Kawasaki Motor has rolled out 2019 edition of its popular Versys 650 ahead of the festive season. The new edition has got mostly cosmetic changes while mechanically being the same as the outgoing model. The new Kawasaki Versys 650 sports the same 649 cc, 4-stroke parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that was powering its predecessor, it is tuned to produce 67.4 bhp and 64 Nm of peak torque. The engine the to a six-speed transmission. As there is no mechanical change, The new Kawasaki Versys 650 should return the same fuel efficiency of 18-19 km/l, which is a decent figure for a 650cc adventurer tourer.

The new Kawasaki Versys 650 looks sporty and its design is also functional - offering a balance of style and aerodynamics. The front profile looks imposing with dual headlamps mounted on the fairing with a largely adjustable windshield. The motorcycle comes in two new colour options, Metallic Moondust Gray / Metallic Flat Spark Black shade and regular silver/black and green/black paint options, which further accentuate the bikes classic design. The build quality is typical Kawasaki of high quality. The length of the motorcycle is 2165 mm with a height of 1400 mm. The ground clearance is decent at 170 mm and the seat height is 840 mm. The motorcycle weighs 216 Kg. Its wheelbase is 1415 mm and it comes with the 21litre fuel tank.

It’s interesting how the name Versys has been derived. It is a combination of two words - 'versatile' and 'system’, and the name does express its character. It's a motorcycle with multiple characteristics - easy to use for the daily city commute, for the weekend ride and it is also an apt motorcycle for adventure enthusiasts. The motorcycle has loads of torque that aids low and mid-range performance. The acceleration is instant, with in-gear times being quick. It leans naturally into corners and feels thoroughly composed at high speeds. The gearshifts are precise without any misses or false neutrals.

The motorcycle comes equipped with the inverted telescopic fork with adjustable rebound damping (right-side) and adjustable preload (left-side) suspension at the front, while a single-shock with remote spring preload adjustability is employed at the rear. The long travel suspensions soak up all kinds of bumps and potholes without any problem and offer superior high-speed stability and ride comfort. The 120/70/17 and 160/60/17 tyres at the front and rear respectively offer tremendous grip.

Braking is performed by twin 300 mm twin discs up front and single 250 mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS as standard. Overall braking performance is impressive. The new Kawasaki Versys 650 rivals the recently launched V-Strom 650 XT ABS, Benelli 600 GT, Honda CBR650F and its own cousin Kawasaki Ninja 650. Overall, the new Kawasaki Versys 650 is the same old wine, but in a new bottle, with the little cosmetic treatment bringing a bit of novelty factor in the ageing design. The bike boasts of great performance, attractive design, and offers great handling and control to riders.