Seperti yang dilaporkan sebelum ini, Edaran Modenas Sdn Bhd (EMOS) dengan rasminya melancarkan Modenas Versys 650 untuk pasaran tempatan.
Hadir dengan harga RM38,400 bagi pilihan warna Metallic Spark Black dan RM39,100 bagi Candy Limegreen/Metallic Spark Black, motosikal ‘sport tourer’ ini kembali mewarnai pasaran motosikal tempatan.
Model yang diperkenalkan di Malaysia ini merupakan model keluaran 2023 sekaligus tampil dengan pelbagai naik taraf terbaru. Naik taraf kali ini memfokuskan pada teknologi dan tahap keselesaan di samping rekaan baharu yang lebih segar.
Bagaimanapun, spesifikasi utama antaranya bahagian chasis dan enjin masih lagi kekal sama.
Versys 650 2022 ini masih lagi mengekalkan enjin parallel-twin 649cc namun telah dikemas kini bagi mencapai standard Euro 5 jadi prestasi semasa enjin berada pada 65.7hp pada 8,500rpm dan 61Nm pada 7,000rpm.
Selain daripada mengekalkan kerangka jenis besi dengan jarak antara tayar pada 55.7″, Versys 650 ini juga masih lagi menawarkan rim berukuran 17″.
Namun, ciri elektronik yang telah dipertingkat termasuk Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) dengan dua tetapan dan boleh ditutup menggunakan butang di handle.
Menariknya, sistem ABS juga didatangkan secara standard kali ini.
Tidak lupa juga, model 2023 ini juga lengkap dengan skrin TFT berwarna 4.3″ yang menempatkan speedometer, tachometer, petunjuk gear, tahap minyak, odometer dan sebagainya.
Paparan TFT tersebut juga boleh dihubungkan kepada telefon pintar menerusi aplikasi Kawasaki Rideology.
Aspek yang paling menonjol bagi Kawasaki Versys 650 kali ini adalah rekaan yang menyamai Versys 1000 sekaligus lebih moden dan menarik dengan gabungan lampu LED serta penghadang angin boleh laras.
Umum sedia maklum bahawa Edaran Modenas Sdn Bhd (EMOS) merupakan pengedar rasmi bagi jenama Kawasaki di Malaysia. Kerjasama itu menyaksikan Modenas akan menjenamakan semula model 650cc ke bawah dan dibuktikan menerusi pelancaran beberapa model sulung antaranya Modenas Ninja 250, Z250 dan Vulcan S.
*Modenas Vulcan S 650
Sebelum ini kami telah pun melaporkan bahawa Modenas akan turut melancarkan Modenas Versys 650 untuk pasaran tempatan pada Julai.
Dalam perkembangan terbaru, kami difahamkan sudah ada pengedar yang mula menerima tempahan bagi motosikal segmen ‘touring’ itu. Menariknya, nama model tersebut juga didedahkan sebagai Modenas Versys 650 ABS.
Perkembangan itu pastinya menggembirakan peminat motosikal di Malaysia yang menanti ketibaan model itu. Ini kerana setiap model yang dijenamakan Modenas dipasang sepenuhnya di Gurun, Kedah sekaligus menjaminkan harga yang lebih rendah berbanding ketika dipasarkan dahulu sebagai model CBU di bawah pengurusan lama.
Menariknya, model yang akan diperkenalkan itu adalah generasi terkini yang dilengkapi dengan panel meter TFT dan enjin yang lebih efisien ekoran mencapai standard Euro 5. Pada masa sama, model terkini itu juga menawarkan fungsi KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) dan ABS.
Untuk rekod, Versys 650 dikuasakan enjin parallel-twin 649cc 4-stroke DOHC, 8-valves dengan sistem penyejukan cecair yang berupaya menghasilkan 65hp dan 64Nm pada 7,000rpm.
Umum sedia maklum bahawa Edaran Modenas Sdn Bhd (EMOS) merupakan pengedar rasmi bagi jenama Kawasaki di Malaysia.
