In the build-up to its reveal, Kawasaki has now released another teaser of the soon-to-arrive Versys 900 sport tourer. Unlike the earlier one, this clip actually gives us fleeting glimpses of the bike in question, and there are some interesting aspects to dissect.
All prices mentioned are ex-showroom, India.
- Expected to use a new, heavier-duty chassis
- Headlight looks like those on the KLE500 and Z900
- India launch is a strong possibility in 2027
Z900’s engine wrapped in more comprehensive, long-distance-friendly bodywork
From the images, it’s abundantly clear that the Versys 900 will have upright and all-day-comfortable ergonomics similar to those of the smaller 650 and larger 1100. There’s a pretty decently sized – but not all-encompassing – windscreen to shield the rider from windblast, and the seat area also looks to be generously sized and well-padded for the rider as well as the passenger. To liberate this extra seating space and luggage-carrying ability (visible via the panniers and top box rack mounted on the bike in the teaser), Kawasaki is sure to have reinforced the Z900’s frame or perhaps even built an all-new one to suit the Versys’s intended purpose. In terms of weight, the Versys 900 is surely going to be heavier than the 212kg Z900 and is likely to slot in between the 220kg Versys 650 and the rather portly 257kg Versys 1100. Expect it to have a large fuel tank, roughly in the ballpark of 20 litres, to suit its mile-munching role.
While the Versys’s frame is likely to be quite different from the Z900’s, given the tractable and torque-rich nature of the 948cc four-cylinder engine, we don’t expect Kawasaki to alter too much aside from a new tune and different gearing to suit its nature. For reference, in the Z900, this motor makes a very healthy 125hp at 9,500rpm and 98.6Nm at 7,700rpm. We can also make out that while the new Versys 900 runs on 17-inch rims and has radial brake calipers at the front, its suspension appears to be markedly longer than the Z900’s. This should help it tackle varied road conditions more capably than its sport naked sibling while keeping its occupants comfortable. Like the 650 and 1100, we expect the Versys 900 to also ship with a remote preload adjuster – this is a small but invaluable piece of equipment when you need to quickly alter preload based on whether you are carrying a pillion, luggage or both.
Despite the Versys 900’s overall silhouette and bodywork being very similar to that of the 650 and 1100, its headlight styling is another matter. Its tri-lamp headlight has more in common with the Z900 and KLE500 than its Versys brethren. In terms of electronic features, expect the Versys 900 to come with the same suite as the Z900, including power modes, riding modes, cruise control, traction control, a bidirectional quickshifter and dual-channel ABS. Expect the Versys 900 to have Kawasaki’s new-gen 5-inch TFT display and complementary switchgear as seen on the Z900.
Given the sense a bike like the Versys 900 makes for a market like ours, it is quite likely that Kawasaki will launch it in India after its global reveal, although this is expected to happen only next year. The Z900 currently costs Rs 9.99 lakh, and when the Versys 900 eventually arrives here, we expect it to be priced higher than the naked. For reference, the price difference between the Z1100 (Rs 12.79 lakh) and the Versys 1100 (Rs 13.89 lakh) is Rs 1.10 lakh.
