Kawasaki KLE 650 Versys

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kawasaki
KLE650
Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Sales description Versys 650
Production period since 2006
class motorcycle
design type All-rounder
Motor data
liquid-cooled four-stroke in-line twin-cylinder, DOHC, 8 valves, fuel injection
Displacement  (cm³) 649
Power  (kW / PS ) 51/69 at 8,500 rpm
Torque  ( N m ) 64 at 7,000 rpm
Top speed (  km / h) 189
transmission 6-speed
drive Chain
Brakes front Ø 300 mm double disc brake,
rear Ø 220 mm disc brake
Wheelbase  (mm) 1415
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): 2125 × 840 × 1330
Seat height (cm) 84.0
Empty weight  (kg) 216 (refueled without driver)
Previous model Kawasaki KLE 500

The KLE 650 Versys [ ˈvɜ: sɪs ] is a motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki , which has been available on the European market since the end of 2006. The name of the sports tourer is derived from the English term versatile system (versatile system).

construction

The vehicle is based on the Kawasaki ER-6 series , but has longer spring travel, an upside-down fork with adjustable spring base and rebound damping, as well as a half fairing, and the engine has been optimized for better torque in the lower and medium speed range.

drive

The liquid-cooled two-cylinder engine produced from 649 cc a nominal power of 51 kW (69 hp) and a maximum torque of 64 Nm at a speed of 7000 min -1 . The two cylinders of the in- line engine have a bore of 83 mm diameter, the pistons have a stroke of 60 mm with a compression ratio of 10.8: 1. In the cylinder head of the four-stroke engine rotates two overhead camshafts , which drive two intake and two exhaust valves via tappets.

The motorcycle accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 189 km / h.

Model development

Since model year 2008, a sister model has also been available under the name "Travel Edition" or "Versys Tourer" with suitcases, an improved windshield and hand protectors. A facelift was carried out for the 2010 model year in which the front fairing, rearview mirror, rear and seat bench were changed. In 2012, Kawasaki launched a sister model with a larger displacement, the Versys 1000 , to build on the successes of other manufacturers in this engine class.

For the 2015 model year, the Versys was significantly modified. The narrow front cladding with the headlights on top of each other was exchanged for a much wider front cladding with now side by side headlights. The front window has been enlarged and is now adjustable in three ways. The rear, license plate holder and radiator trim have also been changed. The front indicators are now lower, at the level of the radiator. The rear suspension strut has been replaced with a modified suspension strut with a separate preload mechanism. The engine and rear silencer have been slightly modified so that the output has increased from 47 to 51 kW (69 hp) and the torque from 61 to 64 Nm. The tank capacity grew from 19 to 21 liters. The weight of the ready-to-drive motorcycle increased from 209 to 216 kg.

Reviews

(Test) drivers particularly praise the engine characteristics, consumption and handling, while the front design and the damping of the telescopic fork were criticized.

“At the end of 2006, however, with the Versys, Kawasaki was the first manufacturer to firmly establish this mix of corner robber, tourer, travel enduro and supermoto in the middle class. [...] The sum of its properties is appealing to almost everyone, but the design of the fairing and headlight unit is polarizing. "

- Dieter Höhner : Touring driver

“Overly sporty ambitions are not her thing, that becomes particularly clear in comparison with her all stronger Funbike colleagues, against the chassis as well as the engine and brakes, it seems quite mediocre. In their price and displacement class, there are devices with enduro genes, against which the economical parallel twin also looks very good. However, the extravagant look polarizes what the attribute "everybody's darling" successfully prevents. "

- motorcycle

literature

Web links

Commons : Kawasaki Versys  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Guido Salinger: Those who calculate need not be stingy . In: Motorcyclists . No. 09 , 2014, ISSN  0935-7645 , p. 30 .
  2. ↑ Dieter Höhner: The fun mobile . In: Touring Driver . No. 04 , 2012, ISSN  0933-4440 , p. 104 .
  3. ↑ Kawasaki Versys. In: motorcycle . Retrieved September 28, 2013 .