Kawasaki Versys 1000 S versus Honda VFR 800 X Crossrunner
Kawasaki Versys 1000 S
Honda VFR 800 X Crossrunner
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.270 mm Height : 1.490 mm
Seat : 840 mm
Weight : 257 (max: 459 ) kg
Length : 2.190 mm Height : 1.385 mm
Seat : 815 mm
Weight : 239 (max: 436 ) kg
Engine
Displacement: 1.043 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 77 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: O-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 782 ccm
Hub: 48 mm
Hole: 72 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 120 HP at 9.000 U/Min
Torque: 102 NM bei 7.500 U/Min Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 404 km
Performance: 106 HP at 10.250 U/Min
Torque: 77 NM bei 8.500 U/Min Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 400 km
Chassis
Double profile frame (aluminium) Front suspension:
43 mm upside-down fork (travel 150 mm) Rear suspension:
Horizontally arranged back-link gas pressure central strut (travel 152 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 180/55ZR17M/C (73W)
Bridges (aluminium) Front suspension:
Telescopic fork 43 mm (travel 145 mm) Rear suspension:
Central strut (travel 148 mm)
Rear suspension:
Single-arm swingarm
Brakes
Double petal brake discs. Brake caliper: Double radially mounted, monobloc, opposite 4 pistons (∅ 310 mm) Rear brake
Single petal brake disc. Brake caliper: Single piston (∅ 250 mm)
Double disc (∅ 310 mm) Rear brake
Disc (∅ 256 mm)
Conclusion - what sticks
Driving pleasure, tour suitability, reasonable price-performance ratio and anything else? To be honest, there are hardly any points of criticism for us. The bike rides really extremely pleasant and smooth. The upright Adventure sitting posture in combination with the supple row quad is a great combination, which brings a lot of advantages on longer tours.
The optics can be discussed as always, but that's also a matter of taste here. By the way, the machine is available in the two color combinations Pearl Storm Gray / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Flat Spark Black & Emerald Blazed Green / Metallic Diablo Black / Metallic Flat Spark or in short Gray / Black & Green / Black. We find both successful and appealing.
Only a 19" front wheel instead of the 17 incher would be Dietmar and me perhaps still a concern. But even there, the spirits are divided, because the 17 inches in front of course ensure a good steering behavior. Either way, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 S is an excellently successful travel machine and Kawa does not promise too much! "Every street - At any time" we can sign with a clear conscience.
The test machine was provided to us by Heller & Soltau.
