Is it time to sell the Versys ?? HELP! Kawasaki versys 650 2021 

I'm still riding my 2007 Versys 650, no one needs a new bike. Its just a want, my bike is mine, paid for owes me nothing and is in mint condition and still does everything I need.

I went from Versys 650 to Super Adventure nearly 2 years ago. I was like you, wanted a step up in toys and power. The super adventure is brilliant at smashing out big days, done two ironbutts on it and I've done some trails in Wales. It's not perfect, it's heavy and it can be frustrating riding a powerful bike on 20mph and busy roads etc. Be aware that both the 1290 and GS will cost more to own and run than a versys. The valve check is about a grand. I nearly bought another versys to run alongside the 1290 but ended up picking up a Nc750s to use for commuting as I wanted lower power, naked easy to work on bike with no toys and better mpg. Haha cant win!

I bought my 2021 Versys in July 22. I use Shinko E 705 tires and have ridden some serious gravel, some sand, and various non paved places. Not my preference but the bike handles it all very well. It has dropped five times at extreme low speeds and shows some scars. One day I rode it for 750 km with no problems. Last summer in one session I spent 18 hours with the bike. I had to get away from forest fires in BC. I like my bike. It also looks great in its dark grey, red and silver livery. I have added a windshield extension, Givi crash bars, wider foot pegs, heated grips and plugs ins for USB and cigarette lighter. I am just short of 24,000 km on the odometer and ready for its next complete warranty check over before that expires in August. Fastest speed I reached was 180 km/hr. An American rider clocked me at 110 miles per hour last summer on Hwy 93, the Banff/Jasper Parkway. I am 73. If your life is boring, get a motorcycle. It is Never 2 Late.

I love my 2020 versys 650, use it mostly for touring. Like you, I wanted to start doing some gentle off-roading and wasn’t sure what to do. With Anakee Adventure tires on it I managed to get in and out of some back country, but at my skill level it wasn’t fun or confidence inspiring. I opted to add a second bike and got an RE Himalayan and have really enjoyed that on the trails. If you replace the Versys, I recommend a mid-size adventure bike, Tenere, V-strom 800, Transalp, the re-released 790 Adventure, F900 GS, something like that.

Don't think you should get rid because I'm sure in time you will regret it 😢, I'm seriously considering purchasing one for touring and general every day riding, they look really smart and seem to be enough power and performance for what I'm looking for so my advice is stick with the devil 😈 you know. Good luck and enjoying your content.

Come and ride my tenere, much better off road than the versys and more than capable at touring and best of all Japanese reliability! I’m only in Truro we can take it down some lanes so you can get a feel for it

Do you get any vibrations through the handlebars into your hands? I do on my Versys 2011 MK2. I have tried everything to dampen the vibes. I bought anti-vibe Rox risers. There is some improvement but the mirrors still blur at low rpm. Great bikes though!

I have a bmw f800gs as well as a 2013 versys 650. I find the gs isnt bad on road and yet offroad its really good. You dont want loads of electric gadgets for offroad use as it could go wrong. E.g. tft dash can in some cases get broken and then you cant start the bike and your stuck. Crusie control is a nice thing to have but again if it gies wrong its another expense. I would say keep the versys and have a gs 800 or something that will go offroad if you want but can still do well on road. Honestly most who own a gs 1250 or africa twin and things like that barely go offroad. Imagine dropping the bike. Can you pick it up on your own? With my gs i have had the abs go wrong and i have turnwd it off, howevwr i have spent £600 on replacing the abs pump, that didnt fix it, £70 on an abs sensor, no luck, replaced all discs and pads incase there was excessive play to no avail. Also replaced reluctor ring. Still no luck. It was expensive but i could still use the bike. On some of the new stuff this maybe A more expensive and B may stop the bike being ridden all together. Just some thibgs to consider. With issue i have, the abs active, sometimes the lever will pulse thinking i have locked the front wheel. I just turn it off and there is no issue. Some of the modern stuff its all linked into each other meaning multiple system failure. My gs is a 2009 model with nearly 70k miles on the clock so its been going a while but mechanically still sound. My versys is up to nearly 60k miles on it

How about a smaller KTM890 over the 1290? Similar to what @CaptainPugwashRides has. Certainly quick enough for the road.

Triumph Tiger 850/900

If you're wanting more off-roading I think the Versys definitely has to go. As good as those bikes are, I used to own the previous gen '09 one, they're too low and too breakable to be anything other than a street-bike. You're right that SammyVs will be singing the praises of the KTM, and that's probably the most fun option, but maybe go try the new Transalp 750 too. It'll give you a similar road ride to the Versys, but with some new tech, a bigger front wheel and better ground clearance. Plus more off-roady parts like bash plates and such. A mate of mine, @TheRoadWarrior96 , recently reviewed the Trans and rated it highly. On the other hand, if you decide that you don't care about offroad as much after all, buy the Versys outright and put a shorty screen and an end-can on it. Transformed mine into a considerably more exciting and nimble feeling bike, through nothing more than psychology really because there was no performance gains other than a few kilos getting that breezeblock cat out from under it. For the sake of sub 200 quid, I rate trying that before the bike goes and worst case you just sell the parts and get most of your money back anyway. But that'd only be for on-road stuff.

I used to do mild off roading on the first iteration of the Versys in the 2010s. I had Pirelli MT80 tires fitted, if I recall. It coped OK. Not exactly a Teniere, but it coped. I'm now back on a '21 Versys - might cheeck if these tires still exist

Judging by what you've said in the video, i think the following options might be applicable for you, honestly: 1: Keep your Versys and pay it off, you'll OWN a bike, you owe nothing on it, nobody can simply take it away from you.. Then you can use the money saved from finance payments to fund say, a 2nd hand GS310, CRF300L, etc for your offroad trips. 2: Vstrom 1050 or 800RE - I believe the 800RE's going to have cruise control, the 1050 DOES have cruise control, but the 1050 is definitely not an offroader, the 800's a bit more focused on that. 3: Aprillia Tuareg 660 - Has the things you desire, WILL do offroad particularly well, comfortable enough for tours, much more reliable than your old Aprillia RS125.

Too bad the V-Strom 650 lacks a cruise control, otherwise it would probably be the perfect bike for you. But I suppose the Tuareg would also fit the bill, though I don't know how reliable those Italians are nowadays. Conversely, I would stay away from KTM precisely due to reliability issues. It's a shame bc I'm sure the 790 ADV is a great bike when it runs, but I've read just too many reports of technical problems ranging from damp displays over screws coming loose down to flat-out breakdowns. Things you just don't have to worry about with any of the Japanese manufacturers.

If you think the Versys is too tall for you, wait till you try an adventure bike, it will be worst and feel even more top heavy. Keep the Versys, you will miss it when its gone

I've done a lot of research on this and its really impossible to find the perfect bike because all motorcycle are purpose machines. Each one is made to do a specific task and the multifunction motorcycle is impossible due to tires. Example would be Tennere going on a 4 hour trip with 1 hour off road and running full knobby tires that don't corner for 1 hour of serious off-roading.. Or maybe a GS with 70/30 tires and can't do anything 100%. By having a bike paid for in full you could get to Wales, get a motel and a nice dinner out and rent a dirt bike for much less than making payments.. I'm in the same boat as you with the search for the perfect situation, but I have a 22 Versys with traction control and tft.....no cruise control though. Blessings

Suzuki v Strom 800 DE

What would you get instead? How much to settle and buy?

I posed the question before i heard your rational.