Well my Z1000SX tourer has been weighed in against a Tiger Explorer and while I am waiting for the bling to be fitted they gave me a versys 1000 to use.
It is not perfect (feck me I haven't found a bike that is) but it is far from the lemon portrayed by the media (who effectively killed the sales)
It has serious stomp from low to mid range but not the top end hit of the Zed, this is probably due to potential stability issues when loaded up but it aint slow by a long stretch.
Very comfy with a great riding position, the tyres are shot on this one @ 5500 mls but still legal even so it handles great considering , I've had bikes with new'ish tyres which track like a bitch.
Got enough info on the dash but they still haven't fitted a gear indicator which with this lump is essential as hunting for 7th gear gets tedious and as with the 2014 SX they have fitted an economy indicator , brakes good, suspension is ok but needs setting up especially the front which look like BPF's.
Now the consensus is this bike has no character, what the feck is character vibration ? possible breakdowns ? harsh suspension ? violent power deliver ? yes if I was after a naked or sports bike then I would want a violent bastard cos that what I like in those sort of bikes when you are in that mood but a tall tourer/distance commuter ? no fek off I want smooth as silk linear power with good suspenders and agile chassis, I don't want engineered in character, 280 deg crank bollocks or anything else (if it aint a twin it aint a feckin twin ) the last thing I want is vibration, rattles , chugging EFi.
Basically if you want a smooth capable tall tourer at a bargain price (v strom excepted) the Versys is it.
It is not perfect (feck me I haven't found a bike that is) but it is far from the lemon portrayed by the media (who effectively killed the sales)
It has serious stomp from low to mid range but not the top end hit of the Zed, this is probably due to potential stability issues when loaded up but it aint slow by a long stretch.
Very comfy with a great riding position, the tyres are shot on this one @ 5500 mls but still legal even so it handles great considering , I've had bikes with new'ish tyres which track like a bitch.
Got enough info on the dash but they still haven't fitted a gear indicator which with this lump is essential as hunting for 7th gear gets tedious and as with the 2014 SX they have fitted an economy indicator , brakes good, suspension is ok but needs setting up especially the front which look like BPF's.
Now the consensus is this bike has no character, what the feck is character vibration ? possible breakdowns ? harsh suspension ? violent power deliver ? yes if I was after a naked or sports bike then I would want a violent bastard cos that what I like in those sort of bikes when you are in that mood but a tall tourer/distance commuter ? no fek off I want smooth as silk linear power with good suspenders and agile chassis, I don't want engineered in character, 280 deg crank bollocks or anything else (if it aint a twin it aint a feckin twin ) the last thing I want is vibration, rattles , chugging EFi.
Basically if you want a smooth capable tall tourer at a bargain price (v strom excepted) the Versys is it.