Versys vs CB500X, Which would you buy and why?

**Jesus Jones** · 07-02-2013, 03:12 PM

Over a year I posted a thread about wanting to buy a bike. I held off because the missus was pregnant at the time, and now I have a 4 month old daughter which blew the idea out. However, travelling home from work is getting so bad that my back and leg aches so much in the 2-3hr journey that I'm now reconsidering buying a bike. When I arrive home I see my daughter for less than an hour. A bike would take an hour to get home at the most giving me more time to spend with my daughter but being wiped out by an idiotic driver also concerns me. The recent thread on bikes also wet my appetite again.

I spoke of the D-tracker a while ago but be honest I don't think it has enough presence on the road, so I'm now considering the Kawasaki Versys or the New Honda CB500X

A 500cc is adequate for me but the only gripe I have is the ride hight of the Honda which from picture seems to put the rider in almost a squatting position. I haven't seen the bike live yet. The price however seem reasonable.

Two colleagues have just placed an order for the Versys, but weren't aware of the CB500X at the time.

VS

**Satonic** · 07-02-2013, 03:18 PM

I would suggest the verys.

Kawa is 289 and the Honda 209 I believe. 80k for 150cc more.

The versys is a very capable bike, you'd be surprised at just how far you can push it off road too and for Thailand it has to be one of the most suitable bikes.

Also the Honda being a completely new model to Thailand I'd want to wait a while to see if any problems come up and let the Honda staff and mechanics make their mistakes on other people's bikes first while learning about them.

**AntRobertson** · 07-02-2013, 03:22 PM

The Versys, it's slightly less ugly than the CB500X to my eyes.

**FailSafe** · 07-02-2013, 03:23 PM

Both bikes weigh under 450lbs, but the Kwak has 25hp more- if money isn't an issue, I'd go for the bigger engine and not have to worry about Fortuners on my ass, and if you're going to ride two-up it's nice to have the extra grunt.

**Satonic** · 07-02-2013, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

The Versys, it's slightly less ugly than the CB500X to my eyes.

There are a lot of after market parts for the Versys too. I don't know of any for the Honda yet. If you google 'Versys beak' I think that improves the look of the funny nose on the Versys.

**AntRobertson** · 07-02-2013, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Satonic

If you google 'Versys beak' I think that improves the look of the funny nose on the Versys.

It does. Pay me no mind though I'm just being a little bit facetious.

Personally I don't like that style of bike. Seems a little bit schizophrenic to me, like it can't make up its mind what it is.

**Satonic** · 07-02-2013, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Seems a little bit schizophrenic to me, like it can't make up its mind what it is.

I felt the same this morning, I guess that's why I quite like it

**AntRobertson** · 07-02-2013, 03:50 PM

Haha, fair enough!

**Exige** · 07-02-2013, 04:01 PM

I would suggest Versys.
It's like my maid. Cheap, ugly and reliable.

**Norton** · 07-02-2013, 04:02 PM

I would go with the Honda. Looks more comfortable for old gits.

**Necron99** · 07-02-2013, 04:02 PM

Just on looks, the Honda seems over engineered. Trying to be something it is not.
I like the more open, bare styling of the kwaka.
But I own a lifan, so wtf do I know.

**Satonic** · 07-02-2013, 04:05 PM

A major issue I have with the Honda is the swing arm, compare the two...

**draco888** · 07-02-2013, 04:32 PM

The honda is an ugly beast. Prefer the looks of this Kawasaki

**palexxxx** · 07-02-2013, 04:37 PM

If you want the bike NOW, then the answer is the Versys as the Honda CB500X has not been released yet. The CBR500R and the CB500F are available but not the X.

If you are less than 6ft tall then get the CB500X as the seat height is over an inch lower. You'll be able to put your little feet down on the ground at the lights.

If you want the bike to double as a weekend cruiser on the twisty mountain roads which are plentiful in this country (well up in my part of the country anyway), then get the Versys, it has 64 Horsepowers while the CB500X's has 47.

btw. the CB500X is actually 470cc's whereas the Versys 650 is actually 649cc's.

**slackula** · 07-02-2013, 05:02 PM

To my eyes the Versys looks better, the Honda looks more 'plasticky', yeah, it's a word!

Also, as mentioned upthread the extra CCs will be nice to have.

**Mr Earl** · 07-02-2013, 07:10 PM

I would not make the decision on looks alone FFS!

