Versys owners checkin

[hunting1]

It will run at 80-mph around 5850-5900 RPM vs 62-6300RPM. All the vibration is gone as well. It still has plenty of pull, but is much smoother now. It should be standard size in my opnion! Maybe a 19" front to go along??? Better yet a road version and a off road model with spoke rims. Ok, I am done dreaming and need to get back to work.

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by hunting1

It will run at 80-mph around 5850-5900 RPM vs 62-6300RPM. All the vibration is gone as well. It still has plenty of pull, but is much smoother now. It should be standard size in my opnion! Maybe a 19" front to go along??? Better yet a road version and a off road model with spoke rims. Ok, I am done dreaming and need to get back to work.

-So you have a 150/70/17 rear tire? What is the outside circumference?
-Why do you think all the vibration disappeared when you replaced the rear tire?
-What 'should be standard size'?

It would be nice if Kawasaki made two models with one being a direct competitor of the V-Strom 650 (19" spoked front wheel and ABS available for a price).
If Kawasaki does not release a 50 States version I probably will buy the Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS.

[llamapacker]

Originally Posted by tomatocity

How many RPMs does the 150/70/17 rear Anakee reduce vs the stock stock rear tire? How many RPMs does the 16T reduce?

On the V the speed and RPM are always the same, would have to check with GPS for actual speed change, which I didn't record before I changed. Think someone calculated, the 16T reduced rpm for same actual speed as 15T by about 9% and the 150/70/17 tire decreases rpm about 3% from the stocker.

The Circumference of the tire is 150 x .7 x 2 (both sides of tire) + dia of wheel.

150 x .7 = 105 x 2 = 210mm / 25.4 (to convert to inches) = 8.27" + 17" = 25.27" dia

25.27 x 3.14159 (pi) = 79.38" circumference

Stock 160/60/17 = 24.56" dia = 77.15" circumference

Found this tire calculator here: http://www.csgnetwork.com/tiresizescalc.html

I have ABS on my GT and love it, but I don't miss it on the Versys, very light bike and backs off readily with engine braking. Think ABS would add to cost/weight/complexity of Versys. I do like the idea of a 19" front option tho, but it would require a mod on the fender to fit.

[william t.]

I do not see where those tires would help anything except speedometer error. I rode a BMW with them on it and they roared like a truck tire. They felt like a knobby when at extreme lean angles. I guess if you want a tire for off roading it would be all right. I have a habit of traveling at a pretty rapid pace. The Scorpin Syncs is as rough a tire as I would like. I am now running the Avon Storms and they are great. They have deep thread all the way to the sidewall. The bike works great and they stick like glue in the rain. Any street tire will go on most USFS road with no problem. I have rode crusiers all over the dirt roads in north Ga. and guess what I made it through them just fine. If you want those type of tires fine ,for me I would rather have the solid feel of sport touring tires under me. That is what makes the world go round. We are all a little different and I am really different.

[hunting1]

High RPM rev= BUZZZZZZ. It makes a difference. It is the third set of tires on my bike and it worked for me. If you are only cruising in town, no biggie, but a few hundred miles on the freeway at 80 and it sucks. I am not telling anyone to change, I just made the bike a bit more versatile for me. No more Buzz on my Versys.
For those changing the sprocket to a 16-tooth it is about the same result. I am not an engineer so can not give you a bunch of numbers, it just works.

[pilot]

I got home last night. Seventeen days, over 4000 miles, two rallies, several national parks, and two bottles of tequila.

[hunting1]

Great picture! Y tequilla es muey bien tambien!

[tac650]

Originally Posted by pilot

I got home last night. Seventeen days, over 4000 miles, two rallies, several national parks, and two bottles of tequila.

Dud I am very envious! Post more pics and you got to have a story or two.

[william t.]

Really nice picture

[pilot]

Originally Posted by william t.

Really nice picture

Maddbrit took the pic. We had a great time. I left KC on Saturday and rode to Glendo, Wyoming that day. I stayed at a campground at the lake there. The next day, I rode to Bufalo, by way of Ayers Natural Bridge and Chimney Rock. I stayed in the second campground up the hill from Bufalo. Next day, a lap of the Bighorns and back to the next campground,Tie Hack. Then on to the MOA.

From there to Flaming Gorge and GC. I met up with Maddbrit and Lobby there. On to Torrey, Utah on 12, an "Sh, my God!" road. Then TOTR and home. I'll get some pics together for Ride Reports.

The bike was perfect, except for the seat. I got some really eratic mileage over the trip. I had a low of low thirties yesterday in a head wind at 80 or so, to 59 in the mountains not pushing it.

I really like the Pirelli MT-60 on the front. It makes gravel roads seem tame. I got about 6500 miles out of it, but it needs replacing now. Not too bad considering the performance.

The rack system held up just fine, no problems. I don't know how much the total load weighed, but didn't have too much trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground when I wanted to.

[princess jamaica]

Originally Posted by pilot

I got home last night. Seventeen days, over 4000 miles, two rallies, several national parks, and two bottles of tequila.

very nice!!only two???

[Gustavo]

Originally Posted by hunting1

For those changing the sprocket to a 16-tooth it is about the same result. I am not an engineer so can not give you a bunch of numbers, it just works.

My hunting friend isn't an engineer, but I is one...

What do you want to know? OEM setup is 15/46 and a 160/60-17 rear. With that setup you'd get 53 (real) MPH @ 4K rpm and 80 MPH @ 6K. Changing the CS sprocket to a 16T yields - 57 MPH @ 4K rpm and 85 MPH @ 6K rpm. Changing the rear tire to a 150/70-17 (with OE 15T CS sprocket) results in 55 MPH @ 4K rpm and 82 MPH @ 6K rpm.

Hope this helps.

Gustavo

[white26golf]

The 16 tooth CS seems to be the way I want to go. Has anyone noticed a change in Mileage with it? Also, does anyone know if there is a write up on how to do the swap with pictures somewhere. Just want to determine if I have the right skill sets to do the job myself.

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by Gustavo

My hunting friend isn't an engineer, but I is one...

What do you want to know? OEM setup is 15/46 and a 160/60-17 rear. With that setup you'd get 53 (real) MPH @ 4K rpm and 80 MPH @ 6K. Changing the CS sprocket to a 16T yields - 57 MPH @ 4K rpm and 85 MPH @ 6K rpm. Changing the rear tire to a 150/70-17 (with OE 15T CS sprocket) results in 55 MPH @ 4K rpm and 82 MPH @ 6K rpm.

Hope this helps.

Gustavo

Thank you Gustavo. That is what I was looking for. Both the 16T and 150/70/17 are good alternatives to the stock setup. My guess is the 16T would also create less chain wear.

[Gustavo]

Originally Posted by white26golf

The 16 tooth CS seems to be the way I want to go. Has anyone noticed a change in Mileage with it?

I haven't seen any significant change in mileage. Some of the difference may be due to the fact that now I run a little faster (still same indicated speed) which basically negates the benefit of higher gearing.

Mechanical Geniuses Alvis and Machog have a thread going on the versys.co.uk forum that may help you, lots of good discussion of how and what you need. ckouze started another one, that also has interesting info, but I no pictures and you may have to sign in to view it.

Gustavo