Menu
The Bike Insurer
  • Pay As You Go Bike Insurance
  • Multi Bike Insurance
  • Scooter & Moped Insurance
GET QUOTES
Quote over the phone 0330 022 7850
  • All Motorbike Insurance
  • Broker Reviews
  • Motorbike Insurance Guides
  • News & Top Stories
  • Riding Advice and Guides
  • Learner Guides
  • Bike Reviews

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE review

Kawasaki has updated its tall tourer for 2019 with new styling, LED headlights, cruise control, a bigger adjustable screen, power modes, lean sensitive ABS and traction control, a new rear suspension link and the radial brake set-up from the Z1000.

Kawasaki Versys 1000  SE stationary on cliff edge

Its 118bhp inline four cylinder engine remains unchanged, as does its basic aluminium twin tube chassis, sitting on KYB suspension, but at £11,199 it’s a lot of fast, supremely comfortable, reliable long distance biking for your money.

But for £14,399 you can have the SE version and that’s where things start to get interesting, because it features a whole host of electronic add-ons to make life in the saddle even easier and more interesting.

The big Kawasaki Versys 1000 may lack some of the glamour associated with some of the more exotic bikes in the class but it has, since it was first introduced in 2012 in what was slightly more controversial styling, always been a popular motorcycle.

Kawasaki Versys 1000 LCD speedometer

The combination of the smooth inline four-cylinder engine, practicality and comfortable riding position, luggage and pillion-carrying capability have always kept sales of the Versys 1000 reasonably strong.

The big news on the new 2019 version is the Showa suspension, which features electronic semi-active damping for the first time.

This semi-active suspension system is constantly adjusting as you ride along, reacting to your speed, how far you’re keeled over and the contours of the road surface.

On top of that are three settings for rear preload, adjustable via a flick of a button on the switchgear, which will let you set your Kawasaki for more support for a pillion and luggage.

It’s easy to feel the difference in poise between the different preload settings, but the semi-active damping cleverly works away in the background to give you the perfect ride, undetected by your backside.

Red Kawasaki Versys 1000 motorcycle  in action

Weighing 257kg the Versys 1000 isn’t light and all that weight is perched high up.

The weight is disconcerting at first, dropping into corners like it’s falling off stilts, but that feeling melts away with familiarity and you soon realise the Kawasaki handles and stops very well, with impressive grip from its Bridgestone T31 sports touring tyres.

A new Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) takes care of the Kawasaki’s traction control and ABS systems, in a straight line and leant over, which gives huge piece of mind when you’re doing big miles, one or two-up, in all weathers.

Four riding modes include a ‘Rider’ setting where you can tailor your desired levels of power delivery and suspension stiffness.

The SE also comes with an up/down quickshifter, which works smoother on the way up than down, but the new ride-by-wire throttle has a natural feel and crisp connection to the inline four powerplant, which is smooth on the motorway, urgent out of slow corners and growls in that well-known, mean, Kawasaki way when you work it hard.

Two riders on red Kawasaki Versys 1000 motorcycle in sea town

Heated grips, ‘self-healing’ paint are also in the SE goodie bag, together with a colour TFT screen, which links to Kawasaki’s new Rideology app, where you can datalog your ride and set the parameters of the Rider mode and dash layout on your phone before setting off.

If all that wasn’t enough you can specify your SE with touring packages. Panniers and inner bags come with the Tourer Plus and the top tier Grand Tour comes with a tank pad, 12V socket, top box with back rest pad and frame protectors.

Ever since Kawasaki updated its Versys 1000 in 2015 it’s become a class act – a supreme sports tourer in every sense of the word. Now it’s more refined than ever and in SE spec is even cleverer, too.

Engine 1043cc 16v inline four
Power 118hp@9000rpm
Torgue 75ftlb@7500rpm
Frame Aluminium twin tube
Front suspension 43mm Showa forks. Semi-active damping.
Rear suspension Single Showa rear shock. Semi-active damping
Front brakes 2 x 310mm petal discs with four-piston radial monobloc calipers. ABS
Rear brakes 250mm rear petal disc with single piston caliper. ABS
Kerb weight 257kg
Tank 21-Litres
Seat height 840mm
Next page: Over 1000cc Motorcycle Insurance
Comment 0 Like 1
Submit

MUST READS

Three new CB500 models from Honda for 2019

Three new CB500 models from Honda for 2019

All-new, all-electric Zero SR/F model gets 200 mile range and new technology

All-new, all-electric Zero SR/F model gets 200 mile range and new technology

2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin review

2019 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin review

2019 Yamaha YZF-R125 Review

2019 Yamaha YZF-R125 Review

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 review

2019 Yamaha YZF-R3 review

GET A QUOTE

Compare motorbike insurance from the top UK brokers now!

Get a quote

*We remind you that this offer is to beat your cheapest ONLINE motorbike insurance quote and the guarantee applies to the basic policy price only. As we are a web provider this offer excludes telephone quotations. This offer only applies to permanent residents in the UK. We reserve the right to request for proof of and validate alternate quotes before our guarantee is honoured.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cheapest Price Guarantee
  • Sitemap

The Bike Insurer is a trading name of ICE Internet Comparison Experts Limited who are an appointed representative of Vast Visibility Limited who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 566973.

Copyright © Vast Visibility Ltd 2022. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies for your benefit. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies, as explained in our cookie policy. To opt out of optional cookies click here.

Thanks for your input, you can continue to use our services without the benefits of cookies.