2008 Bike of the Year is....

sxgt · 08-20-2008

Versys......

The riding position is not unlike that taken by grapplers during face-offs. Weight over your feet, knees bent, arms up and wide, ready to respond to whatever your opponent -in this case the road, oncoming traffic, etc. -throws at you. There’s a strong sense of being in command.”

"A hybrid of 'versatility' and 'system', the name does well to describe the all-around purpose of the bike. Whether it's sport riding, urban assault, commuting or light touring, Kawasaki says the 'Versys has your back', and they're not kidding. "

“Curving roads are the Versys’ forte. It’s quick and agile in the twisties, where you can get going at a good clip. Long-travel suspension gives it a generous amount of cornering clearance, and it takes just a light touch to steer through the curves, with good low-end torque to power it strongly through uphill turns. With rake and trail figures at 25 degrees and 4.3 inches the Versys flows smoothly through the curves and feels stable at highway speed, too.”

fitbmxseries1 · 08-20-2008

heres a few pics.

Fried Chicken · 08-20-2008

Great bike, it's just the front is ugly as ****.

Michael600r · 08-21-2008

I love my 600, but I can certainly see myself on a bike like the Versys.

eidian · 08-21-2008

That bike looks great in black...wow! The color even makes the headlight look cool! I was disappointed to learn that the Versys isn't available in Cali because of emissions so I can't even see one in a dealership here. I saw one for sale here in the Los Angeles CL and the guy said that it's registered in Oregon so it would have to have be renewed in that state...who the hell would buy the bike here and do that!?

Congrats to the Versys--a bike that fits the time.

bennice · 08-21-2008

The 650R is legal in CA right? If so, I don't understand what's different about the Versys that gives it the CA thumbs down. That's just weird.

Seems like a lot of people are getting into the adventure riding thing nowadays, and the 650R/Versys/ERN platform is very solid so I'm not surprised that either bike is receiving awards. It will be interesting to see what happens in a few years once the platform is a bit more mature, and aftermarket parts are more widely available.

Kudos to Ma Kawi for this one. Definitely a winner!

07Ninja250 · 08-21-2008

I love the look of it..I just don't like the seat height.

eidian · 08-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennice

The 650R is legal in CA right? If so, I don't understand what's different about the Versys that gives it the CA thumbs down. That's just weird.

Seems like a lot of people are getting into the adventure riding thing nowadays, and the 650R/Versys/ERN platform is very solid so I'm not surprised that either bike is receiving awards. It will be interesting to see what happens in a few years once the platform is a bit more mature, and aftermarket parts are more widely available.

Kudos to Ma Kawi for this one. Definitely a winner!

Nope, the Versys is not legal here because of emissions...and it's FI! I don't know if Kawi didn't submit that CARB application that Rich has mentioned before or if the the bike just flat-out failed.

Pretty weird, huh?

adcoleman · 08-21-2008

According to rider magazine: "The last-minute decision to bring it to the States will keep the Versys from being available in California for 2008 due to a lack of emissions compliance—there just wasn’t time to tool up a gas tank and frame mounts for an evaporative emissions canister."

NCDave · 08-21-2008

the ninja 650 is though, right? it should be easy for them to solve.

I like the Versys size and everything, and I'm loving the 650 motor, but the front end is just ugly.

bennice · 08-21-2008

Darn Californicating EPA restrictions...

ervins · 08-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennice

The 650R is legal in CA right? If so, I don't understand what's different about the Versys that gives it the CA thumbs down. That's just weird.

Seems like a lot of people are getting into the adventure riding thing nowadays, and the 650R/Versys/ERN platform is very solid so I'm not surprised that either bike is receiving awards. It will be interesting to see what happens in a few years once the platform is a bit more mature, and aftermarket parts are more widely available.

Kudos to Ma Kawi for this one. Definitely a winner!

It is not legal in CA due to ugliness...That is a poor decision. 10R should be the winner.

