douglasgraham said:

I'll bet there are a lot of nice roads in your part of the country. The Versys would be a great bike to ride in Va & surrounding states...

douglasgraham said:

Funny,my DRZ-400SM does all that stuff AND looks good. Plus it is pretty much bullet proof, and very friendly for the DIYS mechanic. Cost less too. Oh,and I've had it a year and NEVER washed it,it looks even meaner with dirt on it.

PS: The KTM690 Duke is brand new, my dealership hasn't even gotten one yet, how do you know it's buggy? The KTM website says service is done at 1000, 5000, 10000km, how does that compare to a MotoGP bike? I think your confusing it with the Aprilia 450 SM.

PPS: The Versy is SOOOOOO ugly, I'd rather have a sister in a whore house then a brother who rode one.

Tarmac said:

Alright guy, you've made your point. You don't like the way the Versys looks. Move on already. No reason to keep throwing rocks.

Bear on a bicycle said:

+1 man, +1

I've beat the crap out of my Baja kit KLX400R the last 4 years from Florida to Texas and all over Mexico. I have been seriously looking for a replacement bike but can't seem to find anything that could possibly come close to my needs other than Versys.

I'm no poser so you can forget the Ducati or BMW's. Also I'm too cheap to give the dealer $600 for a tune up every year only to find out that they never bothered to clean the air filter.

I'll keep the the KLX for dirt if I can figure out a way to get an additional vehicle permit in Mexico. Unless Suzuki, Honda, or Yamaha steps up to the plate before 2010, I'll go with the Versys.

I guess I must be geting old, but I keep seeing these posts about the appearance of the Versys. Appearance has never been at the top of my list of priorities for selecting a bike.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A buddy of mine bought the Versys back in April when I bought my DRS400S. I've ridden both. They're not comparable bikes. I also have a Suzuki Bandit GSF600S. To me, the Versys was closer to the Bandit than the DRZ. It's quicker, faster, more comfortable and definitely looks different than the DRZ. The DRZ hasn't stopped being a hoot to ride. I've put over 1500 miles on it so far, most of it on the road but occasionally get bored and try to take it off road with the Deathwings. That's just retarded, but somehow I keep doing it. My brother has the the V-Strom and swears it is the only bike he'll ever own. He and I are both 40, 5'11", 185 (Twins). If my wife would let me, I'd buy a Versys and a V-Strom.

If you ask 10 guys that own motorcycles which one is the best, you'll get 10 different opinions. Ride what you like, that's why I bought the DRZ... now I just need a new butt...

I have owned many, many motorcycles over the years, from motocross bikes to sportbikes and even though right now I truly love my DRZ SM as I have limited myself to mainly twisty roads similar to DEALS GAP as to me this is what riding is all about on the road. (not to say I don't miss blasting down the interstate at 150 plus sometimes, of course in the proper conditions unless you have a deathwish:naughty: )
I firmly believe that for most riding, most people would be happy with either a Suzuki SV 650, Kawasaki Verseys or Kawasaki 650 Ninja. I have considered many factors, such as ease of maintenance, reliability, wheel size, price, etc. All the above handle well, are quick enough and fast enough and have great brakes. They can handle anything from commuting, traveling and having a blast in the twisties. Under a good rider these bikes can stay with anything in tight conditions as well as being comfortable enough and responsive enough for higher speed roadways and dealing with traffic.

Interesting post giotto, I like the mission the Versys was designed for & having read everything I could find on the bike feel that it is more than adequate for that purpose. I'm waiting to see one in person & hopefully get a test ride. My 440 Drz is fun with 17"s for street & 21"/18"s for dirt but I rather dread going more than an hour or two on the street even with a Sargeant moddified seat. I would love to have a used Versys to strip down & lighten, restyle to my likes. Without its clothes & plastic bits it's a rather compact little package & if freewheelers says it will whip an sv650 then I'm sure it will. I've been riding an '06 sv off an on & find the stock suspension components dreadful, I like the engines pull but not the front cylinder down there catching road debris, it's always grungy looking. The versys/ninja set up as a dirt tracker makes a really nice looking bike & they are fast. I've been waiting for the BMW F800gs to get here as I believe it could be a do anything, go most anywhere, if you only had one bike kind of deal...however, it appears to have some teething problems & comes with a don't touch but take to a dealer design & owner mindset. Not sure I can go there, especially at BMW prices. If the Versys was a 750 (for two up) & restyled a bit with 30 to 40 less lbs. I'd be there with my money...but keep the DRZ for dirt.

camster said:

No, it won't whip a SV-650. Someone "claimed" their Versys could beat a V-Strom 650 (human error?), but in reality it's down 5hp. On pavement a SV would eat a Versys for breakfast.

Lots of mis-information (read, KTM's needing MotoGP maintenance) in this thread.

I do agree that a Versys would look much better as a street fighter.

Tarmac, I've been on this site for a couple years now & read most everything freewheelers has posted, responded & asked questions to a few. If he says he has done head to head drags with the 2 bikes stock & the Versys pulls the SV then that's good enough for me and probably a few others.
I agree, as a tracker with custom swingarm and 19" DT tires, exhaust etc. the ninja/versys is a neat little package, not much off the lap times of xr750 amatuers so I've read. Will look on ebay & see what a used ninja goes for, got me thinking again.

