By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
CFMOTO 650MT (MY2021) vs Kawasaki Versys 650 (LE F)
CFMOTO 650MT vs Kawasaki Versys 650: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
You'll open the CFMOTO 650MT's throttle onto a motor that's proven it keeps running, trip after trip, without complaint. Twist the grip on the Kawasaki Versys 650 and its engine shoulders city traffic and loaded weekends with composure. It pulls a passenger along just as calmly.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 650 has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Inches ahead: Versys 650
The Versys 650 should leave you a bit fresher after a long day. Credit more range per tank. Should, not will: the margin is small.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
By a nose: Versys 650
Fresh off the training course, the Versys 650 feels a bit more forgiving. What tips it: easier controls. Only by a small margin, though.
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Versys 650
For the ride to work, the Versys 650 noses ahead. The reason: friendlier manners. Don't let that alone make the call.
Keeping running costs low
Small edge: Versys 650
Running costs lean slightly toward the Versys 650. A well-kept example of either matters more.
What makes each one tick
650MT
Through a corner, the 650MT feels engaging at the bar, and it's just as easy to maneuver at walking pace. Its suspension is budget-grade. A bump at highway speed still leaves the chassis planted on its line. The padded seat doesn't wear you down by sundown.
Versys 650
The Versys 650 flicks into a bend off its wide handlebar, and the light steel frame doesn't fight the next change of direction. Compliant suspension eats the long miles.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Versys 650 makes more peak power: 67 hp (49 kW) vs 56 hp (42 kW).
- The Versys 650 has the larger fuel tank: 5.5 US gal (21 L) vs 4.8 US gal (18 L).
- Traction Control: standard on the Versys 650, not offered on the 650MT.
Which one for the way you ride
Nothing splits them on twisty roads. Ride both back to back and the decision usually makes itself.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
650MT
What owners say
Strengths
- Outstanding value for money
- Comfortable all-day riding position
- Solid engine reliability
- Sporty and stable handling
Versys 650
What owners say
Strengths
- Supremely comfortable ergonomics
- Excellent wind protection
- Proven, reliable engine
- Agile handling despite size
Known problems to check before you buy
650MT
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Versys 650
- Stator failure at high mileage The alternator stator can burn out at higher mileage. The windings overheat and break down, so the charging output drops. The first sign is usually a battery that slowly goes flat and struggles to start the bike. If the rider keeps going, the charging system can fail completely and leave the bike stranded.
What they share
- Displacement
- 649 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak torque at
- 7,000 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 300 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 160/60-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 650MT | Versys 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 481 lb (218 kg) | 476 lb (216 kg) |
| 650MT | Versys 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 56 hp (42 kW) | 67 hp (49 kW) |
| Torque | 46 lb-ft (62 Nm) | 45 lb-ft (61 Nm) |
| 650MT | Versys 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 42 mpg (US) / 5.64 L/100 km | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 5.5 US gal (21 L) |
| 650MT | Versys 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 650MT | Versys 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Standard |
| Navigation | Option | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
