For those that love a sporty tourer, Kawasaki’s new Versys 900 could be right up your street.
Powered by a 948cc inline-four (nabbed from the Zed family), it’s certainly got the right ingredients to spice up your touring life. It claims to make around 120bhp at 9,500rpm and 97.3Nm at 8,000rpm, promising a meaty midrange with the sort of rev-happy top end that makes four-cylinder engines so addictive. Kawasaki has built an all-new trellis frame around it, aiming for a sweet balance of rigidity and front-end feel, while near 50:50 weight distribution should help keep things nimble when the road starts getting interesting.
Long-travel suspension and 17-inch wheels wearing Metzeler Roadtec 01 rubber suggest it’s more interested in carving up tarmac than pretending to be a motocrosser. There’s an upright riding position, an adjustable screen and a seat that can be set between 825mm and 845mm, so comfort hasn’t been sacrificed in the pursuit of sporting thrills. It’s also the first Versys to get Kawasaki’s ARAS rider aids, bringing adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and blind-spot detection into the mix. A five-inch TFT dash adds smartphone connectivity and navigation, while optional luggage includes a 47-litre top box and 32-litre panniers.
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The standard Versys 900 arrives in April, priced at £10,899, with the better-equipped SE costing £11,799 and adding goodies including heated grips, handguards, LED fog lamps and a centre stand. Head to Kawasaki’s website for more info.
