By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Versys 1000 (LZT00B) vs Yamaha FJR1300A (RP 23)
Kawasaki Versys 1000 vs Yamaha FJR1300A: which one's easier to live with on a long trip.
Tip the Kawasaki Versys 1000 into a quick bend and it doesn't argue: you aim, it goes. The Yamaha FJR1300A hides its bulk once it's rolling. It turns in light and doesn't budge off its line.
So which one do you buy?
The FJR1300A has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
A touch ahead: FJR1300A
Over a full day's ride, the FJR1300A noses ahead on comfort. Put it down to more stability at speed. A long test ride could easily flip that.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: FJR1300A
On a winding road, the FJR1300A comes out a touch ahead. Thank stronger brakes for that. You wouldn't bet much on a gap like that.
Which one's the smarter buy
Money won't decide it
The Versys 1000 costs less, but that doesn't make it the better buy. Neither bike is the clear winner on value at these used prices.
What makes each one tick
Versys 1000
Early in the season, late into it and on every ordinary trip between, the Versys 1000 keeps clocking in like a workhorse that doesn't take days off. There's no guessing what the inline-four will send back once the throttle opens. On the Blue Ridge Parkway the wide handlebars keep the chassis light through each change of direction, and it doesn't steer like a tourer. The padded seat lasts all day.
Nils rode the Versys 1000 in Austria in 2015 (NastyNils Testride).
FJR1300A
Wherever the tach needle sits, the FJR1300A's inline-four accelerates cleanly and then settles back relaxed at cruising speed. At 637 lb (289 kg) it's heavy in a parking lot, where a tight U-turn wants care. The chassis stays planted mid-corner.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The FJR1300A has the lower seat: 31.7 in (805 mm) vs 33.1 in (840 mm).
- The Versys 1000 has the lower wet weight: 551 lb (250 kg) vs 637 lb (289 kg).
- The FJR1300A makes more peak power: 144 hp (106 kW) vs 120 hp (88 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
A first bike should forgive mistakes, and these two don't do that well enough. Come back to them later.
On commuting and running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Versys 1000
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Swallows A Full Touring Load
- Built To Run Long
- 120 hp, Plenty In Reserve
- Controls You Stop Noticing
- Willing From Low Revs
Trade-offs
- No Cruise Control Fitted
- Fork Seals Can Weep
- Steering Head Bearings Wear
- Neutral Light Plays Tricks
FJR1300A
What owners say
Strengths
- Powerful and smooth inline-four engine
- Legendary reliability and build quality
- Sporty handling and stability at speed
- Well-equipped with modern touring amenities
Trade-offs
- Heavy and cumbersome at low speeds
What they cost used
These prices compare an 11-year-old Versys 1000 with an 11-year-old FJR1300A.
- Versys 1000
- about $5,000
- FJR1300A
- about $8,100
At 11 years old, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 sits around $5,000 while the Yamaha FJR1300A runs about $8,100. That's a $3,100 gap in the Versys 1000's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Versys 1000 | FJR1300A | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.1 in (840 mm) | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 551 lb (250 kg) | 637 lb (289 kg) |
| Versys 1000 | FJR1300A | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1043 cc | 1298 cc |
| Power | 120 hp (88 kW) | 144 hp (106 kW) |
| Torque | 75 lb-ft (102 Nm) | 102 lb-ft (138 Nm) |
| Versys 1000 | FJR1300A | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) / 5.5 L/100 km | 34 mpg (US) / 6.9 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 6.6 US gal (25 L) |
| Versys 1000 | FJR1300A | |
|---|---|---|
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain | Shaft |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Versys 1000 | FJR1300A | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Standard |
| Luggage System | Option | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
