310mm discs pinched by four-piston calipers) cause more front-end dive under hard braking than I’d like, but the bike really likes to be trail-braked into corners, which helps get its fairly substantial 550 pounds turned more effectively. While the big Versys lacks its little brother’s light and flickable handling, it will pay its rider back with the ability to eat up serious miles. My only complaint: The seat’s too

soft, and my butt felt sore after a long day on Sicily’s asphalt whoops.

As an all-round bike, the Versys 1000 LT is in most ways superior to its Ninja and Z1000 counterparts, providing a lot of features for not much more money. Where it stacks up against the streetoriented adventure-tourers remains to be measured in comparison testing, but we are going to have a lot of fun finding out. LTU

2015 KAWASAKI

VERSYS 1000 LT

ENGINE TYPE liquid-cooled DOHC inline-four, 16 valves

DISPLACEMENT 1043cc

33.1 in.

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5.5 gal.

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$12,799