Versys Tourer

[niko13]

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Hi Guys,
Well I just purchased the Yellow Versys at the BKK showroom... she will be wearing Number plates 131 by now.... and she will stay there till January where we will ride up north for a 7 day tour...

The tourer versions are identical to the normal ones, maybe a few accssories to add. I am changing the exhaust for a "twin bros" but they cant confirm the exact fit yet for V '12... so I may need to wait.. The exhaust of the V is 12lb and the Twin Bro's is 3lb... I am not using tne hard side bags, I bought the Givi soft bags 371.. and I dont need to fit the steel frame to carry them... On touring every little bit of weight matters...

here is the showroom pic of the V... more later...

Keep the Versys stories up...

[schackster]

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First one ive seen where they painted the tank instead of the surrounding covers.

[nikster]

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First one ive seen where they painted the tank instead of the surrounding covers.

This bike is the Kawasaki official yellow for 2012. Tank is painted, yes.

Love the looks, to be honest.

[freedom4life]

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Just got my greenbook & plate from Kawasaki CM this morning and this was in the garage
Attachment 5044
Stunning colour, the picture really does not do this bike justice at all !!

Simply beautiful...

[schackster]

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I agree, that bronze colour looks great. A change from the norm

[Ozjourno]

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Prior to leaving Oz last year, I was seriously looking at the Kwakka 1400 tourer in this colour. 'Tis a magnificent beastie.
Anyhow.....The smoke and fires in the north have changed the landscape. After losing an argument with a power tool almost a month ago, I had been unable to ride (injury to my braking hand). Yesterday I ventured out and could not believe the difference that the wholesale environmental desruction has made. The road I know so well seems unrecognisable. Corners which were characterised by a particular stand of brush or trees are now denuded and it is as though I have never ridden this road.

Despite this, and the lack of any view from Kiew Lom viewpoint, the twisty road is still a whole load of fun. The addition of a fine covering of ash has shown me that the Versys is, apart from all its other positive qualities, a fine vehicle for drifting. I suspect my sentiments may be a little different had I not replaced the worn Dunlops with Pirellis.

I bought the Versys at the end of August last year, have already passed the 10,000klm mark and I am no less impressed with the bike than I was after the first 1000klm. I have had three small scrapes inflicted by

BASTARDS
in Chiang mai traffic. One of the fairing and two on the Givi panniers.
Not one of the three offenders acknowledged the little prang with so much as an apology, even though I quizzed each of them.
One of them actually fell quite heavily on the footpath.........!
During the low tourist season this year, I may well escape our guesthouse and ride to Poo-ket to look at a couple of yachts which are there for sale.
I don't need much of an excuse to go for a ride.

Update on the Chiang mai to Pai section of 1095: It is a great road for motorcycling. However, with my recent temporary digital handicap, I had to make a quick trip in the truck for we were running low on supplies which can only be bought from the delightful Rimping supermarket. Not being able to adroitly dodge the potholes and substandard road repairs...and with four, rather than two wheels in contact with the tar, I realised the road is a little shabby. I doubt that there is a stretch much longer than 50 metres anywhere along the road after the climb begins, that isn't badly scarred by repairs.

I stress it is still a great road for the bike but I fear that unless major restorative work is carried out it will not last well past the coming wet season. The substrate appears to not be so well compacted and the skin of tarmac is thin. When the ground becomes saturated and big trucks brake, they crease the surface as though it were a skin on custard.

We will see!

[kentat]

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I m a Versys rider in Kuala Lumpur. I m looking for the Versys hand guard with Kawasaki logo (like the one in Chiang Mai showroom). Unfortunately Kawasaki Malaysia didn't bring in these parts. Can anyone advise how to get one shipped from Thailand?

[KZ25]

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Not one of the three offenders acknowledged the little prang with so much as an apology, even though I quizzed each of them.
One of them actually fell quite heavily on the footpath.........!

Be careful when you come to Phuket - this is the south, as I was repeatedly told. They don't f#ck around; try "quizzing one of them" and it's you who will end up on the footpath!
Better relax and don't make eye contact if you value your health.

