Photoshop composition for a side-by-side look at "Battle Bike" next to "Puddle Jumper".
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Puddle Jumper
For almost 30,000 miles, a Versys 650 was my daily commuter through the five boroughs of New York City. Riding made the commute more enjoyable, more fuel-efficient, and gave me more options when traffic got tight. In heavy traffic, drivers would sometimes make sudden moves trying to escape a backed-up lane, potentially leaving you boxed in if you were in a car. The Versys' smaller footprint and maneuverability made it easier to safely work through those situations and regain a good position in traffic. This is just one of the practical advantages of having a smaller, maneuverable vehicle in a very crowded city. Staying safe and staying out of trouble is always a challenge in New York traffic. That bike was a 2014 white Versys 650 that I codenamed "Puddle Jumper" because I would commute on it rain or shine. If it was pouring rain before I had to leave for work, I would just put on a rain suit and carry on with business as usual.
Battle Bike
The Versys 650 that I currently own is an all-black 2023 that I codenamed "Battle Bike." The updated looks are just a bonus. This bike is a fun errand runner and is always prepped and ready for a long ride. Stock, the long-travel suspension soaks up the bumps, while the aftermarket "skid plate" deflects road debris to protect the oil pan, filter, and exhaust. I added many other aftermarket parts to make this a long-distance runner with no worries. I see the low-tech nature of this bike as a feature. There is no tablet-style dash with too many options and too many sensors. It's not fly-by-wire either. It is so basic that reliability comes as a result of "what's not included." Adding things like a chain oiler and dual-camera DVR setup are all discussed in detail on the Road Trip page.
On this page, I want to share my Versys-specific experiences. It is hard not to get attached to a bike that has taken such good care of you for a long time. It is very nimble, which makes it fun in the turns. More sporty than a sport bike — NO. More adventurous than an ADV — NO. But for a third of the price of those bikes, you can "go to battle" with this bike and know it will keep going. I remember floating over bumps, uneven pavement, and various unmarked construction zones in the five boroughs of NYC while other cars and bikes were getting thrown around. As long as I knew when to slightly stand on the pegs to raise my body off the seat, the bike would dance over the rough spots and keep its composure. It really did make a long commute fun when the traffic was flowing and bearable when it wasn't.
Test Ride?
How did I first hear of a Versys 650? Some time after selling my 2006 R6, my friend Joe said, "You need another bike." I told him how my neck and arm started going numb on the R6 on long rides. He said, "Have you ridden a sport-touring bike?" At that point, only sport bikes had been on my radar. He went on to explain how much more comfortable a sport-touring bike was and that he thought the Versys 650 was the ultimate commuter bike. This guy had ridden all of the bikes you can imagine, so I trusted his opinion. That week, I found a Versys 650, sat on it, negotiated a deal, and bought it. When I told Joe that I bought it, he asked, "How did you like it on the test ride?" I said, "Test ride?" He couldn't believe that I just walked in and bought the bike. But that's always the way I have bought all of my bikes. If I decide I want it, I am ready to immerse myself in what the bike has to offer. No analysis paralysis when it comes to bikes. And a test ride really doesn't tell you much. After owning a bike for a few thousand miles you really get a sense for what it is. The first time I rode the Versys was bringing it home from the dealership... and that was an experience.
Game Over at 2 Miles
I don't want to "spoiler alert" the video, but the short of it is that I could've been killed on this minutes after sitting on it for the first time. With only 2 miles on the odometer and half a block from the highway entrance ramp, both the bike and I could've been "game over." I went to stop behind traffic at a red light when my front brakes had zero grab. I steered onto the shoulder and was looking for somewhere to escape. I coasted into a parking lot, and by then engine braking slowed the bike down enough that the rear brake actually did something. There I found one of the front brake calipers dangling by the brake line. Its pistons were extending so the other caliper had no pressure to clamp onto the rotor with. I instantly realized two things: 1) The clunk noise I heard a few seconds prior was not standard NY road debris. 2) If I had made it half a block farther to the highway entrance ramp, I probably could've been killed. All I am saying is that the "dealer prep fee" was not worth it. There were a few mistakes this dealer made that made things interesting but I will just focus on the caliper issue. The dealership send a mechanic out with suppllies for us to rig the bike with to get it back to the shop. We put a wooden block in the caliper to stop the pistons from moving, and I rode it back to the dealership. With that caliper blocked off the second caliper worked jusy fine for a slow 2mi trip. I was in disbelief that this even happened! Totally not the bike's fault; this was on the dealership. You can see on my Africa Twin page what a bike looks like when it is new and shipped in a crate to the dealer. The front wheel is off, and the bike is bolted and strapped down.
Bigger Is Better... Right?
After this was corrected, the Versys took great care of me for nearly 30,000 miles. I took this bike on a ride from NY down to Maryland with a group of friends. We ate way too much food and got to see the local sights. Eventually, I got sucked into the "Bigger is Better" trap and wanted an ADV. The Africa Twin was getting a ton of hype, and I wanted in! It had a parallel twin which I was loving on the Versys but was 1,000cc and looked like a ton of fun. I sold the Versys to another friend of mine and was excited for the black Africa Twin I had just purchased. If you have already been to the Africa Twin page, you already know that it only stayed with me for 14,000 miles. When I sold the Africa Twin, I suddenly regretted selling my Versys 650. That thing fit like a glove. I couldn't buy it back because my friend had already sold it.
This Chapter Wasn't Closed
How I ended up with the black Versys "Battle Bike" is a funny story too. My wife had to bring our pup to the animal hospital while I was out but on my way home. We decided to have her meet up with me to drop off our son so that he could stay with me instead of sitting in the hospital. A good halfway point was a motorcycle dealership. You know, because bike dealerships are the landmarks that I remember best. As my son and I were combing through the dealership, we stumbled on an all-black Versys 650. Finally, my regret for selling "Puddle Jumper" started to subside. It was like seeing an old friend. But this one looked so sweet in all black. There were a ton of "better" bikes in the showroom, but I couldn't let this one go! This chapter wasn't closed. The conversation with my wife was a funny one, as it always is when I am picking up a new bike. I will save all of that for my videos. Let's just say — every motorcycle has its own story.
Why Not the Versys 1000?
Why didn't I buy the Versys 1000? For my needs, that was way too much tech to worry about on long trips. And the "who cares about fuel economy on a motorcycle" thing people say is not something a long-distance commuter would ever say. The 650 sips fuel and lets you stack the miles.
Down-and-Dirty Work
The Kawasaki Versys 650 will always be a machine in my garage for the down-and-dirty work. I also own a 2.5L muscle cruiser, which I enjoy very much. But there are some things that I just have to get on the Versys for.
ATGATT
ATGATT: All The Gear, All The Time - is the only standard that we can encourage for motorcycle safety. While we are guilty of breaking the ATGATT recommendation, we do not encourage others to do so. A properly sized and rated helmet, along with protective clothing and body protection, is always best practice. For more information click here.
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