KAWASAKI VERSYS 650 LT (2018-Present) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Kawasaki Versys 650 was a middleweight motorcycle first introduced by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer as a 2007 model in the European and Canadian markets and as a 2008 model in the US market.

The bike was made with borrowed design elements from dual-sportbikes, standard, adventure tourers, and even sportbikes, but not fitting into any of those categories.

The Versys was based on the same platform as other Kawasaki 650cc twin-engined motorcycles, like the Ninja 650R and ER-6N, which shared its electronics, engine, wheels, brakes, and mainframe, but the Versys was different with its riding position, rear subframe, suspension, and engine tunning.

With several revisions over the years, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the 2018 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT, a middleweight tourer that had the same features as the standard ABS version, but with additional Kawasaki Quick Release (KQR) 28-liter saddlebags and hand guard as standard options, which enhanced its touring capabilities.

In the performance department, the 2018 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT took its thrust from a 649cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 69 hp at 8,500 rpm and 64 Nm (48 lb-ft) of torque with a peak at 7,000 rpm.

As for suspension, the bike packed a Showa front fork derived from the Kawasaki Ninja sportbikes, which featured rebound damping adjustability in the right fork leg and spring preload in the left fork leg, while the rear was handled by a single shock absorber with remote hydraulic preload adjuster.