This news broke yesterday afternoon, so I apologize for the delay. My source for the photos is asphaltandrubber.com, with the article link listed here. They also have information on the new Kawasaki Ninja H2R, BMW R1200R & RS, along with many other models, so be sure to check them out!
That being said, let's get into it.
For those of you who don't know, INTERMOT is the International Motorcycle, Scooter & E-bike Show that takes place in Cologne, Germany every October. Countries from all over the world come to show off their new models of two-wheeled machines. For comparison, it's like the Detroit Auto Show, and the E3 Conference for the video gaming community, if not bigger.
There have been a couple of "leaked" photos of the various 2015 Versys concepts over the past year, with some speculating that Kawasaki is making an 800cc variant, but they've all been identified as fakes. While I can't say with absolute certainty that Kawasaki won't be making an 800cc Versys some time in the future, fans of the model were able to quickly identify this below image as nothing more than an "I wish" design.
The 650cc Versys is incredibly popular around the world, particularly in South East Asia & Western Europe. With such a huge following, it's hard to imagine Kawasaki introducing a model that very few people seem to be screaming for. Between the 650 and 1000cc models, Kawasaki seems to have a strong foothold on the market. Introducing an 800cc could muddy the water.
The 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650 looks to be an incredible machine. The most noticeable difference from previous models is the dual headlight configuration. This certainly increases the aesthetics of the motorcycle, while improving visibility, so that other vehicles have a better chance of seeing the bike on the road.
The second thing we notice from this picture is the addition of an adjustable windscreen. I personally am intrigued by this because by adding that feature, it reduces the riders need to by a custom/aftermarket windscreen to fit their needs. I applaud Kawasaki's desire to make the bike more rider friendly and customizable. Also notice the angular mirrors that have carried over from the 2010 model. It's a great look and I'm glad Kawasaki has continued that on the 2015.
Looking at the controls, not much seems different. Horn, signals, hazards, and high/low beam controls on the left, electric starter and kill switch on the right. The addition of what could be a fog light switch is on the right just below the mirror. The display looks much cleaner than previous models, with the tachometer mounted above the digital spedometer and panel lights. I'm curious to find out more about red circular display on the right of the main panel, and what looks to be an electrical port on the left. Could it be an optional port for mounting GPS or other hardware? They've also cleaned up the center point for the handle bars. It used to be a large box in the middle, now it's a smoother, smaller rectangle.
To my understanding, Kawasaki kept the standard parallel twin 649cc motor from previous models. They certainly aren't the most quiet motor, but they're popular with riders for their reliability and somewhat ease of maintenance. Hopefully Kawasaki tweaked the design to reduce the noise. The under carriage exhaust and the engine cover plastics have also carried over, albeit they've changed them somewhat. Also, a larger 5.5 gallon tank was added, giving riders that extra distance they want for a good ride.
Couldn't help but notice Kawasaki has continued to keep the excessively gaudy rear turn signal/plate mount. In my opinion, there's no reason for that plastic guard to be so long. Mount the reflector higher if you must. I gave mine a clean cut just behind the plate and I think it looks great.
Overall, I'm incredibly excited to see the new 2015 Kawasaki Versys 650. I think they've done a great job re-imagining the design and bringing together all of the positive aspects of the 2008-2014 models. Dual headlights, adjustable windscreen, cleaner display, smoother lines, a larger fuel tank, and a few updates to the electrics & body. While I don't see myself owning the new model any time soon, I'll certainly be sure to test drive it once my local dealer gets them in stock.
Let me know what you think! What's your opinion on the new Versys? Did Kawasaki knock one out of the park, or did they strike out? If you liked this post be sure to give it a +1 on Google, and press that follow button so you don't miss out on future postings.
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Thanks!
-James
