The Rise of the New All-Rounder Motorcycle

The reign of the sportsbike appears to be waning, while cruisers and adventure bikes are on the rise. While sportsbikes have sold well in the past because of their speed and glamor, they're often optimized for track running. Unless you're young, supple and injury-free, they can be a pain in the neck, shoulders, wrists, hips and knees, which about covers most places where pain arises. This is particularly so if you ride them around town.

Those who've instead opted for a cruiser probably thought they'd be set. They're likely getting fewer speeding tickets, and their pillion friends will be happier. However, we've found that cruisers can also be a pain to ride long distance. Most don't have weather or wind protection, so you're forced to hang on harder and ride more slowly, which is probably no bad thing given cruisers don't handle that well. Moreover, the design of these motorcycles puts you in a riding position that's just as likely to cause aches and pains as a sportsbike. Your legs are stretched forward, and arms are up high, which can result in mid-back pain. On top of which, many such motorcycles have a rigid-feeling back end and can be unforgiving over harsh bumps – which can play hell with a bad lower back. Sure, not all examples are like this, but beware that buying a cruiser is no guarantee of a comfortable long-distance touring motorcycle.

So what about adventure motorcycles? Think of these as the SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) or the motorcycle world. They're jacked up for good view, and are designed to go off-road, so of course they're becoming more popular in Asia. As with SUVs, the possibility of rural country adventure is appealing, but not many ever venture there.

Which brings us to another sub-breed of motorcycle that has developed as a result of the uptick in adventure motorcycle sales, and that's the faux adventure motorcycle. They look like they're ready for the rural off-road adventure, but are essentially sportsbikes in adventure motorcycle clothing, with 17-inch wheels either end, and tarmac-oriented tires. The classic example is Triumph's Tiger 1050, a motorcycle that's developed a reputation as a excellent long-distance road tourer. It's not the most prettiest motorcycle, but as the owners of these and Ducati's Multistrada will counter, they look better from the rider's perspective. Of course, not everyone has the big money for a Tiger or a Ducati to drop on a long-distance motorcycle, which is where the motorcycle you in the pictures comes into play.

When it launched, Kawasaki's Versys sold for 285,000 THB, and though it reviewed well, it didn't exactly prove popular because of its oddball appearance. However, those who rode it were impressed by how light and tasty it was, and how far it went on a tank of fuel.

The featured motorcycle is the latest facelift model, and in short, its headlight has been redesigned, suspension softened, and vibration better damped. Front on we think it looks not much better than before; it's still ugly. The price has not been changed and it still costs 285,000 THB with ABS brakes.

The company reckons the Kawasaki Versys is a motorcycle that's 'difficult to explain and impossible to categorize'. If you put it in the all-rounder class, that about covers it, given it's a mix of sports-tourer and commuter. I also want to say that we were not able to find any Kawasaki Versys owners who had anything to complain about the model.