Motosikal hibrid Kawasaki yang bakal dilancarkan telah terdedah melalui ilustrasi paten terkini. Gambar dibawah, dikongsikan oleh penerbitan Itali Motociclismo, menunjukkan motosikal berasaskan model touring Kawasaki Versys, tetapi dibezakan dengan penambahan unit hibrid.
Pembangunan ini sejajar dengan tawaran hibrid sedia ada Kawasaki, iaitu full-fairing Ninja 7 Hybrid dan naked Z 7 Hybrid. Sistem hibrid ini terdiri daripada motor elektrik 9kW yang beroperasi bersama dengan enjin 451cc yang bersilinder-kembar.
‘Versys Hybrid’ yang bakal muncul berbeza daripada model hibrid Kawasaki yang bakal masuk pasaran dunia pada tahun 2024 – Ninja 7 Hybrid dan Z 7 Hybrid, yang berkategori sportbike dan naked. Kategori-kategori ini memberi tumpuan kepada prestasi berbanding perjalanan jauh, dan amat berbeza dengan segmen touring.
Kelebihan hibrid dalam konteks touring melampaui pertimbangan jarak dan efficiency minyak sahaja. Motosikal hibrid memastikan operasi berterusan selepas bateri habis, kelebihannya terletak dalam keupayaannya untuk mengekalkan prestasi yang mantap semasa perjalanan yang panjang — sesuatu yang enjin tradisional yang bergantung pada satu punca kuasa untuk roda belakang tidak dapat tawarkan.
Walaupun bateri 1.4kWh yang kelihatan sederhana digunakan dalam Ninja 7 Hybrid dan Z 7 Hybrid, Kawasaki menggabungkannya dengan enjin konvensional, memberikan 69bhp ke roda belakang dalam kedua-dua model. Output ini, yang melebihi sedikit daripada 66bhp Versys 650, menekankan potensi prestasi yang berterusan untuk jarak yang panjang.
Walaupun Kawasaki belum membuat keputusan untuk beralih sepenuhnya dari model biasa kepada hibrid dengan prestasi yang setaraf, keberkesanan Versys hibrid untuk perjalanan jauh, bersama dengan penekanan Kawasaki terhadap penggunaan bahan api seperti motosikal 250cc pada motosikal hibrid sedia ada, menunjukkan kemungkinan Versys 650 dipertimbangkan untuk transformasi inovatif seumpama itu.
An upcoming Kawasaki hybrid motorcycle has been uncovered through new patent illustrations. The images, disclosed by the Italian publication Motociclismo, depict a bike based on the Kawasaki Versys touring model, yet distinguished by the integration of a hybrid power unit, departing from the conventional internal combustion engine.
This development aligns with Kawasaki’s existing hybrid offerings, namely the faired Ninja 7 Hybrid and the naked Z 7 Hybrid. The hybrid system comprises a 9kW electric motor working in tandem with a 451cc parallel twin-cylinder combustion engine.
The prospective ‘Versys Hybrid’ signifies a departure from Kawasaki’s current partially electric models, the Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z 7 Hybrid, which cater to the sports and naked categories, respectively. These categories prioritize performance over extended journeys, unlike the touring segment.
The significance of a hybrid in the touring context goes beyond mere range considerations. While a hybrid ensures continued operation once the battery is depleted, its advantage lies in maintaining robust performance during lengthy rides—an assurance that traditional power units, relying on a single power source for the rear wheel, offer.
Despite the seemingly modest 1.4kWh battery employed in the Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z 7 Hybrid, Kawasaki couples it with the 451cc parallel twin, delivering 69bhp to the rear wheel in both models. This output, slightly surpassing the Versys 650’s 66bhp, emphasizes the potential for sustained performance over extended distances.
While Kawasaki has yet to commit to a complete transition from combustion models to hybrids with comparable performance, the efficacy of a hybrid Versys over extended distances, coupled with Kawasaki’s assertion of 250cc-like fuel consumption from its existing hybrid bikes, suggests the possibility of the Versys 650 being considered for such an innovative transformation.
Kawasaki Europe has taken to the internet to launch the new 2021 Kawasaki Versys 1000 S model for the European market. There will be a bunch of new models that they’ll be launching globally, but they’re starting off with the bike that can handle any road at any given time. (more…)
The Kawasaki Versys-X 250 offers the fun of adventure-motorcycling at a great price
It is also designed with features for adventure riding
It should appeal not only to beginners but also to seasoned riders
Courtesy of advpulse
The Kawasaki Versys-X 250 has come a long way from when adventure, adventure-touring, dual-purpose bikes that were big, tall, powerful beasts; runaways from the dunes of the Paris-Dakar Rally. Anyone remember those mighty 750cc and 900cc V-Twin DP (dual-purpose) bikes in the 90’s? Well, those were the granddaddies of adventure motorcycles.
