Kawasaki VERSYS 1000 SE Grand Tourer 2022 — Specifications

Who still remembers the GTR 1400? Kawasaki quietly buried it, but the successor was already waiting in the wings. The Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer 2022 picks up the grand touring torch Akashi-style, starting from an adventure bike platform to deliver a machine built to devour European trunk roads without flinching. The result is a motorcycle that has nothing left of an adventure bike, except the upright riding position and the name on the registration document. Everything else speaks tarmac, comfort and miles.

Beneath the generous fairing sits an inline four-cylinder displacing 1043 cc that delivers 120 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and, more importantly, 102 Nm of torque from 7,500 rpm. It's not the most aggressive engine in the segment — a Tracer 9 GT plays in the same league with fewer cylinders — but the throttle response is remarkably smooth. The engine runs refined, pulls hard through the midrange and fades into the background on the motorway. The six-speed gearbox is precise, and the chain final drive remains conventional where BMW offers a shaft on its R 1250 RT. A matter of philosophy. The aluminium twin-spar frame handles the 257 kg wet weight without complaint, and the 43 mm inverted fork paired with the rear monoshock — both managed by the KECS electronic system — filter out road imperfections with an effectiveness that partly justifies the price tag. This semi-active setup adjusts damping in real time: on rough roads, the difference compared to a conventional suspension is immediately noticeable.

The Grand Tourer package transforms the SE into a genuine asphalt cruiser. Three colour-matched hard cases provide 103 litres of storage, split between a 47-litre top case and two 28-litre side panniers. All three open with the ignition key, a practical detail that saves fumbling with a keyring. Inner bags fit each case to keep luggage organised. Add the fog lights, tank protectors, 12 V socket and engine crash pads: Kawasaki ships the bike ready to ride — no need to spend three hours browsing the accessories catalogue. The tall screen, handguards, colour TFT display, cruise control and traction control round out a standard equipment list that was already generous on the base SE version.

The seat perched at 840 mm and the 21-litre fuel tank outline a tourer built for long stages. Count on an easy 300 kilometres between fill-ups with sensible riding. On that front, it goes head-to-head with the Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE or the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, but with a more road-oriented and less off-road-ready temperament. Those hunting for a used Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer 2019 or 2020 are making a smart move: the model changed little between 2019 and 2023, with the 2020 and 2021 model years already offering most of the spec sheet. Used prices for a Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE Grand Tourer 2024 remain strong, proof that residual values hold up well. New, the price tag of 19,199 euros places this Kawasaki at the top end, but compared to an R 1250 RT or a Multistrada V4 S, it remains more affordable.

This Versys Grand Tourer makes no claim to play the adventurer on Moroccan trails. It fully embraces its role as a tarmac devourer, back straight, eyes fixed on the horizon. For the rider who strings together Alpine passes on Monday and heads for the Baltic the following weekend, it ticks almost every box. It may lack the refinement of a standard quickshifter and the prestige of a premium badge, but it makes up for it with proven mechanical reliability and an equipment-to-price ratio that's hard to beat in the grand touring segment in 2025.