2022 · Tourer · A variant of the Versys 1000
Differences between the standard Versys 1000 and the SE
Reliable Miles, Sorted Electronics
A 1043 cc inline-four in a tall touring chassis: that's the idea behind the Versys 1000 SE. The engine comes from Kawasaki's Ninja family and makes 120 hp at 9,000 rpm and 75 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm. It sits in an aluminum twin-spar frame and rolls on 17-inch road tires front and rear. The SE trim builds on the standard bike's equipment with electronic suspension, a quickshifter that works up and down, a TFT display, smartphone connectivity and cornering lights. Cornering ABS, traction control, ride modes and cruise control are all on board. Nothing here is exotic. It's just complete.
Read the spec sheet and the purpose is clear: this is hardware for long days on pavement. A 5.5 gal (21 L) tank, an adjustable windscreen, cruise control and a 59.8 in (1520 mm) wheelbase all point to distance. The 567 lb (257 kg) wet weight is normal for a tourer and no reason to mark it down. The seat sits at 33.1 in (840 mm). Heated grips are standard. The luggage system is an option, so plan for it if you travel loaded. On paper this fits you if you want an inline-four and road-size tires on a bike built for highways and mountain passes. An honest Kawasaki recipe!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) @ 7,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 1043 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 59.8 in (1520 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) |
| Wet weight | 567 lb (257 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 gal (21 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Safety
The Versys 1000 SE (LZT00C-SE) builds on the standard Versys 1000: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
Equipment the SE adds vs the standard Versys 1000
For years I've listened to what riders tell me about their bikes: in the paddock, at club nights, in owner chats and in the emails and messages that land in my inbox. For the Versys 1000 the picture is consistent: owners talk about comfort, a smooth four and a lot of equipment for the money, and the complaints circle around suspension refinement, weight and the display.
Comfort carries most conversations. Riders consistently describe an upright riding position, a plush ride and enough weather protection to spend whole days on the road, and passenger comfort gets praise too. The engine comes up just as often: owners call it easy in traffic and deceptively quick once the road opens up. Handling follows a little further back. Those who mention it describe a planted bike that's agile for its size and stable at speed. Confidence is the word that keeps coming back.
The electronics are a recurring point of praise: riders say the rider aids and cruise control make the bike safer and easier to live with. Value comes up nearly as often. Owners feel they get a lot of motorcycle for the price, and many point out that it undercuts European rivals. Touring riders also talk up the available panniers and heated grips as the kit that gets the bike ready for long trips. Fair money, full package.
The gripes are just as consistent. Riders describe the suspension as plush but sometimes wallowy, and short of the refinement they find on premium rivals. The display draws criticism for being small and low on resolution. Some owners also bring up the weight: you feel it when maneuvering at low speed, on uphill stretches and with a full load. Owners don't hide it.
Plastic buzz at mid‑range rpm
A harmonic vibration in the fairing around 3 500 rpm can produce an annoying buzz; typically not a fault and can be mitigated with dampening.
Stock seat discomfort on long rides
The standard seat can become uncomfortable after approximately two hours of continuous riding, prompting many owners to fit aftermarket cushions or custom seats.
Clutch judder when pulling away
During the first few hundred miles, some owners noticed a slight clutch judder on take-off. The issue usually disappears as the clutch beds in and requires no intervention.
Where this Kawasaki Versys 1000 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Versys 1000 is actually built for.
Of the three riders here, you're the best fit: a 5.5 gal (21 L) tank, cruise control and electronic suspension are built for long, loaded days. Luggage is an option, so add it.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
A strong match: a 120 hp inline-four, 17-inch road tires and a two-way quickshifter suit curvy day stages. Know that the stock seat can get uncomfortable after about two hours in one stretch.
Made for Highway 1 / Big Sur · Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway
A fair match, not the natural one. Cornering ABS, traction control and adjustable electronic suspension back you up on technical roads, but 567 lb (257 kg) wet is touring mass, not a lightweight.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Kawasaki Versys 1000. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2021–2024
The Triple That Covers Ground
Roughly $2,800 cheaper used than this bike at 4 yr
Competitor · 2021
Four Cylinders, Zero Excuses
Roughly $6,700 pricier used than this bike at 4 yr
Same Platform · 2015–2018
Luggage King, Reliable Miles