Kerjasama itu menyaksikan Modenas akan menjenamakan semula model 650cc ke bawah dan dibuktikan menerusi pelancaran beberapa model sulung antaranya Modenas Ninja 250 dan Z250.
Dalam perkembangan terbaru, kami difahamkan bahawa EMOS akan mula memasarkan jentera 650cc di bawah payung Modenas tidak lama lagi.
Berdasarkan info terbaru, kami diberitahu bahawa EMOS akan memperkenalkan Modenas Versys 650 pada bulan Julai ini. Perkembangan itu pastinya menggembirakan peminat motosikal di Malaysia yang menanti ketibaan model itu.
Ini kerana setiap model yang dijenamakan Modenas dipasang sepenuhnya di Gurun, Kedah sekaligus menjaminkan harga yang lebih rendah berbanding ketika dipasarkan dahulu sebagai model CBU di bawah pengurusan lama.
Menariknya, model yang akan diperkenalkan itu adalah generasi terkini yang dilengkapi dengan panel meter TFT dan enjin yang lebih efisien ekoran mencapai standard Euro 5. Pada masa sama, model terkini itu juga menawarkan fungsi KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) dan ABS.
Untuk rekod, Versys 650 dikuasakan enjin parallel-twin 649cc 4-stroke DOHC, 8-valves dengan sistem penyejukan cecair yang berupaya menghasilkan 65hp dan 64Nm pada 7,000rpm
Adventure riding takes you to places inaccessible to most others
Adventure riding takes practice and careful planning
Once experienced, it may become your only type of riding activity
Courtesy of adventureriderz.com
Adventure riding is fun in many more ways than one.
Why not ride an offroad trail or better yet, blaze your own trail to some waterfall in a jungle where no one has been to before, compared to visiting an easily accessible waterfall that’s overcrowded, dirty and dangerous with rubbish and human effluents?
But how does one go about with adventure riding? Some people may cynically say, “It isn’t an adventure unless something goes wrong.” It’s not as bad as that. Think about discovering the many God-made beauties our country has to offer.
Here are our top tips for adventure riding.
1. Get a Proper Adventure Bike
Starting with say, a Kawasaki Versys-X 250 or a Versys 650 ABS. Or just go ahead with a Kawasaki KLX150BF or KLX250 (you may want to leave the KLX450R for the pros, though). But for the sake of simplicity, we’ll just stick to the Versys-X in this article.
Kawasaki Versys-X. Courtesy of motorcycledaily.com
The Versys-X 250 fills the role of a lightweight adventure and commuter motorcycle nicely, as it has a good balance for adventure riding when standing up on the footpegs. It’s also equipped with spoked wheels instead of cast aluminium ones. Spoked wheels are more desirable for adventure riding as they are usually lighter, absorb shocks better and can be adjusted back to shape if dented.
KLX250
The KLX range is a no brainer when it comes to adventure riding, as they are enduro motorcycles – super lightweight, slim, long travel suspension, big spoked wheels, and torquey engines. The KX models, on the other hand, are competition models for motocross, supercross and conversion to supermoto, thus they are not road legal. But you could always truck it to the starting point of your ride.
KX250F
Depending on the severity of offroading on your adventure ride, you may need to replace the Versys-X’s stock tyres to more adventure-oriented ones, otherwise the standard tyres are fine. Adventure-specific tyres not only offer more offroad grip, but they also allow the pressure to be dropped safely (more on this below).
2. Get Proper Training
Adventure riding has its specific set of skills. The route you’re going to travel on may not be severe, but it’s always good to be prepared.
Best way to learn this is at Most Fun Gym (MFG), operated by Malaysian veteran GP rider and legend, Oh Kah Beng. MFG may seem to be a hardcore motocross school, but it’s otherwise in reality. You don’t have to do the jumps. Learning offroad means learning the skills to control a motorcycle over low to no-grip situations through mastering throttle control, brake control, body control, body positioning, vision.
Training at Most Fun Gym
You’ll find your road riding skills improve too. That’s why MotoGP champs ride offroad on their off days.
3. Packing Up
This may seem frivolous but packing plays a big role in a safe hence enjoyable adventure ride.
