bike, tuning it to deliver more low- and mid-range grunt, and gave the popular platform traction control to keep the Versys’ newfound power under control. With output numbers a tad short of the rear wheel numbers we got off the dyno for the Z1000, the claimed 116.35 hp @ 9000rpm and 75.23 lb-ft @ 7700rpm is still nothing to sneeze at for a sport-minded adventure bike.
If these power numbers ring true then the Versys 1000 will land right behind the Multistrada in the power wars but a good 10-15 horsepower ahead of BMW's GS and Yamaha's Super Tenere. The big question will be how the Inline-Four will behave in the rough stuff and how well it will be accepted by consumers.
The 2012 Kawasaki Versys 1000 comes with two Power Mode selections, Full or Low, that allow riders to adjust output based on riding preference and road conditions. Low reduces power output by 25% for a milder throttle response, a boon when roads are slick because if the 1043cc mill has the same character as the Zed’s, it can spool up the rear quickly if riders aren’t careful. Safety features, ABS, Traction Control and selectable drive modes have become standard fare on these big bore Adventure Touring motorcycles so without them, a bike will be trying to make up ground in a market where technology is fast becoming a commodity.
