Kawasaki Versys 650 First Ride Review: All for Versatility

To come to a standstill, the Versys 650 is equipped with a pair of 300-mm diameter petal discs with Nissin two-piston callipers up front and a single 250-mm diameter petal disc with a Nissin single-piston calliper at the rear. Thankfully, unlike the Ninja 650, ABS is standard kit on the Versys 650. The brakes have enough bite all right but feel a bit squishy to operate; a bit more feel of progression would have been welcome. The ABS rises to challenges with alacrity and, when not in use, adds to peace of mind tremendously.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS was launched in India around Christmas with a tag of Rs 6.6 lakh, ex-showroom in Mumbai. For that kind of money your only other similar middleweight tourer is the Benelli TnT 600 GT or Kawasaki’s own Ninja 650 and even though both are cheaper to buy, neither offers ABS. The Kawasaki Versys 650, therefore, is a good value for money offering thanks to its refined and powerful powertrain, comfortable ergonomics, touring-friendly features, a good balance between ride comfort and handling and the much needed ABS.

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