Loaded up GIVI’s top case and panniers
A few extra items should be brought along:
Extra tool kit. Or a good multi-tool set with extensive attachments.
Cable ties. The most important kit by far.
Tyre tube or tyre puncture repair kit.
Compact electric air pump for the tyres.
Tyre pressure gauge.
First aid kit.
Flashlight.
Courtesy of advpulse
For one, heavy items such as tool kits, or camping equipment should be packed low in the panniers. Locating them high up results in a high centre of gravity and causing the top-heavy feeling (the bike likes to tip over at slow speeds).
Important items like the wallet, phone, cigarettes/vape, lighters should be packed in a waterproof or ziplock bag, and be easily accessible, so you don’t have to dig through everything to look for them.
Courtesy of advpulse
Not least of all, hook the motorcycle’s key to a large keychain. It’ll give you a good chance of locating it should it be dropped into a pool of mud or water.
Kawasaki floating keychain
4. Riding Gear
Adventure riding gear is the best as they are designed to be tough, protective and comfortable.
Hevik adventure jacket
However, if there are certain constraints, motocross wear is fine, but do wear full body armour including knee and shin guards.
Acerbis body armour
The subject of boots is open to contention, however. Many choose to wear motocross boots but this writer prefers adventure riding boots such as the TCX Track WP. First of all, the latter is more flexible, which increases comfort greatly. Secondly, adventure boots have more “aggressive” sole patterns compared to MX boots. That’s important in case you get off and push the bike. MX boots’ soles are smoother, made for sliding across the track while cornering, which means you may not have much traction in the rough.
TCX Track Evo WP adventure boots
An adventure helmet (full-face with a peak) is good, so is a motocross helmet, as they provide optimal airflow. A roadracing full-face will have you out of breath in a jiffy. An open-face is inadvisable as it doesn’t have the protective chinbar.
HJC FG-X offroad helmet
5. Tyre Pressure
With all that out of the way, it’s time to ride.
But hang on! We need to work on the tyre pressures first!
Again, if the adventure ride consists of serious offroading, the tyre pressures needs to be reduced.
Reducing the tyre pressure lets the tread “open up” for a wider footprint. The lower pressure also allows the tyres to absorb shocks from irregular surfaces, rocks and tree roots.
Reducing tyre pressure
Typical road pressures are anywhere between 200 kPa front to 280 kPa rear. A drop of half will suffice. For example, if the recommended pressure for your bike is 200 kPa, drop it to 100 kPa.
Remember we recommended that you bring a tyre pressure gauge? This is what it’s for. Also, keep in mind to re-inflate the tyres back up to the recommended pressures when you ride home on the road. That’s what the air compressor is for.
Stop & Go portable air compressor
6. Stand Up
Get your buttocks off the seat and bend your knees a little, using your legs as shock absorbers for the rear. Lean your chest slightly towards the fuel tank and splay your elbows outwards, but do not press down on the handlebar. Use them as additional shock absorbers for the front, instead.
Stand up when riding offroad. Courtesy of advpulse
Standing up brings your centre-of-gravity (CoG) down to the footpegs. Also, having your body off the seat means you don’t get hammered when the bike moves around underneath you. Sitting down in the seat, will have the bike taking you for a ride as it snakes, squirms and bounces.
The Versys models have short fuel tanks; the Versys-X’s fuel tank is sloped sharply downwards at the rear so that the rider may position his body weight towards the front when standing up.
7. Ride Loose
Your grip, arms, torso and legs should be relaxed. This allows the bike to do what it’s supposed to, and letting the suspension soak up the bumps. Fighting the bike will only exacerbate a situation. Your job is just to point the bike towards where you want it to go.
Relax your arms, legs and body – Courtesy of advpulse
8. Push Down
Cornering on the road or track means leaning your body to the inside of the corner.
When adventure or offroad riding, keep your body straight up and push the handlebar and footpeg downwards.
9. Sit Down
Standing up is necessary when you travel straight or around a gentle curve. But you need to sit back down for sharper corners.