Ah, just read my own & freewheelers post on versysy vs. sv, I got it wrong and apologize...the drag race was between vestrom & versys not sv & versys and since I don't know how the strom compares to sv speed wise I'll shut up for now...still like that versys stripped down though.

camster said:

Does it really matter which bike is faster? IMO, if the OP wanted the fastest bike, he probably wouldn't be considering any of these bikes. Maybe a Triumph street triple, or something like a GSXR.

Even if the Versys couldn't outrun a Wee-strom or an SV, that doesn't mean its slow. Its still a fun bike to ride. Its very quick, it accelerates nicely off the line & it has very good roll on acceleration.

The SV is quiet a bit lighter & has about 10 more hp, so yea, it'll probably outrun the Versys. Not really an important stat, there are MANY bikes that are faster. Besides, giotto said the SV was out do to seat-to-peg relationship & the clip ons.

I believe that any of you guys that ride a DRZ as a street bike, & find it a comfy fit compared to a crotch rocket, will like riding the Versys. The seating position is very similar.

For those who don't like the looks of the Verseys, check out past posts on this subject, do a search and you will see some that anyone would say looks good! It would not be that hard to replace the lights and such and make your own unique machine. But for such a great bike to be downed just because of its looks is all wrong.
Another thing is someone was saying there is misinformation in this post regarding what someone said about KtM's needing motoGP maintenance. Ha ha, that is a bit extreme but the point that guy was trying to make is that YES KTM's as compared to the Jap bikes definitely needs more maintenance all things being equal. That is a FACT! Anyone who competes and has owned one will attest to that. Any mechanic that is not prejudiced will admit it. It is not just KTM, but all the EURO equipt does need more maintenance and parts replacement. You will find that things that should not break and never break on japanese stuff breaks on these bikes. Those that say there Euro bikes never break either don't ride them much, ride them very easily, or follow a rigorous parts replacement and maintenance program. I know I will get some negative feedback here and I expect that but this is the absolute truth.

For those who don't like the looks of the Verseys, check out past posts on this subject, do a search and you will see some that anyone would say looks good! It would not be that hard to replace the lights and such and make your own unique machine. But for such a great bike to be downed just because of its looks is all wrong.
Another thing is someone was saying there is misinformation in this post regarding what someone said about KtM's needing motoGP maintenance. Ha ha, that is a bit extreme but the point that guy was trying to make is that YES KTM's as compared to the Jap bikes definitely needs more maintenance all things being equal. That is a FACT! Anyone who competes and has owned one will attest to that. Any mechanic that is not prejudiced will admit it. It is not just KTM, but all the EURO equipt does need more maintenance and parts replacement. You will find that things that should not break and never break on japanese stuff breaks on these bikes. Those that say there Euro bikes never break either don't ride them much, ride them very easily, or follow a rigorous parts replacement and maintenance program or perhaps don't even ride and just want to run their mouth! I know I will get some negative feedback here and I expect that but this is the absolute truth.

drz400sm are so fun

I guess I'll have to see one of these in person since the photos of the Versys just don't look that "off" to me. If we apply a modernist aesthetic to this bike, where "form follows function," I think it's fair to say it measures up well by this standard: I see dual discs up front, what looks like a stainless, low-slung exhaust, alloy spoke wheels, and a perimeter frame. It's also fuel-injected. That stuff used to be considered eye candy or exotic hop-up. On this bike it comes at bleacher seat prices! Now, I like Biker Build-off as much as the next guy, and good paint and fabrication IS good paint and fabrication, but I'd likely be more interested in the show if the build-off was to make the best performing bike, not the best "looking"; and do it for under a fixed dollar amount. The reason I bought my DRZ SM in 2005 was because it received sterling reviews and was named "Best Street Standard" by Cycle World magazine in it's annual "Best of" edition. The Versys has received equally high reviews and been available in Europe for over a year. The platform isn't entirely new, so most of the bugs have been worked out (same was true of the SM which was based on the then-five-years-old platform of the S), and I can find a Suzuki dealer in every state and every mid-sized city in the U.S. which argues persuasively for that cross country junket. I did a quick dealer locator comparo--I live in Cedar Falls; within 150 miles of me there are listed twenty-four Suzuki dealers. I did the same for BMW; there are two. Kawasaki has ten. I think Bear has done a pretty fair job of laying out the pros and cons on these two machines, and I also appreciate the nuance other posters have brought to the discussion--it helps to have many perspectives.

Versy just got named motorcycle of the year!

Yep. I got that magazine in the mail a few days ago, and there it was on the cover in all it's "glory". I sure like the looks of the one w/o the fairing. I assume it's an overseas model.

I think thats standard for all here and across the pond, you go with or without. I'm really thinking about going full time motorcycle commuter with this bike and sell the car. We have 2 cars and a pickup and of course the DRZ. My thinking is sell my old commuter and ride all year on the versy saving the DRZ for fun. When it snows I can use the pickup. Anybody want to try and talk the little lady into the plan? The way I see it the versy is less then 7000, gets great gas mileage, insurance is cheaper then the car.

Tarmac said:

versys Dry Weight 399 lbs.
V-strom Curb Weight: 217 kg (479 lbs)

I wonder how much would be the curb weight of versys.