The motorcycle class in the Paris-Dakar Rally (now Dakar Rally) had started out with competitors on smaller, single-cylinder bikes but as an arms war pushed the factories and riders to gain the upper hand against each other, the bikes became bigger and heavier, and of course more powerful. The single-cylinder, enduro-based bikes that were sold to the public and modified to race, gave way to purpose-built machines that were then sold afterwards as replicas.
However, with the increase in speed came increased number crashes and fatalities in the world’s toughest rally. That had the organisers knocking back the multi-cylinder format to single-cylinder bikes to cap the speeds, first from 690cc and to 450cc since 2011.
On the road, ironicaly, it went the other way in terms of engine capacities. Most true adventure and adventure-touring motorcycles in the market are being dominated by middleweight (750cc to 80cc) to open-class (1000cc and above) models.
The open-classers are not cheap for most motorcycle enthusiasts, unfortunately, ranging from around RM80,000. The middleweights on the other hand, are usually priced from RM50,000. Engine power range between 70bhp to 160bhp.
1. Smooth Power
Riding in the rough is not all about outright speed. Average offroad speeds are typically 30km/h, the fastest top speed being approximately 60km/h. Anything above that is for the pros, or if you’ve signed your last will and testament.
Let’s face it, most of us aren’t full-time or even part-time motocross or enduro riders.
The Versys-X 250 produces 33.5bhp and 21.7 Nm of torque, with a wet weight of 173kg, for a 5.2kg/bhp ratio. Comparing it to the Kawasaki KLX250 enduro, the KLX250 produces 23bhp and 21Nm of torque, but weighs only 136kg wet, for a 5.6kg/bhp ratio. They are actually very close to each other.
Why the lower horsepower on the KLX? Because too much speed in the rough isn’t necessarily a means to an end. Just like the big Dakar bikes of yesteryears.
For the Kawasaki Versys-X 250, beginners would appreciate it, pros would find it interesting.
Not only that, the throttle response is smooth and benign at the initial opening.
2. Controllability
Riding offroad is all about the ability to handle a bike that’s on the edge of tyre adhesion, besides being able to point it where you want it to go.
Courtesy of advpulse
Sure, the bigger bikes have more electronics but they are still heavier, taller and may have too much power for the rough for most riders to handle.
Smooth and predictable power delivery and throttle response is super important.
Controllability stems from acceptable power, smooth power delivery, lightness, narrowness of the bike, long-travel suspension and especially for beginners, an acceptable seat height.
3. Lightweight
The motorcycle will jump, drop, slide, squirm under you as your ride offroad. Soon, your arms, leg, back, and core muscles will start to feel “The Burn.”
Courtesy of Ksatria Pinandhita
Now imagine if you’re riding a 200+kg bike while all that’s happening.
Not fun.
Your body and mind might give up soon enough, followed by a spill. Talk about putting a damper in your enthusiasm for the ride.
Let’s cite an example: This writer has ridden in ankle-deep sands in South Africa. While most participants chose the 1200cc adventure-tourers, this writer opted for a much smaller and lighter 660cc enduro. Soon, every single 1200cc rider crashed in that section except for one, but this writer got through without a single scratch. And that sand was nothing compared to the sand dunes of the Tenerife desert!
Having ridden the Versys-X 250 offroad afterwards, it’s the perfect bike for the job.
4. Slender Body
Having a narrow midsection where the seat joins the tank is an important design factor. As covered in our offroading tips article last week (click here to read), you need to stand up.
As you stand, your legs ought to be parallel to the bike’s vertical profile, instead of being splayed outwards like on a cruiser. That way, you could help to steer the bike by pushing down with your legs, or clamping onto the midsection to stabilize the bike on the faster straight sections.
The Versys-X 250 does have a narrow midsection, but there’s also a bonus.
Notice how the fuel tank slopes precipitously downwards toward to seat? That’s for the rider, especially us of Asian heights, to push our upper weight forward onto the front wheel. The sloping tank means there’s much less likelihood of it upper cutting the rider in the groin, should the bike hit a bump.
5. Long-Travel Suspension
As with adventure motorcycle convention, the Versys-X 250 has 130mm front and 150mm rear suspension travel. The front wheel is 19-inches in diameter. That combination equals a relatively spacious ground clearance of 180mm.
A long-travel suspension means there’s more “space” for the suspension to absorb hits from the ground, especially on rough “no roads” to deliver a smoother, less jarring ride for the rider.
