Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Northern Chicago suburbs
Posts: 335
Checking out
Hi Guys,
I felt like it was rude to just disappear without saying 'thank you' and 'goodbye.'
Early this season, I traded my 2015 CBR500R in on a 2016 Suzuki Bandit 1250SA. Great bike. Unbelievable torque. But my girlfriend got her first ride on it and decided she loves riding with me. While the bike had plenty of power, the seat was not comfortable for her; she was always fidgeting. Also, it was sneaky fast. Rode that for only 1500 miles or so before trading it in on a '19 Versys 1000. That one has a great big, thickly-padded passenger seat. Not quite as sneaky fast either, as it makes power a bit higher up in the revs. It also has that lovely long-travel suspension.
My parting thoughts on the little CBR:
+ Great engine; I loved the power curve
+ Great quality
+ Nice & light (compared to other bikes that are as capable, long range)
+ Good looks
+/- Geared too low for US street riding. Easily fixed by going up a tooth, they say, but I never got around to it.
- No provisions for proper wind protection
- Too expensive for what it is, new. It's not an $6700 bike. More like $5500.
- Heavy clutch pull. The Bandit's was a bit lighter and a lot smoother. The Versys' is a LOT lighter and a bit smoother.
- Gearbox was not great; it got caught between gears pretty often. The Bandit's was flawless; Suzuki's reputation here is deserved. Hard to tell on the Versys, under the mushy quick-shifter.
It made a great lightweight, one-up touring bike. In retrospect, I should've bought a used CB500X instead, saved $1k and geared it up. I sat on one a couple weeks ago, and that bike is more comfortable, but still has the heavy clutch.
Thanks for all the tips and good camaraderie.
If you're on advrider, I'm user Smaug1 there and I'll see you around in Road Warriors or Battle Scooters.
-Jeremy
2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+
Last edited by Smaug; 06-25-2019 at 09:38 AM.