After spending 928 miles riding this bike over the course of two days, I think it's safe to say that I've come to know the Versys fairly well. Not as intimately as I will over the course of the next few years that I own it, but I'd say that I know this motorcycle.

Now, you'll have to take my review with a grain of salt. I've only been on one other bike, and it was a 2003 KLR 250. So, my total riding experience is fairly limited. But, all that said, here's what I think of it.

Styling. Overall, the styling is beautiful. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and really, it is. In pictures and on the internet, the Versys has styling that really takes some getting used to. It's a standard motorcycle, but sits almost as high as a KLR. It has sporty lines, but they're belied by the rather odd and uniquely-styled headlight. The bright red paint really makes this bike stand out. However, I firmly believe that this bike should come available with the other colors sold in Europe and Asia. Especially the metallic green available overseas - a sharp color that makes a Kawasaki, a Kawasaki.

Ergonomics. As a 6-foot-1 rider, I can honestly say that the bike is comfortable - for a short time. The seat is really well designed for short commutes or blasts around town. Once riding time exceeds about a half an hour, the seat really begins to show its weakness: the padding begins to lose effectiveness, and after about an hour, I began feeling stiff in the seat. The handlebars are really well placed and at an ideal height - they don't pull you too far forward, and at speeds of 60 mph or slower, you're in an upright position that doesn't buffet you around too much. Faster than that, and the windscreen begins to los effectiveness, and you're buffeted around a little bit in the upright position. The windscreen, for its size, does a really good job of deflecting the wind at lower speeds. Once speed climbs above 60, though, the windscreen begins to lose effectiveness - even adjusted to its highest setting.

Power/Drivetrain. The 649CC parallel twin is excellent on the highway. Keep it above 4,000 RPM, and no matter what gear the bike is in, it will give you liquid, instantaneous POWER. 80 mph comes really, really quickly if you're not paying attention. When Kawasaki set up the gearing on this motorcycle, they geared it to make excellent power in all gears - but not too much power. The Versys was designed in such a way that it doesn't give you too much power, and during normal riding, she won't break the rear tire loose. The transmission shifts really well and didn't give me any problems whatsoever. Passing was never an issue - click down a gear or two, let out on the clutch, and off you go!

Handling/Braking. The Versys pulls really well through the turns, but is also very forgiving. Chop the throttle mid turn, and the bike remains stable. Give it power, and it still remains stable. Give the handlebars a press in either direction, and the Versys moves with you - nice and fluid, as if you're one with the motorcycle. When you press down on the binders, they stop you smoothly and quickly, with no jerkiness whatsoever. These brakes simply do not want to lock up at all.

Range/Mileage. Mileage varied during break-in, but the best mileage the bike had was somewhere around 50 mpg. I managed around 170 miles per tank, each fillup being around 3.4/3.5 gallons. I think with normal riding, 48-50 mpg can be expected. Slower, more casual riding should produce better fuel economy.

Overall, this motorcycle is great, IMHO. I think someone wanting a KLR 650 but looking for a bike that is more street-oriented should consider looking into the Versys.