6. Low seat-height
Although adventure bikes are generally tall, the Versys-X 250 features a low-seat height of only 815mm to accommodate beginners and us of shorter stature.
Being able to touch a foot down in while riding offroad is reassuring especially for beginners, but it’s also something which has to be done while cornering. The quicker the foot touches down means the less the bike has to lean into a corner, consequently the less chance of the tyres sliding out from underneath.
Back on the road, the lower seat height also contributes to security when the bike is at standstill or crawling through traffic.
7. Practicality
Bikes of this nature are practical and the Kawasaki Versys-X 250 is no different. But since it’s a smaller capacity bike, it has a slender profile with tall a handlebar. Coupled to its lack of weight and you have a great urban bike. Being slim with the tall handlebar means you could filter through traffic without much worry, while being lightweight means its agile.
Plus, since the bike is comparatively tall, it gives you a better field of vision ahead of the traffic all around you.
8. Touring Capability
Because the Kawasaki Versys-X 250 is an adventure bike, it has much room for luggage. Throw on a pair of GIVI panniers and a top case and voila! You’ve got yourself an adventure-tourer (just like the Versys-X 250 we reviewed here).
The liquid-cooled, four-valve per cylinder, DOHC, 249cc, parallel-Twin engine is also fuel efficient. Throughout our testing, we’ve extracted between 260 to 300km from the 17-liter fuel tank.
Top speed is a little above 150km/h and that’s fast enough for most applications.
Conclusion
In closing, the Kawasaki Versys-X 250 is the recommended for those who want to embark on the wonderful journey into adventure-riding. However, because it is practical, lightweight and agile, it should also appeal to seasoned road riders who want to try out the rough stuff. But remember that it’s also a very capable roadbike.
The enjoyment of adventure-riding shouldn’t need to be done on expensive machinery only, evidenced by the Versys-X’s wallet-friendly price tag of only RM23,789 (with GST). Truly the only kind in the Malaysian market.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valves, parallel-Twin
Displacement
249cc
Bore x Stroke
62.0 mm x 41.2 mm
Compression ratio
11.3 : 1
Fuel system
Electronic fuel injection, 28mm with dual throttle valves
Maximum power
33.1 bhp (24.7 kW) @ 11,500 RPM
Maximum torque
21.7 Nm @ 10,000 RPM
Front suspension
41mm telescopic forks
Rear suspension
Bottom-link Uni-Trak gas-charged shock, adjustable for preload
Front brakes
1 x 290 mm petal disc, 1 x balanced actuation dual-piston caliper
Motosikal Kawasaki Versys-X 250 2017 yang telah diperkenalkan pada awal tahun ini telah dikenali sebagai salah sebuah motosikal kembara yang paling mampu dimiliki berada di pasaran sekarang.
Pilihan yang amat unik ini telah mengisi keperluan yang sentiasa meningkat bagi segmen motosikal kembara berkapasiti kecil yang sedang mendapat permintaan yang besar.
Dinilai pada harga yang amat berpatutan iaitu RM23,789 (harga asas beserta GST), jentera dwi-sukan pelbagai fungsi ini memberikan keriangan yang hebat di atas jalan raya berturap mahu pun bertanah merah tidak mengira keadaan penunggangan.
The 2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 250 which was introduced earlier this year has been dubbed one of the most affordable adventure bikes in the current market.
This very unique option has filled the ever growing demand for the small capacity adventure bike segment which has been receiving a huge number of demands.
Priced at a very reasonable RM23,789 (basic price with GST), the multi-purpose dual sport machine allows for great fun both on and off the paved roads no matter the riding conditions.
Everyone wants a bit of an adventure in their lives. Whether it’s heading to the office during weekdays or going on weekend rides to experience some freedom from the harsh realities of the everyday life, we tend to look for that extra special bit just to make things a bit more exciting. (more…)
Berita baik buat para pemilik dan juga penggemar Kawasaki! Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (KMSB) akan mengadakan satu ‘roadshow’ pandu uji serta kempen penyelenggaraan untuk semua penggemar Kawasaki dan juga pemilik. Acara istimewa ini akan diadakan pada hari Ahad ini (14 Mei 2017) di Bulatan Bazarena, Stadium Melawati Shah Alam dari jam 10 pagi sehingga 6 petang.
Calling all Kawasaki owners and fans! Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (KMSB) will be organising a test ride roadshow as well as a service campaign for all Kawasaki enthusiasts and current owners. The special event will take place this Sunday (14 May 2017) at Bulatan Bazarena, Stadium Melawati Shah Alam from 10am to 6pm.
