Kawasaki Versys 650 Tourer Plus 2019 — Specifications

Who hasn't dreamed of hitting the road on a whim, on a Friday evening, without worrying about where to stash their gear? That's exactly the promise of the Kawasaki Versys 650 Tourer Plus 2019, a fully loaded version of Akashi's versatile all-rounder that comes with everything a touring rider needs bolted on at the factory. Compared to the standard Tourer, this Plus variant adds a gear position indicator on the dashboard and a pair of auxiliary lights. Two modest additions on paper, but ones that change the game when the road stretches on past sunset. The rest of the package includes 28-liter hard panniers on each side with a single-key lock system, handguards, and a tank pad. At 9249 euros, the Kawasaki Versys 650 Tourer Plus positions itself as a reasonable entry ticket into the world of fully equipped adventure-touring bikes, up against a Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT or a Yamaha Tracer 700 GT playing on the same field.

Mechanically, we find the tried-and-tested 649 cc parallel twin that has proven itself for years on the ER-6 platform. With 69 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 63.7 Nm of torque available from 7000 rpm, this engine won't blow anyone away on paper, but its mid-range flexibility is a real asset in daily riding. The engine pulls cleanly in sixth gear at low speed, making village pass-throughs and overtakes on A-roads perfectly smooth. The bore/stroke ratio of 83 x 60 mm and compression ratio of 10.8:1 confirm a character geared toward torque rather than revs. The claimed top speed of 200 km/h remains theoretical; this bike isn't trying to play sportbike — it would rather eat up the miles at a brisk pace without wearing out its rider.

On the chassis side, the diamond-type tubular steel frame handles the 217 kg wet weight with enough rigidity to inspire confidence through fast sweeping bends. The 41 mm inverted fork offers 150 mm of travel at the front, while the rear monoshock provides 145 mm. That's adequate for tarmac and well-maintained tracks, but don't count on this setup for playing adventurer on rough trails. The braking, handled by twin 300 mm discs up front with two-piston calipers and a 250 mm disc at the rear, gets the job done without any particular fireworks. The 120/70-17 and 160/60-17 tires confirm an exclusively road-oriented vocation. The 840 mm seat height may put off shorter riders — a point worth checking before signing on the dotted line.

The 21-liter fuel tank is one of the Versys's real trump cards over some less generously endowed competitors. With fuel consumption hovering around 4.5 liters per hundred kilometers in sensible riding, you can aim for 400 kilometers of range between fuel stops. For a rider stringing together long stages, that's a significant comfort advantage. However, the absence of a tall windscreen in this Tourer Plus package is regrettable — a hard-to-understand omission on a machine sold as ready to tour. You'll need to open your wallet for that accessory if you actually plan to chain together motorway stints without ending up with battered shoulders.

The Kawasaki Versys 650 Tourer Plus 2019 is aimed at pragmatic riders — those who want a machine capable of commuting during the week and heading for the coast on the weekend without racking up accessory purchases. It doesn't claim to rival a Tiger 800 or a Tracer 900 GT in terms of outright performance, but it plays a price-to-equipment card that's hard to beat in the mid-displacement adventure-touring segment. A sensible, solid choice with no nasty surprises, one that deserves its place in the garages of riders who actually ride.