The versys has been around, has an excellent reputation now, and a very good aftermarket support, to help custom fit the bike to you.
The Versys also shares many component with two other currently in production mass produced bikes; the ER6Nand the Ninja 650. Both excellent bike too. If you fit the ER6N there are more of them available on the used market.

Honda builds fine motorcycles but their world sales and marketing leaves much to be desired often orphaning perfectly good bikes after a 1-2 year production runs.

Kawasaki has a history of producing bikes with a 25+ production year runs, like the KLR650.
I've owned 3 KLR 650's now and the model is dated and clunky by modern standards, but for utility, durability, economy, good handling, huge aftermarket parts network and comfort, it's perhaps one of best motorcycles ever built. I've been buying a used one every couple of years in the USA where they are cheaper than chips, and ride the piss out of it.

If you want to buy a Versys, that's really a no brainer; you cant go wrong, it's a very fine piece of equipment.
Just keep you wits about you cuz regardless of what you ride, the odds aren't in you favor, so keep your eyes open. Honestly I feel safer and more in control riding a capable bike than being stuck in a tediously mind numbing econobox cage.

I'd also highly recommend an investment in some good quality riding gear too.

**Norton** · 07-02-2013, 07:22 PM

I want to change my vote.

**draco888** · 07-02-2013, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

I want to change my vote.

To a KLR? Mr Earl did do a fine sales pitch for it!

**Satonic** · 07-02-2013, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by draco888

Originally Posted by Norton

I want to change my vote.

To a KLR? Mr Earl did do a fine sales pitch for it!

I wish they were sold officially here, I'd buy one the second they hit the showroom floor!

**draco888** · 07-02-2013, 07:33 PM

I always fancied a KLX rather than the KLR but haven't owned either

**Norton** · 07-02-2013, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by draco888

To a KLR?

He did but unfortunately have to go to Malaysia to buy one.

**draco888** · 07-02-2013, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by draco888

To a KLR?

He did but unfortunately have to go to Malaysia to buy one.

it's a saga personally importing one and getting thai plates though i imagine?

**Norton** · 07-02-2013, 08:15 PM

I know not. Understand something to do with not meeting Thai emission standards. I'm not into motorcycles much these days in spite of my nik.

**Mr Earl** · 07-02-2013, 08:17 PM

My next bike will be a KLX250S. My plan is to downsize and have a very lightweight comfy easy to handle bile with a strong suspension.
I'm also intrigued by the aftermarket performance mods available like the 331 or the 351 kits.

I put a 685 kit in one of my KLR's because I overheated it by accident. Fark! that was a very nice improvement. I just recently scored another 1998 KLR650 for cheap and I'm seriously considering installing the 705 kit, which I gather is a massive engineering improvement over the stock cylinder and piston.
The weak point of the KLR650 is the cylinder liner which warps if you even slightly overheat it. I will still run great but you go fro using zero oil to a liter every 500kms! At a certain point the plug begins to foul and you gotta fix it.
The aftermarket piston/cylinder kits are big improvements over the OEM kit.
That's the main reason for choosing Kawasaki over Honda is the super aftemarket engineering which has occurred for the Kwackers, especially the KLR650.

I would expect the Versys, the ER6N, and Ninja 650 to have long production runs, and would expect to see some nice re-engineering of the bikes.

**draco888** · 07-02-2013, 08:24 PM

wouldnt it be simpler/better compromise to just go for a KLX 450 rather than KLX 250/331/351 or is it not available in the market where you want to buy?

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

My next bike will be a KLX250S. My plan is to downsize and have a very lightweight comfy easy to handle bile with a strong suspension.
I'm also intrigued by the aftermarket performance mods available like the 331 or the 351 kits.

I put a 685 kit in one of my KLR's because I overheated it by accident. Fark! that was a very nice improvement. I just recently scored another 1998 KLR650 for cheap and I'm seriously considering installing the 705 kit, which I gather is a massive engineering improvement over the stock cylinder and piston.
The weak point of the KLR650 is the cylinder liner which warps if you even slightly overheat it. I will still run great but you go fro using zero oil to a liter every 500kms! At a certain point the plug begins to foul and you gotta fix it.
The aftermarket piston/cylinder kits are big improvements over the OEM kit.
That's the main reason for choosing Kawasaki over Honda is the super aftemarket engineering which has occurred for the Kwackers, especially the KLR650.

I would expect the Versys, the ER6N, and Ninja 650 to have long production runs, and would expect to see some nice re-engineering of the bikes.

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