2017 Kawasaki Z900
The event is called Kawasaki “Always Close to You” Roadshow, and KMSB will also be showcasing their latest 2017 models, including the new Kawasaki Z650 ABS, Ninja 650 ABS, Z900 ABS and Versys-X 250. Fans, current owners and potential owners will all be given an opportunity to test ride these models to get a first-hand experience.
KMSB will be setting up a specially arranged course designed to allow riders to feel the agility, maneuverability, versatility and light-weight handling of all the new Kawasakis.
As for current owners of Kawasaki motorcycles, all Kawasaki riders will get a chance to get their motorcycle serviced during the event with no labour charge. The service will be carried out by highly trained Kawasaki Exclusive Service Centre (KESC) Glenmarie personnel.
KMSB has also planned other activities with its partners; Nestle Malaysia will be offering free Nescafe drinks for coffee lovers while other participating partners from Alpinestar Malaysia, Shoei Malaysia and Bridgestone Malaysia will display and offer their own range of products. AEON Credit Services and Tokio Marine Insurance will also be on hand to advise and offer their products to potential customers.
The roadshow activity is a part of KMSB program to reach out to their customers and the public. Kawasaki enthusiasts can stay tune for more updates from KMSB as they have planned for more roadshows. This is part of KMSB’s commitment to provide the best customer experience in-line with their roadshow tagline, Kawasaki Test Ride Roadshow “Always Close To You”.
Event : Kawasaki Test Ride Roadshow – “Always Close to You”
Date : 14 May 2017, 10am to 6pm
Venue: Bulatan Bazarena, Stadium Melawati Shah Alam
Video: Our first impression of the new Kawasaki Versys X 250!
At just RM23,789 with GST, the Versys X 250 is now the cheapest adventure bike in the market right now.
Tall riders will love the sitting position, which is similar to that of bigger adventure bikes, minus the weight.
The 249cc engine, though nothing spectacular, was designed to balance power and fuel consumption.
During the off-road session, the tall ride height of 180mm ensured that the bottom never met any rocks, and with a weight of just 173 kilograms, it was simple and easy to manoeuvre through the tight spots and thick mud.
If it is a light, cheap, do -anything, go-anywhere kind of bike you want, the Versys-X 250 is the bike you should be spending your money on!
What is it that makes a good adventure bike? Is it a brand? Or a certain look? Or a particular engine or perhaps it should have about a hundred different rider aids? We asked some friends and the general answers were that a good adventure bike should be simple to repair, lightweight, comfortable with good suspension and it should have good fuel range as well.
Well there are lots of bikes that meet all those criteria, and the latest one is this – the Kawasaki Versys X 250. I have to admit to being a little excited about meeting this bike, which is odd because it is not one of those bikes you would normally call beautiful, and neither is it particularly powerful. It is just a plain, functional simple green Kawasaki with tall suspension and seat height. I was excited because this is the bike that signals that all is well in the motorcycle industry and manufacturers are creating more and more models to meet rising demand. An adventure bike for less than RM25,000, who would have imagined we would have bikes like this 10 years ago. It is a brilliant idea, and one that gives almost everyone a chance to own a good bike.
You see, at just RM23,789 with GST, the Versys X 250 is now the cheapest adventure bike in the market right now. It is also quite a big, tall bike and could be considered as a almost full-sized tourer. And with more people relying on two wheels to commute and to travel, the Versys X 250 is the one bike that could potentially offer it all – add some boxes and you will have ample storage space, it has good fuel range and it is cheap to buy. This is the bike that is capable of taking you around the world tomorrow should you want to. It is prepared, and even comes with tubed tyres, something that is easy to repair anywhere.
But lets manage expectations first. To begin with, the X is not powerful, at all. It offers just 31hp at 11,500rpm and 21.7Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. This means it has a high revving nature, and acceleration is just that, and the bike wheezes its way to a top speed of 150km/h. I managed 161km/h but that was on a downhill, so that’s cheating, sort of. The foot pegs too vibrate way too hard at high speeds, making it uncomfortable and leaves your feet buzzing for a good 10 minutes after stepping off the bike. But that’s it, that is all that is wrong with the baby X. Everything else about it is good enough.
The sitting position for one is similar to the Versys 650. The seat has been plucked off the bigger Versys 650 and feels comfortable on the Versys-X, good enough for a long ride north in fact. Tall riders will love the sitting position, which is similar to that of bigger adventure bikes, minus the weight. Talking about weight, this bike tips the scales at just 173 kilograms, which can be considered as ultra-light in the world of touring/adventure/dual purpose motorcycles.
