By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Adventure
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00A) vs Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (DD)
Kawasaki Versys 1000 vs Suzuki V-Strom 1000: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Roll on the Kawasaki Versys 1000 from low revs and the inline-four's already pulling, with no buzz in the bars. The Suzuki V-Strom 1000 picks up clean and wants pushing.
So which one do you buy?
The Versys 1000 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Versys 1000
On the way to work, the Versys 1000 asks a little less of you. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Traveling with luggage
By a nose: Versys 1000
The Versys 1000 carries a touring load slightly better. The difference is better wind protection and more comfort on long stints.
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: Versys 1000
Over a full day's ride, the Versys 1000 noses ahead on comfort. Credit a smoother engine. A long test ride could easily flip that.
The V-Strom 1000 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: V-Strom 1000
The V-Strom 1000 nudges ahead once the pavement starts to wiggle. It's down to more feel through the bars and a sportier chassis. Don't expect a night-and-day difference.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
Highway days stack up on the Versys 1000, since you're sitting upright behind a tall screen while the engine runs smooth. A broken stretch of pavement gets soaked up by the soft suspension before it reaches the seat. The steering stays neutral through a bend, and there's clearance to spare under the pegs.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in 2012 (NastyNils Testride).
V-Strom 1000
The throttle gets a crisp answer from the V-twin, and there's little vibration in the grips. From the seat, you won't want more motor.
Nils rode the V-Strom 1000 in 2014, and in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The V-Strom 1000 has the lower wet weight: 503 lb (228 kg) vs 527 lb (239 kg).
- The Versys 1000 makes more peak power: 118 hp (87 kW) vs 100 hp (74 kW).
- Ride Modes: standard on the Versys 1000, not offered on the V-Strom 1000.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither is a natural fit
Neither of these is a sensible first motorcycle. Learn on something smaller and lighter, then come back.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Exceptional reliability and low running costs
- Supremely comfortable for long‑distance touring
- Excellent value with standard electronic aids
- Surprisingly agile handling for its size
Trade-offs
- Polarizing styling not loved by all
V-Strom 1000
Strengths
- Power That Fits The Bike
- V-Twin Punches Above Its Tier
- Genuinely Sporty In Corners
- Easy Step Into Adventure
- Agile handling with sophisticated suspension
Trade-offs
- Power Feels Modest By Comparison
- Wind Gets Through At Speed
- Switchgear Shows The Price
- Chain Wants Regular Care
- Hard, uncomfortable seat
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) | 33.5 in (850 mm) |
| Wet weight | 527 lb (239 kg) | 503 lb (228 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 1037 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | 90° V-twin |
| Power | 118 hp (87 kW) | 100 hp (74 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,000 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 76 lb-ft (103 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,700 rpm | 4,000 rpm |
| Versys 1000 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 5.3 US gal (20 L) |
| Versys 1000 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 300 mm | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 150/70-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | V-Strom 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
