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Versys vs Ninja as a sports bike

9K views 40 replies 19 participants last post by  Britmick 
#1 ·
So I am old and kinda fat. I have a Concours C10 that is the same. That's my tourer. Looking at a second bike. Have been around here for a while and love the versys. Rode one following a better rider and was very impressed in the upper revs so I think the motor will do for me.

I am not looking for the V to do it all. I am looking for a low priced (obviously) sporty bike to bomb twisties on a budget. All things being equal, is the versys a better choice than the ninja 650 for a 240 lbs rider sport riding in tight turns?

Of course the ergos are better. I'm wondering if the same ergos will actually be a little quicker around tight turns - I assume from what I've read the suspension is more suited to me too. Any experiences with both?

Style or appearance means nothing to me. It's about the ride.
 
#2 ·
I ride with a group of sport bikers. The Versys will do everything that I need to do within my riding skills. I am always at the rear, but usually in site of the group. We did a large group ride in the Summer and there was another Versys rider in the group and he was in the front third of the group. I like the upright style of the Versys over sports bikes.
 
#3 ·
I owned a Ninja 650 for 4 years and then moved to the Versys in '11. The versys is like riding a supermoto compared to the Ninja 650. The Versys has more grunt down low, better suspension, and a blast on the backroads. Definitely would choose the Versys over the Ninja unless you want to pick up young ladies at hooters.
 
#5 ·
I would love to just weight 240lbs..I'm at 300lbs and love the twisty stuff on the Versys
 
#7 ·
The Ninja is faster. At least my Gen 1 model was. The Versys engine has a lower compression ratio and different cams. I might have read that later model Ninjas have been detuned a bit too?

I had a gen 1 Ninja for over 3 years and the Versys for almost 2, with over 57k miles between them. I enjoy the Versys more.

Try both and see which you prefer? Or just buy the Versys.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Looks is a matter of taste.

But facts: I'm not as big as you (5'11"/220lbs) and I had an ER6N 2011 (basically a naked Ninja 650) which i rode 32k kilometers on in a year. It is only faster at the top end (duh), but meaning in the low revs and out of the lights the Versys has it over the ER6N/F 650. Definitely torque-ier in the lower rpms, and more responsive for that. But yes the V tops out around 160-170km/h, whereas I have pushed the ER6N to around 185 easy, and others say it will do 200 without too much fuss (185kph here in Bali I ran out of road...).

But the Versys definitely is more fun, and handles better than the Ninja - which is a bit counterintuitive as the center of gravity is higher, but I guess other factors come into play.. I lowsided the ER6N twice (one a combination rider error and sand on the bend, the second diesel fuel spilt on a tight curve). Honestly in the twisties I am much happier (and faster) on the versys, and long trips are much better. The extra 10cm travel on the forks also can be a boon when you hit rough roads you don't know on a long trip. Plus you get damping adjustment AND preload adjustment on the rear. (Er6N only had preload). It's not fancy but better than the ninja, naked or not,as long as you're off the long straight highway.
 
#17 ·
Interesting. The fasted number I'd seen for the Versys was 12.8, which was slower than I'd expected. My Ninja was a 1st gen and those got in the 11s for at least two magazines. What I read was probably true about the Ninja engine getting detuned in later years.

When I got my Versys, I was surprised at the difference in acceleration. I wasn't comparing off the line performance, and I really don't know how that compares. I think I most noticed it at highway or freeway speeds.
 
#15 ·
I'm sure the difference is in the test rider more than anything. The fact is neither of these bikes is about outright acceleration or the numbers as absolutes. Pick the one that floats your boat more, they'll both work for sport riding and better than a C10 for that purpose (and, actually, I am currently liking my versys a lot more for utility use than the 97 C10 I had).
 
#18 ·
I'm one of the Kawasaki escort riders for demos around the country and have logged many miles on both of them over the years.
Back in '08 when the Versys came out we were at the Mid Ohio Vintage Days and the six of us escorts got private use of the track for an hour and a half to play with our bikes. I came home and bought a Versys!
The Versys cost a little more than the 650R, that's due to better suspension parts and an aluminum swingarm.
Living at the foot of Deals Gap has given me the opportunity to surprise many sportbike riders on the mountain.
Both are great bikes, the Versys just fits me better.
Dan
 
#20 · (Edited)
It's not about drag racing for me, I was just backing up my original point: that the ninja (gen1 at least) was faster than the gen 2 versys.

When I first got my Versys I was surprised at how much less acceleration it had and at first a little disappointed I didn't keep the Ninja and do an engine swap. I'm fine with it now.

I mentioned the Versys was slower, and people were disagreeing. I can only go by my own experience with gen1 ninja & gen 2 versys. Apparently newer ninjas are detuned as well, and based on the newer times someone posted, it looks like the acceleration difference is small.

