although a blat flat-out alone
is great, so is the alternative,
a coffee and a cuddle while
staring at some pleasing vista
head off without fuel worries nagging at you,
and the Ninja-inspired, sweet-spinning 296cc
parallel-twin was niggardly with fuel use.
There are some good options to be had for touring
with optional grunty bars and spotlights and
panniers too. It was also nice to see the provision of
an actual rear seat, one that would accommodate
a real person. Too often of late, with the advent
of so many bikes, from café racers to bobbers
and rat bikes, to name a few, the possibility of
companionship is removed. And although a blat
flat-out alone is great, so is the alternative, a coffee
and a cuddle while staring at some pleasing vista.
Riding the Versys over a few days, albeit
interrupted by a spell of atrocious weather
and some worse health, I grew very fond
of its pert green ‘get up and go’.
The rev range is high – redlining around 12k – but
I didn’t need to wring its neck to thoroughly enjoy
my time aboard. I found the instrumentation
really clear and readable in both sun and rain,
and the information clearly and cleanly imparted.
The usual trip 1 & 2 and odo appears using the
top button and avg fuel, etc. with the bottom.
In terms of value for money, I would have to say
this is one of the best options around if you are
in the market for an all round city fun bike with
great touring capacity, great legs and pretty
smile. And when you drop some offroad knobby
aboard and decide to give it a thrash, it will do
that too, with considerable aplomb. Would I
load it up and take it on a camping tour to the
Burt Munro from Auckland? No. But I’d happily
loop round the Coromandel anytime. And I’d
still be grinning when I came back, especially if
asked to pop back out and pick up something
nearby. If you’re in that market, you’d be mad
not to got there. Can’t say fairer than that.
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