New 250 Adventure Bike in the pipeline

[stuxtttr]

Kawasaki Versys 250

Kawasaki is on a roll, and just a few weeks ago they released the Kawasaki 250r. There are rumours that kawasaki will also release a versys based on the 250r engine with FI. This is a much anticipated bike in the adventure touring market. A bike that is small and efficient and capable of doing some on and off road work. The Kawasaki ninja 250r would be great for adventure riders if it wasnt the position, and the bodywork. The bodywork would get broken fairly quickly, and the sportbike position can take a while to get used to. There Versys would also be able to adapt to the touring panniers and boxes so riders could take them all over the world.

I for one am excited about such a bike. After riding bikes in muiltiple continents, i can admire what you can do with a 250 twin cylinder motorcycle. And at the rising costs of gas, and gas prices in Europe that can get 8$ per gallon, you would be really stupid for not admiring the versys 250.

[sprale]

Is this thread serious? I'd be interested in a dual sport version of the Ninjette, but I could build my own just as easily...

[john_aero]

if they go about this the right way and dont make a toy version of the bigger brother then they could have a great lil bike

[maria41]

I have the 650 Versys.
The 250 seems to have the same problem than the big one (if teh photo above is taht of the 250 ) : the exhaust is not in an ideal position for "adventure" travel (off-road). Also it would need bigger wheels (17' wheels not ideal to get off-road tyres)

I am planning another trip in 2 years time but what I know now, I would want big wheels (21' -front - 19 back) and lighter bike. In summary I won't use my 650 Versys. Good for tarmac and touring in Europe, but once you hit 3rd world countries and trails.... hmm...
Let's see how the 250 looks like!

[mollydog]

very rough or dirt roads it lacks a few things.

[docsherlock]

Patrick,

Some insightful thoughts there; if Kawasaki put the Versys engine in the KLR frame or similar, they'd sell a ton of them. Likewise Yamaha importing the XT660Z into North America. Still, they have the sales figures, we don't!

I'm interested to hear you describe the KLR650 engine as crap - I thought the oil consumption issue had been fixed for 09 and the doo is a relatively easy fix - annoying if you buy a new bike, but if that's the biggest gremlin in the engine, that's pretty good, no?

Sean

[mollydog]

Here is what I said about the KLR

[docsherlock]

Hi Patrick,

I completely agree a new motor is on the cards and needed for the KLR 650; I may be stuck with the old one though as I need a bike to ride across the states shortly and the KLR is the cheapest one that will do the job and take me off the beaten track....

I did look into shipping an XT660Z which I can get here in Europe, but since I will be staying on the continent indefinitely I couldn't import a non-US bike; I can get a US/Canadian spec F800GS here but it's too damn expensive to start off with....

The joys of modern motorcycle travel, eh?

Best regards,

Sean

[docsherlock]

PS I am planning to do the doo with the 3-6000 km service - for my own piece of mind...!

[mollydog]

Sounds like a great trip.