The 249cc engine, though nothing spectacular, was designed to balance power and fuel consumption. The 17-litre tank offers a range of about 260-300 kilometres, something overlanders will appreciate. The engine is a liquid-cooled unit with double overhead cams (DOHC), eight-valves with parallel mounted cylinders. Most of the power it generates is at the bottom and mid-range of the rpm band and peaks at the very top between 10,000 – 11,500rpm, and it is because of this that you need to downshift when cruising at higher gears if you suddenly need more power; there is very little acceleration power in high gears.
But it is this low-ratio gears and high-revving character that makes the Versys-X such a capable machine when off-roading, as we found out during the recent official test ride in Rawang. Part of the route took us into a plantation, and because it had been raining, sand had turned into mud with little to no grip, great fun it was and the character of the engine and the lightweight nature of the Versys-X truly came alive here. The low-ratios means you have to use first or second gear through the slipperies and gives you access to power throughout the tall rev-band. And the ride height of 180mm ensured the bottom never met the mud, and with a weight of just 173 kilograms, it was steady through the tight spots and thick mud, parts where heavier bikes will struggle. I have to admit that the Versys X 250 was fun and nimble for a rookie off-roader.
The Versys-X was obviously designed to tackle both tarmac and off-road. The all-new rigid backbone frame was specially designed to handle external shocks like the hard knocks and bumps you get when riding off-road. It was also designed to make the bike sturdy when carrying a pillion and luggage.
The suspension too was good enough for us with 41mm of fork travel up front designed to soak up everything the road could throw at it and a bottom-link, uni-trak, gas-charged fork with adjustable pre-load at the rear. The front fork is connected to a 19-inch wheel while the rear measures in at 17 inches. The varying wheel size and the long forks gives the bike good handling, though there were some members of the media who thought 21 inches would have been better, low and high speed handling is already pretty good.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 250 was a rather pleasant bike to ride. You can’t tell how good a bike is just by looking at it, and the Versys-X 250 cannot be judged just by the way it looks. In fact it has a larger than life spirit to it, the kind that is willing to go anywhere, anytime and is able to do it well. Kawasaki Malaysia even specified a multi-function LCD panel that clearly indicates speed, rpm, and even a gear position indicator, which gives the bike a high-tech touch and doesn’t leave you feeling short changed.
The Versys-X 250 is currently the only bike of its kind in the market right now, and it doesn’t seem like there will be any competitors any time soon. So if it is a light, cheap, do -anything, go-anywhere kind of bike you want, the Versys-X 250 is the bike you want!
Kawasaki Malaysia has a unique way of providing some fun for owners of Kawasaki motorcycles.
Every Sunday, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer encourages its owners to meet up at the Kawasaki headquarters in Glenmarie Shah Alam.
There are no pre-planned rides, nothing glamorous. Riders just meet at the HQ and decide what they want to do on that day. They decide where to ride and what to do at that point itself.
The bike maker works with various Kawasaki clubs like the Z250 club, Z800 club and the Versys club to bring owners together. But that doesn’t mean only owners of a certain bike are allowed to come; every Kawasaki owner is encouraged to come together.
We had a chance to witness this camaraderie for ourselves last Sunday. About 30 Kawasaki riders came together at about 830am not knowing where they were going or what the plans were, they just showed up.
After everyone showed up, it was decided that the group was going to ride to Sungkai, Perak for lunch and return back before 3pm.
From the HQ, the group rode to a nearby ‘mamak’ restaurant for breakfast, which was paid for by Kawasaki Malaysia.
On the safety front, Kawasaki Malaysia provided marshalls to help ensure everyone’s riding within limits.
All riders were encouraged to bring full riding and safety gear, but those who did not were not turned away, just advised on the need for proper riding gear especially for long distance rides.
Kawasaki Malaysia is one of the few manufacturers that actively engages its owners and customers to go on weekend rides. Kudos to the company for this amazing effort.
Want us to feature your story or go riding with you and your group? Email us at info@bikesrepublic.com and we will try to be there. Ride safe.
We are just minutes away from the opening of doors to the 2014 Intermot (International Motorcycle, Scooter and E-Bike Fair) in Cologne, Germany. The event promises a few exciting reveals as of previous years.
A few of the hottest topics by far is the new 2015 Kawasaki Versys 1000 and 650, not forgetting the teasing Kawasaki have been doing with the release of the H2 videos. At least that was more recent as Ducati have been teasing a lot longer for a few months now with the scrambler.
We will be closely monitoring the launches and will bring you the most interesting or relevant news as it comes. For now here are some pictures that is said to be leaked prior of its launch, the Versys 1000 and 650 along with the H2.
More information as it comes so stay tuned here or our FB page for the latest updates.