Sit down for sharper and faster corners – Courtesy of advpulse
Keep your upper body straight up and push the handlebar downward. Stick your leg out but that leg’s knee should touch the bike. Splaying your leg wide will have the bike sliding and can lead to a lowside.
10. Throttle Control
Throttle control is probably the single most important control in adventure riding (so is on the road, as a matter of fact).
Modulate the throttle smoothly when turning it on or shutting it. Roll it on, roll it off – never slam it open or slam it shut.
If the bike slides in a turn, don’t slam shut the throttle like what your instinct tells you to do. A slide doesn’t mean the bike is totally out of control. It’s just a sign that the sliding tyre or tyres have less traction.
Stay on the gas! – Courtesy of Ksatria Pinandhita
Instead, you could maintain the same throttle position and lift the bike up slightly by either using your leg or the handlebar, or both. If you need to slow down more, remember to roll off the throttle. Cutting the throttle immediately when the bike is sliding will cause an abrupt back-torque (engine braking) and that will result in the tyre breaking all available traction.
When we tested the Versys-X, we noticed that the engine’s power is softer initially, before picking up at 3000 RPM. On one hand, that’s to not scare beginners, but it’s also meant for smoother throttle response when adventure riding. The model is also equipped with a Slip & Assist clutch to control engine braking.
11. Don’t Jump on it!
As with the throttle, you should also be smooth on the brakes. Never grab the brakes but apply pressure progressively.
Additionally, do not brake in a slide. Use the throttle.
Similar to the throttle, the Versys-X’s front brake is a little soft at the beginning of its stroke.
The Versys-X’s brakes are nicely progressive
12. Look!
The simple adage applies: “You go where you look.”
Don’t stare at the big rock in your path if you don’t intend to hit it. Look to the sides and you will miss it.
Look where you want to go – Courtesy of rockymountainatvmc
So, there you go. Follow these pointers and you will want to forget about road riding and who knows, you may devote yourself to adventure riding. These tips may seem complicated at first, but they are actually rather simple and straightforward when you put them together.
Kawasaki’s 650cc middleweight marks an 11-year evolution.
The new Ninja 650 ABS, Z650 ABS and Versys 650 are enjoying a massive success.
Fun, rider friendly, affordability and low maintenance costs make them popular.
Kawasaki Z650 – pic courtesy of MCN
Kawasaki’s 650cc middleweight range, which now consists of the Ninja 650 ABS and the Z650 ABS, has been produced since 2006.
2006 Ninja 650R
The 650cc lineup went through a number of cosmetics and chassis-related changes between its debut in 2006 to 2011, with the engine untouched.
2009 ER-6f
2012 saw some major revisions, including to the frame, running gear, and cosmetics.
2012 ER-6n
When Kawasaki Motors (Malaysia) started to CKD the bikes ER-6f, ER-6n and Versys 650, it’s popularity exploded and those models were everywhere in Malaysia. They were the superbike for the masses.
But what made them such favourites then and favourites now? Here are the top 10 reasons.
10. CONTINUOUS DEVELEPMENT
Being in the market for 11 years means Kawasaki has collected much experience and data regarding the models. Consequently, the 650 range has evolved to be better and better with every new iteration. All three models now feature fuel injection with ECU-controlled Dual Throttle Valves, with the Ninja 650 and Z650 featuring ABS. The new models are also fitted with an all-new frame, suspension and 649cc, parallel-Twin engine.
9. COMFORT
No motorcycle is useful without good ergonomics. Kawasaki’s 650s are well-known for their comfortable ergonomics. Kawasaki’s designers have put in much effort in perfecting the “rider’s triangle,” the term for the relationship among the handlebar grips, seat and footpegs. The 650 range offers a relaxed riding position with a dash of sportiness thrown in. Which explains why thousands of owners have toured around Malaysia and into neighbouring Thailand on many occasions.
8. TORQUEY ENGINE
Why torque and not horsepower? To simplify, torque is the force you feel when the bike accelerates, while horsepower is the top speed at full throttle. So, unless you race at the track, an engine which spreads its torque throughout the RPM range is the practical choice. It means you only need to open the throttle to overtake, instead of having to shift gears all the time. Good torque also allows you to carry a passenger and large luggage loads.
