jmcintire
Colorado Springs, CO
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Joined: 03/11/2008
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I recently spent about 400 miles a Kawasaki Versys swapping out with my friend (my own bike is a Triumph Street Triple) on a trip through Colorado and Utah. It was the stock seat, and it is tall. But at 5'8", I am accustomed to only putting one foot down anyway on most bikes. The bike's height never bothered me, though it can feel a little top heavy when fully fueled.
Versys Pros for the type of riding you indicate you want to do: Great fuel range (250+ miles), no vibration, comfortable ergonomics (I found no fault with the stock seat), handles well, decent thrust, can have factory luggage and top case for half the price of the F800's luggage, Could buy 2 Versys's for the price of the BMW.
Versys Cons: Not as powerful as the BMW, turns heads, for good or bad, no brand mystique (if that is important).
My experience with the F800ST is limited to a 30 minute test ride, but here is my 2 cents on it. The engine is smooth and torquey and can pull gears at just about any engine speed. The bike does vibrate, though the intensity varies with revs. Around seventy mph, the bike is pretty calm with a hint of low-frequency vibration in the pegs (not bothersome in my opinion). I am used to riding naked bikes and enjoy exposure to the wind. The F800 has great wind protection, and I am not sure if I would have noticed the vibration if the cockpit were not so serene. Vibration does increase with speed, but I never did feel any vibes through the bars. What I disliked most the suspension. Front fork in particular. It dives heavily when braking, much more so than any bike I have ridden (though it takes bumps nicely). And the fork is not adjustable. Unacceptable on a bike that the dealer would "give away" for $13K out-the-door. Add $1000 for tiny side bags.
The bike is beautiful, and you do get ABS and heated grips with that price; but you are paying a tall premium (and just wait till you get the service bill) for it.
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