I was at my dealer and just saw the new Versys , they sell the bike as a dual sport, but to me it is not , anyone tried the best , this could be a new life for the already old KLR ( nothing against the KLR I had 2 and did over 100000Miles with them ) but newer is sometime better.
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=246

Hendi

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Hendi Kaf

http://Hendikaf.com

Hendi,
The Versys seems to be selling well in the UK, on both price basis and for the looks - I haven't heard a word against it from owners I have spoken to and there are now a few on the road here.
I agree it is a road bike in the current form - just look at that exhaust! (pretty it certainly is).

It is rumoured that there will be an adventure/dual sport version to come, probably replacing the 500cc KLE here in Europe.

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Dave

Could be a great starting point for an adventure bike.

or you could just save the hassle and get a KTM instead...

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The engine has great potential for an overlander bike ,light ,simple and powerful for it's size . A twin will always have an easier time on the highway than a single and a twin is still manageable on dirt roads .Parallel twins are compact and allow a shorter wheelbase ,my favourite engine type !

But the rest of the bike leaves a lot to be desired IMHO and remains a street poseur machine - not that that is necessarily a bad thing .
Rather like it's sister machine the 650 Ninja ,it somehow misses the mark .
The front fairing is butt ugly too .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

And don't forget all the mini racers too!

Dodger,
I think that the fairing will grow on you as you get used to seeing it - works that way for me with regard to other bikes that have come onto the roads here; I tend not to like something or other about them and then, gradually, I get used to seeing them.
I saw a Versys, front view on, a few weeks ago which I thought, at first glance, was an Aprilia Strada or similar; the point about this is that the headlights (and, therefore, to some extent the fairings) are getting more and more "funky" (not a great word but I can't think of a better one at present).
That style of lighting is now being used by various road bikes/manufacturers.

The other "fashionable" item is the exhaust; the mass-centralised under slung item is definitely growing in availability for the new bike market but it has been around for years; hardly practical for dirt roads etc.
The shock is off-set from the centreline of the bike did you notice? Not sure what effect this produces (well actually, thinking about it, that will produce some un-neccessary torsional effect).

I agree, it will have to be very different in the detail as an "adventure" bike; but Kawasaki know this, surely?!

I am looking forward to there being a much wider choice of twins for dual sport bikes in the future; parallel is good (TDM 850/900 is rarely mentioned herein but it is a very capable bike), V-twin is good as well.
The guys on the Kawasaki KLE threads are having a great time with a very old 500cc parallel twin engine design.
BTW; any new "off-road" Versys will have to be better than the KLE IMO, which is very hard to beat on price in the UK (Also BTW, the new for 2008 KLR seems to have a passing resemblance to the existing KLE in the fairing).
Here's the UK Kawa site, where the KLE can still be purchased:-
Dual Purpose

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Dave

Lucky guys , in the US are choice are really very small and so far I didn't see any KLE500 for sale , I wonder if there are different model coming in 08 in the US, it seems like the XT ,the KLE or one the transalp / Valadero will do great in the US or Canada.

Lets hope

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Hendi Kaf

http://Hendikaf.com

Hendi,
Here's some speculation about 08, in part based on good rumours etc:-

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...suzuki-28587-3

I don't think you will see a KLE on sale - they will be phased out to keep the emissions people happy!

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Dave

What we MAY get for 2008 and beyond:

I'm longing to see a Moto Guzzi Stelvio .

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Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

There's the key phrase above...

Someone will take this bike as a basis then tweak and change some parts, making a very serviceable overland machine out of it.