Today, touring bikes come in all shapes and sizes. If you are after the most comfortable, there are several fantastic full dressers that can take you across the country in the lap of luxury. Unfortunately, those bikes are both expensive and huge.
If you are after something a little easier on the wallet, as well as significantly more practical, there is a wide selection of great middleweight bikes now on offer. While several new players have now emerged in this space, one of the original bikes still has a lot to offer. Versatility also just so happens to be in its name.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Kawasaki. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS Is The Lightweight Tourer That Makes City Traffic And Highways Easy
MSRP: $10,399
The Versys, or “Versatile System”, has long since been the default choice in this middleweight touring bike space. While it is facing increasing competition from some competitively priced middleweight adventure bikes, in terms of genuine touring alternatives, it only has a couple of direct competitors.
The Honda NC750X offers us an automatic option. Honda has bet big on the automatic transmission, and this highly competent tourer is equally at home within the confines of a city thanks to its maxi-scooter roots. Triumph offers the Tiger Sport 660 as the most like-for-like alternative to the Versys. In an effort to keep the price down, Triumph has left off the luggage, but it offers a little more punch from its reworked sports bike engine.
Another bike that should be on your radar if you prefer cruisers is the Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger. It comes with luggage as standard, as well as the passenger seat (not pictured), and offers a lot of value to the right buyer. Admittedly, you get what you pay for in terms of build quality, but it has a reworked Versys 650 engine, so mechanical reliability shouldn’t be much of an issue.
The Versys 650 Has A Reliable Parallel-Twin
Power: 66 Horsepower
With bikes like the Versys, overall peak horsepower takes a back seat to midrange performance. With most of its torque available from around 3,500 RPM onward, it is fair to say that it delivers in this respect. Kawasaki was one of the first manufacturers to really develop an engine like this, something of a Jack of all trades that can go into several different kinds of motorcycles.
An Engine For Every Occasion
Kawasaki has put this 650 in everything from the Vulcan S cruiser to the Ninja 650 sports bike. Chinese manufacturer CFMoto has also been building an older version of this engine under license for quite some time, and supplies it to several other Chinese manufacturers, including Moto Morini.
Unfortunately, just like any good Jack of all trades, it is a master of none. It offers middling performance, which makes the Ninja 650 a little underwhelming for a sports bike, and it also makes the Vulcan a little too sporty for a cruiser. But this middling nature is well suited to the Versys.
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The Versys 650 Offers Unrivaled Versatility And Practicality
The Versys 650 is one of those rare bikes that can do virtually anything. While it won’t be particularly good off-road, it will be just fine on the odd fire road. It is also more than comfortable enough to do long-distance touring, and with a wet weight of only 483 pounds (without the saddlebags), it is light and nimble enough to handle the city commute during the week. It is an objectively great motorcycle, but with it being so very practical, it is not necessarily the most fun.
Subjectively speaking, a motorcycle should always be fun to ride. This might very well be a dealbreaker for some riders, so it is important to take it for a long test ride before making any purchasing decisions. It might seem counterintuitive, but most motorcycles have odd quirks, and those quirks are what make them interesting. The Versys is devoid of quirks. It is almost sterile, which to some might be ideal, but others will struggle to see it as anything other than an efficient appliance.
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Ready To Tour Straight From The Factory
In terms of features, pretty much every base is covered. While its suspension isn’t from any of the fancy brands, it is fully adjustable, which makes it pretty easy to make quick adjustments after loading the bike up for a long ride. It also has an adjustable windshield that offers a decent amount of wind protection, and the latest LT version is positively feature-rich. It has ABS, traction control, integrated saddlebags, a TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, and hand guards.
It is one of the few bikes genuinely ready to go wherever you want, straight from the factory. The fact that it has such a proven engine adds peace of mind to that list, and that is something that is not easy to put a dollar value on. For those who simply need a motorcycle that is dependable, can commute, and occasionally travel across the country, this is the perfect motorcycle.