7. RIDER FRIENDLY MOTORCYCLE
With great ergonomics and tractable engine power, learning to ride the Ninja 650 is ever so easy. And fun!
The low seat on the Ninja 650 ABS and Z650 ABS accommodate riders of any height, and all three models including the Versys 650 cosset you with an all-day comfort. The engine’s power characteristic is linear and doesn’t threaten to ride like a wild horse, which means you could cruise slow, or ride briskly or fly at high velocity whenever you wish.
The combination of ergonomics, predictable handling, smooth power contributes to a motorcycle that’s easy to learn for riders who are stepping up to bigger bikes. Besides that, being torquey doesn’t threaten the engine to stall on the clutch – a boon for riders who are new to the manual clutching.
Now you know why the ER-6n is the favourite motorcycle for B-license students at Malaysian driving schools.
6. IT’S FAST
70 bhp may not set the spec sheet on fire, but coupled that wide torque the Kawasaki 650s are famous for and you have a lively ride.
The 650 range is no slouch, consistently recording 3.5 seconds from 0 – 100 km/h and ¼-mile (400 metre) runs of 12.0 seconds flat. Even the taller Versys 650 hits 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and charges through 400 metres at 12.5 seconds. So not only does Kawasaki’s 650 appeal to newbies but to returning riders and seasoned riders too.
5. PRACTICALITY
The Kawasaki 650 range are designed to be the jack-of-all-trades. You could commute daily, sling through corners up Genting Highlands on weekends, go touring with your buddies during the holidays, balik kampong with the wife to celebrate Raya and, haul all the lemang and rendang to please your mother-in-law. Just think it and do it.
From slapping on luggage to turn them into tourers, to those that were accessorized and modded for more racy performance, the range is supremely configurable to the fancies of each owner.
4. FUEL ECONOMY AND RANGE
Fuel is expensive these days, right?
Independent fuel economy database site www.fuelly.com publishes peer-tested results on different types of motorcycles, and currently lists 114 Kawasaki Ninja 650R owners who have logged a total of 894,400 km (559,000 miles) of fuel mileage data. The majority of owners logged between 19.6 km/l to 20.0 km/l, while there were a few who reported figures as high as 24.2 km/l. The lowest being 15.7 km/l.
That means, considering the lowest figure of 15.7 km/l, you’d only consume 1 litre of petrol when you commute to your office from Petaling Jaya to the Kuala Lumpur city centre – costing only RM 2.16 per trip (as of 6th September 2017).
On another hand, if you consider the middle figure of 19.6 km/l when touring, a full 15-litre tank on the Ninja 650 and Z650 should only run dry in 294 km. That’s in the ballpark for this writer’s personal 2011 ER-6f. On the Versys 650, however, a full tank could ferry you through 411.6 km. Rawang R&R to the Gurun R&R (360 km) in one tank, anyone?
3. GOOD LOOKS
The design of the Kawasaki 650 range has definitely come far, hand-in-hand with the technological updates.
The fully-faired Ninja 650 ABS looks uncannily similar to the Kawasaki ZX-10R that’s currently dominating the World Superbike Championship. It gives the impression of a high-performance and dynamic motorcycle, one which exhilarates the rider and turns the heads of others at the same time.
The naked Z650 ABS’s revolutionary design is the result of the Japanese sugomi principle. Sugomi is described as, “…an intense aura given off by a person or object felt by the person looking at it.” The result is an organic-looking motorcycle, something that’s living and has character, instead of being sculpted by the wind-tunnel.
As for the Versys 650, its sharp profile and purposeful design portrays lightness and nimbleness, in tune with the bike’s true prowess. It stands apart from sport/adventure-tourers that look tall, heavy and unwieldly.
2. PARTS, ACCESSORIES WIDELY AVAILABLE
Being in the market for a long time and popular has great benefits for the owner.