Another surprising thing was the Ninja braking felt better too, at least until I upgraded the Versys pads. As far as I know the braking components were the same (other than the tires). A magazine I saw also gave the Versys longer stopping distances. Possibly a combination of increased height, and worse OEM rubber.
 
#23 ·
Did you buy your Gen 1 Ninja new? I'm thinking not, because it sounds like someone changed the sprockets on the bike to give it quicker acceleration. Even the tech who took my Gen 1 ninja in on trade after setting up the gen 2 Versys commented on the acceleration of the Versys being noticeably more than the Gen 1 Ninja.
 
#21 · (Edited)
Guess you need to try for yourself to know for sure. Would bet on the ninja to perform better in all kinds of sport riding, including twisty roads, but never tried one myself. Versys 650 is reviewed as something do it all well but expert at nothing and fun on the twisty roads. Can confirm it is definately fun on twisty roads and also comfortable, so being out all weekend is no problem. If you weigh much, then versys 1000 could be worth looking into? It is probably another step away from sport towards touring but it is better if versys 1000 owners comment on that. But it has got the stronger engine thats for sure.
 
#26 ·
Just buy the Versys. While the Ninja has a slightly higher compression ratio, resulting in a few extra ponies, it lacks in suspension. The Versys runs adjustable inverted front forks with 7" of travel and a rear swingarm similar to what was on my ZX6R. The Ninja, while capitalizing on the name, surely will be eyeing the taillight of the Versys through the twisties. JMO.
 
#28 · (Edited)
If 1st gear gives double the engine rpm to rear wheel speed ratio in 3rd gear, rear wheel torque in 1st gear is twice that of 3rd gear but with half the speed... Taller gears also have a wider speed range. 1st gear for example may give you say 10 mph at 2,500 rpm and 40 mph at 10,000 rpm, and 3rd gear say 20 mph at 2,500 rpm and 80 mph at 10,000 rpm. Its resulting speed at the same rpm is twice as much, and its speed range is also double at 60 mph (20 to 80) compared to 30 mph (10 to 40).
 
#33 ·
My '09 Versys is my track bike. With DOT race tires, I run in the intermediate group.

It's certainly quick enough in the turns to reel in sport bikes if you know how to ride.
 
#34 ·
I just moved from a Yamaha FZ6 to a Versys a week ago. Normally ride with my son and his buddies who are on crotch rockets. I have only been out one time on the Versys and am at least as fast as I was on the FZ6. While I must admit I am generally at the back of the pack rarely do I lose contact. I am 210 so I am kinda fat and nearing 60 years old. Get the Versys easier to ride then the "sport bikes" and way more comfortable.
 
#37 ·
Yea, that's the hard part to figure for me. The fz 6 (just substitute zzr600 that I recently rode) has SO MUCH more motor. That zzr had me holding on. Granted that was mostly straights. Great price too. But, at some point, I have to admit to myself, that the riding position won't do for me where I live.

Where I live in IL, curvy roads are an hour away. Most meeting places with the guys I ride with in WI are 1.5 hours away. On sunday mornings. I leave at 6 AM. While I may make it there ok, after several hours with them, I just see me dreading the ride home. If I lived up there, I'd just by the zzr and be done with it.

Thus the friendly old man Ninja ergos and even friendlier Versys. With a supermoto approach (even though it isn't really) I can see where the versys would be better suited for whisking my belly around turns with a better "for stock" suspension. Took me a long while, but I am discovering at some point, set up and suspension matters more that drag racing motor ability.
 
#39 ·
Source...MNC

Performance stats: Versys—1/4 mile: 12.96 secs. @ 99.15
mph; 0-60 mph: 4.86 secs.
Ninja 650R—1/4 mile: 12.11 secs. @
107.30; 0-60 mph: 3.84 (don’t underestimate the advantage of
the Ninja’s better clutch). DL650 V-Strom (May 2004)—1/4
mile: 12.52 secs. @ 101.00 mph; 0-60 mph: 3.98 secs. (Note also
that the DL650 may now be slightly slower due to Euro 3 emissions
tuning. When the Ninja 650R was first tested back in March
2006, it was a bit quicker too (1/4 mile 11.71 secs. @ 106.04
mph; 0-60 mph: 3.16 secs.)
 
#41 ·
While taking into account the different year models performance data, does it really matter to the average Versys rider whether or not it's a second slower or a milli'second faster to 60mph!?!?!
When I was younger it did matter that my VFR 800fix could get to 60mph in 3.4 secs, but as I get older it's comfort & rideability that keep me with the V,otherwise l'd have bought something like the VFR1200 or FJR1400 or.........
 
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