08-20-2008	#1 (permalink)
sxgt Green Machine BTK Intermediate Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 191	2008 Bike of the Year is.... Versys...... The riding position is not unlike that taken by grapplers during face-offs. Weight over your feet, knees bent, arms up and wide, ready to respond to whatever your opponent -in this case the road, oncoming traffic, etc. -throws at you. There’s a strong sense of being in command.” "A hybrid of 'versatility' and 'system', the name does well to describe the all-around purpose of the bike. Whether it's sport riding, urban assault, commuting or light touring, Kawasaki says the 'Versys has your back', and they're not kidding. " “Curving roads are the Versys’ forte. It’s quick and agile in the twisties, where you can get going at a good clip. Long-travel suspension gives it a generous amount of cornering clearance, and it takes just a light touch to steer through the curves, with good low-end torque to power it strongly through uphill turns. With rake and trail figures at 25 degrees and 4.3 inches the Versys flows smoothly through the curves and feels stable at highway speed, too.” __________________ 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R

08-20-2008	#2 (permalink)
fitbmxseries1 Can't find time to ride BTK Expert Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 654	heres a few pics. __________________ I could be a tall horse jockey but horses are too slow.

08-21-2008	#4 (permalink)
Michael600r Ninja tomato farmer BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Burlington, Kentucky Posts: 6,886	I love my 600, but I can certainly see myself on a bike like the Versys. __________________ Ninja 600R Ninja500R, sold

08-21-2008	#5 (permalink)
eidian Black is faster, right? Forum Supporter Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Buena Park, CA Posts: 2,498	That bike looks great in black...wow! The color even makes the headlight look cool! I was disappointed to learn that the Versys isn't available in Cali because of emissions so I can't even see one in a dealership here. I saw one for sale here in the Los Angeles CL and the guy said that it's registered in Oregon so it would have to have be renewed in that state...who the hell would buy the bike here and do that!? Congrats to the Versys--a bike that fits the time. __________________ '07 black Z1000: Power Bronze/Projekt D/EYI Designs/Leo Vince/Puig/Galfer/T1Concepts

08-21-2008	#6 (permalink)
bennice RIP Deron Forum Supporter Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver-ish Posts: 3,509	The 650R is legal in CA right? If so, I don't understand what's different about the Versys that gives it the CA thumbs down. That's just weird. Seems like a lot of people are getting into the adventure riding thing nowadays, and the 650R/Versys/ERN platform is very solid so I'm not surprised that either bike is receiving awards. It will be interesting to see what happens in a few years once the platform is a bit more mature, and aftermarket parts are more widely available. Kudos to Ma Kawi for this one. Definitely a winner! __________________ Please contribute to the SFC Ezell Memorial Bike Project/Fund. More info here.

08-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
Fried Chicken Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 155	Great bike, it's just the front is ugly as ****.

08-21-2008	#7 (permalink)
07Ninja250 Wants better weather! BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 721	I love the look of it..I just don't like the seat height.

08-21-2008	#9 (permalink)
adcoleman Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 188	According to rider magazine: "The last-minute decision to bring it to the States will keep the Versys from being available in California for 2008 due to a lack of emissions compliance—there just wasn’t time to tool up a gas tank and frame mounts for an evaporative emissions canister."

08-21-2008	#10 (permalink)
NCDave Clark Grizwald Trainee BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 9,757	the ninja 650 is though, right? it should be easy for them to solve. I like the Versys size and everything, and I'm loving the 650 motor, but the front end is just ugly. __________________ NCDave Don't Blame Me, I Voted For The Hot Chick http://www.bikepics.com/members/ncdave

08-21-2008	#11 (permalink)
bennice RIP Deron Forum Supporter Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver-ish Posts: 3,509	Darn Californicating EPA restrictions... __________________ Please contribute to the SFC Ezell Memorial Bike Project/Fund. More info here.

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