Some twins look alike and have a special bond that is clear for all to see, yet, you get twins that don’t even look related and if it wasn’t for the fact they share birthdays and parents you would assume they were just good friends who share a surname. And this is so with these Kawasaki twins, the Vulcan S 650 and Versys 650.
Let’s start with what they have in common. That would be the 650cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled DOHC, four valves per cylinder, fuelled by twin 38mm Keihin throttle bodies. And that’s it. Everything else is different. The Vulcan S is an apparent leisure cruiser and the Versys is designed as a practical commuter / tourer. But I’ll say from the start, I liked the Versys better.
But why? Well for me the Vulcan S was too fast, too low and too long. But wait I’ve just described the ultimate cruiser. So it’s not really the bike I don’t like, it’s the type of bike. As with most cruisers the chassis of the Vulcan S has been designed for stability and comfort, which means stretched out with a low centre of gravity. This translates into a bike that loves the open road, which I believe is where it should stay because I just didn’t feel comfortable whilst town riding. This I realised was due to your feet being so far forward and when stopping or riding really slowly made the bike hard to balance. Another thing I just couldn’t get my head around was the fact that when getting onto the bike you almost fell down into the bike because it was so low as opposed to climbing aboard like you would a taller bike. (Well stop riding tall MX bikes then yer big pansy – Bill).
The build quality is good and the instrument cluster is actually pretty cool with a massive rev counter staring you in the face. I thought the lack of windscreen was going to be an issue, but found the wind resistance minimal, mainly due to you sitting so far back on the bike.
The Kayaba suspension is set pretty firm, the travel is not generous but somehow the bumps are dealt with adequately, which is fine for most situations. Riding the bike is incredibly easy and the chassis is incredibly nimble at speed so as a first time cruiser dude you’ll get along with this nicely.
The motor is certainly fast and loves to rev, sounding like a banshee in full flight. This fact makes for loads of fun when the ‘Hardly Dangerous’ crowd tries to keep up with you pulling off from traffic lights. All that speed and the low riding position makes you feel like you’re on a drag bike rather than a cruiser, which ads flavour. The brakes are great as well, thankfully, with a single 300mm brake rotor and a twin-piston caliper on duty up front and complemented by a big single-piston 250mm rear.
After spending a couple of days with the Kawasaki Vulcan 650 S, I actually think it's a pretty perfect motorcycle for new riders who want something that is fun to ride, but isn’t hard to handle physically at speed. The low seat height makes it easy for riders of all sizes to feel confident while maneuvering around and the motor is strong and, for the price, this package is pretty hard to beat, which is R85,995 if you’re wondering?
Now to my pick of the litter, the Versys 650. This R89,995 bright yellow ray of sunshine was brilliant from the start, and then some. Leaving Kawasaki’s SA HQ and wading my way through traffic I was immediately way more comfortable. I was looking over the cars instead of through them, as I was on the cruiser. This bike is definitely a better commuter in almost all aspects.
Now I knew the motor was quick because I’d just stepped off the cruiser, but for some reason it didn’t feel as fast. I think the added seat height isolates the senses as you glide effortlessly over any surface. The added travel on the suspension helps here too and the whole experience for me was just so much better. The bike can also go belting down any dust road and for the more adventurous, with just a change of tyres, I’m convinced you can tackle that desirable African adventure!
The Versys felt lighter and more nimble than the Vulcan and the build quality is equally as good. Everything looked well-designed and well put together. And while we’re on the subject I personally love the new headlight design over the old Cyclopes version, eye, eye, and all that.
The brakes on the Versys 650 were superior as well because two discs up front are always better than one, right? I had no complaints slowing down from any speed at all. Nothing in the superbike braking department but very good for a bike of this nature.
So who said you need hundreds of thousands of rand to have fun on two wheels? The Vulcan is a great cruiser and a fantastic entry-level bike. Where I feel the Versys 650 is a better bike than the entry-level price tag alludes to, I even grew fond of the bright yellow paint job. So, if you’re looking for a well-rounded commuter, tourer and adventure bike, pop into a Kawasaki dealer and demand a test ride on this Versys 650… I did and I’m impressed. (Makes a change – Bill).
Go to www.fourwaysmotorcycles.co.za to book a test ride on either bike today.
