Used test: 2016 KAWASAKI VERSYS 1000GT Surprising capacity

I ts first foray into the big capacity adventure bike class brought mixed views for Kawasaki. As an accomplished all-rounder, its 2012 Versys 1000 won friends. It had a very useful and torquey, retuned 116bhp, 1043cc, Z1000-derived inline four cylinder engine, with a top-end rush to give it extra speed and excitement. Comfort was also a strong point, and though the handling wasn’t perfect, thanks to a slightly vague front end and fairly weighty feel, all in all the Versys performance was deemed credible for a bike in the class. What really put people off though, was the 1000’s odd looks. Its overall bulky and bulbous style wasn’t too attractive, but it really wasn’t helped by the ugly shape of its stacked headlight. The exhaust system wasn’t the prettiest either, even if the horizontally positioned rear shock allowed more space for the bigger silencer box to be tucked away and reduce the size of the end can. Wheels were 17-inchers front and rear to improve tyre choice and underlined its road-only focus. Given its three-stage traction control system and two power modes, few could argue the bike’s £9499 asking price didn’t offer good value.

The 2015 version of the Versys was much improved aesthetically. Its sleeker, reshaped fairing housed a much more modern looking pair of headlights, and the hand-adjustable