Went for a test on Versys 1000 saturday morning.
Looks - salesman said "that bike is a fantastic ride" - I asked if he had intentionally missed off the first bit "that bike might look really ugly but..."
I rather liked the 650 Versys and, like the dealer, - wanted the same look but 1000 engine. How anybody can knock the look of the CR and find some bikes (like this one) acceptable or even attractive astounds me. OK if you rae competing head on with the ugly BMW GS in the adventure class - but the Versys is not.
There is also a wacking great big cannon of an exhaust strapped to the side - as an ex Suzuki rider I am used to a small calibre bazooka but this is just too much. However I have already seen very stubby aftermarket cans - and actually the stock one does sound quite good when you are on it. Reasonable noise but not to the extent that it would send you balmy after 250 miles three days on the trott. But the rasp of the CR Vtec was sadly missed.
Riding Position - very nice upright, wide bars and face full on giving super vision -felt a bit KTM Adventure style looking forward - good mirrors - back brake pedal setting far too low though - at first I thought there was no brake as I had pressed down almost as far as I thought was neeeded and nothing happened.
Can't comment on screen, wind noise and protection cos it was a really windy morning and I didn't put my ear plugs back in before going on the ride.The screen is manually adjustable and you can do it on the move - and I would guess it gives reasonable protection - just not sure about the noise/turbulence issues.
The negative for me was the seat height - I don't like any bike where I cannot plant one or both feet any time I need to and the Versys is just that bit too high for me. Anyone used to riding a high seat bike 850mm would probably have no problem - but not for me - the CR @ 815 is just about right.
It was also just that little bit harder for me to get right leg over the pillion seat - with panniers it would probably be hard work - so another negative on that score - no such problems with the CR.
The ride - you know straight away that you have an in line 4 under you - probably plenty of power although the bike only had 24 miles on the clock so it was not loosened up and I didn't find it any better than the CR to hussle along.
After riding a 1250 Suzuki - the 1000 kawasaki motor felt a bit tame - but maybe it does loosen up. It's not heavy and easy to progress in traffic (overtaking and filtering) - but it felt a bit staid and almost within 2 miles I felt that I had experienced all the bike could offer. Also I didn't like it at slow speed - quite tall with a small front wheel and tippy toe feet - not good for paddling U turns - although you would probably get better with practice. Not a bike I would like to ride on more challenging roads.
But the most important thing was the one word missing from my summary of - the ride "FUN" - not sure where that comes in.
Overall I felt the Versys was OK - but if I went back to when I changed from Suzuki GSX1250FA - to CR - and added the Versys to the 10 other bikes I considered - I would not have gone for it instead of the CR.