[Ozjourno]

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Sincere thanks for the dire warning. Yes there are some nasty little buggers around (and Thailand believe it or not, does not have the monopoly) however, many of the tales are urban myth, and while I have no immediate plan to ride to Phuket I will always remain true to my principles. One of those principles is standing tall in the face of adversity. I am neither angry nor violent, but I will not skulk off with my tail between my legs when someone else threatens my safety. Nor should anyone else.

I don't wish to be disparaging, but avoiding eye contact is the hallmark of a coward and a weakling. I am neither

While I appreciate your concern, please understand that my simple beliefs keep me safe, and proud, and I cannot think of a single reason not to continue to seek success with adherence to the tenets of decent and sophisticated life which have served me well, across a wide variety of situations for more than 60 years.
Best wishes,
Dave

[TonyBKK]

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I m a Versys rider in Kuala Lumpur. I m looking for the Versys hand guard with Kawasaki logo (like the one in Chiang Mai showroom). Unfortunately Kawasaki Malaysia didn't bring in these parts. Can anyone advise how to get one shipped from Thailand?

Welcome to GT-Rider!

Those Kawa badged handguards aren't manufactured in Thailand.

You can probably get them for a lot less if you order from the US. A couple links: (http://www.parkeryamaha.com/kawasaki...nd-shells.aspx) (http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Kawasa.../dp/B007A18PUY)

Or check the Kawasaki UK site for genuine Kawasaki accessories: http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/Accessory/...C?model=Versys

Ride On!

Tony

[KZ25]

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Dave, you mentioned coming to Phuket, and since I got the impression that you may be a bit 'confrontational' I thought it a good idea to mention that the north differs from the south. I've been repeatedly warned, by Thai and foreigners alike, not to confront or even honk in protest or give a 'stink-eye' to cagers who cut me off or endanger me in any way.
Don't assume that I'm a coward - sometimes it is just smarter to walk away if you don't want to get hurt.
Especially the tuk-tuk drivers are to avoid, they all have weapons under the dashboard and have beaten more than one farang into a coma.
But maybe this would be a topic for a new thread.

[Joelthailand]

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Dave, you mentioned coming to Phuket, and since I got the impression that you may be a bit 'confrontational' I thought it a good idea to mention that the north differs from the south. I've been repeatedly warned, by Thai and foreigners alike, not to confront or even honk in protest or give a 'stink-eye' to cagers who cut me off or endanger me in any way.
Don't assume that I'm a coward - sometimes it is just smarter to walk away if you don't want to get hurt.
Especially the tuk-tuk drivers are to avoid, they all have weapons under the dashboard and have beaten more than one farang into a coma.
But maybe this would be a topic for a new thread.

I would lean towards KZ25 on this. I have completely adjusted the way I react to other drivers in messy situations in the 5 years I have been driving trucks & riding scooters/big bikes in Phuket. In the Uk & especially London in the 90's, we took shouting/honking horns & even fighting in the street (road rage) to another level. In other words, in your home country you know the rules of engagement.

The level of road skills & driver training in Thailand is appalling but this is not the fault of the average road user, it's the establishment & the local authorities in reality.

There is a pack animal mentality with the Thai's vs the farangs! Whether it's a one on one with a Thai kid on a scooter or tuk tuk driver, in seconds you will be swarmed. Shouting at other Thai road users or obviously mouthing obscenities will get you in all kinds of trouble here. Even honking your horn is very bad form! Things escalate very quickly in the street & the police won't be much help when it comes to siding with a crown of Thai's or one farang.

Dave, I do give the idiot that almost causes me to have an accident a quick look of disgust at their crap driving skills & mutter under breath to keep my dignity in tact.

I've seen some really nasty situations that started from nothing & then they explode. clubs/bottles/machetes/spanners or a good old kicking from many guys on one farang. I have seen this many times during the day & especially at night. Russians & Italians seem to be the worst for controlling tempers in minor traffic incidents especially at night with booze involved.

Your not being a coward, your being clever in someone else's quite backward & pretty lawless backyard. But now I know the rules here, it's kinda fun & very different from my home country. As you can never relax & never expect logical driving to happen on the roads!