Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT Ride ReviewMark VaughnA lot of riders consider long distances to be enjoyable, but the truth of the matter is that there are usually really, really long stretches in between the interesting parts of any moto adventure. On almost any motorcycle I'm riding, no matter how much I swear I'll "slow down and enjoy the scenery," the scenery is often bean fields and trackless desert. So, no matter what I'm on, I tend to lay down on the tank, rest my chin on my fist, and crank the throttle as far as it'll crank.So, you need a fast bike. Once you get to where you're going, there are often not only scenic areas, but usually twisty roads. Your moto must accommodate both. How do you chose a bike for this?You have entered the realm of the Sport Tourer. And while here, may I suggest the Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT ABS? It's a true sport touring bike, meaning it can both tour and behave sportily. For most recreational riders, this may represent the best of both worlds. The only thing missing is that Adventure Bike off-road-readiness, which this doesn't really have, especially when you look under it and notice that exhaust running under the chassis just waiting to be bent shut by the first big rock you encounter.KawasakiSo stay on the road. You'll find you like it there.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Verysy sports 1099 cc of displacement across four cylinders, all lined up in a row and sitting transversely in the bike's twin-tube aluminum frame and steel subframe. The steel bits might add to its wet weight of around 570 pounds, a figure arrived at without those nicely designed panniers (side cases) attached.This engine is what technology experts call, "soooo smooth." Anyone out there as old as me remember the first time they heard the Kawasaki Z1-P police motorcycle in the 1970s? What the heck was that? So smooth! Revved so easily! The original sewing machine motor. That one started as the 900 cc Z1-P police cruiser then advanced to 1,000 cc. It was a real eye- and ear-opener.KawasakiYou get the same sensation riding the current Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT. It has to be one of the smoothest engines out there. It evolved last year from 1,043 cc with a slight stroke increase of 3 mm to give it 1.099 cc, which we'll just call 1,100.It now makes 133 hp at 9,000 rpm and 83 lb-ft of torque at 7,600 revs. But it does it smoothly, with power and torque available across the analog tach. The extra stroke gives it more torque, but you won't be lacking for oomph at any point in the rev range.The Versys 1100 handles two riders.KawasakiStopping is equally impressive, with four-piston monobloc front calipers gripping 310 mm dual discs, while a 260 mm rear disc with a new rear caliper grabs the back wheel.AdvertisementAdvertisementWheels front and back are six-spoke 17-inchers for sport bike handling and quick turns. Tires say "sport touring" right on the side, Bridgestone Battlax 120/70ZR-17 front and 180/55ZR-17s rear.The Versys is connected to the ground by the Kawasaki Electronic Controlled Suspension, which adapts to riding conditions, Kawasaki says, providing the ideal amount of damping in real time."The system incorporates Showa's Skyhook Electronically Equipped Ride Adjustment (EERA) technology, carefully tuned by Kawasaki engineers to preserve a sporty riding character while delivering a smoother ride."The lights at lower right illuminate corners automatically. Nice feature.KawasakiEERA "continually adapts to the road surface in real time to enable light steering on highways and a more planted feel in wet conditions," Kawasaki promises. There are a number of electronic rider aids you can set to your choice of sportiness, from traction control, and cornering management, to three different ride modes, all aided by data from the onboard, six-axis Inertial Measuring Unit, or IMU. Depending on conditions and your level of commitment, you can adjust to fit just about any of your riding needs.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the Versys 1100 is not the same as a true sport bike like Kawasaki's Ninja 1100SX, or the screaming hyperbike Ninja H2, it comports itself well when the road starts to bend. You're still sitting upright in touring trim, but with the Ride Mode in Sport and the Power Mode in Full, you'll have fun in the curves, guaranteed.To further keep you out of trouble, the Assist & Slipper clutch prevents some stalls as well as rear wheel lockup if you downshift too soon. The newly improved QuickShift allows you to shift without the clutch at engine speeds above 1,500 rpm, for those times when you reach the canyons. The feel from the rider's seat is one of a responsive bike that compromises on the touring side of the equation but is still fun.Kawasaki's electronic suspension makes the ride safer and faster.KawasakiI put over 1,000 miles on it during my loaner period (thanks, Kawasaki!) and it became a favorite transport mode for longish hauls where I wanted to have fun while getting there. Trips of several hundred miles were eaten up by the Versys. As I said, so much of a road trip is over boring, flat, straight stretches with no one on them. In those conditions you can easily find yourself in triple digits for long stretches of road. Pulling back into city traffic, the upright riding position, wide, soft seat, and the relatively narrow build meant squirting through holes in traffic was a breeze.Again, you have to understand is that this is not an Adventure Bike. You have only to look at the exhaust header and pipes running directly under the engine to see that. Hit a log or just about anything, and you could lose your exhaust system. Plus, the longish wheelbase that makes it so comfortable on long hauls means that Versys would have trouble negotiating any tight dirt trails. The 17-inch wheels that make it sporty when the pavement tightens up would do less well on rutted dirt. So stay on the pavement with this one.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut if you have to have just one motorcycle, you could easily convince yourself that this was the bike to have. Starting price here in the US is $19,499 before destination. That's more than four grand less than the BMW R 1300 RT, the most likely competitor. The BMW is one fantastic motosickle, too, with silky smooth clutch engagement and huge power and torque bands.Tach is analog, rest is digital, including Bluetooth connection.KawasakiFor less money, consider the Honda NT1100, a bike I enjoyed for a couple weeks when I tried it out last year and which is way less than the Kawasaki at just under $12,000 to start. The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ starts at $14,399 and is another to consider in the sport tourer class.The definition of the class can easily be up to you, but the Kawasaki Versys 1100 should be high on your list of considerations if you're looking to travel long distances and have fun when you get there.
