Kawasaki’s annual ritual of updates has now extended itself to the Versys 650, with the company launching the 2018 model in India at Rs 6.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). While it continues to be the same in terms of its mechanicals and features, it has received a few visual changes in the form of new decals on the fairing, a slight change from the revised stickers on the 2017 Versys.
As part of the BS-IV compliance update earlier this year, the Versys 650 received some value additions such as a gear-position indicator and a windscreen that can be raised or lowered by two inches (in a tool-free operation). It continues to be powered by a 649cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin motor which produces 68hp at 8,500 rpm and 64Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm.
The Versys 650 is Kawasaki’s mid-size sports tourer motorcycle and a dynamically brilliant one at that. It shares its motor with the rest of Kawasaki’s 650s but is different in its steering geometry and the adoption of an upside-down fork, all of which lends it fantastic handling and stability. ABS is standard on the bike.