While we always advocate performing maintenance at the Kawasaki Exclusive Service Centre at Glenmarie, Shah Alam and/or authorized workshops, plus using only genuine Kawasaki parts and accessories, motorcycle owners may have to seek help outside the official network during emergencies.
Since the Kawasaki 650 series has been in the market for a long time and very popular, there are plenty of places that may be able to assist in emergency situations.
Let’s just hypothetically say you’re in Danok, Thailand when you snapped the clutch cable (it’s unlikely). You could visit the nearest motorcycle shop, greet the mechanic sawadeekahp, install a compatible cable and then ride your Kawasaki 650 to the first Kawasaki dealer you see and have it replaced with the genuine item. Done.
1. RELIABILITY
Contrary to what some may have you believe, Kawasaki’s 650cc range consists of reliable motorcycles. The model line will not have continued on if it were the contrary.
As mentioned above, Kawasaki has evolved the 650 family to the current level of sophistication through 11 years. In spite of that, there’s no denying that the models remain relatively simple without undue complexity. That translates to ease of maintenance and also being less maintenance intensive, and ultimately affordable to own and enjoy.
There are dirt track racing teams in the US who utilize the 650cc engines, to great success.
As you can see, there are many attributes that makes the Kawasaki 650 range the favourite middleweight motorcycle the world over. There are also many other little qualities that we couldn’t find the space here for, but bear in mind that these little qualities contribute to motorcycles that are fun for everyone.
So do check one out and grab some seat time and you’ll be amazed.
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.
Rumour has it that Suzuki and Kawasaki are developing parallel twin 250cc tourers to provide new entry-level additions to their dual-sport ranges.
According to sources in Japan and India, Suzuki is developing the G-Strom 250 (basically a mini V-Strom 650), meanwhile Kawasaki is working on a Versys 250.
The G-Strom 250, which is expected to be based on the Suzuki Inazuma 250, will apparently be providing an adventure-styled bike, with power coming from a 250cc parallel twin engine.
The Kawasaki Versys 250 on the other hand, is expected to share the frame and the engine of the Ninja 250 and the Z250 sold here.
Although there has not been any official announcement or any solid evidence regarding these two bikes, the idea of smaller-engined, cheaper bikes with the stance and look of ‘big’ adventure-style machines does sound possible as the 250cc bike market has seen rapid growth lately.
With models like the KTM Duke 390, RC 390, Kawasaki Ninja 250, and Z250 selling like hot cakes here, there is no reason for manufacturers to not take full advantage of the high demands of the sub RM35,000 segment.
While the Versys 250 and the G-Strom 250 remain as rumours, let us stay tuned for further updates from the manufacturers.
Kawasaki has revealed new colour options for the ER-6f, the ER-6n, the Versys 650, as well as the Vulcan S.
While the Versys 650 and the Vulcan S are new models, the ER-6f and ER-6n were expected to go through an extensive update by mid 2016, but looking at Kawasaki’s decision to introduce new paint options, we feel that it is safe to say that the refreshed ER-6f and ER-6n will take longer than we expected to make their debut.
Coming back to the new paint options, the ER-6fgets three options for the 2016 season. The iconic green Candy Lime Green version now features fairing sides in Metallic Spark Black fading to a lighter colour fairing lower. In a similar style, the Candy Persimmon Red model also has Metallic Spark Black fairing sides while the Metallic Carbon Gray option sticks to an all over single colour approach.
Like its ER-6n partner, each new for 2016 ER-6f comes with a coloured rear shock absorber spring and pin-striped wheels as standard. All the new colour options are available on ABS and non-ABS models.
The Vulcan S on the other hand, is now available in white. The beige Urban City White option is joined by Metallic Matt Carbon Gray, creating an impactful and purposeful look. All the new colour options are available on ABS and non-ABS models.
And then we have the Versys 650, which is currently available in Metallic Matte Carbon Gray and Metallic Spark Black machine. New for next year are the striking Candy Matte Orange and Pearl Stardust White combined with Metallic Spark Black option.
On another note, Kawasaki mentioned in the press release that it has many announcements due in the near future. So, we can expect 2016 to be a pretty busy and interesting year for the brand.
